Pebble Creek Chronicle 2015 Fall-Winter Edition

Note from the President:

Dear Neighbors,

The PCHA-1 Covennants and Bylaws have not been amended since 1991. The basic tenants of responsible  home ownership described in these documents are applicable even after 24 years. However there are specific areas which are outdated and/or not inclusive with technology and societal changes which have taken place.

It is our hope that the Covenants and Bylaws will become living documents which can be promptly amended when a majority of homeowners see the need. Technology will help make these changes possible. By posting the Covenants and Bylaws on the Pebble Creek Phase one website, we will be spared the great expense of publishing and distributing a 31 page booklet each time an amendment is passed by the majority of homeowners.

You will be asked to vote on proposed amendments when the annual meeting announcement is mailed to you. An amendment needs 107 affirmative votes for approval. Below are some of the suggested changes and amendments on which you will be asked to vote.

• Updates for references to Greenville County Ordinances. Most have been either rescinded or incorporated into other ordinances.
• Updates references to Greenville County "RMC office" to the "Register of Deeds office." Changes "Pebble Creek County Club" to "Pebble Creek Club." Changes "Duke Power" to "Duke Energy."
• Includes electronic notifications (emails) to the membership as an option in lieu of delivered U.S. Mail for homeowners with email capabilities.
• Better defines outbuildings, prohibits outbuildings greater than 10 feet in height or higher than the lowest roof elevation of the house on the lot, whichever is less.
• Eliminates specific restrictions to fences while retaining the requirement for the Architectural Committee to approve a fence before construction. A brochure with pictures of acceptable fences will be made available to homeowners.
• Gives guidelines to placing address numbers on mailboxes or posts. Guidelines closely follow current requirements.
• Eliminates the requirement for street address numbers be placed on houses. The USPS does not require numbers on houses when street-side mailbox deliver is utilized.
• Extends homeowner responsibility for leaf and litter control to the middle of the street in front of the lot.
• Adds Requirement for homeowners to notify the SC State Forester office before outdoor burning to determine if burn restrictions are in force due to dry and/or windy conditions. This is also a requirement in a Greenville County Ordinance.
• Adds recreation vehicles (RV's) to restrictions which apply to travel trailers and boats.
• Prohibits keeping farm animals such as chickens, goats and pigs.
• Eliminates the requirement for permission from the Landscaping Committee before cutting large trees. There is no record of the Landscaping Committee denying a homeowner request to cut a large tree (greater than 6 inches of diameter, four feet from the ground).
• Adds reguirement for owners to remove or grind stumps below ground level when trees are cut.
• Restricts placement of portable storage and moving containers on a lot for a period greater than seven days.
• Changes requirements for a standard mailbox and post design to guidelines for mailboxes and posts. Prohibits plastic mailboxes.
• Adds an option for using a collecton agency to collect overdue assessments greater than three months.
• Creates a Collections Committee to consist of the Treasurer and two homeowners. The committee will be responsible for collection of assessments which are delinquent for more than three months.
• Deletes the requirement to prepare a list of at least two nominees to replace each Director whose term will expire at the next annual meeting. The change implies that one nominee is sufficient if two or more homeowners do not volunteer to run for office.

Treasurer's Report

I want to thank all of you who responded to the Board's request to update your contact information. We plan to do most of our communication electronically in 2016, so it is important that we have your current email address. If you have changed your email address in the past year, please send your current email address.to Mary Reimer at pcp1treasurer@gmail.com Electronic communication will enable us to cut printing and mailing costs.The Board is working on the budget for 2016, and no increase in the assessment is anticipated. Assessment notices will be sent  electronically in January, so be watching for the invoice in your email. 

Keeping Stallings Road Litter Free

The next roadside cleanup of Stallings Road is scheduled for Saturday, November 14th at 9:00AM and will last about an hour. Six volunteers showed up to collect litter in August, and we were able to cover Stallings Road to the intersection of Roberts Road. We were unable to pick up trash between Roberts Road and Reid School Road due to a shortage of volunteers. Two additional workers are needed to cover all of Stallings Road. Please contact Jay Gaskin at 292-3247 or gaskin45@att.net if you would like to participate in this worthwhile effort.

Save the Date

The annual meeting of Pebble Creek 1 HOA will be Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 7PM at Pebble Creek Grille. This is a very important meeting as we will be voting on several changes and amendments in our Covenants and bylaws. Please plan to attend or send your proxy.

Four new board members will also be elected at this meeting. If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact any board member by November 30th. It's a great way to get involved in our community and meet your neighbors.

Welcome New Neighbors

We are happy to welcome several new neighbors: Kelly Johnson 309 Pebble Creek Drive, Austin and Jennifer Corbin 8 Terrapin Trail, Daniel and Angie Lovelace 306 Stallings Road, Richard and Donna Cross 301 Pebble Creek Drive, Louis and Jane DiBridge 114 Whittlin Way and Eric and Mary Beth Williams 115 Whittlin Way. Please help make these people feel welcome. We are glad you are part of our neighborhood!

Christmas decorations will be put up in our neighborhood near the end of November. We hope you'll be pleased with how they look on our new street signs. If you would like to help, contact Donna May at 244-6023 or may1609@bellsouth.net.

Pebble Creek Women's Club is a social club open to ladies living in and around the Pebble Creek area. The club meets on the last Sunday of each month. If you would like to be part of this club or learn more contact Roxanne Cordonier at roxannewalker@hotmail.com or Robyn Gillis 915-5723.