Spring Planting Begins

By Sylvia Robinson, Chair 

As the spring weather blossoms, change is in the air, and the Architectural Review Committee membership is no exception.

Let me begin by thanking our neighbor Ed Green, an experienced construction engineer, for his excellent service on the ARC since its inception in 2021. While we will surely miss Ed, we are pleased to welcome our recently appointed ARC member, Mark Raker. Mark, who studied biomedical engineering, brings a wealth of expertise to the ARC based on his 41 years of experience in facilities design, construction and maintenance with the Community Health Network of Indiana. Thanks very much, Ed, and welcome, Mark.

Alas, with the advent of spring, ARC members have received many questions from neighbors regarding new plantings and home improvements, such as gutter guards and screen porch conversions. ARC members are pleased to answer questions and to assist homeowners in our efforts to facilitate clear communication about the essential elements for preparing a complete and thorough ARC application with supporting documentation that will help the HOA board reach a prompt decision. To that end, in February, ARC received six new applications, and the HOA board approved three applications for homeowners.

The Architectural Request Form, also referred to as the ARC application, is available on the William Douglas website, the Courtyards at Southpoint Slack channel and can be accessed through the newsletter by clicking here. Completed applications and accompanying documents must be submitted to William Douglas directly here.

• Please note: No installation can begin without formal approval from the HOA board.

In addition, please remember that before digging can take place, homeowners are responsible for making sure all utility lines are located and marked. You can apply online by clicking here. This especially is important because timelines for location requests and some rules changed effective Oct. 1, 2025. Therefore, homeowners should check the website to ensure the rules and timing of your application will fit with your desired project.

Moreover, certain items are not marked — such as plumbing lines leading to and from the property or properties that may be impacted by your project — so please be sure you take steps to locate any other buried infrastructure needing protection before you begin your project. This will help you avoid expensive mistakes, which would be the responsibility of each homeowner to fix.

Also, please remember neither the HOA board nor ARC can provide advice or decisions as to whether a proposed application complies with all local ordinances or codes. The obligation for this — including responsibility regarding drainage and/or utilities easements, setbacks or encroachments — rests with the homeowner. 

In closing, I want to thank ARC members, Gwen Bloom, Bruce Buley, Doris Alexander Buley, Art Chambers, Jeff Davidson and Mark Raker, and our HOA board liaison, Jill Pafford, for their diligent efforts and continuing contributions to this effort.