There are two buildings called ACU or Apartment Complex Units.  They are located at 11324 and 11351 Discovery View Drive.  Each building houses 30 units, ten units on each of three floors.  Each unit has two bedrooms and between 1100 nd 1200 sq. ft. total living space.  Garage parking is provided under each building.  Extra parking is available in parking areas outside each building.  Each unit pays its own utilities.  Trash removal, water and sewer are paid through ACU common expenses.

There is a room in each ACU garage for trash receptacles.  Trash is picked up every Monday and Thursday, except major holidays.  Trash must be securely bagged and kept in containers.  The ACU units are charges extra fees for trash outside of the receptacles or for receptacles whose covers cannot close.  Please breakdown any boxes or containers to save space and money!

No.  There is no space to store or sort recyclables, especially since curbside recyclables are picked up only every second week.  One building (11351) does have a private owner who collects newspapers for recycling.  Unit owners need to bring recyclables to the Anchorage recycling facility themselves.

Yes, but only by written lease and only for a minimum period of one month.  The Management office must have a completed copy of the lease and all contact information for yourself and your tenant.  Read carefully Section 3.6b of the Rules and follow them carefully.   You are responsible to see that your tenant receives a full set of rules and you are legally and financially responsible for any infractions they commit. 

First, you need to have your listing entered by the management company.  To do this you will need to have an Alaska (907) phone number tied to your listing.  It can be a landline in your apartment or you personal mobile phone number.  Once it is set up, a visitor can find your name in the directory and press "Call" or punch in the numerical  number of your apartment (ex. -"106").  (Directions are on the panel in the entrance.)  This will place a phone call to the number tied to your directory listing.  When you answer they can state their business and you can let them in by pressing "9" on your phone.

Yes.  When your directory listing is set up they will ask you for a personal code.  You will be able to enter through the front door by pressing pound (#) followed by your numeric code.

YES.

1.  Each unit is allowed up to two parking permits stickers for automobiles, one to be stored in the garage space assigned to that unit, and the second vehicle to be stored in the outside parking area.  Cars without stickers may be towed away at the owners expense.

2. According to the Rules, visitors or guests without stickers are allowed to park in the outside areas up to eight hours.

3. No recreational vehicles are allowed, except for load and unloading.

Parking permits are applied for through the management company.  You will need your registration information and unit number to receive one.

NO.  Smoking of any kind is not allowed in the apartments nor anywhere in the apartment buildings.  Because this is considered a safety violation the fine assessed to the unit owner is $1,000.

YES.  Section 1.12 of the Rules states: "Hardwoods, slate, tile, stained concrete and other similar hard surface floor covering products increasing airborne floor to ceiling noise transmissions between ACUs, are prohibited.  Units located on the first floor of each ACU building are allowed to have hard surface flooring."  Basically, carpet and padding is required in all 2nd & 3rd floor rooms (including halls) except the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry closets which are exposed to water spills.  In March of 2021, due to an appeal, the Board sought out an expert opinion on flooring and sound mitigation from a nationally recognized acoustical engineer.  His report is included in the 2021-04-13 Special Board Meeting Packet.  You are invited to review this for a clearer understanding as to why the Rule is in place and why it is enforced by the Board.

Yes.  An ACU resident has put together a "Welcome" booklet to help new residents.  It actually is helpful for all.  click on the link below to view, download or print out the Welcome booklet.

 

Budgets are adopted by the Board of Directors.  They are then mailed out to the owners and an Owners Meeting is called for the purpose of ratification.  Unless the budget is rejected by a majority of the respective owners, it is ratified (Declaration 19.4).  For the Single/Duplex Units a majority would be 74.  For the ACU units a majority would be 31.  For both (the "Common" budget) a majority would be 104.   A quorum need not be present to consider a budget ratified (19.4).  If a majority of the appropriate owners reject a budget the last periodic budget ratified by the owners continues until the unit owners ratify a budget proposed by the Executive Board. 

There are three budgets.  There is a S/D budget for the shared expenses of the single family and duplex units.   At the Annual or special Budget Meeting only the single/duplex owners vote on that budget.   There is an ACU budget for the shared expenses of the Apartment Complex Units (ACU).  At the Annual or special Budget Meeting only the ACU owners vote on that budget.  Then there is a Common Budget which takes care of expenses shared by all units, whether S/D or ACU.  Everyone gets to vote on that one!

Most home owners can buy a home and not worry about how they’re going to pay for a new roof until it starts leaking.  In an HOA we have a contract with owners to keep their property in good repair, so things like roofs, siding, walkways, roads, street lights, and a lot more have to be assigned an expected life by professionals and then an estimated replacement cost.  As a quick and simple example, let’s say an item has an expected life of ten years and an estimated replacement cost of $12,000.   10 (years) times 12 (months) gives us 120 payments to raise the $12,000 which means $100 dollars needs to be put away every month.  Of course, that amount is then divided by the number of affected unit owners.  Thus, your monthly dues pay not only for our annual operating costs, but also set aside money that we will need down the road when it comes time to replace all the things we enjoy so much now.  We avoid nasty surprises ahead by staying on top of things now.  That’s why the Executive Board is commissions periodic professional Reserves Studies, … so we will know exactly how we are doing.  Then we review the spreadsheets and make certain each year your money is going where it needs to go.   A Reserve Study generally takes a few months to complete because accuracy is more important than speed.  Saving a few dollars now may mean big bills ahead!  For the sake of all, we need to get it right.

CEDE stands for "Common Element and Development Expenses."   Under Alaska law Developers receive a thirty-year payment for Common Elements and Development expenses, such as roads, utilities, landscaping, parks, and more.  This begins with the initial sale of a unit and continues as a property lien to subsequent owners for 30 years.  In Discovery Park that represents a monthly some of $12.50 per month per Unit annually adjusted for inflation.   It is a fee paid to the original developer which we have no control over.  It is mandated by law.  That inflation adjusted monthly fee of $12.50 is part of your monthly dues.  The annual total comes to about $32,000 for all 207 Units.

Dues represent the money collected from each Unit each month to pay for the operating budget (lawns, shrubs, snow removal, water, sewer, incidental repairs), reserves (long term upkeep and replacement - streets, roofs, etc.), CEDE (royalty fees paid to the Developer for a period of 30 years after the development), administration (management, mailings, communications, debt collections, etc.) and such.  These are assessed according to the required expenses for each type of Unit.  Currently that amounts to $396 per month for Apartment Complex Units, $359 per month for single Unit buildings, and $357 per month for Units in duplex buildings.

Monthly dues are due the first day of each month.  They must be paid by the last day of each month to avoid a Late Fee.  Accounts without a Zero balance at the end of the last day of the month will have a $25 Late Fee added to the account on the 1st day of the month following.

Yes.  Accounts that do not have a zero balance by close of the last day of the month will have a Late Fee of $25 added to the account on the first day of the following month.

No.  As with mortgages, credit cards, etc., Late Fees are assessed if an account is not paid off during the calendar month.  On the first day of the month following, if the account's balance was not paid off during the preceding calendar month (including Late Fees and other charges), a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) Late Fee is charged.  

All checks should be made payable to "Discovery park Owners Association".    

    (Mail to)               Discovery Park Owners Association

                        c/o  Cantrell Real Estate & Property Management, Inc.

                               PO Box 240485

                               Anchorage  AK  99524-0485

Yes.  For more information click on the links below; one is for information and the other to set up direct withdrawal.  There are no charges if you pay by check or by an ACH withdrawal (see form below).  There is a fee for paying by credit card or electronic check via the website.

INFORMATION                                AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL

Basically, your Association is a not-for-profit.  Unlike businesses, we do not have a mark-up or make a profit.  All of our income is raised through dues.  Payments that are without charge to us, are without charge to you.  Payments for which we must pay a fee, have that fee passed on to you.  Think about it.  It is unfair to charge everyone more in dues just so some people can have more choices in how to pay.  For that reason, if you choose a payment method which requires a fee be paid, that fee is passed on to you.

Cantrell REPM sets up an owner portal for each Unit in Discovery Park.  At any time you can log into your portal to see your account details and see your current balance.  If you do not yet have a portal, please contact Cantrell REPM directly for instructions on how to set that up.

Dues are directly related to the budget.   They are the only source of income to the Association.  Thus, along with the budget, dues are set by the Executive Board.  If the Executive Board will be considering an increase greater than ten percent (10%) the Board must send notice to the Owners with the date, time and place where such action will be voted on or discussed.  (DPOA Bylaws 2.8)

Assessments occur when unexpected expenses occur that go beyond the Budget or Reserves.   Assessments may be made against all or a portion of Units based upon the cause of the assessment.  For example, an unexpected hard winter that greatly increases the cost of snow removal could bring about an assessment to cover the extra expenses.  When determining an assessment, the Board will set time limits and payment options.  In that case the total cost would be divided among all Units following the formula used for assessing SFCU and ACU Units in the annual budgets.  Assessments ould also occur in repairs or replacement of common elements greatly exceeds the Reserves collected for them.  This is why the Executive Board constantly monitors the Reserves to see that we are putting aside sufficient funds for replacement given inflation.

The following fees and charges may be added to an Owner's account and need to be paid in full by the end of the month to avoid additional Late Fees:

The following fees are charged for documents often required in the sale or re-financing of a Unit:

Our legal name is Discovery Park Owners Association, Inc.  We were incorporate on June 8, 2004.

The DPOA is governed by the Executive Board,  also known as the Board of Directors.  There are six directors elected at the Owners Annual Meeting (usually October).  Two Directors are elected each year, unless there are additional vacancies.  Directors are elected to 3-year terms.  Should vacancies occur mid-term, the Board of Directors is empowered to fill those vacancies for the remainder of the term.  At the first meeting following the Annual Meeting (usually the same night) the Executive Board elects the officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer.  It also established the schedule for regular Board meetings for the next year.

The Executive Board contracts with the management company (Cantrell Real Estate & Property Management) which handles the day-to-day operations under the direction of the Board, as well as awards all contracts and governs the business of the Association.

In addition to Alaska state statutes, the governing documents of the Association are the Declaration and the By-Laws.  The Declaration can only be amended by the Owners Association and the By-Laws may be amended by the Board of Directors.  These documents lay out the rules for governing and the procedures for various types of amendments.  In addition, there are the published Rules which govern conduct by the owners and/or their lessees and specify various fines for failure to follow those rules.   Each owner should receive a full copy of all these documents when they purchase their unit.  These documents can also be found on the website. 

The governing documents place the authority to amend the By-Laws in the  hands of the Board of Directors (Executive Board).  It outlines a process  to be followed which includes the publication of proposed changes and prescribed meetings or "hearings" to receive Owner comments and feedback.

The Association is required to carry Property, Liability, Fidelity Bonds, Workers’ Compensation (as needed), Directors’ & Officers’ Liability.  For a full discussion of insurance required see Articles XXII & XXIII of the Declaration.  The Declaration can be found under Documents>Governing Documents>Discovery Park Owners Assoc>DPOA Declaration or click on the link below.

Declaration Article 22.2b requires that Property Insurance be for 100% of actual cash value with a $10,000 deductible, $250 of which will be paid by the Unit Owner(s) suffering damage.  (Currently the Association has a $25,000 deductible funded by a Reserve Fund.)  Article 22.3 requires a minimum of $1,000,000 Liability.

No.  Declaration Article 22.2c specifies that the insurance will provide coverage for all risks except earthquake and flood.

Obviously it covers all Association property and equipment, but it also covers anything "permanent" in the Units!  Article 22.2.a states that it will cover "The project facilities (which term shall mean all buildings on the Property, including Units and all fixtures, equipment and any Improvements and betterments whether part of a Unit or a Common Element, and such personal property of Unit Owners as is normally insured under building coverage,..."   It does not cover personal belongings, furniture, etc.  For those items you will need to purchase condo insurance.  Our agent puts it like this:  turn the Unit upside down.  Whatever falls out is personal property and must be covered by the Unit Owner.  Anything that is permanently attached (does not fall out) is the responsibility of the Association.  For more information, read all of Article 22 of the Declaration.

This matter was further clarified for us in March of 2021 by our insurer.  For their explanation click on the link below.

YES, the purchase of homes in Discovery Park are FHA approved through May 31, 2020.

MOTORHOMES, CAMPERS, BOATS, TRAILERS, ETC.

 

The Discovery Park community includes 33 single family Units in stand alone housing and 114 single family Units in duplex housing with each unit offering 3-4 bedrooms and an attached garage for at total of 147 Units in the Single Family Condominium Unit (SFCU) section of Discovery Park.   With the addition of the 60 Apartment Complex Units (ACU), the Discovery Park community has a total of 207 family Units.

Normal trash pick-up is done on Thursdays, except major holiday weeks.   (Check the calendar for changes.) Only approved trash containers may be used.  Trash may not be left outside of the container.  There is an extra charge for containers whose lid cannot close.  Trash containers may not be visible to adjacent units or to the public from the street except when placed at the street curb on the evening before, or the day of garbage pick-up.

Yes.   Every second week recyclables are collected with the normal Thursday pick-up..  They must be placed in recyclable containers.  Items may not be left outside of containers.   Check the website calendar for which weeks recyclables are picked up.

YES.   Alaska Waste adds unit specific charges to the monthly bill for (1) trash cans whose lid cannot close, and (2) for each bag or item left on the ground beside the trash can.   These charges will be added to your account for payment.

Yes, but only by written lease and only for a minimum period of six months.  The Management office must have a completed copy of the lease and all contact information for yourself and your tenant.  Read carefully Section 3.6a of the Rules and follow them carefully.   You are responsible to see that your tenant receives a full set of rules and you are legally and financially responsible for any infractions they commit. 

Yes.

1. All vehicles must be able to fit in your garage. (No recreational vehicles.)

2. Overflow vehicles must be parked in your driveway.

3. Street parking is allowed for no longer than 24 hours at a time, nor more than 48 hours per week.  This restriction has consistently been interpreted as per Unit, not per car.  Thus a Unit with three (3) cars is only allowed 24 hours of continuous on street parking (not 3x24 or 72) and 48 hours of total on street parking per week (not 3x48 or 144).

NOTE:  Parking is allowed on only one side of the street.  NO PARKING is allowed on the inside loop of Discover Bay, Discovery park and Discover View Drives.  This is a tow away zone.  Cars parked on that side of the street may be towed without notice at the owners expense.

Thus, on street parking should be reserved primarily for guests and visitors.  Owners are to park their cars in their garage or driveway.

SAFETY.  This is a private community.  The roads are private roads maintained by the Owners Association.  They are narrower than public roads and are without sidewalks.  Control of on street parking is necessary for both general safety and for passage of fire and emergency equipment.

Email the secretary (everettfreed@gmail.com) for assistance.  It could be that you already have an account set up.  Is so, the secretary can give you a temporary password along with instructions to access your account, make the necessary changes and get started.

Most definitely!  We want you to know what is taking place in our community.  When you sign up you will be registered as one who rents.  While only Unit Owners may vote at Association meetings, you certainly can receive and have access to all the notices and information for our community.

Yes, in fact, we recommend it.  You can set up separate accounts, each with their own email.  (Each account is limited to one email.) In this way, both spouses may get separate emails, or both the Owner and renter can receive notices.

When you come onto the website you must log in to your account.  Most areas are open to the public, but a few areas with information limited only to Association or community members have limited access.  Once you log in you will have access to all areas.

Under ideal circumstances blogs can be informative and great fun.  However, they are also open to abuse and need constant monitoring which requires a significant time commitment.  If or when someone can make that commitment and meet with the Board to establish the purpose and guidelines for such an endeavor, it is able to be set up.  Until then, we do not have the resources.

Yes.  We have the ability to both post and send out notices to part or all of the members.  Contact the secretary (everettfreed@gmail.com).  If the matter or information is deemed appropriate and important enough, it can be sent out to some or all members through a flash email.  This is a quicker and more reliable notification than merely posting it on the website.