Inside this issue:

- Exterior Paint Approval - Annual Assessment Invoice Information

- Sidewalk Maintenance - Trailers on Property

- On-Street Parking - Turf Proposal

- 2022 Board of Directors

Calendar of Events:

• Spring Chipping - week of May 23rd

• Foothills Bluegrass - Wednesday May 25th 6:00-8:00pm

• Community Garage Sale - Saturday June 4th

• Spring Clean-Up - week of June 6th

Letter From The CVHA President

Little Pink Houses for You and Me?

If you were breathing in the mid-80's, you couldn't turn a radio dial without hearing the raspy, heartland rock of singer/songwriter John (Cougar) Mellen camp. And whether or not you agree with his social discourse, you have to admit you probably did some damage to your car speakers and/or ear drums when his songs cued up. His iconic "Pink Houses" song talked to the fabric of America. And while the song most likely blasted out of the "Boom Boxes" of carpenters who nailed together some of our houses, I can say with utmost certainty that Mellen camp's emphasis on the color pink had no influence on the developers of the Covenants of our Comstock Village Homeowners Association (CVHA). Against the backdrop of our 595 "earth-toned houses," I'd like to highlight our obligations as homeowners and residents in Comstock Village. Let me first say that I am blown away by the recent number of significant improvements made in our neighborhoods. As a data point, in 2021 the CVHA Board approved more than 100 applications for exterior improvements to our properties. And it truly shows. Our pride and love for our corner of the Springs is evident in how well we take care of our neighborhoods. I'm going to ask that we all continue to get top cover from the Board through the improvement application process for anything regarding the exterior of our homes and corresponding landscapes. It's an expedited approval process through our website (www.comstockvillage.com), and approval from the Board gives homeowners requisite support (and confidence) prior to hiring contractors or purchasing materials to complete a project. Without approval, homeowners run the risk of being in violation of the Covenants -- and guarantee Board action to correct it. Trust me, this is the least favorite responsibility of the Board, but the Board is fully committed to upholding the Covenants that improve the value of our investments and make this the community where we want to grow our families.

Thanks to all for loving Comstock Village and making it a better place. Before signing off, I would like to publicly recognize someone who has loved his community to the fullest. Bill Schmidt, who served our nation honorably as an Air Force Judge Advocate, stepped down from the CVHA Board on January 1st, serving as a Board Member and President over the past 25 years. I am humbled by Bill's servant heart, dedication, and remarkable leadership example. We will miss you Bill, but your legacy lives on. May we all strive to use our time and talents to improve the world around us like you have across your lifetime. On behalf of a grateful community, please accept my heartfelt thanks.

Ain't That America,

Chas Cox

(719)244-8242

Exterior Paint Approval

Are you thinking about painting your home in the near future? If so, the Covenants require you to submit an improvement application to the Board of Directors to obtain approval of the colors before the painting begins. You can use the improvement application form found here. http://comstockvillage.com/ improvement-application-form/

Earth tone colors are the only colors that are approved by the Covenants. Unfortunately, the term "earth tone" defies precise definition, so the Board is the arbiter of whether a proposed color is an "earth tone" or not. Over the years, the Board has come to agreement on colors that would be approved, and the color palette is the result. Please try to select a color or colors that are on the color palette. If you would like to see samples of earth tone colors that are pre-approved, contact the Administrator and she can arrange a time to show you the approved color palette.

The provisions regarding the requirement of earth tone colors can be found here. http:// comstockvillage.com/covenants/ (look under Minimum Exterior Standards). Also see the Covenants, Section 7, paragraph 5 (e), regarding the colors, which says: "Only earth tone colors shall be used on exterior siding or garage doors."

The Covenants of the HOA stipulate the color scheme for exterior paint that enhances the aesthetic value of the neighborhood. Whether you are painting a specific HOA building or a home in the community, you'll want to be sure the color is on target with the color palette approved by the association. Please work with your HOA Board of Directors when re-painting your property.

Annual Assessment Invoice Information

The invoice for your 2022 Annual Assessment of $46.00 its included in this mailing. Please note that the payment is due by February15, 2022 (postmarked). Additionally, this year, invoices will be emailed to the email address we have on file. You can pay directly through the email using a checking account number.

A rebilling fee of $30.00will be added for those payments not received/postmarked by February 15, 2022.

Clean-Up Dumpster Optional Donation

The optional $10.00 donation for the clean-up program is to pay for the dumpsters that are delivered in the spring and fall. Donations to this account will be accepted in any amount.

Every Spring and Fall we have placed six large dumpsters at six different locations throughout Comstock Village during designated clean-up days. Based upon their utilization, this is a successful program. However, the program is expensive. Currently, it costs your Association $350 per dumpster. To help defray the costs of the clean-up, your support is solicited. You will notice that your Annual Assessment Invoice gives you the ability to donate a small amount to support this popular program. This will allow the Board to have the Spring and Fall Clean-Ups and to be able to use the Annual Assessment to accomplish the administration and necessary maintenance and improvements of the common areas and other community projects. Please consider your support.

Off Duty Police Optional Donation

The optional $20.00 donation for the neighborhood police program is to pay for the Colorado Springs Community Policing Initiative. This program hires off-duty police to patrol Comstock Village in marked police cruisers to promote safety, increase security, and provide warnings or write tickets to traffic violators. All the hours they work are logged and reported to the Association each month, sometimes with a report of what they did and where they patrolled.

Donations to this account will be accepted in any amount. All money collected for "Off Duty Police" is spent on this program and nothing else. Last year we had overwhelming support toward this program, which allowed the Board to increase the number of off duty police patrols scheduled in Comstock Village. Let's keep those contributions flowing for the continued safety and security of our neighborhoods in 2022!

Communication is Key

Please use the reverse side of the Annual Assessment invoice to share your comments and concerns with the Board.

If you currently do not receive occasional emails from Comstock Village, please provide our Administrator Alicia Klausmeier with your email address. It will never be sold or released. The Spring newsletter is emailed, as well as timely messages pertaining to safety information and CVHA events. Don't miss out on these important emails.

Meet a CVHA Board Director: Sidney Patin

For the next couple of newsletters, we will be spotlighting a neighbor who has been elected to serve as one of seven of our CVHA Board of Directors.

This spotlight is on Sidney Patin, a long-time resident of our community since he and his family moved here from Louisiana in 1990. Sidney has been an attorney since 1979, practicing law in Colorado Springs over 30 years. Sidney has been a Director on the CVHA Board since 2013.

As anyone who has been to a monthly CVHA meeting can attest, Sidney plays a pivotal role on the Board, ensuring that homeowners' rights, CVHA Covenants, and state and local laws remain appropriately balanced and enforced. He also organizes our Blue Grass in the Foothills Park event in the summertime.

Sidney grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, the Heart of Acadiana. He put himself through college while serving in the U.S. Navy Reserves, and later earned his CPA in 1975 and his law degree at LSU in 1979. He and his wife, Myra, were married in 1973 and have three children and 4 grandchildren, all of whom now live in Colorado Springs.

When he's not busy running his law practice, he takes pride in his backyard garden and also enjoys beekeeping, ham radio, and is an avid reader. Myra is an artist, musician, and framer with an art studio, gallery, and frame shop in their home. Many of us have even been blessed to see some of her paintings at art shows around town or have heard her tickle the ivories at Gateway Presbyterian Church. The Patins are incredible neighbors with a heart for making their home warm and their community a better place. Thanks Sidney and Myra for all you do for us!

Foothills Bluegrass- Save the Date

Mark Your Calendar! The Board has reserved the band "Grass it Up!" for 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Please save the date for a terrific event at Foothills Park.

Sidewalk Maintenance

Many residents have recently expressed concerns regarding the condition of their sidewalks and/or have asked how to start the repair request process with City Public Works. A great resource for information on the topic can be found at the following link: https://coloradosprings.gov/public-works/page/concrete­maintenance. The web page explains how city inspectors grade the condition of sidewalks and prioritize repair based on number of requests and available resources of the City. At the bottom of the page you can register your request through a "Report a Problem" link (you can also request by phone at 719-385-ROAD). You may have to leave a voicemail if you can't get through as our Public Works Department is very busy. It is important for all residents who have credible sidewalk issues (see web page for severity rating criteria) to register requests as multiple residents in close proximity to each other who have high severity rating requests (if confirmed by city inspectors) will get bumped up in priority. Also, if a resident has legitimate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns, Public Works will move that request up in priority order.

Trailers on Properties

One of the frequent complaints the Board receives from members isabout trailers parked on properties within the ComstockVillage community. As a reminder,Article VI, Section 7, paragraph 12 of the Comstock Village Covenants states that "campers and trailers shall be parked or storedat the rear of the lotout of sight of the streetor kept in a garage. No camper, RV, boat or trailer shall be visible from the street." The Covenants do allow that "for loading and unloadingan RV may be parked on the driveway no more than 72 hours at the onset and 72 hours afterreturn." Thank you foryour cooperation on this issue.

On-Street Parking

Cars that are parked on the street make it more difficult for motorists to see oncoming traffic and impede snow plows and street sweepers. Please respect the Comstock Village Covenants by parking your cars in your driveway or your garage. Not only is parking on the street a Covenant violation, it is illegal if it falls within any of the categories outlined in Article 12 of the Colorado Springs City Code provided below: • On a sidewalk or pedestrian walking area • Within five feet (5') of a public or private driveway • Within five feet (5') of an intersection • Within five feet (5') of a fire hydrant • On a crosswalk • Within twenty feet (20') of a crosswalk at an intersection • At any place where officials signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking In addition to these safety and legal considerations, documented statistics from CSPD show that cars are less likely to be vandalized or broken into if they are parked in a driveway or garage than if they are parked on the street. As a reminder, the Covenants prohibit parking commercial vehicles on the street. This includes pickup trucks and any other vehicles with commercial business information on the truck. CVHA residents adopted a resolution to enforce street parking by fining vehicles. If there are any questions, please reach out to any Board member.

Turf Proposal

The Board was asked recently whether homeowners are allowed to install synthetic turf in their front yard and decided to put this issue to a vote of our members because a decision allowing the use of synthetic turf could affect the look of Comstock Village and, potentially, our property values. By way of background, the Board has allowed the use of synthetic turf in backyards behind fences unseen from the street, but has not allowed the use of synthetic turf in front yards. Nothing in the Comstock Village Covenants requires the use of grass in a front yard and some homeowners have chosen to xeriscape their front yards or use natural grass. The only provisions in the Covenants that apply to this situation are found in Article V (which requires members to submit landscaping plans to the Board of Directors (acting as the Architectural Control Committee) before changes are made, and Article VI, Section 6(which allows the Board to "maintain and restore" properties that are not maintained). Please cast a vote online at www.comstockvillage.com in the top left of the home menu (each property has one vote).

We will tabulate the votes and announce the results upon collection. Votes are due by February 15, 2022.

Spring 2022 Chipping Service

The Spring 2022 Chipper service will be the week of May 23, 2022. This year the Colorado Springs Fire Department is extending the chipping schedule to be in two-week period following the chipping date, but piles must be ready in front of the property no later than Monday May 23rd.

Residents must sign up in advance with the Colorado Springs Fire Department online. More information will be shared via email when the online portal is active.

2022 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm. Meetings are currently being held at Directors houses as library hours have changed. All meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the members of CVHA. If you have can item to present and do not want to attend the entire meeting, you can ask to be placed first on the agenda so that you d not have to stay the whole evening. You are more than welcome to attend all meetings. Please contact the Administrator, Alicia Klausmeier, to confirm the date and location of the meeting.

Board of Directors 2022

President, Chas Cox

719-244-8242

Vice President, Kevin O'Connor

719-494-4055

Secretary/Treasurer, Jim Lovewell

719-661-7402

Sidney Patin

719-578-5104

Vera Feldman

719-599-7603

Howard Feldman

719-599-7603

Al Watson

719-492-0310