School is back in session for many folks so it is an excellent time to do a check-in with our community about a few different topics.
Bus Safety
Children and teens are heading to bus stops in the morning or returning in the afternoons. Please reduce speeds and leave the buses adequate room to maneuver through our community. Vehicles should be parked in driveways when possible and away from intersections.
Camper/RVs
As a reminder, campers and RVs are NOT permitted to be stored on driveways or parked on lawns. According to the community handbook these vehicles are permitted on property only for the purposes of setup/cleanup and no longer than 48 hours.
Recreational and Commercial Vehicles, Trucks, and Trailers: Parking and Storage
No recreational or commercial vehicles, trucks, campers, and trailers shall be parked or stored on a homeowner’s property unless such vehicle is always stored within the homeowner’s garage (Quitclaim Deed 5.12). Recreational vehicles may remain long enough to prep for use and storage but shall not exceed a forty-eight (48) hour period. (adopted 5/2022) Vehicles may not be parked in the lawn.
Pets
Animals feces invites pests and spread disease. Please be sure to curb your pets at all times and dispose of pets waste in your own receptacles. Pets are subject to City of Columbus code enforcement. Homeowners with concerns about pets should contact Columbus 311 or the Columbus Police Non-Emergency Line (614 645 4545) to report any code enforcement concerns.
Vermin
Many folks may have noticed that the grassy hillside along Alton-Darby was recently mowed. This is because there was found to be a large rats nest on the property with nearby homeowners being affected. The property is owned and maintained by the city and the city has taken efforts to remediate the issue. To ensure this issue is fully remedied all homeowners are strongly encouraged to:
1. Ensure all waste is properly bagged and disposed of in green waste containers.
2. Make sure waste containers are fully closed so animals cannot enter the bins.
3. Clear outdoor spaces of all food-stuffs after entertaining to ensure animals are not attracted to the scent.
Homeowners that notice continued vermin issues are encouraged to reach out to the City of Columbus for investigation and follow-up.
Community Park
Please follow all the posted rules at the community park and be respectful of the neighboring properties while using the park grounds.
The trash can at the park was recently overflowing with waste. Please trash in/trash out as much as possible – especially pet waste. Overflowing the bin and leaving pet waste bagged on the ground is not acceptable.
As a reminder, the park trash can is emptied once a week by the landscaping crew during the mowing season. During the “off season” this is emptied by neighbors into their personal bins. Let’s all do our part to keep the park clean for everyone.
Leaf Removal
As fall approaches and leaves start, please be sure to bag leaves for yard waste pickup. Blowing leaves into the roadway is not acceptable and often creates issues for other neighbors. Leaving leaves on sidewalks can lead to a slippery mess when fall rain hits. Please remove these leaves and bag as appropriate. Yard waste bags should be screened from view until the pickup day.
Community Standards
As a reminder – the community standards for exterior improvements and property maintenance have not changed within our community. Homeowners are expected to abide by all the rules and guidelines listed in VAT_HOA_Handbook v8.0 – February 2026 as well as all City of Columbus code requirements.
While we understand that lawn mowing has been a moving target with recent rain – homeowners are still expected to keep lawns and flower beds maintained as appropriate. As there are several newer homeowners in our community a quick reference standards include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Regular mowing and weed and dead plant removal from lawns and flower beds (Page 29)
2. Trash and recycling receptacles as well as yard waste bags, screened from view at all times (Page 27)
3. Submission of a Request for Review Application for exterior improvements (Pages 18-19)
4. Removal of holiday-specific decorations within four (4) weeks after the holiday and seasonal decorations are limited to their season
While this is not the entirety of our community standards this does cover many of our “frequently cited” issues. We encourage all homeowners to take time to review our community handbook and ensure that they are familiar with the rules and guidelines of the community. Our property management company makes regular reviews of our community and will issue notices to homeowners found in violation of handbook guidelines.
Should homeowners spot violations they are concerned about within the community they can report them directly to the Board using the form at the end of the handbook or report them directly to our Property Management company, Towne Properties, for follow up. Contact information is listed below:
Towne Properties
777A Dearborn Park Lane
Worthington, OH 43085
Office – (614) 781- 0055
Association Contact – Vicki Smith
Email- [email protected]
We appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep our community beautiful and wish our community a wonderful start to the school year and a vibrant fall season.