Keeping Our Amenities in Top Shape

Some might say that the linchpin of Stonebridge its water fountain, picnic area, and ropes obstacle Ranch amenities is the Beach & Tennis Club located course. (To learn about each one, visit https://www. at 6201 Virginia Parkway. Completed in 1988 and stonebridgeranch.com/premier-amenities/.) prized for its expansive view of Stonebridge Lake, the One small group of homeowners goes above and beach has been here since the beginning and proved beyond to protect and enhance these beneficial assets: instrumental in drawing young families to purchase the seven members of the Amenities Committee. our community’s first homes. Folks were invited via As stated in the group’s charter, they volunteer “for the Grand Opening brochure to “Come by the Beach the purpose of advising and assisting the Board of & Tennis Club, where kids under 12 will receive a free Directors in the oversight of association pools, lakes, beach ball while supplies last!” playgrounds, courts, and parks.” Let’s take a closer

Over the past three decades, our portfolio look at the time and energy these volunteers donate to of amenities has grown to include far more than their neighbors. How are they serving you in 2020? the first beach lagoon built in North Texas. The Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) BENCHMARK STUDY now owns many assets which support an active The committee is currently conducting a benchmark lifestyle for residents of all ages. These include the study comparing the SRCA to other homeowners junior Olympic pool at the Aquatic Center, many associations. The volunteers are looking at comparable parks with play grounds, eight tennis courts, three communities within a 25-mile radius which have 1,000 pickleball courts, the Community Room, six lakes households or more. (As a reminder, we have over 9,400 and ponds designated for sports fishing, miles of homes.) sidewalk trails, two staging areas for outdoor concerts, Says Tom Fredericks, the committee Chair, “We several open play fields, and Stonebridge Plaza with are looking at numerous attributes to see how we stack up, from age and size to assessment fees, acreage, onsite structures, and active lifestyle offerings.” To complete their research, the volunteers are reviewing community websites and social media feeds. They are also making phone calls to management companies and onsite offices. Unlike the SRCA, they’ve found that many associations post information behind website logins, for access by residents only. This makes it difficult for anyone—most importantly, for prospective residents—to find out more One of the original amenities built in Stonebridge Ranch, our tennis courts provide an exercise opportunity for residents of all ages. about an HOA’s services and guidelines.

The Amenities Committee oversees maintenance and upgrades at our parks and playgrounds, such as this major facelift at Plainfield in 2018.

“One of the feelings I get as we do our research,” notes Tom, “is that other associations and developers look at Stonebridge Ranch to see what we are doing. I think that means we’re doing something right.”

Norm Counts, Board Director and liaison to the Amenities Committee, agrees. “The Board made this study a strategic priority because we want to know what it really means to call ourselves a ‘premier community.’ We’re finding we compare favorably in many areas. But the study is also serving as a SWOT analysis of sorts. It’s helping us determine our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, especially as we look at the amenities we have to offer. Once we’ve completed our research, we hope to share more of our findings with other committees and residents.”

LAKES & PONDS REPORT Members of the Amenities Committee are also authoring a new Lakes & Ponds report to share with residents later this year. It will catalogue which bodies of water we own and maintain, and which are designated for catch-and-release fishing. (It will also document which ponds we do not own so residents can be aware. Several ponds in and adjacent to Stonebridge Ranch are owned by other entities, so they are not for our use, nor do we manage their upkeep.)

Notes Tom, the COVID-19 shutdowns earlier this year seem to have inspired a new generation of residents to go fishing. “It’s the perfect sport for social distancing,” he says. “You can bring your cooler with snacks and a drink and just sit back and relax. The other day I was driving home by Millard Pond, and I saw about 10 people on the bank with their fishing rods. I was really happy to see people taking that opportunity.”

The initial findings in the benchmark report show that our lakes and ponds are one of our most unique assets, providing beautiful vistas while families exercise in our neighborhoods. Did you know that we own over twenty large bodies of water? Given land development in McKinney and surrounding areas, other communities simply do not have the room for such installations. Says Tom, “Many have at least one pond with a big fountain, but no one has as many as we do.”

DREDGING Naturally, with ownership comes responsibility. One of the expenses we face as an association is the imminent need for dredging several of our lakes and ponds. Says Norm, “Over time, the ponds fill up with runoff and silt. This can lead to the clogging of fountains, which are important not only for aesthetics but to keep the water moving.” Shallow water also encourages the growth of unsightly algae, which can negatively impact our fish population.

The committee monitors silt buildup by mapping the subsurface through periodic silt studies. This spring, the volunteers and management staff oversaw our largest dredging project to date at Winter Haven pond. Tom counts the project a success. “It worked out very well,” he says. “We were able to stay on budget. And the complexity of the operation provided an important learning curve we can apply to future dredging projects.”

ONGOING DUTIES Beyond the unique projects the committee is tackling this year, the volunteers oversee many others on an ongoing basis. These include: > Physical inspections of parks and playgrounds on a monthly, rotating schedule to identify maintenance issues and opportunities for expanding or upgrading. > Budgeting Repair & Replacement funds and appropriating money for ongoing maintenance of all assets. > Conducting periodic fish studies with a vendor partner and analyzing the results to determine the health of our fish population. > Surveying residents as needed to determine homeowner satisfaction and learn opportunities for improvement at our amenities.

UPCOMING PROJECTS Next up, the Amenities Committee is excited to oversee a pilot program to save money and improve the quality of our bass for our sporting fishermen. Rather than purchasing tilapia yearly as feeder fish,

the volunteers are looking to install fish feeders to strengthen our bluegill population. We anticipate the first fish feeders will serve the ponds in Wellington. The committee will work with our vendor partners to ensure the program meets its goals before installing more elsewhere.

THE GOAL The primary goal of all this oversight is to twofold. First, we hope to enhance the quality of life for residents by providing many active lifestyle opportunities. This is one reason why Tom purchased a home here, and it serves as the inspiration for his volunteer service. “I appreciate what we have in Stonebridge Ranch,” he says. “It’s unique, and I like having an active part in caring for it and adding to it.”

Homeowner Betty Timmerman echoes the sentiment. “The Stonebridge Ranch pickleball courts are our favorite amenity by far. They afford my husband and me a chance to exercise, and we’ve met fellow neighbors. We get to be outdoors, soaking up the beautiful weather on most days.”

Her extended family benefits as well. Says Betty, “We introduced our children and grandchildren to pickleball, and they are now regularly playing and enjoying the game. It’s great to see three generations interacting and having fun.” She adds, “For the past five years, our grandchildren have also loved going to the small park near our house. It’s so nice to be able to walk there and not deal with all the buckle-up required with car seats. And everyone we meet there is so Texas friendly. Moving from the Northeast to Stonebridge Ranch has been one of our best decisions in life.”

Beyond the enjoyment felt by current residents, the chance to access our amenities continues to draw prospective residents to our community. Whether a household chooses to use our amenities or not, they are an important factor in keeping our property values high.

As one homeowner noted in response to a 2019 Amenities Survey, “Although our household doesn’t use the amenities that often, I think it’s VERY important to have them available for those who do want to use them. And it’s important to our property values to have those amenities built into our community.” ◀

If you own a dog here in Stonebridge Ranch, what does it mean to you to be responsible? It’s a question worth asking because the most common pet complaints we hear at the association office relate to dog ownership.

While many pet owners consider their animals to be members of the family, the benefits of living with a pet don’t necessarily extend to one’s neighbors. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to ensure our fur babies don’t inconvenience others.

LEASH LAW 101 The City of McKinney leash ordinance states that “all pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet when in public places.” This requirement applies even in open green space owned by the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA). Tempting as it may

Please help us maintain the cleanliness of Stonebridge Ranch by always picking up after your pet.

Twenty years ago JR & I started Ben Franklin Plumbing. We want to celebrate our 20th Anniversary by giving back to the friends that have supported us over the years. We know YOU are the HEROES in our community. You work hard to provide for your families, help with homework, drive the carpool, coach the sports teams & support the many charities in McKinney. When plumbing problems appear you just want someone you can trust to get in quick, fix the problem and restore your family back to normal. A company that will protect your family and your investment.

20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL! All Stonebridge Ranch residents get a FREE Ben Franklin Society membership - a $199 value! PLUSyou’ll get a FREE PEST INSPECTION from our newest company Buckaroo Pest Protection

• 15% Discount Up to $300 PER TASK • Priority Booking & Discounted Trip Fees • Safety Check on Water Heater • Free Inspection of Sewer Line • Cannot Be Applied to Prior Work • Cannot Be Used With Other Discounts or Coupons If you are already a member we’ll credit your account upon renewal. Everyone Wins! Thank you again for your loyalty and support through the past twenty years and may God richly bless you in 2020! Drop me an email if you have any questions.

Keresa@benfranklinplumbing.com CALL (940) 468-1776 and ask for the STONEBRIDGE BSA!* *Offer for current Stonebridge Ranch Residents only. be, for the safety of all: do not permit your dog offleash to play in common area.

Why? No matter how well-trained your dog, animal behavior is unpredictable. Further, it is impossible to know what might be coming around the next corner. From one second to the next, your dog might be in close contact with residents who are exercising, domestic or wild animals, or fast-moving bicyclists or motorists. Keeping your dog on leash can protect your dog and others from injury.

THREE CHEERS FOR TRAINING Walking obediently on leash does not come naturally to many dogs. And when dogs meet on-leash, it’s rarely on their own terms. The Animal Humane Society reports that “when off-leash and in their own environment, dogs naturally greet from the side (in an arc) and sniff... They don’t approach head-on and make hard eye contact unless a fight is about to start.”

When meeting other dogs or new people on the sidewalk—head-on and while restrained—some pups react with over-excitement, anxiety, or even aggression. Because you can’t control the training of

other dogs, your best chance for a calm walk is to train your own dog well and to give strangers space when you see them coming. There are many online and professional resources to help owners and pups master this vital—and required—skill.

CLEAN UP Unfortunately, we hear reports of dog owners who disrespect their neighbors’ lawns by leaving their pet’s waste matter on private property. Such behavior can damage the camaraderie in a neighborhood.

We ask all resident dog owners: please don’t leave your pet’s waste for others to smell, step in, or pick up for you. This includes in green belt areas and landscaped and mulched beds adjacent to walkways.

The City of McKinney notes other reasons for dog owners to be vigilant: “Cleaning up after your pets reduces odors, insects, transmission of diseases, and it keeps stormwater drains and local water systems free of pollutants.”

MITIGATE BARKING Due to COVID-19, we have more residents than ever working from home. Stonebridge Ranch is also home to many young families with children who take naps during the day. Maintaining peace and quiet by preventing incessant barking is a sure way to strengthen your relationship with your neighbors.

Have you ever had a frank conversation with your nearest neighbors (including those behind you) regarding the behavior of your dogs? If not, you might find it surprising. Your neighbors can help you identify barking patterns you may be unaware of when you are away from home. Knowing your dog’s patterns is the first step to finding a solution if your neighbors identify a barking problem.

THANK YOU To every dog owner in Stonebridge Ranch, we celebrate the beautiful bond you have with your pet! We thank you for every action you take so that your neighbors can enjoy your dog’s presence in our community, too. ◀

i www.mckinneytexas.org/1559/Responsible-PetOwnership ii www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/managingleash-reactive-dog Shipping • Packaging • Mailbox Rental • Banners Notary • Passport Renewals • Printing • Faxing

214-592-0855 6710 Virginia Pkwy., Suite 215 • McKinney, TX 75071