QUESTION: Several Springs residents have noticed that some of our neighbors with pets – especially dogs – have allowed their pets to deposit solid waste on our common areas (the park, traffic islands, sidewalks, etc.) and on our streets, without having the courtesy to clean up after them. We’ve also noticed empty food containers and beverage cans in the park, even though a large solid waste can is located by the playground, and users can certainly take their trash with them when they leave the park.
What’s the solution?
ANSWER: The Springs CCR’s specifically address trash in our common areas and the basic, common sense pet owner responsibilities, although both problems are easily eliminated by residents applying basic courtesies to their fellow neighbors and to the neighborhood:
Article XVI
GARBAGE AND REFUSE DISPOSAL
…No trash, ashes or other refuse may be thrown or dumped on any vacant Lot, park, street, Right of Way, or drainage area in the Properties....
Article XVII
PETS
...All such animals shall be kept in strict accordance with all local laws and ordinances (including leash laws), and in accordance with all rules established by The Springs at Stone Oak Owners Association. It shall be the responsibility of the owners of such household pets to prevent the animals from running loose or becoming a nuisance to the other residents.
The above Articles emphasize the basic guidelines for cleaning up after one’s pets outside of one’s property, and mirrors that of any guidelines for responsible pet ownership – if your pet deposits a solid waste outside of your personal residential lot, then you are obligated by social courtesy, the health of your neighbors as related to your actions/inaction, etc. to pick that waste up and dispose of it properly. We rely upon the individual pet owners to comply with basic pet owner responsibilities by cleaning up after your pet. Not cleaning up after one’s pet(s) outside of one’s lot could certainly constitute the pet(s) being considered a “nuisance to the other residents,” and thus subject to the authorized penalties provided in our CCR’s and Bylaws for such violations, not to mention creating unneeded and unwanted aggravation for the pet owners' Springs neighbors.
The same basic courtesy holds true for those who use our park’s facilities – all refuse and trash should be deposited in the available trash container, or simply taken by the user back to their home for disposal. The park is provided by and for Springs residents and any guests that the sponsoring resident accompanies to the park. As such, proper disposal of trash in the park is no different than the disposal of trash that a resident may generate in his/her residence or yard.
These monthly “Test Your Knowledge” CCR messages intend to remind residents of The Springs of the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCR’s) that apply to all Springs residents solely by our election to live in this community. The purpose of the CCR’s is to maintain specific standards for the good of us all, as articulated in their definition:
“THE SPRINGS AT STONE OAK is encumbered by these Restrictive Covenants for the following reasons: to seek to achieve the best and highest use and most appropriate development of the property; to protect lot owners against improper use of surrounding lots; to preserve so far as practical the natural beauty of the property; to guard against the erection of poorly designed or proportioned structures of improper or unsuitable materials; to encourage and secure the erection of attractive improvements on each lot with appropriate locations; and to secure and maintain proper setbacks from streets and adequate free space.”
If you are a Springs resident who has misplaced your copy of the CCR’s, or are a new resident who wasn’t provided a copy by the previous owners or your realtor, you can view (and download in Adobe Reader [.pdf] format) the complete Springs CCR’s and By-Laws at the Consolidated Bylaws and CCRs section of this website, located in the Pages & Links tab.
