Happy September everyone! The NDHA Board hopes that you all had a wonderful summer and a chance to enjoy our extensive pathways and green spaces. It has been a challenging season for landscaping, starting with excessive rains, then water restrictions, and all the hot weather we have seen. Hopefully, September ushers us into an extended autumn so we can continue to enjoy our community as plants mature and leaves start to turn their gorgeous fall colours.
Summer Landscaping Update: It has been a busy summer for projects around Discovery Ridge. After the mulch was added to medians and shrub beds in July, 150 new plants and shrubs were installed where required. We continue to work with the city to get repairs completed to the fence around the entrance waterfall. This very visible piece has been held up because the damage was the result of a vehicle accident. The insurance claim has taken quite some time to sort out. Other minor chain link repairs have also taken place, and we still hope to get the wooden benches refreshed before winter.
We have received a lot of input this summer about weeds growing in medians and other NDHA-managed areas. Late last summer, the City of Calgary implemented a new policy on the use of herbicides, the result being that our landscape contractor (ULS) is no longer allowed to use them on the city-owned lands we look after. City crews can, however, be requested to do this work, at a cost. In early July, it became apparent that ULS weeding crews could not keep up with the proliferation of weeds, so the NDHA requested that the City send a crew out to apply herbicide to the stone portions (only) of the Xeriscaped medians around the community. This has been very effective. This treatment, along with ULS’ ongoing weeding work, keeps these areas free from weeds and looking great.
ULS waters many of the landscaping features in Discovery Ridge using a water truck, which you may have seen around the neighbourhood. ULS has been getting its water from a sustainable source in Rocky View County, not from the City of Calgary’s potable water system. This practice helps us lower Discovery Ridge’s city water usage along with the measures taken by residents during the water shortage.
Annual Fees Update: We are pleased to note that over 90% of households have paid their 2024 NDHA Fee of $325 that was due on June 29. Any outstanding fees for 2024, or for previous years, require immediate payment. Any past due payments are charged interest at a rate of 18% per annum. These fees are required to keep our community landscaping looking beautiful and our pathways clear in winter. The NDHA has a strict policy for the collection of unpaid fees. If you are unsure of your fee status, please contact us immediately. Accounts continuing to be in arrears will be turned over NDHA’s lawyer for collection. When this happens, significant legal fees are also charged to the landowner.
Please keep in mind that this is an encumbrance on your land title, and you are legally required to pay these fees annually. Our community relies on everyone to pay their fee on time so that we can pay our contractors on time. Volunteer efforts required to follow up and request past due payments is frustrating and could be put to much better use. Payment options can be found on our website at ndha.ca. You can log onto your account via our website to check if you have paid and are up to date or contact us at [email protected] for help with your account. Please reference your address when you email us. Thank you to all who have paid for 2024, we appreciate it!
Can You Help? The NDHA works year-round to manage the enhanced landscape that makes Discovery Ridge so special. The Association is currently managed by six community volunteers. The work that these volunteers put in saves more than $100,000 per year in professional management fees. That is the equivalent of the fees paid by over 300 residents each year. These savings allow us to invest in the landscape upgrades and maintenance that make Discovery Ridge one of the most striking neighbourhoods in the city.
Many new, young families have moved to Discovery in recent years. This is fantastic; it means that our community is alive and 24 years after being established, continues to be desired by those looking for a home in Calgary! Extraordinary! But it’s time to bring new faces into the NDHA Board. Make this community what you want it to be for the next 24 years! Please consider volunteering with us, so the torch can be passed. All skill sets welcome; current board members will help to transition the position of Secretary, Landscape Contractor Management, News Coordinator, and other roles! Contact us anytime by sending an email to [email protected] if you have questions or can join the team!
We are quite proud of how our community looks and hope you are as well. If you happen to notice an area that might need attention such a bed being missed or damage incurred due to storms, please let the NDHA know. We are always happy to hear from our members; please access our website at www.ndha.ca to send an email or call us at 403-237-9595.
Click here to the Discovery Ridge Community News home page for the latest Discovery Ridge community updates.
