PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
Les Beadling, President
 On
January 28, 1962, Bryant Skinner put pen to paper and sketched
his vision of a premier, gated, golf community that would become
Deerwood (see fig. 1). He planned for a rural Florida setting
that incorporated curved narrow roadways, grand vistas,
distinctive eclectic houses on large lots, lakes, and spacious
open common areas surrounding a country club that would provide
golf, tennis and swimming.
Deerwood has become that and more (see fig.
2). The residential component has developed to include the gamut
of home ownership from condominium living through zero lot line
homes, a courtyard community, countryside lifestyle and sing le
family residence to twenty-acre estates. The country club has
grown into a first-class institution with all of the above
amenities plus a new fitness center. In addition, Deerwood
provides with-in-the-gates, a convenient entrance to a topnotch
primary and secondary school and a recreation area that
incorporates a unique playground, basketball court, ball field
and pavilion.
In order to preserve this distinctive
character, every unit in Deerwood was endowed with a
comprehensive set of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions
(CC&Rs). It is the CC&Rs that allow the community at
large to maintain standards, with the aim of preventing a few
residents from lowering the property value for all. They enable
us to control and limit access to Deerwood, thereby preventing
unwelcome door-todoor solicitation and unwanted through traffic
on our streets. The (CC&Rs) also empower the Deerwood
Improvement Association with the authority to provide
recreational amenities, maintain roads, easements, drainage,
common areas, and the infrastructure, which serves and supports
our community.
Due to a statute passed by the Florida
Legislature in 1963 called the Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA)
the Deerwood (CC&Rs) may be in jeopardy of being voided or
may have already been voided in some units. In order to
reinstate and/or preserve the (CC&Rs), we have hired a law
firm that specializes in this area of the law. That law firm has
recommended the Deerwood Improvement Association Board approve a
motion by a two-thirds majority (the aforementioned was
accomplished at a special session on Monday January 6, 2006) for
units seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, the
courtyards, Deerwood Courtyards Estates, Estates of Deerwood,
Estates of Deerwood Phase II, Estates of Deerwood Phase III,
Deerwood Pointe and four parcels. The passage and subsequent
written notification to the Florida Department of Community
Affairs should preserve the (CC&Rs) in those units.
 Because
there is a strong suspicion that the (CC&Rs) in units one,
two, three, four, five and six have already been extinguished,
our attorney has recommended we proceed with a different course
of action for those units. All homeowners in units one through
six will need to vote to reinstate their (CC&Rs). A simple
majority within each unit will be required to approve the
reinstatement of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for
that particular unit. Therefore, all homeowners in units one
through six should expect to receive instructions on how to
proceed in the near future. We are planning to have the vote
prior to our annual meeting on the 30th of March.
Sincerely,
Les
Beadling
President
4th
Quarter 2005 Baywatch Update
By Rose Reich
Regional
Park: The corporate donations we were anticipating have
not materialized. The city has $3.2 million, of the $8 million
needed to begin construction the 1st quarter of 2006. The first
phase would be asphalt, walkways, landscaping, baseball fields
and the children’s playground. Councilman Graham suggests an
aggressive email campaign to the mayor to receive the additional
funding we need to complete our park. In comparison, the
Equestrian Center received another $2-4 million this year alone.
Please email the mayor at JPeyton@coj.net with your concerns
about the lack of funding and the need for a park. It has been 3
years since the land was purchased!
Rapid
Transit System: A public meeting was held 10/19/05 to
discuss the implementation of a bus RTS for our city by JTA in
partnership with the FDOT. RTS integrates technology, unique
vehicles, specialized accessways and stations for fast,
convenient access through our community.
Baymeadows
Golf course: The judge has ruled in favor of Mayor
Peyton’s veto of the D.R. Horton project. The ruling may be
appealed.
Schools:
A new 60-acre high school will be built at JTB and Kernan
opening August 2008. ICI Homes will be developing the
surrounding land, 9A to Kernan, with a gated single family
development and other multi-family residences. They will also
extend Baymeadows East to Kernan. The School Board is also
looking at land for a new K-8 south of JTB and west of
Southside.
Better
Baymeadows Inc: They are working with Councilman Graham
to develop a Baymeadows Masterplan for development and
transportation. Currently looking to lengthen on ramp to 95N and
left turn lane onto Old Baymeadows.
Bike Path:
Councilman Graham was instrumental in bringing a 12 ft.
multi-use path on the east side of Kernan (sidewalks on west)
that will run from Kernan north all the way south to the new
high school.
Other
Development: Interested merchants: SW corner Baymeadows/9A:
Native Sun, specialty toy store, dry cleaners, Allstate, spa,
Quiznos, chiropractor. Gate Parkway: town center concept with
commercial on lower level and residential above. Point Meadows
(behind Walgreen’s): small strip mall with optometrist and
other shops/restaurants (we are hoping for Peterbrooke). Publix
Reedy Branch: Blockbusters. NE quadrant Gate/9A: Hotel, Pharmacy
and Office Condos. (all subject to change). Five story Hampton
Inn between Sneakers and U-Store-It.
Baywatch
Membership: We are looking for interested homeowners
from Hampton Park, Reedy Branch, The Overlook, Royal Lakes,
James Island, South Chase and Deerwood to join our group of
volunteers. We meet the third Tuesday of every month at 7pm for
1-2 hours (not a huge time commitment). We work closely with the
city and developers to help make our community a better place to
live. Please call Rose Reich at 538-9674 if interested!
How
Long Will Our Luck Hold Out!?
By Les Beadling
Over
the past year, we have had four serious incidents involving
automobiles in Deerwood. They include a car running another off
the road and subsequently smashing into the bridge on James
Island Trail, two separate incidents where an automobile was
driven into a house and a mishap where a car struck a
pedestrian.
Early one
morning, an auto ran our access control vehicle off the road
causing it to sustain significant damage then subsequently the
same auto smashed into the bridge railing on James Island trail
demolishing the railing and the automobile. It missed plummeting
off the bridge into the swamp by inches. Luckily no one was
seriously injured!
On two separate
occasions, cars were driven into houses causing significant
damage to both the automobiles and the houses and frightening
the occupants of the homes. Luckily, once again there were no
serious injuries! 
The fourth
accident occurred on one of our roads when a pedestrian on a
nightly walk was struck by automobile. Luckily there was no
serious injury!
We need to
remember that Deerwood has no sidewalks and our roads are
multipurpose. They serve as a footpaths, bicycle trails, running
tracts and pet walkways as well as motorways. If we value our
children, our pets and ourselves, we will drive considerately
and carefully for our luck may run out if we don't.
GROUNDS
COMMITTEE
Tom Mantia, Chairperson
Drainage
and paving concerns have continued to be the focus of the
Grounds Committee efforts. The common area between Pine Lake and
Woodgrove Road was cleared of fallen trees, dead trees and
underbrush accumulation which restricted the flow of rainfall to
the drain outfall. A swale and ditch were installed after a fall
line survey was conducted. The area will be observed to monitor
the functionality of the improvements.
The island
circle on Bahia Blanca was widened to allow service vehicles to
negotiate the tight turning radius without tearing up the
adjacent lawns and island.
The pavers at
the Baymeadows entrance which had developed severe depressions
were removed and re-set which improved the appearance
considerably.
The grounds
committee along with the DIA engineer is evaluating the costs of
repaving the main road from the Baymeadows gate to the Southside
gate along Deerwood Crossing, Hollyridge, Golf Club Drive, and
Whippoorwill Lane. Repaving of Blue Jay Lane is also being
considered.
Funds exist in
the Paving Reserve to do this work. Bids will be taken to ensure
the best possible price for the work. The paving at the
Baymeadows guard house has deteriorated to a point where the
wiring for the automated arms is being exposed. Action may be
necessary to repair this area immediately.
One of the
remaining major drainage pipe replacement projects is the
outfall from Lake Holly to Mineral Lake. The present route of
the deteriorating pipe is torturous and passes through existing
electrical and sewage services which increases the replacement
cost considerably. Consideration is being given to change the
routing of the outfall to pass directly to the swamp.
Discussions with homeowners to allow this new routing to pass
through their property are going on with encouraging results.
Savings and benefits to be accomplished by this action are both
monetary and functional.
Dead trees on
DIA and homeowner properties continue to be a problem and a
potential danger. Residents are encouraged to report these
locations to Marsh Landing Management Company.
Deerwood
Improvement Association Landscape Committee Winter
By Karen Merrell, Chairperson
The
Jacksonville Country Day School Drop Off Zone has been
completed. The land and irrigation were donated by the Deerwood
Country Club. The benches were kindly donated by the Cherry and
Kight families. Nanak Landscaping put in the plants according to
the Deerwood Improvement Association Landscape Committee's Plan.
It is a beautiful asset to the entire community. The crape
myrtles will bloom every summer for future generations. The oak
and ligustrum trees will grow with the ages. There was a safety
issue regarding parked cars and children crossing the street,
but now the traffic pattern is safer for all and the parked cars
will no longer block the road.
After examining
the annual maintenance bids, Nanak received Deerwood's contract.
Nanak is currently doing winter projects on DIA easement areas.
Please contact us to report any unfinished work. Check your
trees for mistletoe (a parasitic plant, high in the tree tops).
Mistletoe not only can yield unexpected kisses, but also can
kill your trees. The landscape committee has dressed up the
Courtyards entrance and Country Side Roads. Herman Wallace, our
great DIA maintenance person, has been busy with plantings all
over Deerwood. When you see Herman, tell him how much he is
appreciated! Please inspect our common areas around Deerwood for
any suggestions or improvements. Consider joining our Landscape
Committee which meets the second Tuesday at 5:00PM at Deerwood
Country Club. Everyone is welcome! 
Getting
Through the 
Process
By Katie G. Kight
The
ARC process may seem overwhelming at times, which is why we post
as much information as possible on the website, www.mydeerwood.com,
to try to take all of the guess work out of submitting. It is
important to get as much information as possible before
submitting to the ARC, to make sure the process runs
smoothly.
Marsh Landing
Management and the ARC committee try to provide as much
information as possible to help make submissions complete, but
unfortunately there is no substitute for submitting all the
information that is requested on the website. Pictures, drawings
to scale, surveys, and detailed descriptions are necessary to
make an effective decision on any submittal.
While we would
love to be able to tell you if an element of your design will be
acceptable before it is drawn, to save you effort and time, we
do review all submittals individually, within the covenant and
guideline restrictions, to ensure the best outcome for you and
the community. You may have the skill to design and draw your
project for us but please remember we still need the same
detail, whether it is drawn by you, an architect, a draftsmen,
or is a set plan from an enclosure company.
Your diligence
in the submittal process will ensure the speediest outcome in
reviewing your plans and getting you on your way to building
your project.
What's
Happening at Deerwood Villas I?
By Linda Jones-Baucom, President, Deerwood Villas I Condo
Association
You
may have noticed a lot of activity taking place recently at
Deerwood Villas I. The Villas I is in the process of a complete
renovation. Deferred maintenance issues have been addressed, the
buildings have been pressure cleaned and painted, and other
exterior repairs are ongoing.
This year, with
the approval of DIA, trees were removed that were either a
threat to buildings or were dying, and landscaping in several
areas was improved where previously nothing would grow.
As you know,
the Villas I was built in the early 70's, and several of the
original owners still live here. I would like to take this
opportunity to especially thank some of these owners: Pete
Tandet, Evelyn Landon, Jim Bost, and Mary Anna O'Brien for their
valuable suggestions and historical input during this past
year.
In addition,
exterior changes are not the only changes taking place in Villas
I. As villas are sold, the new owners are completely renovating
and updating the interiors of their new homes.
It is our hope
that the Villas I will once again attract longterm residents,
residents who share the Deerwood philosophy, which is to
maintain the high standards that make Deerwood a great place to
live!
PLAYGROUND
UPDATE
Project Playground - Phase II is about to get underway.
By Rick Root, Playground Committee
It was the week
of June 6, 1985 when the Deerwood Park was built and opened for
kids to enjoy. "Few community projects affect people of all
ages and end complimenting one another. A simple concept began
with a few people and grew to encompass hundreds." That's
how Becky Doyle and Nancy Copeland detailed it almost 20 years
ago. In October of 2004, the playground was updated with a new
play structure. And likewise, a community project began with a
few people and grew to include hundreds. This Spring we will see
our facility get another major improvement. Tremendous thanks go
out to Jose Perez (PQH Architects) for all his efforts in
designing our new pavilion. Not only did he donate his services,
he also was able to get the mechanical engineering services
donated. Then, he found someone to build the pavilion at a cost
that is within our reserved and budgeted funds. The following is
a brief summary of what has been expended since this project
began back in 2003.
In 2003 $75,000
was budgeted for playground capital improvements and $3,395 was
spent on a land plan. The balance of $71,605 was put into a
capital reserve. In 2004 $100,000 was budgeted for playground
capital improvements and $135,290 was spent on the new play
structure leaving $37,315 in the capital reserve. In 2005
$108,000 was budgeted to playground capital projects and $8,000
was spent mostly on civil engineer services. Again, the $100,000
that was not spent was put into the capital reserve. We began
2006 with $137,315 in the capital reserve and $87,000 budgeted
for 2006 for capital playground improvements or a total of
$224,315. We have a contractor that will build our new pavilion
for approximately $195,000.
Below is a
preview of what is coming.
"The
pride that is reflected in our playground belongs to every
person - our children, our parents, our neighbors and our
friends - because we did it together." Nancy Copeland
(1985)
Thanks everyone
for your support. 
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