February News from Your HOA

on a first-come, first-served basis. There website is www.willowforkdrainagedistrict.com/parks-trails/willow-fork-park.

THE MOST COMMON REASONS A MODIFICATION REQUEST IS DENIED

Cinco Ranch receives a considerable amount of modification requests each month.

Unfortunately, many are rejected for a variety of reasons. The majority are rejected due to homeowners failure to provide all of the requested information needed to process a modification request. The most common reasons for denial of a modification request are:

• Failure to include a copy of the homeowner’s lot survey showing your home before the modification(s) is started and a separate lot survey showing the exact placement of the proposed modification.
• Failure to mark on the survey exactly where the modification intends to occur or be located. The Modification Committee must confirm you are not building anything in an easement or, if your modification request encroaches on the utility easements, you have obtained the necessary approval letters from the various utilities. (You can call 811 and have someone come out to mark where the gas lines, electrical lines and any other utility or pipeline is located.)
• Not being specific about the location for the modification request or replacing something and not being specific what the replacement is. For example, you want to remove a tree and replace it with another tree. Stating “it will be replaced with a tree from the approved tree list” is not sufficient. You must identify the type of tree you intend to place the tree with. Another example: We are installing a basketball goal and it will either go on the right side of the driveway in “x” spot or on the left side of the driveway in “y” spot. You must be specific or risk your modification request denied.
• Failure to include pictures of your home showing the area you are planning to modify. For instance, you want to replace your front door. The Modification Committee must see what your current front door looks like. The Committee also needs to see a photograph of your home to determine if the modification request is harmonious with your home, the neighborhood and Cinco Ranch.
• Failure to provide a through description of the product you intend to use. For example, you want to install a basketball goal. The Modification Committee needs to verify it complies with Cinco’s Residential Design Guidelines and Architectural Guidelines and Supplemental Architectural Modification Guidelines. The Committee is required to review the measurements, the color, what it is made of, etc. (See pages 16-17 of the Cinco Architectural Modification Guidelines, effective 2020).
• Failure to submit paint samples or the brand of paint and the color name for the paint currently on your home or, if you are changing color, the information for the new color if you are painting the outside of your home or your windows. Again, the Modification Committee must confirm the new color will be harmonious. (See page 11 of the Cinco Residential Architectural Modification Guidelines, effective August 2020).
• Failure to review the guidelines for pools. Pop-up drains are not permitted. Also, construction access via Association Property is strictly prohibited. (See pages 13 -15 of the Cinco Residential Architectural Modification Guidelines, effective August 2020. Also, see page 15 of the Residential Design Guidelines, effective 2004).
• Failure to review the guidelines for Gazebos, Arbors, Pergolas and Covered Patios. Metal or Poly roofs are NOT permitted. PVC coated wood products are also NOT permitted. (See pages 17-19 of the Cinco Residential Architectural Modification Guidelines, effective August 2020.)
• Failure to verify children’s play structures meet Cinco’s guidelines. (See page 15 of the Cinco Residential Architectural Modification Guidelines, effective August 2020.)

As a general rule, if you are doing ANYTHING on the OUTSIDE of your home, whether it is the front side or back of you home, such as painting (even if you are painting it the same color), replacing the roof, replacing or removing a tree, adding an addition to your home, building an outdoor kitchen, installing a pool, replacing a fence, etc., you must first file a modification request AND obtain approval PRIOR to you starting your project and making any changes.

Remember, starting a modification before obtaining approval could result in a maximum fine up to $5,000 AND a Cease and Desist Order. Changing what you are doing after you receive an approved request is the same as starting a modification without first obtaining approval. The Association MAY require site inspections for modification compliance.

The Modification Committee wants to approve all modification requests, but is unable to do so when the homeowner fails to provide the information requested on the Modification Request Form or the proposed modification does not meet Cinco Ranch’s Guidelines Typically, this is due to either the homeowner not reading or understanding Cinco’s Guidelines. The Committee members who review your modification requests have a fiduciary duty to enforce the Cinco Guidelines as they are the “laws” that govern are community.

The Guidelines can be found at www.cincoranch.life under the Information tab and then look under Home Improvements.

Please help the Modification Committee help you to obtain approval of your request so that your project may be started and completed in the time frame you had hoped for.

If in doubt, please contact the Cinco Management Office at 281-599-0408 to confirm if you are required to file a Modification Request for your project. It is best to know up front than learning after the fact that you may have to put it back to the way it was or be required to re-do it.

FREE SERVICES

FREE NOTARY
The Cinco Management Office located at 3022 Windemere Park Lane; three (3) blocks north of Cinco Ranch Blvd, on Westheimer Parkway, offers free notary services for Cinco residents, Monday-Friday during office hours. It is best to call first to confirm the notary is in the office at the time you wish to go there. The phone number for the Management Office is 281-599-0408.

FREE SHREDDING
Vanish Document Shredding, located at 4846 Cranswick Rd. (near Blalock Rd & Katy Freeway &Hempstead Rd.), will shred boxes of paper for free on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-5 PM. DROP OFF ONLY-NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY. Vanish also do free drop off shredding for large commercial 50+ boxes by appointment. They prefer you take your boxes back with you instead of leaving the empty boxes. A tip for the person shredding your documents is greatly appreciated. They did unload the eight (8) boxes from my vehicle when I used them. There was a short line waiting to enter inside the fence to unload the boxes when I went. (Pam Stewart) Vanish’s phone number is 713-682-6474.

ACCOUNT NUMBER REQUEST FOR CINCO SPIRIT

Cinco Ranch has joined Town Square! This portal allows our residents to view their account, message the HOA team directly, submit their applications online and so much more.

In order to sign up with Town Square, our homeowners will need to know their account numbers. To get your account number, please go to our website at www.cincoranch.life then click on “Contact Us” on the top right corner of the screen. In the following page, select to send the message to the Management Team from the drop-down menu and enter in the rest of your contact information in the following boxes. In the final box, “How can we assist you?” please let us know you need your account number.

Our office will respond in the order the requests are received by the end of the following business day.

CINCO RESIDENTIAL MODIFICATION REMINDER

Hello Cinco Community,
We appreciate our residents and staff working together to maintain property values and comply with our Governing documents. We have a beautiful community, because every homeowner understands it is their responsibility to maintain their home.

Residents considering making modifications or construction to the front or rear exterior of the home, must obtain written approval from the Architectural Modification Committee prior to work being performed. Our website, www.cincoranch.life provides a hyperlink to a fillable form under Information/Home improvements. Please be mindful that all applications must be completed in accordance to the guidelines and requirements. This is essential to successfully process the applications. Incomplete applications will be returned to the resident to resubmit and will create unnecessary delay.

FT. BEND COUNTY - LEASH LAW

CINCO RANCH LADIES CLUB

The Cinco Ranch Ladies Club (CRLC) is a 501(c)4 providing residents in Katy and surrounding cities with activities, both social and charitable. We designate charities each year as recipients for our fundraising events. We typically meet each month as an entire club at The Golf Club at Falcon Point at 7 PM to partake in themed events such as a Chili Cook Off, Halloween Party, Craft Fairs, Silent Auction, Line Dancing, Self--Defense Class, Favorite Things Exchange and Luau.

We also offer about 22 sub-clubs that each meet once a month on a small scale in residents homes, businesses, restaurants and walking trails. Generally annual dues are $40 for all the social and charitable fun, but annual dues are waived for the 2020-2021 year, due to Covid.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cincoranchladiesclub 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CincoRanchLadiesClub 
Website: www.CincoRanchLadiesClub.org 
Marketing Board Member, Holly Heath (cincoranchladiesclub@gmail.com)

CINCO RANCH MOMS CLUB

Whether you are new to the neighborhood or have lived in Cinco Ranch for years, consider getting involved and adding to your network of friends and families! Playgroups are organized by age and there are also pool playdates and group events open to all. To get involved, visit: https://sites.google.com/site/cincoranchmomsclub or email: cincoranchmomsclub@gmail.com.