The Farm VISION Statement:
Building a diverse community people are proud to belong to!

 It is my pleasure to extend this report at the end of 2006 with a great sense of pride and accomplishment at The Farm. It has been a solid year of progress, financial stability, common areas improvements, and civic pride that has made our community a better place to live and enjoy families and friends. We are finishing 2006 with over 1600 homes built, which is essentially “built out”.

Some of the key accomplishments of 2006:

• Design Review Board of all homeowners (7) who meet twice monthly to approve and monitor compliance with the design review guidelines.  A refined hearing procedure for homeowners who are asked to justify their reasoning on a design violation.
• Farm residents approved a rebate of $277,000 from excess revenues collected by the Goodman Metro District  for Farm improvements. See the various improvements as stated below.
• Appointment of Karl Wiersum as a new Board member, to replace Matt Kooy, who resigned in January.
• Upgraded and new playground equipment in all three parks. (GOODMAN DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS)
• Replacement of dead trees and addition of more trees on the common grounds throughout The Farm. Over 70 trees were replaced or added in 2006.
• The 5^th annual summer picnic drew over 1500 residents to Central Park.
• New berms with drought resistant plants and rocks in Creekside Park.
• A dedicated social committee that produced the following events for 2006:
  -  Two “Music in the Park” events
  -   Movie in the Park in September
  -  Two Ice Cream Socials
  -  A Hayride and Camel Picture event in October
  -  A kite flying contest in Creekside Park
  -  First annual summer games

-  The Farm Picnic

• New landscaping at the two roundabouts in Filing 9.
• A spring cleanup day sponsored by Remax for all residents to throw away items in large containers.
• A updated Farm website was operational, with many new features, a classified section, and homeowner directory. Current news stories and events are updated regularly.  The Resource Center includes The Farm’s governing documents, Design Review rules and forms, meeting minutes, financials, newsletters and sub-association information.  Check it out at www.thefarmhoa.com
• New solar lighting at Central Park walkways – a environmental pro-active effort to reduce energy
  (GOODMAN DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS).
• New landscaped berms on Arapahoe and Buckley Roads designed to have drought resistant plants and drip systems (GOODMAN DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS).
• Flower beds in all six entry monuments at the Farm (GOODMAN DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS).
• Reflection groves with pergola sitting areas in all three parks featuring landscaped berms and benches (GOODMAN DISTRICT IMPROVEMENTS).
• Approved color palettes for exterior painting of Farm homes were approved by the DRB and are in booklet form at Hammersmith or from Bill O’Connor.  Included are discount cards form KWAL paints. 
• Redesign of the West trail, including cleanup of the trail and associated dry grasses, a new drainage system to be completed in November 2006, and hydro seeding of native grasses.
• Updated and new holiday lights coming next month to replace the five-year old lights at all six entry monument and at the three gazebos in each park.
  
  

Other key items of interest affecting The Farm ……

• INSPECTIONS - A dedicated Farm specialist, Michael LaPoint continued to more closely monitor design covenant requirements, applications, and other homeowner interactions.  Michael has studied the Farm’s complex landscape, architectural and other community standards.  He can answer homeowner questions and concerns quickly and accurately; giving Farm residents personalized service.   Michael currently spends about 25 hours per week on Farm business, including several onsite inspections every week.
• BASEBALL FIELDS - The baseball fields across from Creekside Park were in full use in 2006. A formal permit program for use of the fields is being enforced.
• SAFETY/SECURITY - The year brought some challenges.  Isolated incidents of defacing Farm signs, playground equipment, electrical outlets, retaining walls, portable potties, and gazebos continue, all of which adds to the costs of the Association.
• SNOW REMOVAL – It is the homeowner’s responsibility to remove any snow from the sidewalks in front of their house (an Arapahoe County law).  Side streets are plowed by Arapahoe County, not The Farm Association.
• SOCIAL - The Board allocated $30,000 in funds for social events in 2006.  Many thanks to Al and Judy Stutman and Denise Anacker for another good year of social events detailed earlier in this letter.  Additional volunteers and new ideas are welcome.

Thank you!

Serving The Farm Association was an enjoyable experience in 2006.  Hats off to the residents who followed the rules, security measures, and safety.  Special thanks to the Board members  (Matt Kooy, Steve Surber, Gretchen Davidson, Ralph Ferullo, and Karl Wiersum) who tirelessly give their time as homeowners for the Board.  And to the Design Review Board  (Matt Kooy, Mark Cooper, Lenny Farano   (who unfortunately passed away in 2006), Ralph Ferullo, Tom Davis, Wael Abdelaziz, Cathy Smith, Karl Wiersum, and Matthew Gregory).  We need more volunteers and ask you to help our community. We look forward to an even better 2007 at The Farm.  Finally, thanks to Hammersmith’s Managing Director of the Farm, Lynne Kraft, for her tireless commitment to the Board and Homeowners to run this thriving community.

Remember the up to date information, calendar of events, Board minutes, and links to other websites on the new and improved Farm website: www.thefarmhoa.com.   A reminder - all Board meetings are open to the Homeowners and are held the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM at Fox Hollow Elementary. (Subject to occasional changes – always call ahead or check the web site calendar for updates).

With best regards
Bill O’Connor
President – Board of Directors
The Farm Homeowner’s Association