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HOLIDAY DECORATIONS Fall is here and many of us are planning our holiday decorations. Homeowners may display holiday decorations outside their residences 30 days prior to and 10 days after the holiday event. Article III, Sec 5.08 String, rope, and icicle-type lighting may only be placed in front of the home for holiday decoration use. Article VII Sec 7.12(c) LANDSCAPING OUR YARDS DURING THE FALL While some of us are ready for holiday decorations, others are ready to re-landscape their yards. With the current water restrictions and the possibility of harsher rules, you may want to consider a drought- tolerant landscape. If you plan to landscape your yard to be more drought-tolerant you need to consider the following: 1. The front yard landscape of each lot shall have a minimum of one 15-gallon or greater tree. That tree should be at least 5 feet tall. Article VII, Sec 7.20. 2. A desert-like landscape entirely of rock, sand, dirt, etc. will not be approved for front yards. Article VII, Sec. 7.20(f ). 3. The front yard should have a balance of hardscape and softscape to preserve an attractive streetscape within the Sun Lakes community. The hardscape and softscape should have a balance of at least 30% softscape and 70% hardscape. Softscape is living vegetation such as grass, plants, bushes, or flowers. Artificial turf is also considered a softscape. Hardscape is material such as concrete, brick, tile, masonry, slate, rock, stone crushed granite, etc. 4. If you plan to install a dry stream bed in your front yard, that streambed: A. Must have the appearance of a natural stream and you are limited to aggregate rocks that have a 3-inch minimum diameter. B. The width of the stream bed may not exceed 4 feet. C. Drainage shall not be directed onto any sidewalk, walkway, or driveway. D. No more than one dry streambed can be placed in the front yard. E. The color of the proposed rock must be identified on the proposed landscape plan. From experience, I have found leaves are difficult to blow out of rocks or other desert-type landscapes. You may want to plant a tree that will not cover your rock or desert-style landscape with leaves. Leafless trees such as a variety of palm trees (California fan palms, zombie palms, queen palms, sago palms, pygmy date palms, European fan palms, or any of the 40 or more other palm trees) may suit your taste. For those who want shade trees in their front yard, just consider the following when selecting and planting your tree: How big will this tree grow? Will it have above-ground roots? Will the root system eventually interfere with the foundation of your house or with your driveway? Will the tree grow so big that its branches will intrude onto another homeowner's property or cause damage to your own roof? Will the tree grow so big it will need to be cut down in 15 or 20 years? We are seeing a lot of homeowners that are having problems with their trees 15 to 20 years after they were planted. They are removing them because they have grown so big as to create a safety hazard. If you see a landscaped yard in Sun Lakes that you like, stop and ask the homeowner who did the work. Ask if the homeowner was satisfied with the work they did. If you like the answers, contact that landscaper, artificial turf installer, or gardener and have them give you a quote on what it would cost to do your yard. ~ Roy Nierman, Chairman, MAC | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2022 | 17 Marketing & Communications Advisory The Marketing & Communications Advisory Committee has been working to expand access to the information residents need. There is now a tab on the members side of the Sun Lakes website labeled KSLCC Ch. 97. There you will find most of the videos broadcast on Spectrum Channel 97. The Master Board Open Session and the District Delegate Assembly will be found under their specific tabs. The committee continues to produce content to better inform you of what is happening in our community. We are working with EPAP in producing videos on what to do during an emergency, with realtors on what they need to market and sell homes in Sun Lakes, and provide information for new residents about the many amenities we have and who to contact when they have a question or problem. We are looking for volunteers to join our committee and production team. If you have some experience in marketing, we need you. If you have a desire to learn how to create the many videos we produce, we will train you. If interested, please fill out a volunteer application form found in the rack next to the receptionist in the Main Clubhouse. For more information, email gooddaysunlakes@gmail.com. ~ Bob Murri Sun Lakes Committee Reports Master Architectural Clubs & Groups: Check the Sun Lakes website at sunlakescc.com to make sure your information is correct. Thank you!

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