Want to do any sort of external improvements to your property? 

• You must submit a Design Review Request (DRR) via your homeowner portal account. 
• Remember to include “before” pictures of the area to be improved per Sections 1.3.1 and 5.0 of the PCVA Guidelines so that the Modifications Committee can fully assess your request’ submit “after” pictures when the work is completed so that your DRR can be officially closed. 
• The Modifications Committee will work with you on your DRR to expedite your request through the process; however, during the peak periods (usually March through October), the volume of DRRs is extensive, and DRR reviews can take up to 30 days from the time the completed package is received. 
•  Your DRR must be approved before any work can begin, to include landscaping, painting, tree removal/planting, or any other improvement as mentioned in the PCVA Guidelines, Section 4.0.   
• Submitting a DRR does not guarantee approval, so it is important that homeowners do not expend funds before their requests are fully approved.

See the details at https://www.pcva.org/design-review-request.html

For El Paso County residential property valuations, the 2026 Notice of Valuation (NOV) appeal window is:

• May 1, 2026 through June 8, 2026 for real property (homes, land, residential property). 

That means your appeal must be:

• submitted online,
• delivered in person, or
• postmarked by June 8, 2026. 

You can file online through the assessor’s appeal portal here:
El Paso County Assessor Appeals Page
A couple important things:

• Colorado reappraises residential property every odd-numbered year, so the 2025 valuation affects taxes payable in 2026. 
• The valuation is based mainly on comparable sales from Jan. 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. 
• If the assessor denies or partially denies your protest, the next appeal step to the County Board of Equalization is generally due by July 15, 2026. 

One of the strongest appeal strategies is usually:

1. Find truly comparable sales within that statutory window.
2. Show condition differences (original baths, deferred maintenance, busy road, backing issues, etc.).
3. Point out factual errors in the assessor record (sq ft, finish level, basement finish, garage size, etc.).

This is a great tool for owners to be able to communicate with management. You can submit your DRR requests, general questions and violations, view your account and set up assessment payments. You can download community documents like financials, minutes, forms and guidelines. Please take a moment to make sure you have the correct contact information for your property on the portal, and if you have not added this information, please do so. 

Access the portal at https://portal.ehammersmith.com/ 

​If you need help with your logon and password – call Pine Creek Community Care at (719) 389-0700.  Select option #3 for Colorado Springs and then option #2 for PCVA.

Hail season has arrived – are you and your family prepared? Because you live in an area where hail can occur often, we want to help you be protected.

The key to reducing the risk of damage to your home and vehicles is to make sure you prepare for hailstorms before the season, which historically begins at the first of March. Here are some steps you can take to prepare:

• Sign up for free weather alerts to stay ahead of the storm.
• Clean out the garage so you can quickly protect your vehicles from damage.      
• Have a licensed contractor inspect your roof for signs of wear and tear to prevent additional damage.
• Consider sealing your deck, which may help reduce water damage to your home if the roof covering is lost during a severe storm.
• Install a protective screen around your home’s air conditioning unit to help reduce the chance of damage to the coils and fins.