Author Archives: Thaddeus Fedoruk

School Buses

School buses are once again a familiar sight on Oro Valley streets. Drivers are reminded to be especially mindful of children waiting for their bus.

As a reminder to everyone on our community, school buses are not allowed on our private streets. If you happen to see a school bus in our community, please note the date, time and bus number, and notify our HOA Manager. Our manager will notify the school district’s transportation dispatcher and advise drivers that the pickup/drop-off spot is at the entrance to our community.

Monsoon Ready?

Monsoon season runs from June 15 through September 30. Are your ready? Here is a short check list to prepare for this annual event.

Emergency Contact Info:

Are you planning to be away for the summer?

Have you left emergency contact information with our HOA Manager?

Storm damage to your home can be lessened if we can contact you quickly; so you can begin the process of damage mitigation and repair.

Your home:

  • Check the condition of your roof and gutters. Broken or missing tiles; and clogged drainage ways can cause roof leakages.
  • Keep a working flash light or two on hand.
  • Keep a battery operated radio for weather updates and emergency information.
  • Unlike ‘plain old’ phones that are solely powered by the phoneline, cell towers may or may not work during power outages; be aware that your cell phone may not function. It definitely will not work on a dead battery. Keep a booster battery handy and charged. 

    You can use to your vehicle’s electrical system to recharge cell phone batteries.

Your yard:

  • Trim large overhanging branches. High winds and downdrafts can split or topple a tree.
  • “Beans” Clean-up your yard before storm water carries these down the street to your neighbor’s yard.
  • Wind-blown yard furniture is a hazard. Anchor it down or stow it away.

Roadways and Washes:

Flooded roads and washes can sweep away vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. DO NOT attempt a crossing while water is flowing or drive around protective barriers.

Deputies respond to 12 to 24 water rescues every year, don’t be one of them.

Additional Monsoon Info Resources

Be Safe Out There!

Weeds! Argh!

Just a friendly reminder from the HOA, that weeds are not only unsightly, they lower the “curb appeal” of your home and our neighborhood.

Before the weeds on your property become excessive, the HOA Board is requesting you remove them at your earliest opportunity.


Thank you,
Eagles Bluff Board of Directors

New Officers for 2023

An organizational meeting was conducted immediately after the 2023 Annual Meeting to assign Officers of the Association for 2023.  They are as follows:


Board of Directors and Officers of the Association
Board Term
Expires
PresidentDerald Owensderaldowens@msn.com
2024
Vice PresidentHugh Moshersandhmosher@gmail.com
2024
Secretary/TreasurerTodd Fedoruktrfedoruk@yahoo.com
2027
Member at LargeJoe Recchiojoeseph_recchio@comcast.net
2025
Member at LargeTodd Bersonberson2820@msn.com
2027

Annual Meeting – Voting

Annual Meeting of the Association
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 5:00 PM
Oro Valley Library
Program Meeting Room

By now every member household has received the Association’s Annual Meeting Packet. Included in this packet is the ballot and ballot instructions.

Voting to approve or disapprove last year’s meeting minutes and voting for two Board of Directors members is done by ballot. Each member, one per Lot shall cast their vote.

Two names of candidates for the Board are on the ballot.
– Todd Fedoruk
– Todd Berson
You may also write-in a candidate name.

In accordance with A.R.S. §33-1812/1250, once you have completed your ballot, you must return it to the Association in one of the following manners:

(1) using the enclosed envelope and mail it;
(2) faxing to 520-742-­2618;
(3) emailing it to the Community Association
​      Manager – jbecerra@cadden.com; or
(4) bringing it to the association office.

Ballots must be received by one of the forms above no later than January 30, 2023 in order to be counted.

The ballot is valid for only one specified meeting of the members and expires automatically after the completion of the meeting. The ballot does not authorize another person to cast votes on behalf of the member.


Agenda:

I.    Call to Order

II.   Proof of Call

III.  Establishment
      of Quorum

IV.   Welcome and
       Introduction

V.    Report from Officers

VI.   Announcement of
    Annual Meeting
    Minute Results

VII.  Announcement of
Election Results

VIII. Discussion of Budget

IX.   Q&A (Open Forum)

X.    Adjournment to Organizational
Meeting

Originally Posted January 18, 2023 Edited to provide new information.

Zoning Commission Denies Drive-Thru

Summary
On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, a public meeting was held by the OV Zoning Commission. The agenda item of interest to us and our neighboring associations was the discussion and possible action on four separate items regarding the property owner’s proposed site design for an office and drive-thru development located at the northwest corner of the Naranja Dr. and La Cañada Dr. intersection. The applicant was proposing the following:

ITEM A: Conditional Use Permit for the drive-thru
ITEM B: Removal of a 2006 Grading Exception condition
ITEM C: Conceptual Site Plan package for the development
ITEM D: Conceptual architecture for the proposed buildings​
 
A brief history of the NW Corner site was presented by the Town Planner, followed by a presentation by the developer’s representative. Two homeowner comments were presented opposing ITEM A, the drive-thru, on the grounds that it would be a safety and traffic congestion problem to an already congested intersection.
Four of the six commissioners also raised concerns about the additional congestion resulting from traffic flow in and out of the property and onto La Cañada or Naranja. The commissioners observed firsthand the traffic congestion at the intersection, noting vehicles backed-up a quarter mile on eastbound Naranja.

The developer’s representative failed to adequately address the commissioners’ concerns. With discussion ended, a vote was taken and the request for ITEM A: Conditional use permit for a drive-thru was denied. The vote was four ‘No’, one ‘Yes’ and one ‘Abstention’.

ITEMS B through D were dependent upon the outcome of ITEM A; with the denial of ITEM A, the remaining three zoning requests were also denied.

The commissioners all expressed the desire that the NW intersection property be developed, they simply didn’t see how this could be done with a drive-thru of any kind.
 
Next Steps
The developer has the option to appeal the zoning commission’s decision to the Town Council or propose a different design for this property.

NW Corner Development UPDATE


 NW Corner of Naranja and La Canada Drives

Offices and Drive-Thru Coffee Shop
OPINION by Todd Fedoruk

A public meeting was held in December 12, at 6PM to discuss the proposed site design for the NW intersection of La Canada Dr. and Naranja Dr.

This meeting was held at the Oro Valley Council Chambers, 11000 N. La Canada Drive, and on line via ZOOM.  Six homeowners were in attendance, and a dozen more attended via ZOOM.

A brief history of the NW Corner site was presented by the Town Planner, followed by a presentation by the developer’s representative.

Residential Impact
The site plan has not changed significantly from the plan presented in 2019. The bone of contention with homeowners is still (1) the request for a zoning variance to allow a drive-thru for a coffee shop; (2) forego the 250-ft buffer zone requirement between a drive-thru and residential properties; and (3) the expected increase in traffic congestion with its associated safety risks, to the already congested La Canada/ Naranja intersection.

While the site is zoned as commercial, and a restaurant is a commercial enterprise, a drive- thru requires a zoning exemption AND the 250-ft buffer zone.
Proposed Variance:
Re-zone the lot to allow a restaurant/coffee shop to have a drive-thru window. But that still leaves the issue about the zoning requirement for the buffer zone.

The city planner and developer have “creatively” moved the center of the 250-ft footprint buffer zone around the proposed drive-thru as far SE as possible, removing two of the three impacted residential neighborhoods; leaving only the houses on the NE corner of the intersection, negatively impacted.
Proposed Variance:
The Developer simply wishes to forego the 250-ft buffer zone and trust the Town to regulate and enforce noise and odor ordnances when they occur.

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Concerns
The Town’s traffic engineer claimed a traffic study was performed showing the intersection can easily accommodate the additional vehicle flow into and out of the drive-thru.

This statement was met with universal skepticism. Anyone trying to enter or leave our community via Naranja Drive, 0.2-miles from the intersection, during peak traffic times, has encountered congestion and long wait times. The additional multiple comings and goings from the NW Corner drive-thru will only add to that congestion.
Additionally, the NW Corner is an intersection for the popular bike/pedestrian pathway along La Canada and Naranja Drives. Pathways promoted by the mayor and council as safe and healthy ways to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

Anyone who has walked or cycled near a drive-thru has encounter near-hits from inattentive drivers in a hurry to get back onto the road. This issue was raised at the meeting.
Proposed Solution:
The traffic engineer and developer trust that the coffee shop patrons will “find the best way to merge back into the traffic flow, without causing unnecessary congestion.
 
As for “interactions” (aka collisions) between vehicles and pedestrians, those unfortunate events do occasionally happen. According to the Developer, “it’s an unfortunate part of life”. That’s why there are stop signs and traffic laws; unfortunately, not everyone obeys them.

Is a Drive-thru Coffee Shop Risk Worthy?
This property is zoned as commercial, no one disputes that fact. However, this property is not zoned for a drive-thru; that requires a vote of the Town Council.
 
At the 2019 public meeting, the developer representative admitted that without the drive-thru variance, the entire project is not feasible, and is pushing for the zoning variances.

The corner property has always had this drive-thru restriction; and I see no beneficial reason to give the developer the variance; unnecessarily risking the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

You are invited to view an informational video regarding the property owner’s proposed site design for a medical office and drive-thru development located at the northwest corner of the Naranja Dr. and La Canada Dr. intersection (case number 2102733/2101748). 

Next Steps:
The Town Council will decide at the meeting on Tuesday. January 10, 2023, whether the developer will be granted the zoning variances. Public comments FOR and AGAINST the zoning variances will be determine the future development of this corner, and its benefit or harm to our community. Your opinions matter, speak to the Town Mayor and Council members.

For more information. USE THIS LINK..

Questions? 
Please contact Senior Planner Hannah Oden at (520) 229-4814 or hoden@orovalleyaz.gov

UPDATE: Call for Board of Director Candidates

Two Boards seats are “open” for 2023.  A mailing was sent to each Owner of the Lot, seeking candidates for these seats.  The time requirements for being a Director are minimal, yet the work is important.

The Deadline to Have Your Name on the Ballot has Passed
The deadline for having your name on the ballot in time for the Annual Meeting packet printing was November 30.  But the opportunity to be on the Board is still possible.

Anyone wishing to run for a seat on the Board will have to run as a “write-in” candidate. We can help you get the word out to the Association membership. Contact the HOA Secretary, Todd Fedoruk, to have your name and interest in running for Board Director, emailed to the Association’s membership. 

An election will be held, with ballots mailed to Association Members in early January 2023, as part of our Annual Meeting activities. The annual meeting is set for January 24, 2023, at 5:00PM, at the Oro Valley Public Library.

First Posted October 11, 2022

Holiday Lights

It’s that time of year when one’s thoughts turn to exterior holiday decorations. A common question that arises during the holiday season is, “Does the HOA have a policy or rule on Christmas lights?” The answer to that question is “no”.

The usual and customary practice within the community, is that folks put up holiday decorations around Thanksgiving and remove them a week or so after New Year’s Day. All holiday decorations are generally removed by the end of January.

Where did the tradition of Christmas lights on houses come from?

Outdoor Christmas light displays on houses evolved from decorating the traditional Christmas tree and house with candles during the Christmas season. The tradition of lighting the tree with small candles dates back to the 17th century and originated in Germany before spreading to Eastern Europe.

Christmas trees displayed publicly and illuminated with electric lights became popular in the early 20th century. By the mid-20th century, it became customary to display strings of electric lights along streets and on buildings; Christmas decorations detached from the Christmas tree itself. In the United States, it became popular to outline private homes with such Christmas lights in tract housing beginning in the 1960s.

Helpful Tips for Avoid Holiday Lighting Hassles

  • The Canada Hills Master Association does have design giudelines that prohibits any exterior lighting that shines directly onto a neighbor’s property.
  • Avoid using noisy or music-generating exterior decorations.
    At the very least, turn those decorations off by 9PM.
  • Use a timer 
    This saves you money on your electric bill, by avoiding having your lights and musical displays on all night.
  • Be mindful that going all “Clark Griswold” with your exterior decorations, might just ruin your neighbors’ enjoyment of the holiday season. That timer can save you hassles with your neighbors, and money on your electric bill.

Originally Posted November 2018

Winter Prep Your Home

Here in Southern Arizona, unlike in the North, “Winter” is usually spelled with a lower-case “w”; yet we can still experience sub-freezing nights. Desert home plumbing systems are usually not built to withstand extremely cold nights; so some precautions are necessary to avoid costly damage to your home.  Here are ten helpful tips to get your home ready. – T.Fedoruk

You’ll get a full season’s worth of savings, comfort and peace of mind by taking a few steps now to get your home ready for cold weather.

By Christopher Solomon, MSN

So you’ve pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet. But what about your house?  Is it prepared for the cold months ahead?  You’ll be a lot less comfortable in the coming months if you haven’t girded Home Sweet Home for Old Man Winter.

With the help of several experts, we’ve boiled down your autumn to-do list to 10 easy tips:

  1. Clean those gutters Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris, especially those annoying beans, from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain and that rare melting snow can drain. As you’re hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.
  2. Block those leaks One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group.
    • Inside First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets. Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Today’s Homeowner.”  Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.
    • Outside Seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk.  For brick and stucco areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing. “Even if it’s a small crack, it’s worth sealing up,” Lipford says. “It also discourages any insects from entering your home.”
  1. Insulate yourself “Another thing that does cost a little money — but boy, you do get the money back quick — is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic,” says Lipford. “Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.” Don’t clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though.  Here’s Lipford’s rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: “If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don’t have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches.” A related tip: If you’re layering insulation atop other insulation, don’t use the kind that has “kraft face” finish (i.e., a paper backing).  It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation.
  2. Check the furnace First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it’s even working, before the coldest weather descends.  A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open windows to dissipate it.  But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a HVAC professional to check your furnace.  It’s a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually.  Costs will often run about $100-$125.  An inspector should do the following, among other things:
    • Make sure that the thermostat and pilot light are working properly.
    • Make sure that the fuel pipe entering your furnace doesn’t have a leak.
    • Check the heat exchanger for cracks — a crack can send carbon monoxide into the home.
    • Change the filter.
    • Throughout the winter you should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly). A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed.
  1. Get your ducts in a row According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces.  That’s a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house. (Check out this audit tool for other ideas on how to save on your energy bills this winter.)   Ducts aren’t always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and in crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn’t stand up to the job over time).  Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.
  2. Face your windows According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an average home loses up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through air leaks around windows and doors. Old, leaky, double-pane windows are a major source of heat (and money) loss.  If your windows are leaky or drafty, they need to be updated to a more efficient window. New, efficient windows will also save to cooling costs when summer comes back around. Of course, new windows are pricey. Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Lipford recommends.  Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that’s affixed to a windows interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) “It’s temporary and it’s not pretty, but it’s inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it’s extremely effective,” says Lipford.
  3. What about the chimney?
    • Natural Gas Fireplaces If you’re using a clean-burning natural gas fireplace, annual chimney sweeping is not required. You should however, check to see that the flue damper and chimney are functional and unobstructed. To keep out cold air, gas fireplaces should have glass doors installed, and keep them closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.
    • Word Burning Fireplaces Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney, because “chimney sweeps are going crazy right now, as you might have guessed,” says Ashley Eldridge, former director of education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America.  That said, don’t put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, Eldridge advises. ”  A common myth is that chimney needs to be swept every year,” says Eldridge.  Not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year, he adds.” I’ve seen tennis balls and ducks in chimneys,” he says.  Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney, Eldridge says.  “Most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep,” he adds. 
    • Wood Burning Stoves Woodstoves are a different beast, however, cautions Eldridge.  They should be swept more than once a year.  A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, “anywhere that it’s found.”  Why? “If it’s ash, then it’s primarily lye — the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it’s very acidic.”  It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot, Eldridge says. Another tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen, advises Eldridge. “It’s probably the single easiest protection” because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace’s walls.  He advises buying based on durability, not for its decorativeness.
    • One other reminder To keep out cold air, fireplace owners should keep their chimney’s damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.  And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn’t in use. Check out the CSIA’S Web site for a list of certified chimneysweeps in your area.
  1. Reverse that fan Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don’t often think of doing. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: look up, the blades should be turning clockwise. 
  2. Wrap those pipes
    • A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before freezing nights hit. You can protect your exterior water spigots by simply purchasing little Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment for a few dollars that help insulate then from the cold.
    • Next, go looking for other exposed pipes that aren’t insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces; pipes that run along the outside of your house or in your garage. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you’re really worried about the pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat. If you have already wrapped your pipes in a previous year, check the condition of the insulation and heating tape, to make sure they are in good condition.
    • During those nights of extreme cold (<25 DegF), for added safety, (1) allow a faucet to drip very slowly, and (2) open the cabinet doors of vanities that are mounted along exterior facing walls. Moving water has less chance of freezing at these extreme lower temperatures, and with the cabinet doors open, cold air will not get trapped under the sink. A little water loss is better than a burst pipe in your ceiling or exterior wall. Just remember to close the faucet completely, once daylight and warmer temperatures return.
  1. Finally, check those alarms This is a great time to check the operation — and change the batteries — on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, say fire officials. Test them — older ones in particular — with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the “test” button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works. Invest in a carbon monoxide detector; every home should have at least one. Prices range from $12 to $200, with many excellent detectors below $30.