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Elk Elk River comprehensive Plan <br />R1Ver <br />Neighborhood Preservation Homeowner's Associations <br />Creating and maintaining strong neighborhoods is a key <br />ingredient of the vision for Elk River. Neighborhood issues <br />take several forms in context of the Comprehensive Plan. <br />Sustainable Neighborhoods <br />The future role of the City in neighborhood <br />preservation can be diminished by quality planning, <br />design, and construction. Some guidelines for <br />designing sustainable and livable neighborhoods <br />include, but are not limited to: <br />New housing development should be consistent <br />with the style and type of housing in the <br />surrounding neighborhoods. <br />Subdivision design, standards for public <br />improvements, layout of public parks, and <br />orientation to the natural environment are <br />important factors in defining place. <br />Street design and use of pedestrian trails and <br />sidewalks can be used to promote a greater degree <br />of connection between neighborhoods. <br />Good transportation planning and related capital <br />investment help to minimize traffic on local streets. <br />Seeking these qualities in initial design and <br />development should help to promote strong <br />neighborhoods and minimize future maintenance <br />issues that require public solutions. <br />Homeowner's associations will play an increasingly <br />important role in neighborhood sustainability. A <br />homeowner's association is responsible for the <br />maintenance of all common property in townhome <br />developments. An association is also established <br />to operate and maintain the shared septic system <br />in cluster subdivisions. Elk River will continue to <br />see growth in both of these areas. <br />The public policy implications of homeowner's <br />associations lies with long -term financial viability. <br />If associations do not implement plans for future <br />capital replacement, then the City may face <br />involvement in alternative solutions. Homeowner's <br />typically demand and pay for current maintenance <br />services. The ability to finance long -term, <br />replacement improvements is more difficult. In <br />townhome neighborhoods, an association is <br />responsible for the eventual replacement of private <br />streets, roofs, and exteriors. The sewer system <br />is the primary financial obligation for a cluster <br />neighborhood. <br />A well run association employs a dues structure <br />that builds a replacement reserve. Without <br />adequate reserves, an association may not be <br />able to undertake needed capital improvements in <br />future years. Failure to reinvest in the common <br />property leads to a deterioration of these <br />neighborhoods. With cluster subdivisions, the lack <br />of funding may have environmental consequences. <br />Chapter 7: Housing / 81 <br />