Announcements

The HOA Board understands that starting lawn maintenance efforts mid-season may not completely eliminate existing weeds. Because of this, we're extending an extra season of grace regarding weed control.

We still ask that all homeowners do their best to maintain a neat appearance by keeping lawns mowed. For best results and a healthier lawn, we recommend not mowing shorter than 3 inches.

The Board is also working closely with our property management team to improve the condition of the community-maintained lawns.

Please note: Property management will send violation notices to properties that do not meet basic standards of upkeep. Fines will be issued for failure to mow your lawn. However, there will be no fines this year for having weeds — we’re focused on progress, not perfection. And honestly, we think many will be surprised to find their yards are just fine.

Thanks for doing your part to keep the neighborhood looking its best while we work toward long-term improvement.

Posted May 2025

We’re excited to announce that food trucks will be setting up at the pool house on select dates throughout the season! This is a great opportunity to grab a bite, support local vendors, and connect with neighbors—no cooking required.

Each truck's visit will be posted as an event on the community calendar and shared in our Facebook group, so be sure to check regularly for the latest lineup.

If you are using the trash cans at the clubhouse to dispose of your dog’s waste bags, please ensure the bags are placed inside the cans.

Recently, several waste bags were found discarded outside the bins, having just been tossed over the fence. This is unpleasant and unsanitary and places an unnecessary burden on homeowners helping with the trash each week. 

We appreciate your attention to this matter and your cooperation in keeping our community clean.

Please be advised that the clubhouse will be closed from April 3 to April 4 (weather permitting) for essential floor refinishing. This upgrade will enhance safety by applying a non-slip finish to prevent accidents, as the original installation did not meet our community’s standards.

During this time, both the clubhouse and its restrooms will be inaccessible. If inclement weather delays the project, we will notify residents of a rescheduled date.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to improve our shared spaces.

All 3 gates have been repaired. The posts that were used for the gates weren’t designed for gates and because of that there was sagging and alignment issues (plus the broken post). The new posts should hold up better and the gates shut & latch properly. 

They were also able to fix the reader on the main pool gate that wasn’t working. If you had issues with your fob last year try it now and make sure. They tested it with my fobs and it worked every time. It was a bad connection in the control panel. 

Prior to the pool opening this year the floor of the pavilion and bathrooms will be updated with an epoxy treatment that is safe to walk on when wet. Currently it’s a huge liability, several people fall hard every year. A couple company’s came out and provide quotes along with slip resistant tests. Our floor is well outside the safe range! 

Pool season will be here before we know it!

We are excited to announce a new way to communicate with the HOA Board! To streamline communication and ensure your concerns, questions, or suggestions are addressed efficiently, we’ve created an easy-to-use online form.

Access the form here:
Submit Your Feedback or Questions

This form allows you to:

• Share feedback or suggestions about the community.

• Submit questions or concerns for the Board's attention.

• Request follow-ups on specific topics.

Once submitted, your message will be reviewed, and a member of the Board will respond or address your request as needed.

We value your input and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for helping make [Community Name] a great place to live!

We wanted to remind you that the grace periods for two items are concluding, and action is expected to be completed by the respective deadlines.

1. Trash Service Transition – Grace Period Ends October 31
All residents were given a six-month grace period to transition trash service providers. Please ensure that your trash service has been updated by October 31 to avoid any violations. 

2. Above-Ground Hose Bib Compliance – Grace Period Ends October 31
Over the past year, we have provided a 12-month grace period to update any above-ground hose bibs. If this update hasn’t been completed, please take action as soon as possible.

If you have questions, concerns, or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We're here to help and ensure a smooth transition for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Agenda Highlights:

1. Year in Review
   We’re proud to share some key accomplishments from 2024:

   • Launched the new community website with resources and an email system - www.baldwinparkhoa.com.

   • Introduced an automated pavilion booking system and a process for requesting new key fobs.

   • Implemented enhanced security and safety measures at the pavilion.

   • Completed lawn care and weed control for common areas, installed entry monuments, and added garbage concealment for the pavilion area.

   • Automated the chemical system for the pool and set up subcommittees for better community management.

2. 2025 Initiatives
   Looking ahead to 2025, our goals include:

   • Installing a light switch for the pool lights and securing the electrical box.

   • Purchasing a new TV and cabinet for the pavilion.

   • Improving gate repairs and access controls.

   • Adding a new pool rules sign and allocating a small budget for community events.

   • Reserve study to take a deeper dive into the health of our capital reserves to ensure long term success. 

3. Budget Review
   Tim Atwood from Southern Property Management reviewed the budget for 2024 and 2025. The good news is that dues will not need to increase for 2025.

4. Items Up for Vote:

   • Board of Directors Expansion: The proposal to expand the board from 3 to 5 members. PASSED 93/1. The newly elected members are Amy Collins (incumbent), Brent Clarkson, and Ben Kegley. Their specific positions will be announced at a later date.

   • Quorum Percentage Reduction: Passed 74/20, reducing the quorum requirement from 50% to 30%.

   • Maintenance of Lawn Between Sidewalk and Curb: Passed 86/8, transitioning this responsibility from the HOA to homeowners.

   • 2-Year Occupancy Requirement Prior to Renting: Passed 86/8, homeowners must now reside in their property for two years before renting.

   • Stricter Penalties for Rental Homeowners: Passed 83/11, stricter penalties will be applied for violations by rental property owners.

   • Rental Cap: Did not pass 62/32, Limit on the number of rental properties in the neighborhood. 

We appreciate your continued involvement and support as we work towards making Baldwin Park a better community for all. If you have any questions or would like further details, feel free to reach out via our new community website or email system.

Thank you,
Baldwin Park HOA Board

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Greenway Farms Conference Center
4960 Gann Store Rd, Hixson, TN 37343

Dear Homeowners,

We request you to attend the annual meeting of the Baldwin Park Homeowners Association. This is an important opportunity for you to engage with the Board and participate in discussions that affect our community. Please find the agenda for the meeting below:

Agenda:

1. Review Financials

2. Re-election of Officers:

   • Vice President/Secretary: Amy Collins

3. Bylaw & CCR Changes:

   • Reduce quorum requirement from 50% to 30%

   • Vote to expand the Board from 3 to 5 homeowners

   • Election of new Board members, if expansion is approved

     • Please see the attached volunteer form if you wish to run for the expanded board. 

   • Maintenance of grass between the sidewalk and the street

   • Implement rental cap at 5%

**Please note that any items to be voted on during the meeting currently require a 50% quorum to be voted on and passed. Your attendance is crucial. If you are unable to attend, please provide a proxy so another homeowner of your choice can cast a vote on your behalf. The proxy form is attached for your convenience.

Proposed wording from the HOA lawyer for the CCR and Bylaw changes are located here.

If you have any additional items you would like to include on the agenda, please contact the Board at board@baldwinparkhoa.com.

Additionally, if you are not currently signed up to receive communication via email, kindly reach out to Tim Atwood at tim@southernpmg.com to ensure you stay informed.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and appreciate your ongoing support and participation in our community.

Sincerely,
The Baldwin Park Homeowners Association Board

Automatic locks have been installed on the clubhouse bathroom doors. Please note, the locks will auto lock after 30-seconds. If you are holding the door open when the lock engages, please unlock manually and do not let it slam into the door frame. 

If you need to request the door lock code, please reach out to a board member (board@baldwinparkhoa.com). 

New pool rules are available in the "Resources" section, or you can download here. 

Key reminder:

No guests are allowed in the pool on weekends or any major holidays. This ensures adaquate space for homeowners. 

Carly and Eli are proud members of the Baldwin Park community. A way of showing pride in our community we have launched a non profit dog rescue that we would love to introduce and integrate into as many lives as possible! For more information on who they are, what their mission is, how you can help that mission and to see what amazing dogs they have available for adoption, please click the link to their website below!

http://pawsitivechangerescue.org

This is a friendly reminder that per your covenants in Article III Section 3.22, any signs besides "For Sale" signs are prohibited. This includes signs such as the ones lawn care companies use following a service or lawn applications.

The board is aware of the lawn quality issues in the common areas and is making some much-needed changes. The builder had previously opted for a more affordable option that only included mowing. This is why you are seeing so many weeds and the lack of proper lawn and landscape quality. The board is adding a full treatment program along with other changes that will bring the lawn up to the standard it should be.

Your board has also decided that following this growing season, they will begin requiring the same for homeowner's lawns in the neighborhood. This will give everyone plenty of time to bring their lawn up to the quality it should be and will make a huge difference in both aesthetics and home values. 

Your covenants already state that lawns should be weed-free. However, the builder only chose to enforce consistent mowing.  Your new board is doing as they should by choosing to require properly cared-for lawns. Between the common areas and homeowner's yards being treated, your community will be the beautiful upscale community it was intended to be.

Thank you!!

Lawn care tips for fescue in Tennessee (DIY options)

• All lawns were sodded with fescue, a cool season grass. Unlike warm-season turf such as Bermuda which spreads on its own, fescue has to be overseeded yearly to replace what inevitably gets lost during the summer. It only takes a couple of years to have an entire lawn be taken over by weeds without yearly seeding.

• Aeration and overseeding must be done each fall. With a proper treatment program, that is the only time to over-seed.

• Problems with spring seeding - In late winter/early spring, crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) must be put down.  Crabgrass must be prevented as it is difficult to kill once it has emerged. It is in July-August that you can see the results of what was done in February-March. The problem is that 1. Crabgrass preventer can also kill/prevent seed from emerging. 2. Aerating breaks the pre-emergent barrier stopping its effectiveness. 3. Fall seeding gives the roots 8-9 months to establish before summer as opposed to only a few months after spring.

• The spring application (April/May) should include post-emergent weed control to kill the visible broadleaf weeds that can't be prevented.

• Each of those treatments should include feeding the lawn. There are organic options for this also.

• Fescue should be mowed much higher than warm season turf, 3.5-4.5 inches is recommended.

• When actively growing, it needs to be mowed weekly. You never want to cut more than 1/3 of the total height of the grass.

• If you plan to water, less frequent watering with longer watering times is better than small amounts more frequently. Shallow watering produces shallow roots.

• Let the soil dry out several inches deep before watering. Fescue roots will drive deeper searching for water in between waterings creating a more robust root system. 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week is usually optimal in summer months. Any more is a waste of water.

• Cool season turf turning brown in the summer is not dying if it's being properly cared for. Over-watering will not stop this and will promote fungus and disease. It is only temporarily going dormant to protect itself from the heat just as warm-season grass turns brown in the winter to protect itself from the cold.

In total, there are 5-7 steps that need to be taken to maintain a healthy lawn. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions.

Thank you. 

Summer is right around the corner!

Reminder to keep tabs on your pool fobs! If you have lost your key fob and need to replace it, the cost is $60.

You can order a new pool fob by going to our website:https://www.baldwinparkhoa.com/pool and clicking "Order New Key Fob".

After your order is received, a member of the pool committee will coordinate with you to deliver your key fob. The property management company will activate your fob for you and assess the charge to your HOA account.

NOTE: If you are selling your home or have recently purchased your home, please make sure the pool key fob is transferred to the new owner. Otherwise, the new homeowner will be required to purchase a replacement key fob.

The board wanted to address the fact there have been several concerning reports in the last few weeks of teenage boys vandalizing the clubhouse, and bullying, taunting and acting inappropriately with a lot of the younger kids in the neighborhood.  Baldwin Park is a very tight-knit community here and word travels fast, so you may want to check in with your kiddos to make sure they’re not involved (on either side of things).

Also, numerous homeowners have requested cameras for the clubhouse due to these and other incidents and the board is looking into that.

At the recommendation of the property management company, the board has agreed to implement a single trash and recycling provider (instead of the 3-4 we have now).

The board received quotes from all trash providers in our area. Express was chosen for several reasons:

• Locally owned and operated

• They offer both trash and recycling services (both are not required if you don't want both).

• Lowest Price of all providers (PWS had the lowest base price, however, PWS has a mandatory $8 fuel surcharge that makes their total price higher than Express).

• Reduction of traffic and road wear/tear from multiple waste service providers

Additionally, having a single waste management vendor will allow the property management company to effectively monitor trash bin put out and removal on a single day, rather than having bins out most of the week.

The schedule for Express pickup is:

• Trash - every Wednesday

• Recycling - every other Tuesday

Cost

• Trash: $57 (PWS was $62.10)

• Trash & Recycling: $93/qtr

Homeowners have until Oct 31, 2024 to make the switch.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our property manager or reach out to the board.

We've had complaints of dogs in the neighborhood off-leash. Per section 3.33 of the CC&R's:

Pet owners shall not allow pets to roam unattended, and pets must be leashed if off their master's Home Site. When pet owners are exercising their pets in the neighborhood, owners must pick up and remove all pet waste at the time of the occurrence. Pet owners shall also muzzle any pet which consistently barks. If the barking persists, the pet owner shall have the pet removed from the Development. If the pet owner refuses, it shall be deemed an "offensive activity" under Section 3.12.

If you observe a dog off-leash, please forward a photo/video to the board or to property management so a violation can be issued.