Greetings, we made it through another winter with only one major snow storm. If you have a storm drain on your lot, please remove the leaves and trash off of the grate. We are going to try to get a roll off dumpster for a weekend this summer so everyone can get rid of their old junk. Remember your dues are due and ask your neighbor if he has paid his.

Sincerely, Steve

IMPORTANT ZONING NEWS

A petition has been filed for a variance to use the existing ranch home and adjoining vacant lot at 18 E Valley View Drive for business- a dental office and parking for it. This property is inside East Hill Valley Estates and is adjacent to other homes! This is believed to be the first time property inside our subdivision has been proposed for business use.

The hearing is April 26, 2005 at 1:00 PM in the City County Building public assembly room. The Association will vigorously oppose this petition. Try to attend and support us. Contact a board member if you need transportation or are willing to drive others to the hearing. Consult the Association’s website (www.hillvalley.org) for further information.

On March 1, 2005 your association also remonstrated against a request for a variance to use the home at 8629 S Meridian St. for a realty business. The Board of Zoning appeals denied that request.

2005 EVENTS CALENDAR

Newsletters will be sent out during first or second week of January, April, July, and October. Any news must be submitted before the end of previous month.

Garage Sales: Thursday through Saturday, June 9-11 and again August 18-20
Annual Summer Social: Friday, August 12, 5:00 p.m. (You must be a 2005 member to attend with your family.)

The Board meets the 3rd Monday of every month (except December) generally at St. Barnabas church at 7:30 p.m. The first 20 minutes are devoted to input from visitors before the business meeting continues. Please be prepared, as there is limited time. Dates for the rest of 2005 are: Apr 18, May 16, Jun 20, Jul 21, Aug 15, Sep 19, Oct 17, and Nov 21

If your street has potholes or other damages that have not been repaired, call the Mayor’s Action Center, 327-4622, to report the situation and be sure to get an Action Number so we can follow up if it doesn’t get done.

Stamp Out Identity Theft
If mail isn’t delivered through a slot on your front door, a locking mailbox is your best defense against theft. They are available for as little as $65 and are now common in some neighborhoods.

Dog Bite Prevention
It is that time of year again, and the Postal Service, health care providers, and animal protection professionals need your help. Last year, nationwide, over 3400 letter carriers sustained dog-attack and dog-bite injuries. This number pales in comparison to the more than 4.7 million people - most of them children and the elderly - who are bitten by dogs each year. You can help protect your letter carrier, meter reader, newspaper delivery person, or your neighbors’ children by making sure your pet is properly restrained. Be a responsible pet owner. Help prevent the injuries, pain and costs associated with animal attacks and keep your pet restrained from wandering off your property; it’s the law. This message is offered as a public service by your local post office.

One request we received was for us to post pictures on the website of the actual decorations of the Christmas Contest winners. We tried this year but our camera could not record the details in the low light. We will try to get better pictures this coming season so we can show you the beautiful decorations themselves.

We receive questions regarding what signs are permitted in the neighborhood. There are four general categories: real estate, posting signs on the entrance islands, garage sale and personal business signs.

Real Estate: Standard size real estate signs are permitted in front of the house being sold for as long as the house is on the market. Oversize signs are not permitted for any reason. Open house signs may be posted at intersections only for the weekend of the open house and only with permission of the residents of the property on which they are posted. Easements do not grant the public permission to post signs.

Entrance Islands: Posting signs on the entrance islands is generally forbidden by the Hill Valley Homeowners Association, which has responsibility for those islands. However, weekend signs for missing animals, open houses and garage sales are permitted if they are no larger than real estate signs and do not block vision of traffic on Meridian. All other signs will be confiscated.

Garage Sales: Garage sale signs, the same size as real estate signs and no larger, may be posted during the garage sale with the same rules as for open house signs.

Personal Business: For legal home occupations conducted in a residence, the sign ordinance basically allows an information sign stating the nature of the business, the address and the phone number to be posted on the side of the house or in a window. The specifications for the size of the information signs are nearly the same as for real estate signs and do not permit any electrical enhancements. If you have any questions, contact the Mayor’s Action Center, 327-4MAC.

We would like to see our quarterly publication become more of a neighborhood newsletter, but we need your help. We would welcome suggestions, comments and other newsworthy items that you feel would be of interest to your neighbors. The HVHA does reserve the right to edit such submittals for clarity and conciseness. Please submit your articles to any HVHA board member and we will try to publish it as submitted. If we have questions or concerns we will contact the author as necessary.