Monday, April 29, 2019

SURFSIDE

WHAT IT COULD BE......

WHAT IT SHOULD BE....

Surfside is a recreational mixed use Homeowners Association located in a beautiful area on the North end of the peninsula. They are located North of Ocean Park and a close drive or walk to historic Oysterville.

Working in cooperation with Pacific County, street shoulders have been paved to provide walking and biking paths that connect with paved beach trails that provide easy access to the beach. Viewing platforms at the edge of the dunes provide a spectacular area for handicapped  members and guests to view the nearby ocean surf and sunsets. "Dogie" stations are located throughout Surfside for pet owners for disposal of pet waste.

Surfside contains several lakes and a canal that all provide fishing that is free of charge for the members and their guests. The Annual Fishing derby for kids is very popular with abundant good sized fish. Every water feature has small boat access for non powered boats. Boat launching sites are clearly marked as well as attractive signs proudly display the names of the lakes, such as Deer Lake, Bear Lake, SeaBreeze Lake and Skating Lake.  All lakes contain fishing platforms for easy access and very popular for older and handicapped members and their guests.

Members are provided with a well lighted free garbage disposal site. This well landscaped and maintained site looks more like a park than a disposal site.   Members often leave and pick up items that can be reused.  Located next to this garbage compactor is a well maintained paved RV storage area. Fees charged are for maintenance and improvements.  A continuing account builds funds for future improvements.

The association contracts with Pacific County for a sheriff patrol.  Surfside has one of the lowest crime rates in the county.  Much of that is due to the members looking out after their neighbors.

Numerous parks with cabanas with rest rooms, are located at each lake. These beautiful parks are immaculately groomed and maintained. There is always a project in progress for improvement.
Veterans Park honors all veterans with several inscription plaques and a flag pole that fly's the American flag as well as the MIA flag.  There are several observant's each year..  Paved parking, paved beach trail and an information kiosk make this a popular place. Fishing from one of the 6 beautiful pedestrian bridges including here are popular fishing spots.

Surfside, once known for it's topping of trees for a view, has completely turned around and is now a model of tree promotion. A tree committee encourages a mixture of pine and flowering trees and healthy maintenance.  Dead trees are not allowed in Surfside and must be removed.  Every lot is required to be maintained free of noxious weeds and dead grass and vegetation. Arborists  provide useful information on tree and shrub care.

With the newly built office and meeting room, events once held outside of Surfside are now even more popular and more numerous member events. An exercise room, pot lucks and card playing are just a few of the events.

Communication with the members is vital for the new success.  The weekly electronic generated "Week Ender"  has become a valuable source of current information. Committee and Board meeting agendas are published well in advance of meetings. The minutes are also published as soon as available. A popular feature includes member questions and answers. Members are encouraged to submit articles expressing their points of view.  The "Weekender" name has been eliminated and replaced with "This week in Surfside" Electronic voting has increased member voting.

I saved the best part for last.
What really makes Surfside great, are the members. There are no elite in Surfside. Regardless of your status in life, part time or full time, RV or home owner, all are respected and treated fairly. A great bunch of people who really care about each other. Our many volunteers solve problems, not make them.  The bad part for some is that property values have greatly increased because so many want to buy property here.  There is said to be a waiting list. With a place this nice, that is easy to understand.

Maybe someday the above will all happen. Can we at least just start?


20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marijuana, in smoke-able or edible form is available free of charge for all members twenty one years of age or older. This will help enhance the euphoria of living in such a wonderful place. Of course the dues will be doubled to provide all the above services.

Anonymous said...

907, I'm in..and as long as we are paying double the dues..add free beer too...

Anonymous said...

And houses that are aesthetically appealling. Anyone seen that atrocious screaming yellow house on I St? Owner there is trying to compensate for lacking somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

And what are you compensating for with your little comment 11:14. Please also tells us where your perfect house is located so we can all marvel at its design.

Anonymous said...

That yellow place sure sticks out. It's all the other covenant violations that should be a concern. Over height trees, dead trees, cable across the driveway, no address posted, not maintained to the waters edge. Just a few of the violations by the owner. Who is the owner?

Anonymous said...

Whats the address, look it up on the Pacific County Tax Sifter

Anonymous said...

Thanks 3:22 I could not believe my eyes. It must be a mistake. It shows Gary Williams the board president. He is willing to spend countless thousands of member funds on a covenant violation while his property is in violation. He should have recused himself on the law suits. Maybe that's why he dropped it. Unbelievable. I see now why everyone wants to get rid of him.

Anonymous said...

what is the address 5:02 pm? need proof

Anonymous said...

Raise your hand if you think this latest anti Williams back and forth is from the same person.

Anonymous said...

The comments are accurate, so it works either way !

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen anything in allows 2 years that would make me not believe this. The field is tilted so far towards J place it's pathetic.

Do you really believe these people follow the rules like everyone else?

No! They make the rules serve their own self interests. The other members can just get by, paying for the oppression we get from these clowns.

Anonymous said...

I"m still waiting for the Chinooks Observers expose' on the Surfside Board's criminal behavior. Where is it??

stickbuiltless said...

What makes me roll on this "J Placers" is that anyone irritated by them is establishing the "status" for them.. I drive over that hill to get to my place, and it's literally a small hill... You'd think this is the folks in the west hills of Portland we're talking about. It's a strip along a bluff with several disproportionate homes (3 stories etc.) to see the glimpse of ocean above the dune. Nothing more...

To me, the real status folk are the ocean front owners. That's what I see as an accomplishment - front row, not high in the cheap seats looking from afar.

Anonymous said...

Looks like jealousy to me.

Anonymous said...

Got to be nice to the J placers, us lowlanders, if lucky, may find ourselves begging for a pace to lay our heads when that Tsunami comes.

Anonymous said...

I'd say that Mr. Cox has a bad case of elitism going on there. Most of us do not own on the ridge or ocean front. Most of us lowlifes responsibly follow the covenants as we agreed to do.

Steve Cox said...

You try too hard to discredit me, and in doing so, make yourself look so very foolish. Go ahead and make excuses for cutting your trees for J Place, but keep in mind, you know nothing about me, and don't understand why I defend the rights of tree owners to be rid of this burdensome policy. I care because it creates needless turmoil and conflict in the community, and is used to threaten owners with the power of the HOA's purse.

Considering that the HOA brought 2 lawsuits against owners in the last year and withdrew them both at a cost of around $125,000, I think the 53 owners who are being sent tree compliance orders should pull together and sue the HOA. That's their only recourse - but consider that the State of Washington does not recognize "views" as a legitimate reason for an HOA to demand destruction of trees on private property. This nonsense needs to end, and the HOA has no conscience on the matter.

And why would you refer to yourself and neighbors as "lowlifes" ? Got no backbone ? I would never make such a comment, even joking. Take a stand.

Anonymous said...

Utter crap.

The elitism you profess is active every day, in your Board. All for them, to the rest, the dregs.
The only reason you preach follow the covenants is because they're tilted in your favor. Be proud of helping to screw the majority of your association.

Steve Cox said...

It is unclear who you are talking to. I'm not a Board member.

Anonymous said...

Steve, I believe it was a reference to elitism. Have only seen elitism on one side here, and it's not ours!