The Retreat at Lakewood Forest

What is the annual maintenance fee?

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The annual maintenance fee is dur on January 1 of each year. The current fee is $1,650 per year. Payments are considered late if they are received after January 31. The Association Board has the authority to increate the annual fee by up to 20% in a given year without requiring a vote from the general membership. Any increase larger than 20% requires the approval of a majority of the Association Members at the annual meeting.

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What landscaping services are provided by the HOA?​

The Association provides comprehensive landscaping services within the common areas and along both easements (the alley access drive and N. Eldridge Parkway). These services include: 

• Routine Lawn Care: Mowing, edging, blowing, and weeding of sidewalks and front gardens

• Lawn Treatments: Seasonal chemical and fertilization treatments to grassy areas. 

• Annual Care: Mulching of garden beds (once yearly), along with the annual trimming of hedges, crepe myrtles, and large trees.

The association is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all driveways up to the property line. 

 

What else does my annual maintenance fee cover?

Beyond landscaping, your $1,650 annual fee funds the essential infrastructure and operational cost of our community, including: 

• ​Utilities and infrastructure: common area lighting, common water services, and irrigation system maintenance and repair. 

• Neighborhood Features: Maintenance of the perimeter fence along N. Eldridge Parkway.

• General Upkeep: Ongoing repairs and general maintenance to all shared community common areas. 

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Note for Residents: Landscaping services are strictly limited to the front gardens, common areas, and designated easements. Backyards and enclosed patios remain the responsibility of the individual homeowner. 

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How is our community managed?​

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The community is managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) and is overseen by a volunteer, elected Board of Directors.

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What do the Board officers do?

Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by law,  by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, or the Declaration. ​

• President: Supervise and control the affairs of the Association and the activities of the officer. They shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and such other duties as may be required by law. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. 

• Vice President: In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President. 

• Secretary/Treasurer: The secretary shall keep and maintain a book of minutes of all meetings of the Directors and Homeowners Association, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present or represented at the meeting and the proceedings thereof. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible of all funds and securities of the Association, and deposit all such funds in the name of the Association in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the Board of Directors. 

 

How long do Board members serve?

Board Members generally serve two-year terms. Elections for any open Board positions are held in October/November of each year. ​​ Because our Board is run entirely by volunteers from the neighborhood, we are always looking for passionate residents to step into officer roles or run for Board positions. Keep an eye out for election details every fall!​

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Who picks up our garbage?

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We contract our garbage pickup through GFL Environmental. Garbage pickup is every Tuesday and Friday. 

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Who is our water and sewer service provider?

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Our water and sewer service are provided by the Faulkey Gully MUD.

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Who do I report street light outages to?

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The street lights are maintained by CenterPoint Energy. Report any outages here or call them at (713) 207-2222 or (888) 572-4399, select your language and option 4; be sure to include the street light location and number (located on the front of the pole).

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Where can I park?

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The best place to park is always inside your garage. If you cannot park in your garage, your preferred first choice should be the parking spots located on the driveways between the courtyards, up against the Eldridge fence if your driveway has those. They are marked. Alley parking may be permitted, but the Eldridge fence spots are highly preferred.

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To park anywhere within the community outside of your garage, you must have:

1. A valid Retreat parking permit displayed. 

2. A current, valid state motor vehicle registration. 

The parking spaces directly in front of each courtyard are reserved specifically for visitors. 

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Note for Residents: Residents may use these visitor spaces for very short-term use only, such as actively loading or unloading your vehicle. 

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Parking behind your garage is only allowed if you are actively loading or unloading only. You should never park on the side of the alley against the houses as this is a designated Fire Lane-no parking is permitted here at any time. There are additional strict No Parking Zones along the alley fence directly across from the visitor parking spaces. 

Safety Warning: Please keep all fire lanes and loading zones clear. Vehicles parked illegally in fire lanes or blocking alley access risk being fined. 

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Can I park a trailer or RV in the community?

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Temporary parking for recreational vehicles (RVs) or trailers is permitted for no more than 72 hours (loading, unloading, or cleaning). For permanent placement, residents are expected to secure storage elsewhere outside the community or entirely within their own garage if it fits. ​

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Longer term temporary exceptions are granted for construction related items like dumpsters or equipment trailers. If you have an ongoing project, you just need to: 

• Notify the Board ahead of time

• Alert your immediate neighbors as a courtesy

• Ensure the equipment does not block traffic and is never placed in designated no parking zones or fire lanes. 

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Friendly Reminder: Space in our communities allies and courtyards is limited. Please coordinate any construction drop offs closely with your neighbors to prevent accidental blockages or safety issues. 

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