Architectural Control

Resident Sean Kirby is our Architectural Committee Chair. Other members of this committee include residents Jim Fata, Jane Lash, and Sean Roberts.

Contact the committee at Arch@stonelakes.net  if you have questions.  If they are unable to resolve your issue, contact Jamie Morris at Principal Management (817-654-1717).

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Permission Forms

The form to request permission for a project (such as a new pool, shade structure, exterior painting, or a basketball hoop) is now online for your convenience.  Please print the REQUEST FORM, fill in the details, and fax it to Principal Management at 817-654-1717, Attn. Ms Jamie Gordon.  If you have questions, email Sean Kirby at arch@stonelakes.net

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Contractors' Corner Has New Contact

Stone Lakes homeowner Lee Kyle  manages this list. Contact him at: Referrals@stonelakes.net or contractors@stonelakes.net  Thank you.

If you are a resident of Stone Lakes and would like to refer to several contractors recommended by your neighbors, email Lee at Referrals@stonelakes.net  and ask him for the Contractors' Corner list.  You are also invited to share positive experiences with him so your friends and neighbors can benefit from your advice.

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Mailboxes

A Mailbox Guide has been developed as a reference for all Stone Lakes residents.  Our elegant black Victorian mailboxes benefit from occasional coats of paint; the Guide has recommendations as to the best type to use.  For your convenience, there is also information about locking boxes, welding, and a reinforcement technique included in the guide as well.  CLICK HERE for the Mailbox Guide.

CONTACT BRANDON INDUSTRIES at 972-542-3000 to purchase a replacement mailbox.  Although they no longer manufacture our mailboxes, there are a limited number of leftover boxes in stock at Brandon Industries; order the Victorian Model MB 101-BK-M in black.

Questions? Email Architectural Committee Chair SEAN KIRBY.

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Fence Issues

Fence disputes and replacement are not HOA issues.  Generally, homeowners share the cost of fence replacement, but some cover it all if they have a pool, and others pay extra if the “front” side faces their yard.

While common sense generally prevails, sometimes homeowners have trouble agreeing on a solution. The Homeowners’ Association can enforce fence maintenance covenants, but cannot enforce any particular plan to replace a fence, including which neighbor pays for what.  Homeowners can refer to their original survey or commission another survey to determine ownership of a disputed fence.  However, this route is not recommended, as the fences often straddle property lines and sometimes have to be moved, resulting in great cost to one or both Homeowners. 

If an unsecured pool is involved, residents are encouraged to remind the pool owner that city law says they MUST have a sturdy fence at least 5 feet high with a self-closing gate so the pool is completely surrounded.  In the unlikely event that the pool owner does not correct the safety issue promptly, the neighbor can contact Southlake's Code Enforcement Officer Renni Burt at 817-748-8397.  The City might  fine the pool owner for the safety violation. Click here to read the City Ordinance on swimming pools and hot tubs.  (Scroll to page 91 of the 97-page .pdf )  

Fence Maintenance

Stone Lakes homeowners have 3 options for wooden fence finishes.

1.  You can leave your wooden fence natural and it will weather to a grayish color over time. 

• "Behr Semi-Transparent Stain" in "Redwood Natural Tone # DP-534"

• "Behr Premium Weatherproofing Wood Sealer and Finish" in "Natural Clear  # 500"
• "Behr Premium Weatherproofing Wood Sealer and Finish" in "Natural Cedar # 501"

The heavy rain and strong sun are hard on painted surfaces.  Take a critical look at your wrought iron fence.  In most of the neighborhood, they should be painted glossy black.  Wrought Iron fences near the path by the lake should be painted with Benjamin Moore's "Essex Green".

You can find these fence stains, sealants, and paints at the local Home Depot store on Southlake Blvd.

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Tree Maintenance Ordinances

With so many walkers and joggers in the neighborhood, it is important to keep sharp tree branches from injuring anyone.  The City of Southlake agrees, as stated in Subdivision Ordinance 5.06 D, section 1a.  The area above sidewalks must be free of obstacles, including plants, for at least 8 feet up from the ground.  This includes shrubs that grow out from the side and over the sidewalk.

This year's abundant rainfall prompted ample tree growth, so many branches are now jutting over the streets.  Southlake's City Ordinance 585 C, section 10.2 (page 21 on the .pdf) directs that homeowners must maintain a 14 foot clearance above roadways to ensure safe passage of vehicles. 

At your earliest convenience, please take a critical look at your plantings and ensure that they are trimmed back to acceptable levels.

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Streetlights

On occasion, you may notice a streetlight that is not working.  Click Here to report broken streetlights online.  If you prefer to report them by phone, call 1-888-313-4747 

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Shady Lawns

Do you have trouble growing grass beneath large trees?  "Raise the canopy" by pruning off the lower branches; this will allow more sunlight and water to reach the dirt below.  Also plant a shade-tolerant grass or other plants that thrive in the shade.  This will prevent erosion, choke off many weeds, and increase the curb appeal of your property.  St. Augustine grass will tolerate moderate shade.  Zoysia grass is ideal for shady areas.  Click here for more information.  (This is a separate site for info only.  It is not affiliated with Stone Lakes.)  Neighborhood gardeners, we welcome your suggestions as well: email the Webmaster.

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Keep our neighborhood beautiful!  If you witness ANY destructive behavior in the common areas or on private property, please REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY to the Southlake Police at (817) 743-4522.  Do you have a camera built into your cell phone? Take a photo of the culprit(s) and/or their vehicles or license plates.  Also: report speeders and suspicious incidents to watchgroup@stonelakes.net 

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Stone Lakes Grounds Committee Chairman Sean Roberts has written an explanation of our Common-Area Irrigation System.  Please take a few minutes to read through the following so you understand why the sprinklers near the lake run when they do:

Irrigation Facts

Every spring, we get a number of questions about why the sprinklers are on during the day.  The easy answer is that we don't have an option.  For those looking for a little more detail, here are some facts about Stone Lakes irrigation from source to sprinkler. 

Our primary source for water is the main lake. Not having to utilize city water allows us to save $30,000 to $40,000 a year (about $100 per home).  The lake is fed primarily from the creek north of 1709.  The lake also receives additional supply from the excess run off of our home owners (thank you) and the high water table in the area - all of which enables the lake to maintain a level much higher in the summer than what would be normal during droughts. 

Water is pumped from the lake utilizing a turbine pump in a 20 ft deep well on the west bank of the lake.  This shallow well is connected to the lake via a vertical 12' pipe out to the center of the lake.  A sand separator is used to remove much of the heavy material that is pulled in by the pump.   The pump, control valves and supply connections have about a 10 year life span - with the last major overhaul having been done in 2003. 

The pump is used to keep pressure in a 4" supply line that runs around the lake, the pool area and along 1709.  4 irrigation clocks control nearly 60 zones (valves) of water. And here is where the water timing problem exists.  We need to water 2-3 times a week to get enough water on the grass and 3-4 times a week for the planting beds.  We have found that running more than 2 average zones or 1 large zone at the same time causes an excessive draw of water on the system.  Without enough pressure in the system, the pump would run at excessively high speeds and burn out.  The controls in the system prevent  this from happening.  The net effect is that we have to schedule the zones to run independent of each other.  This sequencing and the desire to prevent fungal growth by starting the watering times in the early morning (4 am) results in sprinklers running throughout the day. 

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

Who do I contact if I see a leak?

Call Jamie Morris at Principal Management Group: 817-654-4242 ext.202 or  EMAIL Sean Roberts, the Stone Lakes Grounds Chairman.  Depending on the problem, we'll get the landscapers or the pump company out to repair the problem (or fix it ourselves, if the issue is simple enough). . . the sooner you call, the better!  Thank you.

What happened to the flowers?

The past few years have been really tough on the flowers at the entrances.  In 2003, we had to rebuild the irrigation pump.  The time it took to determine the problem to the point where we could hook up the system to the city fire hydrant was just too much for the newly planted flowers. 2004 and 2005 had the system damaged by Atmos Gas line upgrades and Verizon Fios fiber optic installation.  While both of these companies paid for repairs to the system, the outage was just too much for the flowers. 

Why can't we water the common areas every day instead of 2-3 times a week?  Wouldn't that allow for shorter run times? 

Not really.  Plants need a fixed amount of water per week.  With our limited parallel zone capability, the daily run time would be the same if we ran all 60 zones daily for 15 minutes or 20 zones a day for 45 minutes.  But more importantly (And this applies to all our homeowners), daily watering is a poor practice in that it trains plants to have shallow roots.  Shallow rooted plants are very susceptible in event of drought from a failed sprinkler or city mandated outages.  Longer roots allow a plant to draw on deeper reservoirs in case of loss of surface water.  A well trained grass should easily handle a watering every 3-4 days and 5 days on a stretch.  Annuals 2-3 days. (NOTE: If you are planning on changing over from daily watering, you need to do this gradually.  Starting with every 2 days for a month, then 3 days for a month, etc.  Roots need time to grow to find those reservoirs)

How do I not contribute water to the lake?

The rest of the homeowners really appreciate your contributions - thanks!  But, in hopes that reduced usage will return as a higher water table for the feeding the lake - try watering your lawn twice in one day.  With the clay soils of Texas, water has tendency to run off before it soaks into the ground.  By watering twice in one day (50% of the required water each time) water can soak in on the first run and then get pushed down even further on the second run.  Set the irrigation clock to run 3am and again at 7am with 50% usage (i.e. 20 minutes for rotors and 5 minutes for spray). You can water just 2 or 3 days per week using this method.