ALERT: There is currently a sinkhole in the turf near the sewer at the park. This space is marked off with caution tape and parties have been notified to address the issue.
PLEASE USE CAUTION AT THE PARK AND OBEY THE CAUTION TAPE THAT HAS BEEN PLACED. DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY IN OR NEAR THE AFFECTED AREA WITHOUT SUPERVISION.
As a reminder – all children at the park under the age of 14 require supervision per the posted park rules.
Hello Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone for their continued patience as we navigate our transition to Towne Properties. This week it came to light that a few homeowners have had issues logging in to the Towne website/app owing to some confusion about which login/app to use as well as account statements showing incorrect balances.
To clarify see the instructions below:
Logging in via the Towne Properties website
NOTE – In order to begin the registration process homeowners will need to complete the Owner/Occupant Information Request form that was provided in the welcome packet and return to Lexi Scott ([email protected]). Lexi will then make sure your email address is entered into the portal and that will generate a unique link for homeowners to use to complete their registration. Once this step is completed use the following instructions for future logins.
Step 1 – Visit https://www.towneproperties.com/ – Click on LOGIN and then select HOA/COA Login. Log in using the credentials previously established.
Failure to login with the HOA/COA Login type may result in you not having access to the appropriate features and payment options. From this login you can select “Make Payments” to pay your HOA dues online. See further in this post for all account payment options.
Logging in via the Towne Properties app
NOTE – There are two separate Towne Properties apps available in the app store. Please make sure to select the Towne Properties HOA/COA app.
Once logged in you should have the same features as the Towne Properties website.
Account Statements/Invoices
Account statements/invoices were mailed last week and should be received this week. The Board has put in a place a grace period as we know this is after the standard February 1st due date. We appreciate homeowners addressing these invoices in a timely manner and thank homeowners who have already completed their payments.
There is a currently a known issue that caused the statement balances to show up incorrectly. Our dues have not changed for 2026 and the dues for this year are $315. If your statement reads $630, please disregard the $630 total – you can still use the payment slips provided if mailing a personal check. Simply make sure you check/payment is for $315.
Should you note any other errors in your invoice, please reach out to Lexi Scott ([email protected]) with Towne to clarify the issue. Again, we appreciate your patience as we ensure all homeowner records are up to date and accurate.
Please note the grace period only applies for this year as we transition to a new property manager. The due date of February 1 will remain going forward.
Account Payment Options
There are four account payment options and these are outlined below. Two of these options will incur a nominal fee that is assessed and collected by the payment processor – this is not a payment to Towne Properties or to the HOA. The options which incur these fees are noted below.
Option 1: Personal Check – Homeowners can submit their dues payments via personal check however they will need to wait on mailing payment until the payment coupon is received. These are mailed separately from the Towne welcome letter and should arrive this week.
Option 2: Bank Online Bill Pay – Homeowners can submit via their personal bank’s online bill pay service.
To complete payment via your personal bank bill pay please be sure to complete payment with the following information:
NOTE: You will need to have your Towne Properties welcome packet available to reference your property account number that starts with the letter T.
Option 3: Credit/Debit Card – This is handled via the Towne Properties homeowner portal. Details are found below and in the welcome packed that was mailed out. This method will incur an additional processing charge.
Once logged in to the Towner Properties homeowner portal click on the “Pay Now” link which will redirect to allow entry of card details.
Option 4: ACH/echeck – This is also handled via the Towne Properties homeowner portal and their payment partner Alliance Bank. Details are found below and in the welcome packed that was mailed out. This method will incur an additional processing charge.
In order to setup a bank account/ACH payment profile you will need to have your Towne Properties welcome packet available to reference your unique property account number that starts with the letter T#######. The management company ID for Towne Properties is 6883. The Association ID is 8582. Also required: Bank routing information and bank account number for the funding bank/account.
Bank account information can be entered by clicking on “ECheck/ACH” which will redirect to an additional portal via Western Alliance Bank. Homeowners will need to create a login on the banks website to enter the appropriate account information and schedule payment.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Have dues increased?
No, there is no dues increase for 2026. Dues remain at $315/year.
What can be done via the Resident Portal with Towne Properties?
This portal can be used to communicate directly with the property manager for any community concerns. Residents may also submit these requests via the ThornappleAssociation.org/contact form that we currently use.
Am I required to use the Towne Properties portal to submit my payment?
No. Homeowners can submit dues payments in the 4 different ways noted above. Two are via the Towne Properties portal, one via personal check, and one via your banks online bill pay.
VAT Community Handbook Updates
new language indicated in italics
page 21
Exterior House Colors and Maintenance* Request to Review Required (even same color)
Signs of necessary maintenance include but are not limited to weathered or faded appearance; peeling paint; warped, split, or rotted wood or seals; unpainted or untreated wood surfaces; knot holes; torn screens; fogging windows; or mildew. Exterior house colors shall be of neutral and subdued tones and selected from the VAT Exterior Color Palette, which may be found at www.thornappleassociation.org, Architectural Design.
page 24
Gardening, Landscaping, Building Material and Equipment, and Storage Containers
Gardening, landscaping, building material, including but not limited to mulch, topsoil, gravel, masonry, and lawn treatment material and equipment shall be stored in the garage or 100% screened from view. Storage containers may not exceed 5’ x 2’ x 30” and 100% screened from view. Bulk material, including pallets of bagged mulch, shall be removed within thirty (30) days from the date of delivery.
page 24
Mailbox and Mailbox Post/Newspaper Receptacles
The homeowner is responsible for the replacement and repair of the mailbox post and newspaper receptacle unit and mailbox as well as conformity with U.S. Postal Services regulations for height and location. The Association will paint mailbox posts every three (3) years. (adopted 6/2024)
page 27
Solar Energy System- * Request to Review Required
page 28
Windows * Request to Review Required
Window seals and screens shall be routinely maintained and repaired or replaced. Signs of necessary maintenance include but are not limited to fogging; torn, weathered or faded appearance; warped, split, cracked, or rotted seals. (adopted 2/2026)
Just a reminder that tomorrow is our annual meeting. Details are listed below:
DATE: Saturday, February 7th, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
LOCATION: Prairie Township Community Center
5955 West Broad Street
Galloway, OH 43119
We look forward to seeing you there!
Hello Neighbors,
The first major snowfall of 2026 is shaping up to be the stuff of legend.
A few reminders as we go into this wintry weather weekend:
1. Leave room for the plows!
Residents are strongly encouraged to park in garages and driveways this weekend. This will make sure that plows have space to maneuver and place snow. Homeowners that need to leave vehicles parked on roadways should make sure vehicles are parked as close to the curb as possible.
2. Snow, snow, snow everywhere!
When plows come through snow is placed where it can be placed. This may require mailboxes and driveway aprons to be cleared multiple times. Please be sure to place removed snow away from roadways. Also, assistance in keeping storm drains clear will greatly improve community safety once warmer weather returns. Heavy snowfalls will mean even higher snow drifts than are typical. Please exercise caution while walking and driving through the community. Children and pets enjoying the winter weather plus vehicles on potentially slick roadways are a dangerous combination.
3. Snow removal is hard work!
If shoveling snow is your workout for the weekend please be sure to take extra care of yourself. Intense cold combined with the exertion of lifting heavy snow can put immense strain on your heart and muscles! Make sure to warm up muscles by stretching prior to going outside, take your time (and frequent breaks!), push don’t lift snow whenever possible, be sure to dress for the weather – especially with a warm face covering and stay hydrated!
Should you fell unwell – stop immediately! Call your doctor or 911 as appropriate.
4. Look out for your neighbors!
Frigid temperatures plus potential high snowfall amounts make this a perfect time to check in on your friends and neighbors to ensure folks are taken care of. The best time to do this is prior to the storm by seeing if anyone has last minute grocery or pharmacy pickup needs. Don’t forget the four-legged friends too!
5. Watch the headlines and “know before you go”
With potential for snow emergencies or road closures be sure to follow local news outlets for the latest updates on road status, weather reports, and potential event cancelations.
6. Check your batteries, charge your devices, and make sure you have washer fluid/scrapers
This isn’t the time to find out that all the flashlight batteries expired in 2020. Take a minute to make sure you are ready for potential power outages or roadside needs. Charge any electronics you may need and ensure your vehicle is ready to handle slick roadways – top off your fluids, keep safety supplies in your car and don’t forget to put the “good scraper” in your car.
We hope everyone has a safe and warm wintry weather weekend.
Hello Homeowners,
This week many homeowners began receiving welcome letters from Towne Properties to start the process of establishing their online portal access.
Setting up this access allows homeowners to submit any maintenance concerns and communicate directly with the property manager. This portal also allows homeowners to submit their annual assessment dues payment online, if they wish.
In order to begin the registration process homeowners will need to complete the Owner/Occupant Information Request form that was provided in the welcome packet and return to Lexi Scott ([email protected]). Lexi will then make sure your email address is entered into the portal and that will generate a unique link for homeowners to use to complete their registration.
Some homeowners who were quick to complete this information this week may have had trouble accessing the website site as our community was still being established in their systems. Specifically, there is a known issue that has been causing the ACH/echeck option not to be available on the payment portal. These issues should be resolving however, if you are still having trouble after this weekend, please reach out to Lexi.
There have been a few follow-up questions we would like to answer and clarify for everyone. These are noted below.
How to Access the Resident Portal with Towne Properties
Step 1: Complete the Owner/Occupant Information Request Form mailed by Towne Properties in their welcome packet and return to Towne via to [email protected] or by mail to 777A Dearborn Park Lane, Worthington, OH 43085.
Step 2: Once your email address is entered by Towne homeowners will receive a custom link to complete their registration and access their homeowner profile.
NOTE: This is a unique link the first time you login. Subsequent logins can be done directly from the Towne Properties home page and clicking on LOGIN then HOA Login.
What can be done via the Resident Portal with Towne Properties?
This portal can be used to communicate directly with the property manager for any community concerns. Residents may also submit these requests via the ThornappleAssociation.org/contact form that we currently use.
Have dues increased?
No, there is no dues increase for 2026. Dues remain at $315/year. We encourage homeowners to attend the upcoming annual meeting for more details about current costs for the association.
Am I required to use the Towne Properties portal to submit my payment?
No. Homeowners can submit dues payments in the 4 different ways noted below.
How can I pay my dues?
Homeowners can submit dues payments in 4 different ways – some methods may incur additional charges so please take note.
Option 1: Personal Check – Homeowners can submit their dues payments via personal check however they will need to wait on mailing payment until a payment coupon is received. These are mailed separately from the Towne welcome letter.
Option 2: Bank Online Bill Pay – Homeowners can submit via their personal bank’s online bill pay service. Details on how to complete this payment can be found below to ensure payments are applied correctly.
Option 3: Credit/Debit Card – This is handled via the Towne Properties homeowner portal. Details are found below and in the welcome packed that was mailed out. This method will incur an additional processing charge.
Option 4: ACH/echeck – This is also handled via the Towne Properties homeowner portal and their payment partner Alliance Bank. Details are found below and in the welcome packed that was mailed out. This method will incur an additional processing charge.
Setting up account payment via the Resident Portal with Towne Properties
Once logged in to the Towne Properties portal you will be able to setup your account profile and establish your payment method by clicking on “Make Payments”. There are online options to pay via Credit Card, Debit Card or set up a bank account/ACH payment.
Complete instructions with screenshots are included with the welcome packet.
NOTE: Use of a Credit/Debit Card or bank account/ACH via the Towne Properties website will result in an additional processing fee. To avoid this you will want to either use your bank’s bill pay service OR submit a personal check with a payment coupon which is coming under a separate mailing.
Paying via Credit/Debit Card:
Credit and Debit Card payment can be processed by clicking on the “Pay Now” link which will redirect to allow entry of card details.
Paying via bank account/ACH via Towne Properties:
In order to setup a bank account/ACH payment profile you will need to have your Towne Properties welcome packet available to reference your unique property account number that starts with the letter T#######. The management company ID for Towne Properties is 6883. The Association ID is 8582. Also required: Bank routing information and bank account number for the funding bank/account.
Bank account information can be entered by clicking on “ECheck/ACH” which will redirect to an additional portal via Western Alliance Bank. Homeowners will need to create a login on the banks website to enter the appropriate account information and schedule payment.
Paying via bank online bill pay:
Homeowners may also submit their payment via their banks online bill pay service. To complete payment via your personal bank bill pay please be sure to complete payment with the following information:
NOTE: You will need to have your Towne Properties welcome packet available to reference your property account number that starts with the letter T.
We would like to thank everyone in the community for their patience as the Board and Towne Properties work through this transition. We always welcome feedback to [email protected].
Hello Neighbors,
The Board would like to wish all members of our community a very happy new year!
A letter is currently in the mail to all homeowners outlining some new information for 2026. Below is the full text of this letter as well as a link to a PDF version of this letter.
We ask that all neighbors please read this document thoroughly as it outlines details about our property manager change, annual assessment (dues) invoicing details, as well as details for our upcoming annual meeting.
Any questions can be directed to the Board via email ([email protected]) or neighbors are welcome to bring any questions to the annual meeting.
Wishing everyone a happy 2026. Full text follows below or click here for a PDF.
Annual Meeting Details
The Annual meeting will be held:
DATE: Saturday, February 7th, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
LOCATION: Prairie Township Community Center
5955 West Broad Street
Galloway, OH 43119
Please excuse any formatting issues below.
December 29th, 2025
Dear Homeowners,
We are writing to inform you of an upcoming change in property management for our association.
Sadly, our previous property manager Vida Burns with VB Business Service passed away after a brief illness. We are grateful for the service they provided to the Association, and our thoughts are with their family during this time.
To ensure continuity of operations and support for our community, the Board has appointed Towne Properties as the Association’s new property manager, effective January 1,2026.
What this means for homeowners:
During this transition, the Board will be working closely with the new management company to ensure a smooth handoff and minimal disruption to the Association. As always homeowners are encouraged to reach out to the City of Columbus 311 office with city code related concerns. More information can be found at: https://www.columbus.gov/311-Customer-Service-Center
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period of change. please contact the Board directly via email to [email protected] with any questions.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support of our community.
Sincerely,
2025 Village at Thornapple Board of Directors
The Village at Thornapple Homeowners’ Association
2026 Notice of Annual Meeting
Dear Village at Thornapple Association members,
The Annual meeting will be held:
DATE: Saturday, February 7th, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
LOCATION:
Prairie Township Community Center
5955 West Broad Street
Galloway, OH 43119
The primary purpose of the Annual meeting is to elect Board members. We encourage you to become involved! If you are interested in becoming a Board member please complete the attached form or visit the Association Website, www.thornappleassociation.org , to obtain and submit the forms.
Completed forms should be returned to:
Towne Properties
C/O The Village at Thornapple Annual Meeting
777-A DEARBORNE PARK LANE
COLUMBUS, OH 43085
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to vote for the open Directors’ positions, please complete the enclosed Proxy Form. You may send the completed Proxy Form to the meeting along with your designated representative or mail to our management company.
Please join us at the Annual Meeting!
Thank you,
2025 VAT Board of Directors
[email protected]
The Village at Thornapple Homeowners’ Association
Board of Directors Nomination Form
Job Description: The role and function of the Board of Directors is to manage the business of the Association as defined: financial management, property maintenance, and document enforcement. Please review The Village at Thornapple Homeowners’ Association Community Handbook, 7 Edition, Code of Regulations, Pages 3-11.
| Nominee Information Please print clearly. |
|
| Name | |
| Address | |
| Phone Number | |
| Nominee Experience Please describe your financial, legal, and/or management expertise and how those skills may be applied as a Board Director. Please print clearly. |
Please note: Board Members elected via a Nomination Form are still required to complete the formal Board Member application as well as the Board of Directors Code of Conduct and Board of Directors Responsibilities Forms if elected. These forms can be accessed via the association website or provided upon request or at the Annual Meeting.
Nominee Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ________________________
Annual Homeowners’ Meeting Proxy Form
I, the undersigned homeowner, do hereby constitute and appoint ______________________
(if left blank, the Board President will act as designated representative) for me and in my name, place, and stead, to vote my proxy at The Village at Thornapple Annual Homeowners’ Meeting to be held on ____________________________and at any adjournment thereof, according to the number of votes I now or may be entitled to cast in voting for Directors of the Association, and in the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
This proxy shall expire at the adjournment of said Annual Meeting, or any adjournment thereof.
Homeowner’s Name (Please Print) ____________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________
Homeowner’s Signature___________________________________ Date______________________
*************************************************************************************
Your completed and signed Proxy, Nomination, Board Director Code of Conduct, and Board Director Responsibilities Forms must be postmarked no later than January 15th, 2026.
Please mail to:
Towne Properties
C/O The Village at Thornapple Annual Meeting
777-A DEARBORNE PARK LANE
COLUMBUS, OH 43085
REMINDER – 2025 Annual Meeting
A reminder that our annual association meeting will be taking place this Saturday, February 1st at 1PM at the Southwest Area Library – Westland Branch (4740 West Broad St). Our meeting will take place in the large meeting room – the entrance for this meeting room is to the left of the atrium, just past the first set of doors.
As previously mentioned, Officer Paulus (Columbus Police Department, Community Liaison Officer) will be attending this meeting. As the recent crime has affected more than our community we will opening with his remarks and have invited the adjoining communities in our area to attend.
Once Officer Paulus concludes we will then ask non-VAT association guests to please depart and we will continue with our official association meeting. We ask homeowners who have specific questions about the use of HOA funds to please hold those questions until our official association meeting – as not all attendees may be homeowners within our specific association.
Please note that we are limited to one hour in the room we have reserved so please arrive on time for the meeting. We anticipate that this may be a crowded meeting please plan accordingly.
Join the VAT Board
The association is actively seeking Board Members to join and aid in its governance. A full Board consists of 7 members and currently we have 3 open seats. A background in finance/accounting or business administration would be appreciated but is not necessary.
Serving on the Board is a great way to understand our HOA and its responsibilities more fully, get to know your neighbors, and work toward keeping our community and its assets vibrant for years to come.
Information about serving on the Board can be found our website at:
https://thornappleassociation.org/homeowner-resources/board-of-directors-application/
Applications can be submitted via the webform above or you can download and complete the application online an submit via email to [email protected].
The link to the application follows:
Hello Neighbors,
The Board has confirmed that Officer Paulus, our Columbus Police Community Liaison Officer – WILL be in attendance for our annual meeting this Saturday.
Due to the concerns of our community we will be letting Officer Paulus speak first. We also will be opening this part of our meeting to ALL the Thornapple community attendees (Thornapple Grove, Thornapple Highlands, Thornapple Meadows, Village at Thornapple, and George Fox) who wish to attend.
Once Officer Paulus concludes we will then ask non-VAT association guests to please depart and we will continue with our official association meeting. We ask homeowners who have specific questions about the use of HOA funds to please hold those questions until our official association meeting – as not all attendees may be homeowners within our specific association.
Please note that we are limited to one hour in the room we have reserved so please arrive on time for the meeting. We anticipate that this may be a crowded meeting so please plan accordingly.
Meeting Location:
Southwest Area Library – Westland Branch
4740 West Broad Street
Large Meeting Room – The entrance for this meeting room is to the left of the atrium, just past the first set of doors.
Meeting Time: 1PM
Have a safe week everyone.
Hello VAT Community,
As our community is aware the Thornapple area has experienced an uptick in property related crime in the last year. Multiple homeowners have reported: vehicles break-ins, vehicle burglary, and burglary from front and back yards. This crime has affected many of our interconnected communities: Village at Thornapple/Thornapple Meadows, Thornapple Highlands, Thornapple Grove, and George Fox.
The Board has been in contact with the CPD since these crimes began as well as our Property Manager to make sure all parties are aware of what is happening in our community. The Board understands the frustration that affected homeowners are experiencing – having experienced these crimes first hand as well.
During the Friday to Saturday overnight hours there were several vehicles broken into within our community – windows were smashed and property was stolen. We also understand that nearby business on Fisher Road was affected – with approximately 20 vehicles affected there as well. CPD officers responding to our community indicated that so many vehicles were affected that CPD had to call in assistance from surrounding precincts. They also indicated that the 20 affected vehicles at the business were broken into and robbed in under five minutes.
As previously posted the Board continues to evaluate all options available to us to help deter these types of criminals from our community. We strongly encourage all homeowners who are affected by crime, even if there is no damage or property stolen, to report the crime to the CPD. If you file a police report on the phone or online please inform Officer Paulus (our community liaison officer with the CPD) via email as well. Much like reporting of poor roadways is the best way to get the city’s attention – residents reporting crime and filing police reports will help increase the likelihood of increased patrolling in and near our community.
There have been a variety of suspicious vehicles in the community over the last year. While we would like to think this as one group of criminals, it is likely several or potentially several working in tandem. Homeowners are encouraged to keep an eye out for any suspicious vehicles within our communities.
Suspicious vehicle traits include, but are not limited to:
- We share this information with neighbors for awareness as always your safety is priority one and we urge you strongly to NOT APPROACH suspicious vehicles.
Below we have listed reminders of best safety practices as well as some social media sites/groups that tend to have active (and in some cases real-time) conversation. As a reminder: the VAT Board does not own, administer, or manage any of the content nor access to any Facebook or other social media group. We share this information ONLY to further help keep our community safe. The only official communications from the Board will come from the community newsletter posts or letters/emails sent directly to homeowners. Likewise we encourage any feedback you would like to give the board to be emailed or submitted via contact form on the website.
Best Safety Practices –
Please discuss these with all appropriate members of your family, especially teens and teen drivers.
If at all possible park vehicles in garages where they are most secure.
Locking your vehicle and ensuring that no items are visible is the number one way you can reduce your likelihood of being a victim of these types of crime.
Specifically make sure to remove: loose change, cards, wallets, all bags (backpacks, purses, diaper bags, etc), sunglass cases, etc. Criminals look for these items to make easy money by reselling. To make sure alarms don’t go off they will often break windows to get to these items. Make sure these items are not stored in your vehicles!
For items that are too large to move indoors, like porch/patio furniture, consider using security cables. Ensure all walkthrough gates are locked when possible. Making items harder to steal is an easy way to reduce crime.
Be sure to keep exterior lights on or on timers at night. Make sure motion lights are powered and have functioning light bulbs. Increase the sensitivity of any motion detectors or video cameras on your property to ensure that they are capturing as much video as possible when motion is detected. Some camera systems offer “linked camera” features causing all cameras to record footage even if motion sensors did not activate them. Learn all the tools on your security devices and use them. Add locks to any gates to make removing property from your yard more challenging.
If your property has easily visible sightlines to property you feel is valuable (like patio furniture, gas grills, yard decorations, etc) try to obscure the view by using well placed plants, flowers, and shrubs. This is particularly important for any homeowners on corner lots where more of their property is visible.
If you see anything suspicious in the neighborhood contact the non emergency line at 614 645 4545. Be prepared with as much of a description as you can safely provide – vehicle or clothing descriptions, license plate numbers, vehicle damage, any identifying characteristics can be very useful to police. As always, DO NOT APPROACH ANY SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE OR PERSON. Your safety is paramount.
A quick review of your exterior property will ensure that you are aware of when anything may have been taken as well as give you an opportunity to ensure your safety measures are always in place and working as intended. Reviewing doorbell or other security camera footage may show any suspicious activity even if your home wasn’t directly affected.
Obtaining additional patrols in the area of our community will not happen if there are not documented reports with the Columbus police of any issues. Please take the time to file the appropriate reports at the time of any incidents.
Social Media
While the Board does not manage an official VAT Facebook group there are three unofficial groups we are aware of that are fairly active. We have included their information below for reference, however please note that these groups have their own specific descriptions and intents. Please review all group rules prior to joining/posting.
Village at Thornapple Unofficial Facebook Group – This is a self managed group of neighbors within VAT only.
Thornapple Community Block Watch – This group posts any security concerns within the area. Please note that there is NOT an active meeting/patrolling block watch at this time – however this group is useful to post any security issues/concerns.
Several homeowners may also use Nextdoor where you can indicate that you live in the Village at Thornapple neighborhood and get digests of information similar to Facebook but with a neighborhood and surrounding area focus.
Stay safe neighbors.