Middlebrook Pines Homeowners,

Your Property Manager (Keith) and volunteer Board of Directors (BOD) have been working hard on your behalf to maintain and keep the property in good shape, ensure compliance of rules, manage community conflicts and plan projects. This update will provide insight to the body of work that is being completed, or has been done on your behalf.

Landscaping

As we were taking a close look at our property to prepare for plant replacement, it was determined that we really need to approach our mature landscaping with in a more holistic approach. To that end, we will be soliciting assistance and guidance from either a landscape designer or architect to provide direction on the best way to move forward. If any of you have expertise in this field and are interested in volunteering for a landscape committee, please send an email to info@middlebrookpines.com.

Balcony Restoration

This work will begin as soon as the permit is approved by the City. Through this project, repairs will be made to each balcony if needed. Every balcony will be given a new surface coating as part of the process which will protect and extend the useful life of our balconies. Once completed, it is imperative that no floor coverings be placed on the coating including rugs, paint, or tile.

Concrete Drives Update

Five of our streets have been completed with concrete replacement and repairs to areas that had major cracking or crumbling. Brook and Elm Courts are currently scheduled to be completed in June.

Recreation Area Fencing and Lock System

The current fence around the pool is 37 years old, ineffective at keeping unauthorized people out, and will be replaced along with the locking system. Keys for the existing lock have been reprinted and distributed to hundreds and the lock has been repaired countless times. This has created a situation in which many versions of keys, including those not made for this lock, will provide access to the recreation areas. Our hope was to have this completed during the winter months but there have been several unexpected delays. The fencing material is being fabricated and is expected to be shipped to Orlando in May. As we get closer, information will be provided and processes set up to ensure that all owners obtain access prior to this upgrade.

Recycle

Cypress and Bamboo Courts are still currently the only locations with recycling bins. It has been a struggle for the City to achieve consistent twice per week pick-ups, now scheduled for Tuesday’s and Fridays. We continue to work with the City to try to resolve the issue as we know that it is frustrating for all that are taking the time to separate their trash. THANK YOU to those that continue to recycle and as a reminder, PLEASE, break down your cardboard boxes and please only loose recyclables, no bags.

Fences

Due to the high cost of wood, we continue to pause on the replacement of our wooden fences. It is our hope to begin replacement in another year. Meanwhile, we are repairing functional failures or safety issues with fences and gates as needed. Requests can be made by submitting a request at MiddlebrookPines.com.

Home Insurance – Wind Mitigation Study

A reminder that your Association paid to have a wind mitigation analysis completed for each building. You can benefit from this analysis by providing the report to your insurance company that may allow discounts on your property. You can retrieve the report from the website documents tab. Each report is individual and based on your building number.

Sun Hill Apartments

As many of you know, the small parcel of land located on the south border of our property was sold and the owner is building a 29 unit apartment complex in that space which borders Bamboo and Willow Courts. Despite our best efforts, we were not able to convince the City to not permit this project. However, thanks to the passion and participation of homeowners and with the assistance of Commissioner Burns’ office, we were able to obtain a commitment from the developer to move the building to the property boundary furthest away from us and to place a fence between the parking lot and our property. They have begun demolition of the site and we will continue to monitor the City Permit website and currently there is no work moving forward on this project.

Sidewalk Repair or Replacement

Inspection and repair work was completed in July 2021 for the walkways on the south side of the property at a cost of $13113. Work is now scheduled to complete North side of the property in the coming week at a cost of $10988.

Let’s Talk Trash

Please note that our dumpsters are for household garbage only. We have always had problems with large household trash being deposited into and around our dumpsters including mattresses, kitchen appliances, water heaters, toilets, construction items, and anything else that you can imagine. This problem has become even worse with recent influx of home renovations and the constant churn of new residential leasing. Recently, the City has notified us that we must discontinue placing any household or construction material into the dumpsters as it is damaging their compactor trucks. In fact, they expect us to remove it from the dumpsters when it is there and they are monitoring our property closely. Costs of hauling away discarded household items continue to increase for all of us at an alarming rate. Not to mention that it fosters an impression that we don’t care about the appearance of our community. Everyone is responsible to haul away, at their own expense, household and construction trash. This should not be difficult since the transfer station is located less than 2 miles from our community and there are numerous companies that will come and pick up your household trash. Please be a responsible community owner whether you live here or manage your unit with tenants.

Short Term or Vacation Rentals – NOT PERMITTED

As a reminder, our rules and bylaws dictate that the minimum lease period is seven (7) months and our rules do not permit business or any other use of our units that would “tend to invite the public onto the property”. This is for the benefit and safety of all owners and residents o Middlebrook Pines. Offering all or part of your unit as a short term or vacation rental is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with swiftly by the Association as it violates several bylaw restrictions. Those with tenants are responsible to ensure that your unit is not in violation of this or any other rules.

Recommendations and Reminders for MBP Residents

• When calling for deliveries, services, or emergency services, provide them with your building number as it will help them to locate your unit.

• We have recently had a few reports of bats being in the units. We recommend to everyone to not leave doors open without a screen and to not leave any food outside for pets. This will also eliminate attracting rodents which are also on our property.

• Guest parking should never be used by residents. If you, or your tenant has more than 2 vehicles, the vehicles must be parked on Middlebrook Road and are subject to Orlando City parking and Code Enforcement regulations. We are also not a park and ride lot. We have towed several vehicles in recent months which is costly for the owner.

• Please ensure that your patio landscape remains a MINIMUM of 2 feet from any part of the buildings and is not damaging the wooden fence at all times. This has become our most common rule violation and is enforced to financially protect all owners as we all pay for needed repairs. Some landscape material was planted on patios decades ago. If you have plant material that has grown too large or is growing quickly as to require constant pruning, it is our recommendation that you just remove the items before it becomes necessary for us to mandate the removal on our timeline.

• Remember that the only item permitted to be stored on the patio which can be seen above the fence is an umbrella which fits the permitted guidelines. Basketball hoops, exercise equipment, swings, gazebos, 4 post tents, storage cabinets, outdoor heaters, and anything else is considered a violation of the rules and has to be removed.

  Check out our Website www.middlebrookpines.com
  If you do not already have a login for our community website, please visit www.middlebrookpines.com and submit a request for access. The website has all information needed about your community, the buildings, financial information, meeting minutes, and our guiding documents which support the rules and regulations. You will also find architectural guidelines for anything permitted on the exterior of your units. You will also find electronic forms for submitting requests and questions.