Autumn Ridge

New Autumn Ridge Playground ... Coming Soon!

As you may know, several playground equipment specialists inspected our previous playground and found it to be a hazard to children and a liability for the entire neighborhood. There were many, many problems and violations with the old equipment (click HERE to download a PDF file containing photos and details about the conditions) -- and it was not feasible to fix them and make the playground is truly safe. This led to the Board's decision to dismantle and dispose of the old playground materials last spring.

A neighborhood-wide survey revealed that, while the majority of responding neighbors wanted a the playground to be replaced, a minority asked that the space be converted into a concrete area for more tables and chairs.

The Board is happy to report that we plan to accommodate both requests and implement several exciting changes to the cabana/playground area. We are currently working to add a new concreted section by the current cabana area that will increase the space for tables and chairs.

We are also in the process of ordering new, safe playground equipment for neighborhood children ages 2 to 12. The new play structure will consist of slides, tunnels, and climbing equipment. We are working with Bergfeld Recreation, which is creating a specialized playground setup to fit our space. We expect to complete this project before spring 2010.

The Board has worked hard on these plans, which will benefit the entire neighborhood. We want you to know that there will be NO increase in annual dues to pay for them. The funds to pay for the improvements will be drawn from our capital improvements reserve account.

Watch for the exciting changes that are coming soon -- we know you will like them!

For more information, please email Melissa Goslee, HOA Board Secretary, at autumnridgekc@gmail.com.

Autumn Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program

We’ve had a few incidents during the past few years, but our neighborhood is relatively secluded and very safe. We want to keep it that way – so the Board has initiated a Neighborhood Watch Program.

Plans/goals for the Neighborhood Watch Program include:

Recruit block watch captains who will collect neighbors’ emails and serve as a liaison among neighbors, police, and HOA Board.
Get neighborhood watch signs made for all Autumn Ridge entrances/exits, and possibly other streets.
Install motion lights at pool/cabana area.
Purchase window clings for residents’ vehicles so neighbors know who belongs … and who doesn’t.
Organize block parties next summer so neighbors can get to know each other.

What YOU can do:

Get involved by volunteering to be a block captain.
Get to know your neighbors and their schedules.
Watch out for suspicious persons and activities, especially at night.
Install motion lights outside your home – or leave existing outside lights on at night.
When you notice something suspicious, or a crime occurs, call and report it to police and contact your block watch captain, who will inform other neighbors and the HOA Board. (A list of block watch captains will be forthcoming on the website.)
Sign up for daily, weekly, or monthly email crime alerts with www.crimereports.com or www.kcpd.org, which provide neighborhood crime data in near real-time.
Schedule a free “security audit” for the outside of your home. A KCPD officer will scrutinize the outside of your home and give you some tips on how you can improve security and prevent break-ins. Contact Officer Dan Watts, KCPD North Patrol, to schedule (daniel.watts@kcpd.org).
Provide your email to your block captain or the Board so you can receive critical communications.

For more information, please contact Nikki Swartz (nikkiswartz@hotmail.com) or Tiffany Allen (tiffanya@kc.rr.com).

Residents Voice Concerns About Development

On Wednesday, August 13, Autumn Ridge residents met with Lutjen Inc., representing the Tiffany Hills Townhome Development, to discuss the final plans for Phase 3 of this project. KCMO City Council Representative Ed Ford also attended the meeting.

Tiffany Hills Townhome Development, located on the west side of Autumn Ridge, currently has 44 buildings consisting of 176 units. Phase 3 will add 16 buildings consisting of 64 units. (The development plan for this project was originally approved by KCMO City Council in 2004.)

All units are rental with one-car garages. Off-street parking, available in Phases 1 and 2, is not planned for Phase 3. Each building could have a different owner, but plans are to continue with a management company to oversee the maintenance and upkeep of common areas.

At the meeting, Autumn Ridge residents voiced two main concerns about the development:

Two townhomes north of 88th St. (west of St. Clair Ave.) will be built with the units and driveways facing 88th St. There is no off-street parking in this phase. 88th St. is a 28-foot- wide street and the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour (mph). Residents suggested moving these buildings to south side of 88th St. or eliminating them from the project. Also, they asked for “no parking” signs on both sides of 88th St. and for the speed limit to be reduced to 25 mph.
The two townhomes will be built 20 feet away from the property lines of homes on St. Clair, but no barrier or plantings are planned between the developments to provide privacy. When the development was first planned in 2004, the developer committed to previous board members that a fence and planting buffer would be built between Autumn Ridge homes and the development. Residents requested that the developer abide by the 2004 commitment.

Several other concerns were discussed, including building materials being dumped into the creek between Autumn Ridge and the development.

This phase of the development was scheduled on the consent docket for the City Plan Commission hearing, September 2 at KCMO City Hall, but the developer has requested that it be held off the docket until he has an opportunity to discuss the above concerns with Ford.

If you have any questions or additional concerns regarding this development, please contact Carolyn Vellar, Autumn Ridge HOA Board of Directors (cvellar@kc.rr.com, 436-0561). Check www.autumnridge.ws for updates

Update on Area Road Improvements

The Kansas City, Mo., Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission and KCMO City Council approved the KCI Corridor TIF plan in 1999.

Some funding from the TIF is being used to make improvements to Tiffany Springs Road over I-29, Tiffany Springs Road east to Green Hills, and Green Hills down to Hwy. 152. (These are shown in purple on the map.) Click here for a map.

The design stage has not started because a bond issuance has not been completed. Right now, the development bond market has tightened, and it is uncertain when the purple projects will be funded because of higher interest rates.

The extension of Ambassador Road North to Tiffany Springs Parkway is funded, however, and construction should start this fall or early next year. All road projects are currently behind in schedule due to the bond market and other financial considerations.

If you have questions about road improvements, please contact Wes Minder, PE, City of Kansas City, Public Works Department, at 816.513.2598.

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