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2002 Innis Arden Community Survey
328 of 538 shareholders responded

 1a. How important to you is each of the following about living in Innis Arden?
1=not important; 2=somewhat important; 3=important; 4=very important; 5=extremely important

1b. What else do you find important not listed above? (below)

2. How important to you is it that Innis Arden sponsors the following?
1=not important; 2=somewhat important; 3=important; 4=very important; 5=extremely important

5. How important to you is it to develop the following in the Reserves?
1=not important; 2=somewhat important; 3=important; 4=very important; 5=extremely important

6. What maintenance expenditures within our Reserves should be paid for through your dues?

7.  Our budget for 2002 is $129,056.  Of that approximately 60% are fixed costs, leaving 40% (about $52,000) for discretionary expenditures.  How would you allocate your discretionary dues among the following? (Should total 100 points. Data entry invalidated those answers that didn’t total 100.)

8. Regarding views, how important to you are the following?
1=not important; 2=somewhat important; 3=important; 4=very important; 5=extremely important

9. When you bought your house, did you have Sound and/or mountain view?  
2 N/A     264  Yes    62  No

If no, do you believe your house has some potential for a view?
20  Yes    43  No

            If both of your answers are no, please skip to question 13.

(7 responses, which were ‘no’ to the first question and ‘no’ to the second question, were invalidated for Q10-Q12)

10. How is your view now?

11. Is your Sound and/or mountain view obstructed by trees in a Reserve area?
58 N/A  137 Yes  133 No

If yes: (7 responses, which were ‘no’ to this question, were invalidated for Q11)

• If it were possible, would you like to have a view?   105 Yes    10  No
• Would you like some trees preserved even if they were in your view?   71 Yes     53  No
• Would you prefer to leave the trees as they are?   25  Yes     97  No

12. Is your Sound and/or mountain view obstructed by the tree(s) of a neighbor?
61 N/A  184  Yes    83 No

If yes, would you like a view?   202 N/A 112 Yes     14 No

If yes: (4 responses, which were ‘no’ to this question, were invalidated for Q12)

How have you tried to resolve this issue? (please select all that apply)

• 98         I contacted the neighbor for action and:     30  it worked    60  it didn’t work
• 50         Offered to do the work myself and:            19  it worked    26  it didn’t work
• 52         Offered to help financially and:                 17  it worked    33  it didn’t work
• 21         By legal action                                       5  it worked    11  it didn’t work
• 54         Didn’t do anything
• Has this issue gone to court?                                       22  Yes    86   No
• Has the special master ruled on these trees previously?    27  Yes    64   No

13. If any Sound and/or mountain view restoration could be done in the Reserves, how should it be paid for?

14. Do you think resolving the “view” issue would improve relationships among neighbors?  
44 N/A    221 Yes    63  No

If yes, how do you think the view issue could be resolved: (7 responses which were ‘no’ were invalidated for remaining questions in Q14)

16. How important is it to you that the Board initiate strategies to control traffic speed on our streets?		17. What are the best ways to control traffic speed?
N/A Not important      Somewhat important Important         Very important    Extremely important	2 38 58 65 77 88	Stop signs Speed limit signs Roundabouts Speed bumps	159 96 76 159

18. Do you/your family regularly walk, jog or bicycle in Innis Arden?   
6 N/A    265 Yes    57  No

19. Over all, how safe do you think Innis Arden streets are for walking, jogging and bicycling?

20. Do you favor adding sidewalks or compacted gravel paths to some streets in Innis Arden to improve pedestrian safety?
15 N/A    181  Yes    132  No

 If yes, would you be willing to be assessed by the City for the expense involved?
137   Yes      40  No

(70 responses which were ‘no’ to the first question were invalidated for the second question. This is a significant number and had they not been invalidated, the results would have been: 137   Yes     110 No)

23. The Innis Arden covenants are over 50 years old. The Club attorney has recommended that they be updated. Would you vote for or against having the covenants reviewed and revised?		24. How likely would you be to advertise in an “Innis Arden Yellow Pages” telephone book?
N/A For revision Against revision	45 188 95	N/A Definitely yes Probably Might or might not Probably not Definitely not	5 18 16 49 103 137

Q1b What else do you find important not listed above?
Speed bumps to slow traffic.
Maintaining property value, Privacy - Blending VIEW & GREEN - Allowing Renovation.
Traffic safety - pedestrian, bicycle, pets.
Take care of entrance - flower beds etc.
Safe walking.
Traffic safety; crime prevention; create/preserve solar energy.
That neighbors respect the right of adjoining properties to have a view without being encumbered by trees that clearly violate covenants.
Cutting all vegetation back to lot line to provide Auto and pedestrian safety.
Schools - very important.
Replacing the ugly Jersey barriers North of 167th on I.A. Way. Boring Creek Trail and the bleach! (Is that included in the reserves?)
Owners piling yard debris on the back of their properties, attracting mountain beavers and other rodents.
Safe streets, quiet.
Combined view of mountains and trees.
Quiet.
Safety, maintain property values, privacy, large lot size.
Sense of community, people know each other & look out for each other. Families want to live here.
I think cars should be garaged & boats trailers etc. should be out of sight - for 25yrs my neighbor has not compiled.
Through traffic & speeding traffic - extremely important.
At dawn trees blocking views - or at least top them.
View covenant enforcement #5.
Vehicle traffic.
Good neighbor relations.
Enforcing covenants, i.e. yard maintenance, oversized vacation vehicles, safety.
Traffic control.
Age - a determining factor, as well as condition.
General amenity, nearby stream and woods.
Traffic.
Use lot 1 survey for response to lot 2. I pay dues on both properties so am entitled to two separate counting!
I.A. provides a rural oasis in the middle of an urban world!! As a quality community, making it attractive for diverse reasons to want to like here are all very important.
See IA facts on map side of IA map and covenants #6. 52 acres of private parks. Please go back to referring to them as parks as was in the original intent & wording as to its use for parks, bridle trails, play grounds & other purposes. Let's have a say
"Sense of Community."
Side walks!
Side walks!
Ability to walk neighborhood - while I am not in favor of sidewalks. I am in favor of a paved shoulder to protect people who walk the neighborhood.
A harmonious community governed by reason and caring.
Safety in our neighborhood.
Community help, big lots, little traffic.
Security.
Nice neighbors. (We have them!)
A community with the point of view that supports and respects and enforces the covenants - that is the law - not always fighting about it and caving in to contrary interests.
Improve traffic safety (extremely very important).
People putting value in living in IA. Not everyone wants or must have a view, they know this when choosing their home.
Nothing covered by the "Club".
Enforcing tree covenant.
Quiet dead end streets.

Comments or suggestions
I think you should of asked these questions, estimated costs of improvements upon voted agreement, and then charged the neighborhood your 40% extra. The dues amendment, I thought was to make everyone pay dues and support community politics. Obviously, your idea of Democracy is quite different then mine.
We need Sidewalks.
Thank you for all your time and effort.
Some of these questions were difficult to answer because the answers I would have selected were not listed. also, some of the questions were poorly defined such as in #23 in which it is difficult to know if you are for or against revisions without knowing anything about what revisions are proposed.
Traffic safety, pedestrian improvements, maintain reserves adequately, leave wooded areas intact. Keep a usable clubhouse (not too fancy, but functional). Thanks for asking.
Fill & add pipes to ditches on main roads.
Traffic, speed, reserves/views, parking - not addressed in this survey. King county taxes the "You know what" out of my property - yet the view deteriorates and we must live and comply with their regulations, let alone our own. A formidable task!
Review speed limits - 25 MPH is much too slow for many streets. Advise in monthly bulletin - that joggers, walkers, etc. stay off the road way, with further advice that they do not have "right of way" when on the road.
Why isn't pool membership included in dues payment? Please improve access to beach at 17th Avenue NW reserve.
People move into this neighborhood because there are covenants in place that protect views and property values. Residents of Innis Arden are not maintaining their trees and are not adhering to the covenants.
Innis Arden Board members should run for election as volunteers willing to serve the community, and have no personnel agendas. Board members are not legislators; they are fiduciaries holding legal title to the Reserves for the benefit of all lot owners and to treat all beneficiaries (lot owners) impartially, and to have no adverse interest such as serving one or more of their beneficiaries.
I believe it is imperative that an expert in hydrology be hired to survey all the reserve areas. The sloughing of land at the bottom of the ravines is increasing - whole large trees have dropped to the beach - including their valuable root structure.
Neighbors' trees which block solar energy in IA #3 should become subject for discussion/arbitration. Utilization/preservation of this resource is future planning! Also, good stewardship. Dues should be on a sliding scale for disabled & elderly on minimum fixed incomes. New projects should be VOLUNTARY with funding raised by those who what them. (similar to non-profits). Mandatory dues are way too high and a crippling taxation added to the cost of living which could for force older residents from their homes. I am against this kind of taxation and dues should not be raised without a vote; also, the projects and use of increase should be decided by VOTE.
The Innis Arden Club now has a guaranteed income by virtue of the Mandatory Dues Amendment. This income will form the basis of the Club's ability to borrow funds to invest in improvements. The club can be remodeled into the finest private club in the Shoreline area, the equal of the Seattle Golf, Tennis or Yacht Clubs. I suggest that club facilities featuring meeting, lounge, dining, health and game rooms be built. The swimming pool and tennis court can be enclosed and be used year around as an amenity for all Club members. This facility would be an attraction for Club members and could provide an income if facilities are rented for private social functions. A caterer, such as Dale's Deli, could be contracted to provide food and drink for attending members or for social functions hosted by others. Further, I suggest that a limited number of memberships be sold to people who are not IA residents. These memberships will increase in value over time and as they are sold to succeeding new members. The resale price of these non-resident memberships will establish the value of membership included with IA homes as they are sold. This will RAISE THE VALUE of all homes that are sold with a membership attached.
There are trees blocking out view and this is very stressful. We need community assistance in having Mr.. & Mrs. XXXX,. to cooperate and cut their trees. (11 are 100 feet higher than roof!). These trees not only block our view but represent a clear danger to people and property if they fall. The Board and association may incur liability. In any event they are a gross violation of the precious covenants that the Board enforces selectively on remodel and shed construction, etc.
Q13 - I would donate $ to a fund. Q14 - Board apply the rules after neighbors have talked .. If Board can't solve, then go to master on building arbitration. Q15 - Send postcard that it's out so I remember. Q17 - Speed bumps are round bouts. Mainly for fire and ambulances because people do not know how to drive around/over them. Q19 - As safe as anywhere without side walks. Q20 - If people use common sense and walk on the wider of the 2 sides they'd be fine. Q23 - Break it into 2 or 3 sections. The first being the easy to pass and continue on. Q24 - Advertising by residents only like it was.
Is the board going to allow un-biased people go over the results of this survey??
An awful lot of money can be spent on the clubhouse area & I think we need to balance this against the larger group who don't use these facilities at all.
We are definitely interested in restoring views, views, views!
The mandatory dues are way too high and are a crippling taxation added to the cost of living. The future amount of dues is solely up to the board and the board will must likely use this as a hammer to force old time residents on fixed incomes out of IA. I am adamantly against allowing the Board this kind of taxing power. The Board is a community club not the government.
Keep the trees there cut low to maintain the view. Add a nicer barrier and some beaches. (Maybe with name plaques sponsored by neighbors). The Jersey barriers were put up quickly to discourage parking cars there, particularly a van engaged in drug sales. A permanent, more attractive solution should be found, and view there preserved. Right now homeowners are cutting the trees and leaving them in a leap.
You let the xxxx build a house that out over north view 5 feet because it's 5 feet farther north then there previous house; that it's taller and ugly and out of place style wise. It remains out of business building in downtown Edmonds. We can't do a thing about it now?
We have lived in Innis Arden for 26+ years. The I.A. Club has been of very little help to us. Boeing Creek has been allowed to erode our property at the back until we were forced to put in a very costly rockery - which we did in expectation that would care for it, but during the big wash out much of it was demolished. At one club meeting I attended it was decided the bank behind us would be cared for and xxxx property did get some work done but we were poor informed that was all halted. Hidden lake was restored but nothing was done on south bank that is now sliding into the creek, we cannot touch it. So we are not thrilled over the "Club." Ill health & old age have us at a stand still -
Thank you for the effort.
This survey (in my opinion) could have been vastly improved simply by asking the questions people want answered. What has happened is that very little real opportunity has been offered to the citizens of Innis Arden to truly have a voice. So there's two ways to look at this. First, the board now has so little information to work with they could pretty much do whatever they want, or second the board can try to guess about what the IA citizens think is really important. I'm disappointed, we could have done a lot better ...
Let's enforce the covenants that we have and focus our energies on traffic issues and the safety of our neighbors. It is tragic that we do not feel it is safe for our children to ride bikes in their own neighborhood. Both of us, on two separate occasions have almost been hit by speeding cars.
Here is an example of how our view covenant ought to work: Seattle Times Sunday, 02/03, 2002: Home Forum/Elizabeth Rhodes. What's it worth to chop down trees for your neighbor's view? Q: A neighbor behind me has asked to cut down some of my trees and give him a view easement. He's willing to pay for the work, plus give me an amount based on the value the view will add to his property. Is it possible to give him a view easement, and if so, how do we figure what it's worth? A: "View easements are quite common and can be quite valuable," says attorney Brian Lawler, of Lawler Burroughs and Baker. To protect both you and your neighbor, this easement "has to be sufficiently precise and non-ambiguous to allow a third person (such as a judge) to determine the scope of the easement without guesswork," Lawler counsels. For example, he says a poorly crafted version would read something like "an easement across Joe Smith's property for the purpose of viewing Puget Sound." But that leaves a lot to guesswork, like from where on the property, from what angle and at what height? "The best approach is to use ascertainable reference points, using property corners or lines to establish a base elevation and then a height limit in reference to the elevation," Lawler says. As for valuing the easement, the most professional way would be to hire an appraiser, who likely would consider the quality of the view, the impact of this easement on the benefiting property and the burden, if any, it places on your property. Two obvious benefits to your neighbor: higher enjoyment and a potentially higher sales price. Potential burdens to you: The removal of privacy, enjoyment and value if these trees go. Arborists say mature trees can add $10,000 or more to a home's worth. You'll want to have an attorney draw up this easement.
The pool house. Larger, more updated locker rooms.
Thanks!
The lighting in parts of Innis Arden is terrible.
The discretionary dues ($52,000 already collected) should either be used to reduce the following years dues or returned to members. (As other community clubs do). The club should only collect dues that reflect the fixed cost amount. Why does everyone have to subsidize all of the luxury features of IA that are only used by a minority of the members - the majority supporting the minority. The people who use the facility, service, and various activities or features of IA should be the ones to pay, individually. The mandatory dues are way too high and are a crippling taxation added to the cost of living. The future amount of dues is sorely up to the board and the board will most likely use this to force out old time residents of IA on fixed incomes. I am adamantly against allowing the board this kind of taxation power for it is a community club and not a government.
Trees are on issue that pales in controversy 2 degree to remodels. The covenant regards trees is very clear the not enforced. The covenant regards remodels is very unclear and enforcement varies dramatically.
Previous Block watch experience as Captains was very disappointing due to very little participation of neighbors.
Lighten up the verbiage on the first dues statement.
Q13 - We feel it would be impossible to allocate costs equitably among homeowners. Q17 - What about increased police presence, or hiring security patrols. Q14 - The reserves (and the Board) should be subject to same requirements as homeowners.
Thank you to Board and community members who dedicate themselves & time to preserving views, fostering a friendly and family oriented community. We feel safe here - that is also critical.
We do not have DSL access for our computers in our area 13th NW. How can we as a community get DSL, public Radio reception, etc. Would appreciate the Board to work to get these and other services into our area. Thank you for your hard work.
Provide - info packet to new members. I was here 18 month before getting key to the beach and finding clubhouse and pool.
We appreciate that our current covenant is not highly restrictive, and our dues are relatively low, and are interested in keeping it that way. We are concerned about the possibility of elaborate "east-side" type covenants. Also, regarding the view issue - we think it is likely that more clear wording of guidelines may help prevent misunderstandings, but we would rather they not change in meaning. Perhaps some mention could be included that when trees are taken down/out it is because (owners & they) are honoring the covenant, so that other parties nearby won't take such offense (the "other side" of one situation).
Unfortunately this is a very limited survey with very obvious emphasis on view restoration and traffic safety, clearly the preferred interests of these who wrote the survey. What a shame! "Community" has the potential for so much more than gazing out a window or feeling safe. What about an emphasis on book clubs, discussion groups, family sports, etc. Wouldn't these activities build a strong community? We need to "get over" the view and safety staff and more on to becoming a real community. Can the Board not help us do this?
No speed bumps.
Pertaining to Q14. - The Board needs to come to concerns as to what a "view" actually is & be consistent in needing.
I believe the Board should publish clear and objective guidelines on new house and remodels, enforce them (e.g. height, roof pitch, building lines) and rely less on subjective objections of neighbors related to view obstruction. The current process strikes me as coming close to violating property rights -- So long as objective guidelines are followed by the owner doing the construction, and definitely breeds animosity among neighbors.
Remodeling Pool House (locker rooms, office, except kitchen) or rebuild adding a hot tub.
We have no control over the world issues, economic cycles, fraudulent activities that effect many of our investments. People specifically invest in view homes in I.A. because the covenants were designed to protect their investment. The importance of protecting those covenants must be the primary focus of this community.
Thanks for this questionnaire.
1st - Thank you for all your work and for taking the time to do this survey. Our family realizes all of you invest hundreds of hours - again thank you. 2nd - In any group endeavor - not everyone can be happy - if we can just make chances in a relatively quick time frame, be clean, and move on. Times have changed - people are busier, I think IA needs to focus on fewer activities and less calls for volunteering. Lets just do a couple community things and leave it at that.
We moved to the I.A. development in part due to its covenants and continuity i.e. no trailers, boats or junk stored in view or driveways. However, we have found that lately the covenants have only worked to protect those owners with a water view. There are several homes in violation with "boats, cars and junk" in view or even on lawns. To sight one in particular has several junk cars stored on the lawn. This is quite an eye sore. Of course this is only one of many such covenant violations in IA which should be of concern to the Board (not just view preservation).
I think the board does a good, probably thankless job overall - As a 25 years resident I.A. is by large a pleasant place to live. My main problem is speed limit enforcement & unsightly toys parked in view. I would like a directory addition listing ====
Tough job - no matter what you do about 1/2 the residents are happy and 1/2 mad at you!! I'm glad you guys do it and not me!!!
Thanks for all of your hard work!
Thank you for all your hard work! Well thought out survey.
Sidewalks in I.A. is a high priority for us. Maintenance of reserves is also a high priority, in the sense that they are maintained for community use with trails and healthy ecosystem. View maintenance is a secondary consideration for our family.
Improve the path around the field. Allow garage sales in I.A.. At child events, there is minimal opportunity to meet new people. The events feel very insular with people talking only to those they know. How about more meet/greet "Get to know your community) events - with activities that allow neighbors to meet new neighbors."
Rewrite covenants - by a professional. Rules for the Board, for view corridor(s), night lights (floods), sound, building materials, landscaping.
Until everyone is required to comply with view covenants, legally recognized in court then this neighborhood will always be unpleasant in the extreme. There should be fines required for those who do not recognize court orders. Individuals have had to personally take on huge legal bills with absolutely no support from the board. Having a board that changes from not supporting views to being unable to act is pointless.
Separate forum of candidates for board positions with the community before election time. Board should hold open house at least once a year to socialize with residents. Conduct a demographic study of residents - (age, sex, occupation, ethnicity). Organization of small block parties - get to know your neighbor.
Please do not sell out our reserves for the benefit of those people who do not live in I.A.
Sidewalks/sidewalks/sidewalks. View preservation re: trees/remodels.