Heritage Oaks Landowners Association

(Scroll down for more information)

The mission of the Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association Is to provide for the general security, support of property values, and quality of life for its residents and property owners. These objectives are to be accomplished by taking a proactive stance against undesirable encroachments within the Heritage Oaks area of interest, strict adherence to minimum architectural standards for new construction, and enforcement of deed restrictions.

Further, in order to provide for the general security, the Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association will maintain a high level of preparedness to defend against any attempts to open the streets of the neighborhood to non-Heritage Oaks traffic.

Mission

What the Heritage Oaks Landowners Association does and Why I Should Join:

  • Maintenance of front entrance: Sign, landscaping (watering), fencing, flagpole, flag, and lighting. There are property taxes associated with the land which are paid annually.

  • HOLA stops large developers from turning our neighborhood roads into thoroughfares for non-Heritage Oaks subdivisions; we continue to address this as a priority.

  • Organizing and sponsoring neighborhood social events.

  • Our Architectural Control Committee (ACC) ensures that inappropriate, incompatible, or undesirable land uses are addressed (i.e. your neighbor is not operating a visible business, buildings (new and additions) are within the deed restrictions, etc.).

  • Promoting a sense of community (through periodic neighborhood parties and events). Homeowners feel more connected to others in the neighborhood.

  • HOLA enforces and protects our Deed Restrictions. This will preserve our neighborhood's country atmosphere, home values, and safe environment.

  • Ensuring road maintenance. HOLA contacts the correct person or entity for our safety. (The County is responsible and pays for maintenance; HOLA brings specific issues to their attention and maintains communication until job is successfully addressed, such as drainage culvert maintenance, road repairs, stop signs, etc.)

  • Maintenance of property values will include being prepared to provide expert knowledge and guidance to property owners, and possible financial advice/avenues such as our ongoing concern in the fight against oak wilt.

  • An accountant files our annual association tax return(s) each year.

  • Maintaining this website and the printing of a neighborhood telephone directory for all residents. We suggest also checking out: www.NextDoor.com.

  • Committed volunteers are at your service with the ACC, Oak Wilt, Social, Flag Service, Communication and Landscape Committees as well as your Board Members, and other association members. We address any issues that contribute to a healthy, positive, safe, neighborhood lifestyle.

Your support will help to continue these important efforts. The fees are very reasonable for the work done on your behalf. Please consider being an active member by submitting your annual dues. Please contact us to introduce yourself!

We look forward to seeing you at our annual meeting and regular annual events. Thank you.

Our History

The Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association was created in 1984 in order to combat a common enemy, a land developer whose plans for a 300 acre tract of land bordering the north side of Heritage Oaks included a subdivision of more than 500 homes and access through our neighborhood.

The first that anyone knew of this was the sound of bulldozers ripping out trees at the ends of Scarlet Ridge, Coach House and points between. Fences at the end of each of the streets had been trampled and the developer's crews were busy gouging new roadways from the once thickly forested area. It took a court order to stop him, and it took the collective efforts of the residents of Heritage Oaks to obtain that court order. That was the reason the Association was formed.

Opening our neighborhood streets to that kind of additional traffic would have seriously changed the nature and quality of Heritage Oaks. Bare in mind that Heritage Oaks is a development with a single entry/exit point and roads that were neither intended for nor built to withstand that much traffic. It would not only have provided access to the 500 new homes but to anyone else who wanted a shortcut from Fitzhugh Road to Highway 290, but would have increased the threat of traffic related injuries to our families and children.

After a prolonged legal battle and $26,000 in legal fees, the Landowners' Association prevailed. Following appeals by the developer, the suit eventually found its way to the Texas State Supreme Court which upheld the finding of the lower courts who had previously ruled in our favor. So, in theory at least, our neighborhood roads are safe from encroachment.

But that doesn't mean that others will not keep trying. In 1995, another developer purchased that same parcel of land and, in spite of the Supreme Court's ruling, immediately began working through the Hays County Commissioners Court to have the cul de sacs opened at the ends of Scarlet Ridge and Coach House. One again, the officers and members of the landowners' association took the fight to the commissioner's court in San Marcos. Again we prevailed.

To help prevent further attempts at incursion, HOLA worked with the original Heritage Oaks developer, LO Jackson, who then deeded over the real estate at the ends of Scarlet Ridge, Coach House and the sliver of property where our sign and flag pole stand.  We now own those properties.

Other threats have cropped up along the way threatening our property values and quality of life. For example, around 1989 a local salvage yard operator was attempting to locate a junkyard on our stretch of Hwy 290 slightly west of the Texaco Food Mart. The Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association joined in the successful campaign to keep prevent that development.

Plans were underway to construct an asphalt batch plant on Hwy 290 between Oak Hill and Heritage Oaks in 1991. The Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association, taking a leadership role, along with other concerned area residents defeated that plan.

In 1994, efforts were underway to locate a concrete batch plant on 290 just 1.5 miles west of our entrance. Once again, officers and members of the Heritage Oaks Landowners' Association rolled up their sleeves, and taking a leadership role, ensured that this plan was also defeated.

In 1995, a local propane dealer began an initiative to construct a bulk storage facility at the entrance to our neighborhood. The landowners association immediately took action to prevent the sale of the land for that purpose.

Also in 1995, steps were taken by the Landowners' Association to strengthen our deed restrictions and to form an Architectural Control Committee. Both serve to protect your property values.

In 1996, the Association took another proactive position regarding a lot at our entrance that was available for commercial development. With help from many Association members and residents, that property was purchased by the Association and rezoned for residential development only.

Further, our neighborhood, like most of central Texas, is regularly at risk of infestation of oak wilt and the Association offers education and recommendation on how to reduce the risk to our valued trees.

To many of our newer residents, it may appear that the Landowners' Association serves only to sponsor an annual Halloween hayride and an occasional barbecue or fish fry. In fact, the greatest part of the Association's energies and expenses have gone to provide for a safer environment both within and around our neighborhood. We thank every member for their support to help make this possible.

Documents