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May 2012 Community Newsletter

The City of Allen is holding a SECRET back from the Homeowners concerning their new Chase Oaks hole # 8!

That was the conclusion of the twenty four homeowners from Oakbrook and Sunkist Lane living directly next to this golf hole who met as a group last night. Keeping the realities of the hole a SECRET is the best explanation as to why the City of Allen continues to refuse to meet with any of the homeowners since March 19, 2012.  With no communication and no meetings, the HOMEWNERS completely understand that the City of Allen has failed to reduce the risk from 150 MPH golf balls coming off the hole causing personal injuries and unnecessary property damage when the course reopens in November of this year.

In the meantime, construction on this hole continues ten hours a day, seven days a week at a “breath taking rate of speed”.

Further examination of the SECRET that the City of Allen is keeping to itself reveals that despite spending millions to complete what promises to be a brilliant renovation of the Chase Oaks golf course, the new hole number eight will certainly not lessen the risk for the GOLFERS using the city owned tee boxes from inflicting injuries and property damages to the homeowners living on the slice side of this golf hole. Golfers playing Chase Oaks, who inflict personal injuries or property damage, are fully financially liable for what could turn out to be a ruinous life changing event for that individual. The City of Allen is not liable any such damages or injuries.

The CHALLENGES for the City of Allen on hole number eight are numerous from a strong predominant southwest wind blowing directly into the homeowners to keeping an 85 year old hackberry tree alive as a key component of its safety plan. The City understands that the doubling of play on the course means that the number of golf balls being hit into the back yards will double while also doubling the number of broken windows (estimated at twenty five broken windows over the previous year of play). Allen is strongly relying  on the current five golf safety nets already in place to provide some homeowner protection. While knowing full well that the building of any new golf safety nets in Plano is legally impossible and a $ 15,000 burden to the homeowner. If Allen is successful in bringing the best amateur tournaments in the State of Texas to Chase Oaks, they fully realize that this class of golfer is just as likely to be hitting their golf balls into the back yard swimming pools and even front yards as often as the daily high handicap municipal golfer. The renovation of Chase Oaks has not placed the homeowners’ back yards along hole number eight within any nationally recognized standards for a “GOLF SAFETY ZONE”.

Unanimous approval was given by the homeowners to urge the City of Allen to convert this hole to a shorter safer PAR THREE hole to lower the risk of the homeowners and the golfers playing the hole. There are two available options on where to place the Par Three Green on #8 which would fully achieve Allen’s goal of having a more playable and safer golf course for all of its paying customers without hurting the City’s profitability. Also the City of Allen should strongly consider the placement of golf safety nets directly next to the tee boxes to virtually eliminate damages from sliced tee shots off any of  the six city owned tee boxes. Other golf courses throughout the United States have taken this exact same safety measure to minimize the risk for both the golfer and homeowner.

The homeowners are working to complete a hard copy petition supporting our position (above) and requesting Allen to reconsider its current  position of refusing to meet directly with us. Presentation to the Mayor of the City of Allen is planned by the end of the week. An online petition and a letter to the editor campaign were also started. Funds were approved to complete a video presentation to be posted on “YOU TUBE” showing how to lower the risks on this hole for both the home owners and golfers.

Plano Mayor Phil Dyer, visited several back yards with the homeowners this morning (May 9, 2012) to hear directly from the homeowners and get his own visual interpretation of the hole layout. Mayor Dyer has promised to make contacts on behalf of the homeowners as he realizes the urgency of the situation.

The 516 homeowners of COHA are very excited about the grand reopening of the Chase Oaks Golf Course. We wish the City of Allen much success and a profitable return on its investment as it attracts golfers of all skill levels from Texas to play an easier and truly safe Chase Oaks over the next thirty years.

The homeowners have worked well with the City of Allen in the past on safety issues regarding very similar situations which have established a Win –Win Precedent for all.

We look forward to meeting with the City of Allen to get beyond the SECRETS and to the FACTS for a safer Chase Oaks golfing experience. 

May 9, 2012

Eric Chamberlain

COHA President

214-460-5975

eechamberlain@digichamber.com

P.O. Box 260728 *   Plano, Texas 75026-0728   *   (972) 517-8852

                    PRESS RELEASE

Today, May 4, 2012, the Chase Oaks Homeowners Association (COHA) has given notice to the City of Allen of a change in our position regarding the renovation of the new hole # 8 (old hole # 17) which directly affects twenty four homeowners along Oakbrook Drive and Sunkist Lane In Plano, Texas. After further study and discussions , the removal of the new back tees on this hole will not make the homeowners any safer or decrease the risk for the golfers playing this hole from causing a major personal injury to a home owner or causing unnecessary property damage.

The City of Allen has been made well aware of our safety concerns for this hole dating back to September of 2011. Since March 10, 2012, the Allen Parks Department has refused numerous requests to meet with the homeowners living on Oakbrook and Sunkist Lane. Over a dozen letters have been emailed in the last six weeks to the Allen Parks Department, the Allen City Manager, and to the Mayor of Allen with not a single response or form letter from the City in return to any homeowner. The contractors doing the renovation have been proceeding full speed ahead on this hole since March of 2012 with ten hours a day of construction work in full view of the homeowners despite Allen’s decision to not communicate with the homeowners.

On April 25^th, I and two other COHA Board members agreed to meet with the City of Allen officials “under protest” because of Allen’s insistence that no homeowners living alongside the hole be in attendance at the meeting. Allen presented to us how the new hole # 8 has been made more playable, what changes have been made to attempt to make the golf hole safer for the homeowners, and how Allen needs to lengthen this new hole #8 in order to attract new state tournaments which will then drive important new revenues throughout the years ahead.

At this meeting, COHA expressed our concerns for both groups who will be existing side by side on this hole for the 363 days a year that course is opened. The homeowners are well within nationally recognized “golf target zones” according to numerous sources and would have to move their homes backwards by as much as fifty yards to move into nationally recognized “golf safety zones”. The second group put at risk on this hole is the very customers Allen is counting on to return the course to profitability. Golfers of all talent levels hitting from any of the six tee boxes on this hole can accidently hit their golf ball at upwards of over 150 miles per hour directly into the homeowners’ property. Then the golfer will find out they are liable for any and all damages and injuries. The Allen owned Chase Oaks Golf Course who placed their golfing customers on these tee boxes where these homes are directly in a “golf target zone” have no liability for golfer caused damages or personal injuries.

On May 3, 2012, the Allen Parks Department emailed COHA stating that  “We are working towards a response as to our position. Further evaluation and inspection is needed.”

 Since the April 25^th meeting, COHA fully realizes that the City of Allen

 ·       

-Does not have an answer on how to prevent golf balls from following the predominant strong southwest winds which blow directly into the homeowners’ property on this lengthened Par Four or the original Par Four hole.

-Does not have an answer as to how projections made by the City that the number of golfers regularly playing the course will now double upon reopening thus increasing the statistical probability of placing the homeowners in a higher risk category from golf ball injuries or golf ball damages to personal property.

-Is relying strongly on the FIVE golf safety nets already put in place at the homeowners’ expense to continue to protect these homes.

-Is fully aware that the City of Plano will not allow any new golf safety nets to be built by Plano homeowners in an attempt to protect themselves.

-Did not want to spend any time discussing making the hole a shorter and safer Par Three at the 4/25/12 meeting.

-Is relying heavily on an estimated eighty five year old hackberry tree located next to three of the forward trees to provide substantial protection to these sixteen homes from golf balls. Consulting with a local arborist, the tree has suffered under the recent Texas summer heat waves and current long drought. This tree is hit hourly throughout the day by all types of golfers and cannot be lost for the sixteen homes that are directly in range if the tree falls.

-Fully realizes that despite removing dozens of trees from the left side of the hole in an attempt to make this Par Four more playable, that even the “Best golfers on any world tour” would still hit these homes on a regular basis because the Chase Oaks Golf Course sits just too close to the homes.

-Is ignoring the concerns of these homeowners and continues to build a longer more difficult golf hole six days a week placing both the golfers and homeowners at higher risks of personal injury.

In changing our recommendation to make the new hole number eight a shorter and safer Par Three, COHA believes that it  is a great example of a “Win – Win” for all.

      1.)  The City of Allen can still have a fully renovated Par 71 golf course and return the course to full profitability according to the original 2008 Master Plan as a Par 71 course.

      2.)  The homeowners fully benefit as everyone living on the hole will immediately be made safe depending on the final design of the shorter Par Three golf hole.

      3.)  No golfer playing Chase Oaks will have to be personally liable for an errant tee shot from a safely designed Par Three Tee Box on the new number eight.

      4.)  The Master Plans goals of a easier to play and safer golf course will be enhanced by taking a very difficult and the longest Par Four on the course and making it a shorter more manageable Par Three.

      5.)  COHA and the City of Allen came to a similar “Win – Win” agreement in 2010 by  making another dangerous hole a shorter Par Three thus protecting and “lowering the level of risk” for both the golfers and home owners living alongside the Chase Oaks golf course.

In conclusion, COHA fully extends its appreciation for the work taken by Allen to protect our home owners living along the old Chase Oaks hole numbers 1, 8, 10, and 15.

The twenty four homeowners living on Oakbrook and Sunkist deserve the same type of courtesy and professional treatment even though we are not taxpaying citizens of the City of Allen in order to have a safe back yard and a safe front yard. It is our intent to be good neighbors as we have in the past by the reporting acts of vandalism, criminal activity, maintenance issues, trespassers, and unsafe golf cart driving directly to course management.

COHA is very confident that the  money being spent by the City of Allen will result in a widely recognized winner for the citizens of Allen and all golfers in Texas that come to play golf at the new Chase Oaks for the next thirty years.

We urge the City of Allen to make this a “Win – Win” with an easier to play, safer golf course, and more enjoyable golfing experience at Chase Oaks by making the new number eight a safer and shorter Par Three hole.

COHA looks forward to working with the City of Allen as good neighbors.

 Best wishes for a successful course opening in November of 2012 and a healthy return to profitability on the golf course investment for the City of Allen.

 Eric Chamberlain

COHA President

 214-460-5975

eechamberlain@digichamber.com

       YARD of the MONTH  

The First WINNERS of 2012 are Arjun & Shikha Saksena of 748 Nicklaus for the month of April. We are looking forward to recognizing many worthy COHA dues paying homeowners this year.

Each Yard of the Month winner’s home and yard will be featured on the Home Page of our web site at www.chaseoaksplano.com along with a family bio and their personal gardening tips. This gives all visitors to our web site an excellent first impression of the Chase Oaks Community                                                                                                                                                       

Besides the prominent placement on the web site and the sign in their front yard for bragging rights, each winner will also receive a free three course dinner for two at Gregory’s Bistro which just moved to historic downtown McKinney this month. Master Chef Gregory Moreaux is the owner of this critically acclaimed fine dining restaurant who also keeps a BYOB policy in place to insure maximum value for your dining dollar. Learn more about his fantastic food offerings by going to www.gregorysbistro.com . We are proud to have Gregory’s Bistro offer the winner such a wonderful reward for their hard work in keeping their property at such a high level of attractiveness.

Calloway’s Nursery of Plano is also sponsoring our Yard of the Month program for the second year in a row through their neighborhood HOA program. The Saksenas will be receiving a $ 25 gift card from Callaway’s as well as our other future winners in 2012.

To be eligible for this recognition, the homeowner or resident must be a current dues paying member in the Chase Oaks Homeowners Association. COHA Board members and officers are ineligible for the Yard of the Month Award.

                            *** Susan Chamberlain / skc129@gmail.com

Block Captains Needed for Streets in Chase Oaks

Forest Bend East, Crenshaw, Homewood, Edgewood, Sneed, Pine Lakes, Kite, Nelson Court, and Forest Bend.

West are in need of new Block Captains for 2011 due to retirements and persons moving away from Chase Oaks. The position of block captain is a volunteer position with the responsibilities defined below.

Please contact Susan Chamberlain at COHA@digichamber.com or call 972-517-8852 if you are interested in contributing to the success of our neighborhood.

 1.) Distribute newsletters and special event flyers to the door steps of neighbors (or deliver personally to your neighbor). COHA has moved to an online newsletter format as of December, 2010 to communicate our community news. Estimated special event flyers needing delivery are three to four times a year to your assigned street.

2.) Help us keep track of newcomers when neighbors are either moving in or out of the neighbor. Please contact Janet Osorio with newcomers contact information so she may give them a “Welcome Basket of Goodies” to our neighborhood from COHA.

3.) Be a contact person on your block for questions about COHA and Crime Watch inquiries from neighbors on your block. Block Captain Names will be listed on the Web site along with contact information.

4.) Block captains are not involved in the collection of COHA dues except to drop off an invoice to their assigned homes once a year.

5.) Have direct access to offer input / ideas to improve COHA and its activities throughout the year.

Additional Speed Bumps on Baxter Drive

 We have had numerous requests from homeowners to address the speeding from Vineyard Drive to Baxter Drive before the speed bumps begin.

 We met with City officials in September and learned that the Plano City Council disbanded the program for speed bumps to decrease speeding on city streets in 2009.

 The program was shut down due to costs and demand. The demand problem involved continuing disputes from Plano residents to remove the speed bumps due to damages to their vehicles. And then from other city residents, who wanted to have more speed bumps placed on the streets.

The City kept in place a program for “speed bumps in alley ways” which you can find below. This program was described to me as an “arduous process” by the official I met with.

 COHA will continue to work with the Plano Police Department to have the “Speed Indicator Machine” placed on Baxter three times a year.

 We would welcome your feedback and ideas.

 Susan & Eric Chamberlain / COHA Presidents / COHA@digichamber.com

 Program Description for “Alley Speed Bumps”

Alleys are a major component of the street system within residential area. Because of various design constraints surrounding residential alleys (i.e. fences, building lines, trees and shrubs), speeds in excess of 10 mph can present safety concerns. Because of this, the Alley Speed Bump Program was instituted in 1977 to address speeding concerns in alleyways.

Program Process

The process may be initiated by any City of Plano resident who may be experiencing a speeding problem in his/her alley or alley section. The resident who initiates the complaint will also serve as neighborhood sponsor. The process is initiated by calling the Transportation Engineering Division at (972) 941-7151. The process requires that a petition be circulated through the proposed area(s) that will be affected by the speed bump installation. One hundred percent (100%) of the residences along the proposed alley section should be notified and a successful petition must have 2/3rds of the residences in the survey area in favor of the installation. In addition, the residents will be required to pay for 2/3rds of the cost of the installation.

What Will Happen?

After being contacted by the neighborhood sponsor, the Transportation Engineering Division will do the following:

·   Visit the complaint location to evaluate the problem.

·     Determine the placement locations of proposed alley bump(s), if recommended.

· Determine the petition area.

· Estimate the installation cost.

·   Create a map of the area that includes the alley section.

All of the information, including the area map, petition area, cost, detail of a typical alley speed bump installation, and petition form will be mailed to the sponsor. The sponsor has 60 days to circulate the survey, gather the needed signatures, and submit the required amount to cover their portion of the installation. The neighborhood sponsor is contacted, and advised of the planned alley bump installation schedule.

What If I Want Alley Bumps Removed?

The alley bump removal procedure uses the same petition and survey area process as with installations. Existing bumps must have been in place for at least one (1) year before a removal process may be initiated. There is no cost for removal, once petition is approved.

Please contact the Transportation Engineering Division at (972) 941-7151 if you have any questions or need more information on the Alley Speed Bump Program.

 www.plano.gov

$300.00 REWARD FOR CRIME WATCH

An effective crime watch program is solely dependent on the active involvement of everyone in the community being on the lookout for suspicious activity.

If you see or have information about person(s) committing acts of vandalism, traffic mishaps, or breaking into private property (home or automobile), please call 9-1-1 immediately and give all your information to the Plano Police Department officers.

Then send an email to us at COHA@digichamber.com  about the ongoing Crime Watch activity within our Chase Oaks Community. When your information reported to the Plano Police leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the crime or vandalism, COHA will give you a $ 300 cash reward for your involvement in helping to make Chase Oaks a better place to live.

Thanks go out to COHA board member, Jimmy Dismuke, for this useful idea.