VUECREST Newsletter August 2018 In This Issue: Book an Arborist NOW for Fall Air Conditioning & Flag Poles Installation Sumiyoshi/Continental Property Update Electronic Assessment and Voting Option for Vuecrest Calendar Items: Vuecrest Book Club August 6th Vuecrest Board Meeting August 9th Vuecrest Picnic August 25th Protect your VIEW (and your Neighbor’s view) with a bit of Tree Control I think if we were to abandon Vuecrest for just a single season, it would be unrecognizable to those of us who cherish our views! Trees love the Northwest and we love our trees. So, our mission is to find a happy balance between green views and city, lake and mountain views! We can do this!! To help our plight, here is a list of Arborists who have been recommended and used by our neighbors. These vendors have agreed to give us good recommendations and suggestions on trimming, removing, and/or replacing trees and overgrown vegetation. Haskins Tree Care: Brock Haskins 425.677.5573, brockhaskins@yahoo.com <mailto:brockhaskins@yahoo.com> Bartlett Tree Experts: Sterling Malcomson 425.481.6529, smalcomson@bartlett.com <mailto:smalcomson@bartlett.com> Big Trees: Jake Johnson 360.563.2700, jakej@bigtreesupply.com <mailto:jakej@bigtreesupply.com> Air Conditioning and Flag Poles Since it’s a well-known fact that Washingtonians melt above 80 degrees, many of you may be considering installing air conditioning. If you are, you may not be aware that our Vuecrest Building Guide has been written to minimize the noise disturbance of this type of mechanical equipment to neighbors next to or behind the property of the home installing an A/C unit. A quick easy fix suggested by a local builder is quiet fencing. Here’s a link if you want to check it out, https://quietfence.com/ <https://quietfence.com/>. Additionally, flagpoles must not block protected views of neighbors and require written approval of location and height. Here’s the scoop from the Vuecrest Building Guide: Miscellaneous Restrictions 1. Satellite dishes, flagpoles and any other exterior item(s) must not block protected views, require written approval, and should be positioned discreetly. Visual screening (e.g. fencing, vegetation) of satellite dishes is required, consistent with requirements in the Protective Restrictions. 2. Fencing is permitted up to 6 feet in height in the back and side of properties. Front fencing may not be higher than 4 feet. 3. Trees and/or shrubs on any part of the property shall not be permitted to reach a height that will obstruct the protected view of the adjacent or neighboring properties. There are several protected trees within Vuecrest by designation as noted in the Protective Restrictions; they are also identified on the plat map. 4. Mechanical equipment (e.g., air conditioning units, generators) must not be placed within setbacks, and must provide sound screening to attenuate noise impacts, and visual screening (e.g. fencing, vegetation) that meets the height of the equipment, consistent with requirements in the Protective Restrictions. 5. Attached decks, patios, and other exterior living spaces are only allowed at the same elevation as the main floor or basement. Other exterior living spaces will be reviewed on an individual basis. Another lesser known fact is that Vuecrest does not allow artificial turf in yards exposed to street visibility, but you are welcome to install it in your backyard! Sumiyoshi/Continental Property Project Update Here is the August construction schedule for the five-story rental apartment complex at our east entrance (the northeast corner of 10th and 100th). The 137-unit apartment building will have two levels of underground parking. What to Expect This Month: Grinding and asphalt overlay will occur early this month on NE 10th St. Pavers, planters, and egress path are currently being placed at the rooftop amenity. Landscaping and fencing is in progress around the perimeter of the building. Finishes are scheduled to be installed in the common areas this month. The residential units are in the process of being reviewed and punchlist items resolved. Electronic Assessment Payments and Voting It has taken months of planning and investigation by David Pitkethly to finally bring the convenient option of online assessment payments and annual voting to Vuecrest. You will be receiving a letter regarding this soon. CALENDAR ITEMS: Vuecrest Book Club Monday, Aug 6th Please join our neighborhood book club! We meet once a month, usually on the first Monday evening of the month. Newcomers are always welcome! Come join us, as we discuss the book, chat, laugh, nibble and have a lovely time. Information? Contact Melissa Hambleton, at mhambleton@yahoo.com <mailto:mhambleton@yahoo.com>. Upcoming book choices: August 6: The Girl with Seven Names: The North Korean Defector’s Story, by Hyeonseo Lee (be sure to watch her on TedTalks), September 4 (note the day change, to Tuesday): The Paris Architect, by Charles Belfoure, October 1: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women, by Kate Moore Monthly Board Meeting Thursday, Aug 9th The location will be at Lincoln Square South at WeWorks on the fifth floor. The address is 10400 NE 4th Street, Bellevue WA 98004. To get to the location, park in the underground parking garage at Lincoln Square SOUTH. Then, take the elevator to the second floor. Walk South through the Food Hall to the bank of elevators that will take you to floor #5. The floor is locked, so Rebecca von der Burg will meet you at the elevators from 6:45P-7:15P to unlock access to the fifth floor. If you arrive later than 7:15P please call 425.785.7050. See you there! The usual monthly Board Meeting is held on the first Thursday of each month, but the August meeting will be held on the second Thursday to accommodate summer travel schedules. please contact directors@vuecrest.net <mailto:directors@vuecrest.net> with your questions. Vuecrest Picnic Saturday, August 25th, 4:00P-7:00P ALL CALL-Neighborhood EVENT! This year’s highlights will be a live band (Mike Faast and the Arch Tops), Angel and his Los Koras Express Tacos (meat & veggie), Evergreen Balloons, Animal Encounters Petting Zoo, Chillz Ice Cream Truck and, of course, a chance to mix and mingle with your Vuecrest neighbors. Meet some new friends and join the fun! Put this special event on your calendar! We hope to see you there!! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY for all and anyone who would like to volunteer to help set up for the picnic just arrive around 3:15P to help. Thanks to Melissa and Mara, Our Social Committee, the Vuecrest Picnic has been planned and coordinated! We sure appreciate all your time and effort! Thanks, Ladies! Now, the rest of us have an opportunity to lend a hand with set up and take down. Mainly, we’re just setting up folding chairs and tables then adding a colorful table cloth. If you can also help us take down the chairs and tables at the end of the day, you get extra brownie points!