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Criminal Activity on Post Oak

 

Rick Findlay’s twelve foot construction trailer was stolen last night after 11:00 PM from in front of 608 Post Oak Drive. Mr. Findlay has been working a project at Dianne Epperson’s home when she discovered the trailer missing earlier Sunday and called Mr. Findlay. A police report was filed immediately Sunday morning. The trailer, which is thoroughly marked with ads for Findlay Construction, was filled with over $ 80,000 of tools and construction materials for Ms. Epperson’s home remodeling project. The trailer was sitting in front of 608 Post Oak Drive locked with cables through the wheels and the connecting hitch apparatus to the trailer had been removed. Whoever stole the trailer spent at least ten minutes to remove the cabling and to install a hitch to connect to the  vehicle  that hauled it away between 11:00 PM Saturday and dawn this morning.

Mr. Findlay has done over sixteen projects in the Chase Oaks since 2008. This loss existentially places Rick out of business for several months until the insurance money for his trailer and tools comes through. Rick told us “that unlike other neighborhoods he does work in , he felt perfectly safe leaving the trailer within the Chase Oaks neighborhood over the last two and a half years.”

Please call the Plano Police Department or contact Rick Findlay (214-793-7029)  if you saw anything last night or have information which would help the Police recover the trailer. A $ 1,000 cash reward is offered for information which leads to the successful recovery of the trailer.

Eric Chamberlain

COHA President

214-460-5975

eechamberlain@digichamber.com

       Chase Oaks Homeowners Association (COHA)

Construction equipment will begin arriving at the golf course as soon as Tuesday, October 18th.  The contractor is allowed to work between the hours of 7am and 10pm per the City of Plano but they anticipate a slightly smaller working window.  Currently the contractor plans to work 6 days a week with only working on Sunday when the schedule requires it.  We are hoping that is not very often.  It will depend on the weather and the progress of this fourteen month project.  

On a more important note, the City of Allen is asking the residents of Chase Oaks and nearby apartment complexes to please stay off of the course at this time.  The entire golf course is a construction zone and is under the control of the contractor.  If the contractor perceives or witnesses anything that may hinder their progress, from any unauthorized person or persons, they may feel necessary to involve the police.  It would be our recommendation that if there are any questions that they contact Jeff Holt, at the current Chase Oaks number (214-509-4653). Mr. Holt will be able to obtain or provide an answer. 

The City of Allen recognizes that folks are curious, but during this construction, there is a potential for dangerous work areas on the site that must be controlled by the contractors. We do not want any of residents to get injured unnecessarily during the renovation.   Anything you can do to help us get word out about the renovation would be greatly appreciated.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Tim Dentler

City of Allen Parks Director

214-509-4703

tdentler@cityofallen.org 

$ 460,000 to be spent by Plano Parks Dept.

Homeowners and COHA board members met with officials of the Plano Parks and Recreation Department in a meeting on October 7, 2011arranged by Pat Miner, Plano Mayor Pro- Tem.

The meeting which lasted almost two hours included a presentation by the Plano Parks Department and a long question / answer session between Plano and the homeowners.

 Some highlights included:

        Plano has no data as to how many people currently use their current trails or how many people will use the proposed trail connection.

·        There is a very high level of risk of injury to trail users from hit golf balls that Plano is struggling to deal with.

·        The homeowners will have blocked views of the golf course due to the landscaping that Plano hopes will provide some protection for the trail users.

·        The blocked views will result in as much as a 20% decline to the 19 affected homeowners along the proposed trail connection. Estimated annual property tax loss to the City of Plano is a total of $ 24,000 from these homeowners due to the decline in their property values.

·        Increased noise, increased trash, and loss of back yard privacy will be a direct result if the trail connection is constructed.

·        The new trail will include a four foot high trail berm with shrubbery landscaping and trees which will be very costly to maintain. The landscaping on top of the berm will prove too costly to keep alive during severe heat or severe cold times in Texas.

·        No assurances for protection against future Plano City Councils cutting trail maintenance budgets or trail landscaping budgets.

·        Plano has not done enough due diligence in determining how much flooding occurs during heavy rainfall periods to insure proper drainage. Lowering the trail surface in order to try to protect trail users from golf balls creates numerous drainage problems for the properties of the involved homeowners.

·        Crime and vandalism concerns from the new trail connection were not adequately addressed by the City of Plano.

·        When asked the question “What is the worst outcome to the City of Plano, if the trail connection between Oak Ridge and Vineyard Drive is cancelled?” The answers from the Plano Parks department were:

·        The trail connection has been planned for by the city since 1985.

·        Trails are the citizen’s number one requested item from public surveys about the offerings from the Parks Department.

·        Future trail map pamphlets will not be able to use the word “continuous” in describing the Plano trail system.

There was no answer to the question of saving the $ 460,000 in trail construction costs and $ 35,000 in estimated annual maintenance costs from Plano.

·        The homeowners proposed two alternative solutions to the location of the new trail connection. The best proposal was an alternative coming off the Bluebonnet Trail at the bridge on Alma near Matidla which would run one mile south to link up to that section of the trail near Plano Fire Station #6.

As of October 14, 2011, the Plano Parks Department is continuing to pursue the construction of the trail connection between oak Ridge and vineyard drive directly next to the Chase Oaks Golf Course.

Upcoming key dates are:

1.)  October 18, 2011 --- final outcome announced for the “inter local” agreement between the City of Allen and the City of Plano regarding the trail. (Tim Dentler Allen Parks Director and Amy Fortenberry, Plano Parks Director)

 

2.)  October 26, 2011 --- petition completed by COHA and the nineteen homeowners in opposition for presentation to the Plano City Council and the Plano Parks Board

 

3.)  November 8, 2011 --- Plano Parks Board meets to review the Oak Ridge to Vineyard trail connection (Plano citizens board)

 

4.)  November 28, 2011 --- Plano City Council with the trail connection proposal on the city council agenda for approval

 

Eric Chamberlain

eechamberlain@digichamber.com

Hey Leadfoot! Where's The FIRE?

Please slow down when driving throughout the neighborhood as summer has kids out playing along with an increase in joggers, walkers, and bicycle riders.

The posted speed limit for the side streets throughout Chase Oaks is 30 MPH not 40 or 50 MPH. The speed limit for driving through the back alley ways is 10 MPH.

Jimmy Dismuke, homeowner at 605 Forest Bend Drive and COHA Board member, worked with the Plano Police Department in April to have the speed reading machine placed on Water Oak Drive and Baxter Drive to show the speed of passing cars.

Let’s demonstrate courtesy when driving on crowded streets with parked cars. The speed cushions (humps) are a reminder to slow down to 20 MPH. The cushions / humps are not there to come to a complete stop or to punch the accelerator to speed up when crossing them.

There have been at least three car crashes in the last 18 months caused by excessive speed and cell phone usage within the streets of Chase Oaks.

Golf Course Renovation is set to begin November 1st

The Chase Oaks Golf Course has announced it is closing October 1, 2011. The master plan for the renovation is available here.

Please email Eric Chamberlain at eechamberlain@digichamber.com  if you have further questions.

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.