Northcliffe

Articles from the October newsletter

Sep 29, 2007

NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING
TUESDAY ?– October 9, 2007 ?– 7 PM
OLD FIRE STATION, 3501 MORNING DRIVE

I want to sincerely thank many of our homeowners who have elected to comply with our Deed Restrictions. Since the middle of March, 2007, 2 of 20 trailers cited remain, 2 of 11 boats cited remain and none of the 4 junk vehicles reported to the City remain. Your cooperation has led to approximately 88% of homes with boats and trailers coming into full compliance with our Deed Restrictions. We know that it is an inconvenience to have to find facilities to properly store these items, but your actions will only serve to make our community more attractive to home buyers and thereby enhance property values. People don?’t want to pay a lot of money for a home on streets filled with boats and trailers sitting in the front yards or driveways. Your willingness to help enhance your community is appreciated immensely! THANK YOU!!

Speaking of ?“Community Beautification?”, we are very fortunate to live in a city that will pick up, or help us dispose of, anything we wish to get rid of, twice a year - AND FOR FREE! We would have to pay BIG BUCKS for this service in many other cities. Here are the City?’s instructions:

The information below was taken directly from the Schertz Website, www.schertz.com:

SCHERTZ FALL CLEAN-UP
OCTOBER 13-28

Fall Clean Up is scheduled for October 13-28 with scheduled curbside pick-up between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drop offs may be made at Bexar Waste's temporary collection point, 2221 F.M. 3009 (Near Live Oak Road) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

During the two-week clean up, the Public Works Department will pick up household waste, such as lumber and general trash as well as white goods, appliances and furniture. Public Works will also do curbside chipping of brush and tree limbs Monday-Friday ?– during Fall Clean Up ?– free of charge. To make an appointment for any of the above services, call Public Works (210-619-1800) at least 24 hours in advance. Collections and chipping will be scheduled first come, first served, and according to zones. Again, you must call and make an appointment.

Appliances delivered to Bexar Waste must have Freon removed prior to delivery. Bexar Waste will not accept appliances that have not had the Freon and Freon tanks removed, and residents must show proof of Freon removal certificate.

Hazardous waste will be accepted on October 20, 21, 27 and 28 ONLY and must be dropped off at the Bexar Waste Collection point. Public Works will not pick up any hazardous waste. Hazardous waste includes (but is not limited to) insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, chemicals, cleaning and bleach products, swimming pool cleaners and chemicals, enamel and latex paints in cans and aerosol dispensers, varnish and stains, paint thinners and removers, and acetone. Empty propane tanks up to seven (7) gallons will be accepted only, if the valve is entirely removed. Mercury will NOT be accepted.

Automotive Hazardous waste includes used oil and filters, batteries and tires. Tires will also be accepted, but only from automobiles and pickup trucks. There is a limit of eight (8) tires per household, and this type of waste will be accepted only on hazardous waste weekends. Tires on rims, or wheels, commercial vehicle tires, tractor tires, and heavy equipment tires will not be accepted.

For more information about the Fall Clean Up and what will and will not be accepted, call Schertz Public Works at 210-619-1800, or Bexar Waste at 210-566-5454.

The Fall Clean Up is restricted to Schertz residents only. A current water bill or tax statement and proper identification are required when making a drop-off.

Schertz is Best City in Texas

I think that we should feel pretty good about the new red, white and blue signs along Country Club Blvd. stating that the City of Schertz is one of the best cities in the US to live and the best in Texas! These banners are found in only one other place in the city, and that is along Schertz Parkway. We should thank Councilman David Scagliola and the City Manager, Mr. Don Taylor for getting that accomplished. It is truly an honor for us.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

HOA Board Elections

Board elections will be held at the October Community Meeting. Please contact a Board Member or attend the meeting if you are interested in becoming a member of the HOA Board. We need homeowners who care about their community and the community of their children.

Community Garage Sale

REGISTER NOW - FALL GARAGE SALE
10/6 - 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
A - L - (830) 609- 0112
M - Z - (830) 214-0320
ONLY $3

When people register and pay their $3 fee, we are providing them with a bright orange 5x7 card (flyer) from The Arc of Texas. The Arc will be driving through our communities (Northcliffe, The Fairways of Scenic Hills, and Whisper Meadow) on Monday, October 8th to pick up items left over from the garage sale. Neighbors must put the orange card or a large note on the items and mark them: "Arc of Texas" in order for the driver to stop and pick up the merchandise. A tax receipt will be provided. There are certain items which are not picked up. Those are listed in the handouts we will provide to neighbors. FYI - Arc of Texas will also be mailing a notice to each member of our community prior to 10/6. Even if someone does not register, they can certainly donate items. For more info call 210-657-9588 or check their web site: www.thearcoftexas.org.

In Sympathy

Our sincerest condolences go out to the family of Maurice Mardis who passed away in August. Maurice and his wife Marsha have been long time residents of Northcliffe and have been very active in our HOA for all of those years.


AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM
Do you want to update your driving skills and knowledge and get an insurance discount at the same time? If the answer is ?“yes?”, here?’s your opportunity. A Driver Safety Program class will be held on Thursday and Friday, October 18th & 19th from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Scenic Hills Lodge.

Attendance at both sessions is required to obtain a certificate. You do not have to be an AARP member to participate. Class materials are supplied by AARP

Developed by AARP for the 50 and over age group, the course is designed to sharpen our driving skills, prevent accidents and keep older drivers on the road longer and more safely. Since Texas law requires all auto insurance carriers to offer a discount on premiums to qualified graduates of this and similar courses, most people are able to save on their insurance premiums.

Attendance at this course will not remove a traffic citation from a driver?’s record. Cost for the course is $10 per person. If you are interested, call John Connolly at (830) 620-5065 and reserve a place.

October 13th Fire Prevention Event

Schertz Fire Department will be at Taylor Made Circle (at the new KB development) to go over fire safety tips.
Brinks Home Security will have batteries to remind neighbors to go home and change their batteries on their smoke alarms. They will information on monitored smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
KB Home will have snacks and sodas.
In the event of a fire, remember time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape first, then call for help. Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed. Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life.
Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

Volleyball & Soccer

Just a reminder to our families and youth that there is now a volleyball net and two small soccer goals on the land behind the ?“Schertz Community Center?” on Morning Drive (the old fire station). You will need to bring your own soccer ball or volleyball.

PARK UPDATE FROM MR. LOGAN
Mr. Logan, the new Director of Parks for Schertz has provided the following update on our park on Cherrytree:

1. Basketball court almost done
2. 2 Playscapes ordered
3. Picnic pavilion to be started soon
4. Additional landscaping to be added

FREE LINE DANCE CLASSES

Classes are at the Old Northcliffe Fire Station on Thursday mornings from 9-12 p.m. through 2007. Basic beginners?’ classes are held on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in Schertz at the Community Center on Schertz Pkwy. These classes are sponsored by the Methodist Health Care System for 55 plus seniors. Please call Dorothy at (830) 606-0501 for further information.

RATES FOR COMMUNITY CENTER, NORTH

People frequently call wanting to know how to rent the old fire station on Morning Dr. which is now the Schertz Community Center North. Call Ms. Sandy Bryant at (210) 619-1601. Below are the current rates for renting it.



Community Citizens Band together to Support Northcliffe Golf Course Zoning

Several weeks ago the City of Schertz notified citizens in our area they were proposing zoning changes in our Northcliffe Community. Every home owner received a map in the mail that

listed the zoning changes. The Zoning for our area was R6 .The R means Residential or in other words only homes can be built in this area. The 6 designates the size of the lots allowed. Sizes of lots range from R1 which is the largest to R7 which is the smallest. . R6 zoning is very appropriate for our community because it most closely matches the size of homes that currently exist here.

The problem that several very astute residents identified with the proposed zoning was that the Northcliffe Golf Course was also given the R6 zoning classification!!! What this meant is that at any given time, a developer could buy the Golf Course and build homes on if the currently owner wanted to sell it. Converting golf courses to residential developments is a trend that is happening across the United States, because the value of land is increasing so rapidly. Currently an acre of land in Northcliffe is selling for $30,000!!!

According to Todd Causey, one of the current owners of the Northcliffe Golf Course, there are no plans to sell the Northcliffe Golf course. That is comforting information, but as we know anything could change. If he did decide to sell there would be nothing stopping a developer from buying it and building homes on it which would be allowed under the R6 Zoning.

Concerned that this could potentially happen, the word went out to as many Northcliffe residents as possible to please try to attend the Schertz Council meeting on 18 September. The goal was to ask Council to rezone the Golf Course with something other than R6 or Residential to assure that homes could never be built on the Golf Course.

The support of the Northcliffe Community was overwhelming.!! We filled a large part of the City Council Chambers. Debbie Bell our HOA President presented the issue to the City Council.

WE WERE A SUCCESS. City Council agreed to change the zoning of the Golf Course to something other than R6, which means that homes can NEVER be built on the Golf Course



2007 NORTHCLIFFE HOA BOARD MEMBERS

Debbie Bell, President (830) 609-1008
Duane McCune, Treasurer (830) 609-0906
Maria Scagliola, Director (830) 606-1130
Gayle Johnson, Director (830) 606-0522
Dan Schwendeman, Director (210) 878-5726
Bud Dieter, Director (830) 624-1404
George Waterman, Director (830) 237-1162

City of Schertz Elected Officials

Mayor: Hal Baldwin (210) 658-6466
Mayor Pro Tem: David Scagliola (830) 606-1130
Council members: John Trayhan (210).566-3522
Tony Wilenchik (210) 945-8438
Michael Carpenter 210) 566-4217
Jim Fowler 210) 658-1442
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Helpful Telephone Numbers

Non-Emergency Police Dept. (210) 619-1200
Non-Emergency Fire Dept. (210) 619-1300
Non-Emergency-EMS (210) 619-1400
G.V.E.C. (M-F 7:30-6:00) (210) 658-7033
New Braunfels Utilities(NBU) (M-F 8-5)
(830) 629-8400
Animal Control (M-F 9-5, S&S 10-3)
(210) 658-6607
Comal Co. Animal Control (M-F 8-5)
(830) 608-2016
Cibolo Post Office (M-F 8-4, Sat. 8-11)
(210) 658-2631
Schertz Post Office
(210) 658-3072
Library (M-Thur. 10-8, F 10-6, S&S 12-6)
(210) 658-6011
Dept of Public Safety Office (M-F 8-5)
(830) 620-3439
Public Works (Shelly Krause)
(210) 619-1800
Schertz Municipal Offices (Hrs. M-F 8-5)
(210) 658-7477
Toll Free: (800) 307-4178
Utility Billing (210) 619-1100
Inspection & Code Enforcement
Shanna O'Brien (210) 619-1771
Tom Eaton (210) 619-1772
Planning & Zoning (210) 619-1750
Municipal Court (Court Clerk) (210) 619-1500
Communications & Media Relations
Brad Bailey (210) 619-1060
Community Services (Gail Douglas) (210) 619-1600

ADVERTISING RATES-

Newsletter advertising rates are:
One liner- $3.00 per line
Business card size $15.00
Quarter page (3?½?” X 4?½?”) $20.00
Half page (7?” X 4?½?” or 3?½ ?“X 9?”) $35.00
Full page (7?” X 9?”) $65.00; Flyer insert $30.00
All prices are for each newsletter published every month. If you would like to advertise in our next newsletter please mail your check and a copy of your Ad to the HOA before the 15th of each month. You may also just mail in your check but email your ad to puttslow@aol.com. All ads must be print ready in exact size.
The Northcliffe HOA reserves the right to accept or reject advertisements. Deadline is October 15th for the November newsletter. For questions call Debbie at: (830) 609-1008