In 2007, a local developer donated five vacant lots to the Eagle Ridge Owners Association. The lots are located on Hawk View Street, between Eagles Nest Street and Holden Drive. The intended purpose of this donation was to allow the Eagle Ridge Owners Association to develop this land into a neighborhood park, which would fulfill a promise made to some of the original buyers of homes in the Eagle Ridge subdivision.

Eagle Ridge board members have considered numerous ideas for development of this land. Among those ideas were a community swimming pool, a community club house and a community park complete with playground equipment. Board members have met with Round Rock city officials, including the Mayor, in an effort to research development costs, necessary permits, zoning laws and even handicap accessibility requirements for development of the land.

What became apparent is that no matter what we as homeowners choose to develop on this land, it will be expensive beyond what our current annual dues are capable of paying. As an example, a swimming pool would be estimated to cost a minimum of $1,000,000, and most likely much, much more. And that does not include annual expenses such as lifeguards, utilities and maintenance.

Even the cost of developing this land into a neighborhood park is expected to cost well over $100,000, not including annual expenses of landscaping, utilities and maintenance.

Since the board is prohibited from raising the annual homeowner dues by more than 10% per year without a 2/3 vote of members, the estimated timeline for completion of a neighborhood park could easily be ten years or longer. And that includes the added income of an annual (every year) 10% dues increase for each homeowner. That calculates to your dues more than doubling in just eight years.

This is where we ask for your help in determining the next course of action. We are using this website to post ideas from our homeowners in an effort to learn what you would like to see done with this land and how much you are willing to spend out of your pocket to see it happen. Every idea you suggest will be posted on the website for all to see. All we ask it that if you make a suggestion, please include an estimate for cost of development of your idea, such as materials, labor and engineering etc.. With that information we will convert all ideas into an equivalent cost in terms of an annual dues increase (if any). Even if you do not have a suggestion of your own, please feel free to comment on any suggestion posted along with reasons why you feel this is a good or bad idea. We will leave all ideas posted on the website until it has become obvious that all suggestions have been made and comments received.

At that point the board will determine which ideas are feasible and/or reasonable, and will post those selections on the website. All homeowners will be asked to vote for their favorite option and if a clear winner is determined, the board will then begin plans for implementing the winning idea.

LAND USE SUGGESTIONS

1. Swimming pool with parking lot. Cost estimate is over $1,000,000.
2. Neighborhood park with children’s playground and parking lot. Cost estimate $150,000. It should be noted that since this land is sloped, it will likely require an engineered retaining wall to be constructed. Current law requires any plan for use must include a parking lot. Estimates for construction of a parking lot are $38,000.
3. Community clubhouse and parking lot, which could be rented out for community and private activities. Cost estimate $250,000. Projection of income from rental of the clubhouse is unknown.
4. Landscape with picnic tables only. Parking lot may be required. Cost estimate $80,000. Land will have to be graded and retaining walls added.
5. Do nothing, leave land empty. Annual cost will be for current annual taxes and maintenance.
6. Sell land and put towards other EROA expenses. Could pay for improvements or utility expenses of current common area already owned and maintained by EROA. Cost estimate is $0. It should be noted that any solution involving selling this, or any other EROA owned land, will require a 2/3 vote of EROA members.
7. Sell land and donate proceeds to Round Rock City Parks for playground and picnic equipment improvements at the existing Meadow Lake Park. Cost estimate is $0.
8. Post your idea here!