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Sterling Ridge Village Association Meeting:
The next meeting of the Sterling Ridge Village Association will be Monday, September 25, at 7:00 PM at the Sterling Ridge YMCA.

Governance Forum:

The Governance Steering Committee (GSC) held a community forum on Saturday, September 23, 2006. Results from that forum will be discussed at the GSC’s regular meeting on Monday, September 25, 2006 at 4:00 PM at the Community Association’s building, 2201 Lake Woodlands.

Park and Ride Update:

The Village Association has received answers to the questions posed at the June meeting, as well as a transcript of the meeting.

Community Associations Budget:

During September, the TWA Board met jointly with the Woodlands Community Association Board and the Woodlands Commercial Owners Association Board to address the 2007 budget. Several major items are being addressed this year, including:

Increased funding for law enforcement and a plan that will bring a form of community policing to The Woodlands through contracts with the County to provide deputies to patrol assigned beats throughout The Woodlands. A director of public safety / law enforcement to oversee the operations of the program and provide input to the Sheriff’s and/or Constable’s personnel.

Increased funding to The Woodlands Fire Department to provide improvements in a plan to improve its ISO rating from 3 to 2. ISO ratings measure the fire department and factor into homeowners insurance rates. The scale is 1 to 10, and an improvement from 3 to 2 should reduce our homeowners rates and offer improved safety.

Re-defining The Woodlands Recreation Center as a community center, adding office space to the existing facility on Research Forest to replace space that is currently being leased elsewhere, providing rooms for community meetings, and re-structuring the fees and programming so that the recreation programs will no longer be subsidized by the Associations.

Projections are that The Woodlands Association will be able to provide the law enforcement and fire department improvements with no increase in assessment rates, and we will probably reduce the rate as we have in past years. We are able to do this because of Community Associations Staff holding the line on increases in other areas, as well as growth in the area and increases in the assessed value of property.

The TWA will have two public hearings on its budget, the first on October 26 and the second on November 15. Look for meeting notices and agendas at www.thewoodlandsassociations.org.

New Residential Area in Sterling Ridge:

The Woodlands Development Company has purchased 400 acres of land near, but on the east side of FM 2978 just west of areas currently under development off of Branch Crossing. The area will be called Spindle Tree. According to a press release from The Woodlands Development Company, “Plans for the neighborhood, which will be called Spindle Tree, include over 900 homesites for single family homes and townhomes, two parks, and hike and bike trails. Located within the Magnolia Independent School District, children living in Spindle Tree will attend Ellisor Elementary, Bear Branch Junior High School - Sixth Grade Campus, Bear Branch Junior High School and Magnolia High School. Homebuilders have not yet been selected to build in the new neighborhood. New home prices will start in the $190’s. The first homes should be available for purchase in 2008.”

The Plaza at Indian Springs:

This restaurant and office area will be located north of Indian Springs Shopping Center, at Flintridge and Kuykendahl. Below is the text of an e-mail sent by Indian Springs TWA representative Lloyd Matthews to the developer of that center.

As stated several times since your groundbreaking, I want to encourage you to communicate with Indian Springs residents about the design of your new development, The Plaza at Indian Springs. This was mentioned before mostly over the concern of the curb cut you plan on Flintridge, plus noise and light problems in general. All prior press releases that I saw provided information on a high quality facility that fit well into a residential community. After just reading an article in the Houston Business Journal of August 25-31, 2006, I am not sure this is the case. I strongly believe you need to inform residents of your plans more widely.

The Houston Business journal article states the "development will have medical office space, three original restaurants and a concert pavilion capable of handling more than 1,110 spectators." The article also states "the buildings will surround a plaza. In the center will be a fountain with a back-lit waterfall. A performing arts pavilion will sit in the middle of the fountain. The intimate concert setting is already lined up to host the 2007 Woodlands Jazz Festival." Further it states that there will be " concerts and other events on nights and weekends." While this does sound interesting you may be introducing a whole new level of noise to residents that they won't appreciate. What special design is being provided to limit this noise off site?

Please more publicly state yours plans so residents know what is planned and have a chance to express their opinions. This note is being sent to the Indian Springs Village Association Board, The Woodlands Association Board and to the local newspapers.

I have no other information on this, but share Lloyd’s concern over the possible noise level from the concert pavilion. I don’t know that any residents of Sterling Ridge would be affected, but it is something to be aware of and watch out for.

TWA Board Meeting:
The next TWA board meeting will be Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 7:30 PM, at the Community Associations Building, 2201 Lake Woodlands Dr.

STANDING INFORMATION AND NOTICES:

Water Wells and Plant:

The San Jacinto River Authority is planning to construct a water plant including two tanks and two water wells off of Branch Crossing Drive south of the new Super Wal-Mart and west of Branch Crossing. The Woodlands Development Company has prepared a notice for home builders to provide to purchasers so that they are aware of the future location of the facility. Construction is planned to being in mid to late 2006 and proceed for 12 to 18 months.

Future Governance Information:
The Woodlands Governance Steering Committee is working on a plan for a future government structure of The Woodlands. They have set up a website, www.thewoodlandsgovernance.org where you can sign up for e-mail updates and follow the progress of the committee as well as provide your input.

Organization of The Woodlands:
An organization chart for The Woodlands has been developed and added to the Sterling Ridge website at www.sterling-ridge.org/org_chart.php. The chart is "clickable," and takes the viewer to FAQ where additional information is given about the various organizations that provide services to residents of The Woodlands.

Association Service Requests:
A very easy to use feature on the Community Associations website provides a way to report problems or ask for assistance from the Community Associations paid staff. Problems or questions relating to things like park, pathway, and streetscape maintenance, street lights, covenant administration, garbage and recycle pickup, pools, etc, can be entered online via the “Service Request” button on the Community Associations website. This new feature is very easy to use and responses are sent via e-mail notifying the resident of the status of his or her request. There is no need to contact me with every request. Feel free to contact me, however, if you have any trouble getting resolution.

Contact Info:
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me:


Class A Elected Director from Sterling Ridge and Assistant Treasurer The Woodlands Association