Intro
At Brookside, we understand the importance of building a strong sense of community, which is why we have curated a calendar of exciting events for residents to participate in throughout the year. From summer barbecues to holiday parties, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and get to know your neighbors better. In addition to our community events, we also offer a Facebook group where residents can connect online, share ideas, ask questions, and stay informed about community news and updates. This forum is a great way to stay connected and engaged with what's happening in Brookside. Community events and online forums are not only great ways to meet new people and strengthen bonds with your neighbors, but they also foster a sense of belonging and unity within the neighborhood. By participating in these events and discussions, you are contributing to the overall well-being and harmony of Brookside, whether you're new to the neighborhood or have been a resident for years, we encourage you to take advantage of the community events and forums offered at Brookside.
Along with the fun there are also certain guidelines and rules to follow, that make this community a harmonious place as well as keep it at well-respected standard. Our very own Mark Sondergard has put together a quick little intro on commonly encountered terms and history!
History
The community would consist of 371 single family detached condominiums. The community would have 2 playgrounds, A walking path park and several other community green areas. The parcel of land also contained wetlands that the developer had to develop around and be approved by the State of Michigan for the plans.
The building plan was divided into 3 Phases. The original plans below:
Phase 1
Barrington Dr. – West of Brookside Blvd to Stamford.
Somerset Dr. – West of Brookside Blvd to Savannah Lane.
Berkshire – West of Savannah Lane to Stamford.
Savannah Lane – Barrington Dr to Norfolk.
Eral Court –
Phase 2
Savannah Lane – Norfolk to Savannah Court
North Warwick Court -
South Warwick Court -
Preston Court -
Carlisle Court -
Telford Court –
Somerset Dr. – Brookside to Bridgewater
Bridgewater Lane – Entire length
Barrington Dr. – Brookside East to Bridgewater
Phase 3
Barrington Dr. – Bridgewater East to Harris Rd.
Somerset – Bridgewater East to Savannah Lane.
Savannah Court –
Common Elements (Master Deed Article IV- Common Elements)
The community common elements consist of: Land, Water, Electrical, Storm drainage, Entrance/Cul-De-Sac Islands, Irrigation, Other.
2 Children's Play Areas
Tot Lot on Somerset
Playset on Savannah Lane
Walking Park - South Warwick -This is now just an open park.
Open Park Area – End of Brookside Blvd and Somerset.
Open Park Area – Corner of Harris Rd and Geddes Rd.
There are other common areas along the road frontages, wetlands, and drainage right of ways, that the developer calls parks, but are common area.
We maintain 6 detention ponds in the community. Each of these ponds are for the specific use of moving water away from the residential units and flowing out to drains or natural waterways. The natural waterways are the wetlands areas that in turn, flow through to the Lower Rouge River system. These ponds are not meant for activities or to support wildlife, even though there are many frogs, fish, ducks, turtles, etc., that have made their way into these ponds.
The pond system requires annual maintenance, as they can clog with debris, grow algae and muck on the bottoms. The physical portions, cement entries, culverts, steel grates, uprights, etc. can become out of level and cause the ponds not to flow correctly. These need to be inspected annually and fixed as needed, to avoid costlier repairs.
The HOA and Board
The HOA was established with the recording of the Master Deed. The Homeowner’s Association is in place to have a set of rules that govern the community and impose an annual fee that allows for the maintenance of all common elements in the community.
Until approximately 2004, the developer held all the seats on the HOA Board. As they completed portions of each of phases 2 and 3, they relinquished seats back to the community and board members were elected. Around 2007, the developer relinquished all seats over to the HOA and the elected board. The Board Consists of 5 members- President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, At-Large. There are 2 election groups, 3 board members are in one and 2 board members in the other. The term of the seats is
for 2 years, and each group is elected in opposite years.
The HOA Board is seated for 2 primary reasons:
Create a budget to maintain the common elements of community. The budget is based on the assessments that we established at the inception of the community. The board has a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the community and allocate community funds, to best maintain all common elements for the present and future needs.
Enforce the By Laws which were established in the Master Deed. This includes enforcing standards at each unit, approving modification requests, violations of standards, etc.
There are other duties which are required, but they fall under these 2 categories.
See below on how we identify Brookside community as along with some commonly encountered terms -
Brookside Condominium Association
Condominium Association Organization
Developer: The Developer begins initial construction of the subdivision and provides all
the necessary documents to potential purchasers regarding how the subdivision will be
governed. While construction of the subdivision appears to be that of a single-family
home community, legally the subdivision is created as a Condominium Association
community.
Condominium Association: The Condominium Association is made up of all the
homeowners. There are 371 homes constructed in the Brookside subdivision and
there will be 371 Co-owners of the Association. Each homeowner owns their
condominium unit (your lot) and the improvements built upon it (your home, etc.).
All homeowners collectively own the common areas such as the entrances, tot lots,
open areas, etc. Each condominium owner is granted one vote in having a say in the
decisions that are made for the community.
Governing Documents: There are primarily two documents that govern the
Condominium Association; the Master Deed and the Bylaws. Each document has a
specific purpose and should be read by all homeowners. The Master Deed is a
technical styled document that, in large measure, explains what the Association is and
who has responsibility for certain aspects of the community. The Bylaws are more of a
governing document that explains how the Community Association corporation
functions.
Board of Director: During most of the time that homes are under construction, the
Developer serves as the Board of Directors and makes all the decisions regarding the
operations of the community. As homes are sold and closed and the subdivision is nearing completion, transfer of the authority of the Board is transitioned to a resident Board. The developer then removes itself from being on the Board of Directors.
Association Dues: Each homeowner is required to pay association dues. These funds are designated for the maintenance, repair, replacement, and operating costs of the general common element’s areas.
Management Company: The Condominium Association retains the services of a
management company to assist in supervising and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the subdivision. This includes collecting dues, paying bills, supervising contractors for landscape care, snow removal, etc., processing alteration/modification requests, property inspections, insurance matters, resident complaints, and the like.
