Category: News

Posted on

Reminders – Safety, Campers/RVs, Pets, Vermin, & Community Standards

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.

Posted on

Happy 250th Neighbors!

Happy (almost!) 4th of July!

With America’s 250th birthday celebrations this weekend a few community reminders.

Fireworks
While the state of Ohio allows fireworks – the city of Columbus, where our community resides – does not. Prairie Township and other small municipalities near us have their own laws governing fireworks. So while you may see fireworks from our community – they may be being fired off from areas that are allowed to do so.

Fireworks can pose a hazard to both people and pets as often their debris is carried far from where they are set off. This debris lands on rooftops and in backyards where they can cause damage to homes, people, and pets. Also, veterans and pets can struggle with the loud bangs and pops, especially if spaced out over several hours.

With our community in mind we encourage anyone wishing to see fireworks this 4th of July to do so at any of the community shows nearby. For convenience several are listed below:

City of Columbus – Red, White, & Boom – Friday, July 3rd
City of Hilliard – Freedom Fest – Saturday, July 4th
City of Dublin – Independence Day Celebration – Saturday, July 4th
Grove City – 4th of July Celebration – Saturday, July 4th

Headed out of town for the 4th – check out https://america250-ohio.org/picnic/ for more activities happening all around Ohio this weekend!

Hot Weather
The soaring temperatures this week have made being outdoors challenging for everyone. Please be sure to take regular breaks when working outdoors, stay hydrated, and when possible plan for strenuous activity during the early morning or evening hours when the temperatures (or at least the sun) aren’t quite as intense.

To keep electricity costs from soaring utilize fans throughout your home to keep hot air from “pooling” and make use of blinds and curtains to keep the sun from raising the internal temperatures. Make sure any HVAC filters are clean and run exhaust fans in bathrooms to pull out any trapped warm air. Limiting appliance use (like ovens and stoves) can also help keep homes cooler.

Thankfully the extreme heat should be letting up soon but please take care of yourselves and your neighbors during holiday celebrations this weekend.

Roadway Safety

This summer has had a marked increase in children and teenager operating motorized scooters/bicycles and traditional bikes through the community. We encourage parents to speak with their children/teens about safety on these devices – particularly about how to approach intersections and being sure to stop/yield appropriately to traffic. Helmets should always be worn when riding, especially when riding in busy roadways.

Community Safety
Secure Your Belongings
As always, please be sure to secure all your belongings at night and do not leave items in vehicles. When not in active use keep garage doors closed and bicycles and other kids toys indoors. Crime can happen at anytime but the more steps we can take to prevent it the better. Should you spot anything suspicious in the community please reach out to the Columbus Police department at 614 645 4545. If it is an emergency, please contact 911.

Community Fence and Playground Damage
There has been an increase in damage to our community fence as well as the playground this summer. As a reminder, should damaged be noted please reach out to the Board. The Board has contacted the manufacturers to get the necessary parts for repair but it is a slow process. Anyone seen jumping the fence or intentionally damaging the park surface should be reported to the Board so follow up can be initiated when possible.

Curfew Update
As a final note – the City of Columbus recently passed new legislation regarding the curfew for minors. So parents are aware the new curfew hours are now:
* Children 12 and under are not allowed to be out unsupervised from 9PM to 6AM
* Children 13 – 17 are not allowed to be out unsupervised from 10PM to 6AM
Some exceptions do exist such as teens returning from work/school/church activities, emergencies, and any youth accompanied by an adult. Refer to local news outlets or the City of Columbus for more details related to the new laws and enforcement.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July!

Posted on

Spring Underway – General Maintenance & Park Reminders

Hello Neighbors,

Well it took awhile, but spring has finally sprung in central Ohio!

Several homeowners have been taking on home improvement projects for the year so just a few reminders for the spring and summer months.

Check if your project needs ARC approval BEFORE you start

Many, but not all, exterior home improvement projects may require a Request for Review (RR) application and review from our ARC committee. These applications and their review are what help maintain our community standards. Some of the most popular RR applications we see at this time of year include: fence installations, exterior painting, driveway replacement, and landscaping refreshes.

Please be sure to check the current association homeowner handbook for more details about your upcoming project. ARC has a 30 day review period, though many applications are approved in a shorter period, please include this time in your project timeline. For more details about ARC and the RR application process please visit: https://thornappleassociation.org/architectural-review/ Should you have any questions for ARC you can email them to [email protected]

Trash and Recycling Bins

As a reminder, trash and recycling bins should be screened from view at all times. Leaving bins in front of garage doors or stored along side homes is not acceptable. Bins should be removed from the curbside day of pick-up and stored appropriately. For more details about this please see the handbook and visit our design gallery for helpful images.

Mulch Deliveries

Several homeowners have had bulk or bagged mulch deliveries in recent weeks.  As a reminder these items should be spread in landscaping beds and their trash disposed of as quickly as possible.

Park Reminders

It is lovely to see so many families taking advantage of our community park in recent weeks! A few reminders to ensure a safe and pleasurable time for all the park guests.

  • Anyone under the age of 14 should have a parent or guardian with them at all times while at the park.
    This is to ensure all park rules are being followed and property treated appropriately and safely.
  • Pets should be leashed at all times. 
    Recently there have been concerns about unleashed pets at the park. Pets should be on leash at all times. Please discuss with your family how to stay safe around unfamiliar or unleashed pets.
  • The park is private property and should be treated with respect.
    Climbing on the equipment should be limited to its intended use and climbing on the top of the shelter or park equipment is strictly prohibited. All park rules should be followed at all times. Also please be respectful of the homes along side the park. Children should be encouraged to use all sports equipment appropriately and to keep all sports equipment or toys within the park boundaries at all times.
  • There is no lost and found box at the neighborhood park.
    Keep an eye on your belongings and ensure all personal items are taken when leaving.
  • Please “bring it in, bring it out”.
    The trash can at the park should capture the odd need while folks enjoy the park. This trash can is emptied by your neighbors (in their personal trash cans) throughout the year so please be courteous when throwing away items. Please take empty beverage cups and pet waste bags to your own container to reduce on smell and pests.

We hope everyone is having a great spring and wonderful remainder of the school year.

Posted on

Updates: Roadway Construction, Egg Hunt, Street Lawn Trees

Good Evening Neighbors,

Several updates for this newsletter – please take some time to review.

Roadway Construction
As many folks have no doubt seen – the Thorncrest/Aldengate roadway is currently undergoing construction. We have not been given a firm timeline of when all work will be completed but the current signage is asking drivers to avoid parking on the intended work zones until at least 4/12.

The good news: This is the first project related to roadway resurfacing within our community. We have been told that that the first step in any street resurfacing is bringing crosswalks up to date with ADA standards. Which explains all the sidewalk/crosswalk work. This will be followed with the roadway paving itself.

At this time Thorncrest/Aldengate is the ONLY roadway that had its budget approved and is slated to be resurfaced. However, we have been told by our city contacts that this is a good sign that additional resurfacing in our community is likely to take place in the future. Please keep reporting the street conditions and any potholes to Columbus 311.

The bad news: For the next several weeks we should anticipate at least some chaos with walking and driving through the neighborhood. Please exercise caution when traveling through the neighborhood and keep an eye out for workers and machinery.

Easter Egg Hunt
Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors we are happy to announce we WILL be having our Easter Egg Hunt! This event is rain or shine – so please dress accordingly. The egg hunt is a “blink and you miss it” event so make sure to arrive early! All kiddos will need to “check-in” for the hunt to make sure we get a proper head count.

Event Details:
Saturday April 4th, 1PM at the Community Park. Due to the construction – please use caution when walking to the park!

Please bring your own basket to take home your goodies.

As a reminder this event is open to kids ages 10 and under. Don’t worry parents – the 5 and under crowd always gets a head start. After the hunt we ask parents to please empty the eggshells but please return them closed to the marked bins so they can be reused next year. The Easter bunny will be available for photos so make sure to bring your phones and cameras!

Street Lawn Tree Treatment
In the coming weeks the ash trees that are in street lawns throughout our community will be treated against Emerald Ash Borer. Please keep an eye out for workers and remove any vehicles from roadways as necessary.

With our recent storms we had several downed tree limbs or trees that sustained damage – regardless of tree species. Some trees may now be marked for removal. As a reminder – if you would like to have these trees replaced please reach out to Columbus 311 to request a replacement tree.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Spring!

Posted on

REMINDER – Dues Payments due prior to 3/30

Thank you to everyone who has completed their annual assessment payments this year. We understand that this year was unusual with our unexpected transition to a new Property Manager and are grateful for your patience. We know the transition had some hiccups along the way, but everyone’s understanding was appreciated.

While the majority of our community has completed their assessment payments – there are still homeowners who need to bring their accounts current before late fees will be assessed at the end of this month.

If you have completed your payment, the association thanks you and there is no need to read on. If you have not completed your payment more information can be found below.

Account Payment Options

There are four dues 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 the property manager or to the HOA. The options which incur these fees are noted below.

REQUIREMENT:  All dues payments will need to reference the homeowners Towne Properties Account number (T-XXXXXXX) that was provided in the Homeowner introduction packet. If you do not have this packet – please fill out THIS FORM and submit to Towne in order to receive this information. This step must be completed if using options 3 or 4 below.

Option 1: Personal Check – Homeowners can submit their dues payments via personal check however they will need to reference their Towne Properties T-number. As well as submit their payment with a payment stub. If you need a payment stub please reach out to our Property Manager, Vicki Smith at: [email protected].

Option 2: Bank Online Bill Pay – Homeowners can submit payment 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:

Make check payable to: Village at Thornapple

  • Mail to:
    PO Box 621717
    Orlando, FL 32862-1717
  • Reference:
    6883-8582-t####### (these numbers are unique to each homeowner property)

Option 3: Credit/Debit Card – This is handled via the Towne Properties homeowner portal. In order to access the portal you will need to have completed & submitted the Towne Properties Registration Form.

To access the portal please visit: https://www.towneproperties.com/ and select LOGIN, choose the login type: HOA/COA. 

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 packet that was mailed out. This method will incur an additional processing charge.

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 bank’s website to enter the appropriate account information and schedule payment.

 

Posted on

Easter is almost here! – 2026 VAT Easter Egg Hunt

Good Morning VAT!

Spring is almost here and while the warm temperatures are still hit and miss – the Easter bunny waits for no one.

Village at Thornapple is hosting the annual Easter egg hunt at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 4th at our park! With our sinkhole issue we will have more limited space but still unlimited fun. As always this event is a “blink and you miss it” so be sure to arrive just a few minutes before 1PM.

Bring your kiddos aged 1 to 10 and your Easter baskets for fun and prizes. We hope to have an Easter bunny present for everyone to snap a fluffy photo but no guarantees just yet.

This event is rain or shine, so bring your umbrellas just in case, and hop (or hope) for the best weather!

In keeping with prior years, we are asking for the community’s help with candy donations. We are seeking to fill a total of 900 Easter eggs with candy/prizes. Below is a link to our SignUp Genius for this event. Donations are needed by March 25th at the latest.

Please note: failure to secure enough donations will result in this event’s cancellation.

Posted on

URGENT – USE CAUTION AT PARK

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.

Posted on

Annual Assessment Payment Information

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.

  • Make check payable to Village at Thornapple
  • Mail to:
    PO Box 621717
    Orlando, FL 32862-1717
  • Reference:
    6883-8582-t####### (these numbers are unique to each homeowner property)

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.

Posted on

Handbook Updates

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

  1. Solar Energy Systems must be neutral in color and complement the existing roof color. (adopted 2/2026)

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)

Posted on

Annual Meeting Reminder – Saturday 2/7

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!

©2026 Thornapple Association, Inc.