Benefitted Villages

The benefitted villages pay an additional assessment for additional services. One of those services is the periodic landscape maintenance in the common areas and unenclosed portions of each homesite. This cycle maintenance - performed every four weeks - represents approximately 35% of the Benefitted Village operating cost. 

• SLM and Renovation Pruning - 11.10.2024

Purpose

Benefitted Villages were envisioned as a lock and leave set up to allow owners to come in to town, play golf for the week or weekend, and not have to worry about the traditional home maintenance needs. In addition to the landscaping, the tract declarations also include exterior surface maintenance, so that the overall appearance of the village is one of a well maintained neighborhood regardless of occupancy.  This is carried through by having a consistency of lights, exterior maintenance and landscape materials and density.

Framework

Working within the governing documents of the Association and Villages, the Board of Directors selects the landscape maintenance partner, and the management team works with the landscapers to achieve the day-to-day results. 

Management & Oversight

Landscape Maintenance occurs on a four week cycle and is consistent with the best practices for desert landscaping on a shearing contract. This is not an ala carte' / on demand landscape service. It is also not designed to be specialized on a per home basis, as the uniform look throughout the community is both desirable and required by the village tract declarations. This large operation - there are over 250 benefitted village residences - is managed efficiently as follows: 

• DLC Resources meets weekly with office staff and the Board Liaison to review active projects, open work orders, and upcoming priorities. 
• Owners may submit a request to the Administrative Coordinator, and should include specific details and photos of the concern. 
• Staff, DLC Resources and the Board Liaison will review for consistency of application, reasonableness of request, and impact to the budget. 

Owner Requests

When considering owner requests, the following principles are applied to maximize the use of available budget, be consistent in operation, and to be equitable to all owners in the village:

• The Association does not remove healthy plant material, as trees and plant material represent a significant asset to the village and community. 
• Trimming is conducted for the health of the tree or plant, and not for view purposes. 
• All owner requests need to be submitted through the office, and DLC staff is directed not to take verbal direction from owners. 

Because landscape beauty is so subjective, requests for additional plant material or different plant material are handled as follows: 

• Plant density of the neighboring lots, and the village overall will be assessed by DLC Resources. 
• If a homesite is less dense than then the neighboring lots, DLC will recommend plants from the Approved Plant List that will thrive in the available space, lighting conditions, etc. 
• Owners can request a specific plant if additional plants are recommended, but the final decision is made by DLC Resources.

The above framework has worked well to keep a uniform look, balance owner requests against the shared village aesthetic, and to reduce negative impact to this community asset. Changing the landscaping style and plant material each time a benefitted villa sells would be detrimental to the operation, budget and uniformity of the village. 

Plant Replacement:

• Periodic plant replacement occurs on a bi-annual cycle: In the spring after the last frost, and in the fall after the night time temperatures start dipping below 80 degrees. 
• Plant replenishment is assessed by DLC and staff each year, so your yard or village may get plants installed even if you did not submit a request or work order. 
• All work orders for plant replacement will be bundled into the two mass planting in the spring and fall. 

The authority to control the common area and front/ side yard landscape is delegated to the Association's Board of Directors in the Village Tract Declaration. To view these documents, click on the neighborhood tab and then the specific benefitted village to view the relevant documents.