• General Information
  • 22-03-05 First Notice
• Public Hearing(s)
  • 23-02-15 Public Hearing

The City of Ferndale (COF) right-of-way for public streets through our neighborhood is measured 30 feet in both directions (right and left) from the street centerline. This includes the curbs, the planting strips and the sidewalks. The HOA responsibilities within the COF right-of-way were unclear, so the Board of Directors engaged a COF Public Works supervisor for an on-site, person-to-person discussion.

The notes from that meeting are at this LINK.

The Board has changed its bi-monthly meeting days from the third Monday of every other month to the fourth Monday of every other month. For more information about this change, click HERE.

With the coming of spring and (soon) summer, we expect a surge in applications to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). Please remember that most additions and changes to the external features of lots and houses are subject to review by the ARC. The vast majority of changes will be minor and therefore summarily approved, but they must be reviewed and approved regardless.

An article to assist with understanding the process has been posted HERE.

The City of Ferndale is considering the annexation of 110 acres (11 parcels) of land across Thornton Avenue from our Meadows Community. This property will be zoned for residential and (potentially) small business development. What we know about this project at this time is provided in our report, which may be accessed HERE.

The Board recently received a “Notice of Development” from the City of Ferndale (COF).

The development is called Thornton Heights and is on the south side of Thornton Road between Pacific Heights Drive and the Eagle Ridge Elementary School — just east of the access road to Bender Park and the water tank. The parcel is 3.98 acres and will contain 10 residential lots.

The COF notice may be accessed HERE and annotated Google™ maps of the area may be accessed HERE. The callouts and overlaid graphics on these maps are not official and have been estimated by the Board.

The development is still in the “plans and hearings” stage and no actual “breaking ground”, or development dates have been announced. The Board will track this development and will provide information to HOA members as it becomes available.

Over the past several months there have been numerous sightings of beavers and beaver damage in our Native Growth/Wetland areas. The Board has studied the issue extensively and would like to share our findings via the linked Information Sheet.

To view the Information Sheet, click HERE.

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we will resume open Board meetings, but they will be bi-monthly (rather than monthly) and will be hosted in Zoom™ VTC rather than in the Library Meeting Room

For details, click HERE.

The following information was adapted from an article by KATU-2, the ABC affiliate in Portland, Oregon.

The late December and early January snowstorms prompted the wide-spread use of de-icing agents. A commonly used term for such agents is “Ice Melt” which actually denotes a family of chemical products. These products can be a quick fix for the perils of winter ice, but they also have a downside. Consumer Reports says there are plenty of reasons to take care with how much ice melt you use –– and exactly how you use it.

Regardless of brand, all ice melts are basically one of three compounds: sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride. They work slightly differently but they’re all salts, which are highly corrosive and can cause considerable damage if not used carefully. For example, salt can seep into porous pavement, damaging walkways, driveways, and roadways. Plus, it can damage other things such as your car(s), your grass and plants, and your pet’s paws – to name just a few.

So, what is the best way to minimize potential damage? Start by using less. Mixing in an abrasive such as sand means you’ll use less salt without losing traction. Layering also helps. A thin layer before a storm and then another thin layer during the storm can be effective while using less overall.

Be cautious about ice melts that claim to be less damaging, environmentally friendly, or safe for pets. Many such products are coated, but once applied the coating will wear or wash off, and you’re left with just salt anyway. One way to mitigate the pet problem is to set up a “rinse tray” at your entrance, so that after a walk you can wash any salt from your pet’s paws.

Consumer Reports also says it’s equally important to scoop up the salt and dispose of it properly once the ice melts so it cannot continue to harm your property, your pets, or your ecosystem. This means that you should not leave the salty mush on your driveway or walkway. But do not scrape or wash it onto your lawn or into the gutters from which it will wash into the storm drains and ultimately into the ecosystem. Scrape it up and dispose of it properly.

BOTTOM LINE: We suggest that you avoid using these chemicals. If you must, please use them sparingly and clean up properly afterward.

Thanks for your attention to this matter.

/S/ MFHOA Board of Directors