Splashing New Trends

Whether it’s time to overhaul an aging pool or add a new one, choosing the features is bound to be a hot topic. Do you build a separate wading pool or include a large zero entry area? What about a built-in or separate splash pad? Diving board, sliding board, climbing walls, lazy river, tanning ledge, sitting shelf, shade structures… the list is endless. While much of the project will be budget driven, some of the latest, most popular trends may help you narrow down the options. The most popular feature, whether as part of a new facility or refurbished, is a splash pad. Some are incorporated into a large, zero-entry area of the main pool and include waterfalls and lighting. Others are separate and include elements to entertain. Hilton Head Plantation POA included a splash pad when they built a new complex in 2016, that incorporates music and timed water streams for interactive play. Whether splashing in or out of the main pool, these new pads are replacing the traditional wading pool.

Existing wading pools are being repurposed not only into splash pads but also waterplay areas for all. In 2020, Broadlands Association in Virginia converted three wading pools into a 20’ x 40’ recreation pool with volleyball and basketball. GM Sarah Gerstein shared the “area that was totally underutilized is now thoroughly enjoyed by a wide variety of ages”. Large, zero-entry areas (gentle slope instead of steps) are also replacing the traditionally separate shallow pools. Instead of having to potentially move between two pools, parents can relax in the zero-entry area of the main pool with younger children while still being able to maintain a watchful eye on their older kids,” says Brett Hamilton, Operations Manager of Lake Linganore Association.

Another big hit seems to be the sitting or tanning shelf. Some are narrower for simply sitting in the water around the edge while others are much wider and allow for lounge chairs to sit down in the water. They allow members to enjoy being in the water while reading a book, sunning themselves, watching their children play or simply easily reaching for a beverage. These shelves can also incorporate another trending feature which is shade structures.

In addition to the obvious benefit of reduced UV exposure and nice aesthetics, shade structures also provide many other advantages to a community pool complex. They help keep tables, chair arms, and equipment surfaces cooler helping to reduce the chance of burnt fingers, feet, and arms. They can also extend the useful life of your equipment and amenities. Over time, with constant exposure, fabric, plastic, composite, and other materials may fade, deteriorate, crack, and warp faster. This not only speeds up the need for replacement, but it can also expose sharp edges and metal surfaces and cause injury. So, keeping them under shade can be helpful and useful in many ways.

Balancing the needs and desires of your members along with your reserve budget will certainly help your community decide the overall scope of your project, but with so many options, it may be hard for members and Boards to fine tune the details. There’s nothing wrong with leaning on the experience of others to help narrow the options. So, are any of these trendy features right for your community?

Written by: Michelle Jones, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager, Lake Linganore Association gm@lakelinganore.org

Maryland Legislative Update

Once again the Maryland legislature had a busy legislative session and kept CAI’s Maryland Legislative Action Committee (“LAC”) busy as well. The LAC monitored, supported and opposed many bills. The following is a summary of legislation that passed and will go into effect on October 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted:

House Bill 90 addresses invasive bamboo and authorizes counties and municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate invasive bamboo, which may include prohibiting a person from selling it, planting it, or allowing it to grow without proper upkeep and containment measures. It also authorizes counties and municipalities to establish civil fines and other enforcement measures for violations of the ordinances.

House Bill 98/Senate Bill 403 modified the insurance requirements for residential condominiums and made a distinction between attached or multifamily condominium units and detached condominium units. When it comes to detached condominium units, the condominium’s council of unit owners is only required to obtain and maintain insurance covering the common elements and the owner of the detached unit is required to carry insurance covering the entirety of the unit. Prior to the modifications imposed by this bill, the council of unit owners was required to maintain insurance covering the unit, excluding betterments and improvements installed by unit owners other than the developer.

House Bill 505/Senate Bill 198 addresses elevator safety and requires the registration of an elevator in a privately owned single-family dwelling with the Maryland Commissioner of Labor and Industry prior to placing the elevator in service. This bill goes into effect July 1, 2023.

House Bill 830 requires any new construction of singlefamily detached houses, duplexes and townhouses that include a garage, carport or driveway to include the installation of one electric vehicle charging station or a dedicated electric line of sufficient voltage to support the installation of an electric vehicle charging station. The bill also requires the Maryland Energy Administration to study the cost of requiring newly constructed multifamily residential buildings to include electric vehicle charging stations and the cost to retrofit existing multifamily residential buildings with electric vehicle charging stations. The study must also determine the appropriate ratios of electric vehicle charging stations to dwelling units based on the estimated number of electric vehicles that will be on Maryland roads each year from 2024 through 2050, and options for paying for vehicle charging directly at the stations or through rent, condominium fees or homeowners association fees. The Maryland Energy Administration must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor on or before December 1, 2023.

House Bill 844 requires the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to establish and maintain a website that provides information on the rights and responsibilities of residents living in a common ownership community, along with hyperlinks to the websites of each local common ownership community program in the state, and hyperlinks to statewide legislation regarding the rights and responsibilities of residents living in a common ownership community.

Senate Bill 106/House Bill 42 addresses exemptions from judgment executions and exempts up to $500 in a deposit account held by a debtor in a bank, credit union, trust company, or savings and loan association. The exemption applies separately to each depository institution. A writ of garnishment to a depository institution must contain certain notices regarding the exemption.

House Bill 1292/Senate Bill 970 requires certain highrise buildings, beginning July 1, 2023, to have automatic smoke alarms installed in each public corridor accessible by units. In addition, by January 1, 2033, each high-rise building, regardless of the date of construction, shall have an automatic sprinkler system installed, except for buildings where each unit has exterior exit access as provided in the NFPA 101:Life Safety Code. If a high-rise building is not protected with an automatic sprinkler system, each unit must be equipped with a fire extinguisher. In addition, beginning on July 1, 2023, the owner of a high-rise building that is not protected with an automatic sprinkler system must comply with certain notice requirements and post conspicuous notices at all main building entrances that the building is not protected by an automatic sprinkler system and is required to have an automatic sprinkler system by January 1, 2033. The Department of Housing and Community Development, in coordination with the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, shall identify funding sources to assist the owners of high-rise buildings in installing the automatic sprinkler systems.

Senate Bill 535 addresses housing discrimination and prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing to a person with a disability who has a service dog. The bill amended existing law to define and address service dogs. A service dog is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. A service dog does not include a dog that only provides emotional support or that is meant to deter crime. A disabled person who has a service dog cannot be required to pay additional rent or fees for the service dog, must be exempt from any prohibition of keeping dogs, and may keep a service dog in the dwelling for the life of the service dog even after its retirement from service.

If you have questions or comments, please contact CAI’s Government and Public Affairs team at government@ caionline.org.

Written by: Judyann Lee, Esq. Partner at McMillan Metro, P.C. jlee@mcmillanmetro.com

Community Management Corporation (CMC) proudly announces the promotion of: Heather McGeeney, PCAM, to Vice President, Maryland Division

Karen Fooks, PCAM, to Maryland Division Director

Cheryl Butler-Walker, PCAM, to Maryland Division Director, Prince Georges Region. All bring collectively over 50 years of Community and Condo Management experience and a wealth of knowledge and leadership to CMC’s Maryland Team.