The HOA Board of Directors is seeing more instances of homeowners conducting external home/paint/yard modifications without Modifications Committee approval. 

It is imperative that homeowners understand that they are accountable and responsible for compliance with the PCVA Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R), as well as the Community Guidelines and PCVA Architectural Color Palette, as they agreed to when they moved into our neighborhood. 

Not complying with the Covenants and Guidelines is not only a violation subject to fines (or worse), it tends to degrade the look of the neighborhood by make modifications that would not normally be approved and are inconsistent with the aesthetics of the neighborhood overall.  This also sets up an uncomfortable situation for homeowners who are following the Guidelines when they want something that their neighbor has done without approval. 

Please ensure that all external modifications are first approved by the Modifications Committee to ensure compliance with our Covenants and Guidelines to avoid violations and fines, and to ensure that we are all taking responsibility for maintaining the standards set forth by the PCVA HOA Board of Directors for the community as a whole. 

The process and the design review request (DRR) forms may be found at ​https://www.pcva.org/design-review-request.html

Yard Waste and Fall Leaves
Did you know grass clippings and leaves blown into the street during yard maintenance end up in storm drains and waterways? This causes problems in the city’s stormwater drainage system and can lead to flooding. It's also a violation of City Code and can result in fines.  

Instead of blowing leaves yard waste into the street try:
- Composting: Researchers found that mulching leaves in the fall resulted in a greener lawn and up to 80% less dandelions the following springs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it a form of recycling that prevents filling our landfills, helps prevent pollution, enriches soils and reduces the production of methane gas.  

- Mulching: Using a mower to shred leaves speeds up their decomposition. The shredded leaves make excellent mulch and can be used in flower or vegetable gardens as a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. 

For more info, check out the Think Outside the Lawn: Managing Yard Waste & Landscape Debris brochure (pdf)

​Blocked Street Drains Can Cause Flooding Unswept debris has the potential to flow into vital drainage systems, creating blockages that could cause flooding during the next rain or snow storm. Please remember that the drains on our streets are there for a very functional and important reason, and avoid letting yard debris (branches, clipping, leaves, etc.) move into the street and possibly down the gutter and into the drain.

​To report a blocked drain, please call the City’s Stormwater Division at 719-385-ROAD (7623) or via the City’s free GoCoSprings App  (available at  https://www.coloradosprings.gov/gocosprings)

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. 

4 Things You Can Do. Throughout October, these are 4 key action steps that everyone should take:

• Think Before You Click: Recognize and Report Phishing: If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware. 
• Update Your Software: Don't delay -- If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
• Use Strong Passwords: Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A passwords manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you!
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: You need more than a password to protect your online accounts, and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked.

Learn more at ​https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month