Property Status Review

The HOA is obligated by law to inspect the files for a property within ten days of receipt of notice from the title company that a property is scheduled to close escrow.  The inspector will review the file and confirm whether or not there are violations of the CC&Rs noted.   The inspection report will be released via email to the buyer and seller simultaneously.  The HOA has 10 days by law to provide the report but we will make every effort to file as soon as possible. 

Owners Association Property Inspection List

• Exterior Stucco and Wood Surfaces - Maintained in good condition and not permitted to decline into disrepair. Paint/stain color in compliance with the approved Architectural Guidelines light reflective value (LRV)/
• Mechanical Devices, Any mechanical devices and all projections, Service and Equipment Enclosures - must be completely screened by walls and gates at least twelve inches higher than the equipment (Section 7.24).
• Building Projections - including, but not limited to, chimney caps, vents, gutters, scuppers, downspouts, utility boxes, utility meters, (i.e., conduits, alarm boxes, camera housing, fans, speakers, etc.) shall match the color of the surface from which they project.
• Exterior Lighting (Sections 6.14 and 6.15) - all exterior lighting must provide for significant shielding to ensure light bulbs are not visible from neighboring properties with no bare lamps permitted
  1. Site lighting must be directed onto vegetation or features such as boulders and may not be used to light walls or building elements.
  2. A maximum of two low-voltage up lights are allowed under large canopy trees
  3. No lighting will be permitted in Natural Areas or outside of areas enclosed by patio or building site walls.
  4. Building-mounted lighting must be directed downward away from adjacent lot, common areas, streets and open space with no light that is emitted through the top or sides of the fixture.
  5. Driveway lighting pole-mounted or wall mounted fixtures shall be no higher than eighteen inches above the driving surface with the light source of all fixtures must be recessed and fully shielded including any light leak from the top of the fixture.
  6. No lighting is allowed in the NAOS native desert areas, except when approved by the Architectural control committee, only low voltage LED 9 w to 12 w. (No more than 1100 lumens per fixture.
  7. Black or dark bronze metal fixtures on the driveway are the only lighting permitted, no plastic, silver or chrome is permitted and all lighting must be on timers to shut off at 12 AM midnight or off entirely when the house is not occupied.

Landscape Maintenance (Section 8)

Each owner is required to maintain the landscape on their lot to provide a defensible space per City of Scottsdale Guidelines and in such a manner that it does not become visually unattractive, or otherwise not in keeping with the Design Guidelines, the applicable policies of the Community or other provisions of the Declaration.

1. Removal of noxious weeds like Desert Broom is required, including those within the NAOS areas.
2. Create a Firewise safe 15 ft fire defensible buffer around the actual housing areas so firefighters can get around your rear property. Trim plants 5 ft off your retaining wall lines and allow for a path to reach your rear yard.
3. Transitional and Natural Areas require minimal maintenance since they are intended to appear the same as the undisturbed desert (Sections 6.2 and 6.3).
4. Only use native soils as ground cover, not ¾ screened granite. Only ½ minus native soils and DG. Native mineral ground covers and similar features are limited either to materials indigenous to Desert Mountain or to materials similar in color and appearance to indigenous materials. Decomposed granite used as a landscape material is to be a maximum of 1/2 inch minus in size and similar in color to the native ground such as Madison Gold (Section 8.13).
5. The landscape in the NAOS area should not have a manicured, raked or groomed appearance and should not be kept clean of all plant material exposing a bare desert floor (Section 8.11).
6. Maintenance in Transitional and Natural areas is limited to the removal of dead plant material, defined weeds, desert broom or other plant materials not listed on the approved list and the control of grasses through the use of appropriate methods (Section 8.11).
7. Existing boulders moved or new ones installed require Design Review approval and must be placed in a natural arrangement with the boulders placed horizontally with a minimum of one-third of the boulder buried into the ground (Section 8.12).
8. Approved indigenous plants may be planted anywhere within the Building Envelope with prior Design Review approval. If an owner wants to plant any approved non- indigenous species they must be planted within the confines of the Private Areas behind screening walls (Section 8.14).
9. The Transition Area desert ground cover (bushes and shrubs) density is a minimum of fifty one-gallon or larger plants per one thousand square feet when used in conjunction with specimen indigenous trees, cacti and large shrubs as well as a re-vegetation seed mix. Or 3 turpentine plants per 5 S.F.
10. Rip rap used to manage erosion, shall by 8 in screened and colored to match the native soils area, and hand placed to match the swale area, not just dumped in the washout area.
11. See the approved plant list for native plants and trees that can be added to the native NAOS areas. Also see the separate list of plants that go inside the privacy areas. Palm trees, olive trees and citrus trees are not allowed anywhere in DM.
12. An 8ft PUE (Public Utility Easement) exists on every lot, from the back of the curb toward the structure and is to remain unmodified by owners.

Disclaimer

Not an all-inclusive list. For additional information please visit our Design Review Resource Center page.