Vacant Lot Policy
OverviewThe Landscape Subcommittee, operating under the guidelines and regulations established in the CC&Rs, has developed a policy specifically addressing vacant lots within our community. This dedicated webpage has been launched to serve as a comprehensive resource for our residents. Whether you've received a notice or suspect that your lot may be affected by weedy or invasive species, this website is here to assist you.
2026 Update
As we have reached the one-year milestone since the implementation of the Vacant Lot Policy, we would like to provide an update on the communities progress. Many lots have been effectively addressed, leaving only a few that still need attention. We appreciate our residents' proactive engagement in this essential initiative.
Moving forward, we are entering the second phase of the Vacant Lot Policy, which focuses on the ongoing maintenance of these properties. To ensure the long-term health and appearance of your community, we recommend applying pre- and post-emergent sprays. This preventive measure will significantly help control the growth of invasive species over the next couple of years. Click HERE to learn more about the benefits of pre and post emergent spray. Keeping on top of this regular maintenance will help limit the expensive cleanup and plant removal process.
We urge all vacant lot owners to take the necessary steps to maintain their properties and contribute to the community's overall well-being. Your cooperation in this matter is invaluable as we work together to uphold the standards of our neighborhood.
Thank you for your continued involvement and commitment to maintaining the beauty of our community. For further guidance, or if you have questions about the policy and its implications for your lot, please don't hesitate to contact David Green at david.green@ccmcnet.com or Nicole Abate at nabate@ccmcnet.com. Nicole andDavid will be available by appointment only to provide direction and help residents navigate the Vacant Lot Policy effectively.
The Vacant Lot Maintenance Policy
This policy sets forth the Association expectations and maintenance obligations of Vacant Lots throughout the community. The maintenance of the vacant lot is the sole responsibility of the lot owners. Please review the policy in detail by clicking below.
View or download the Vacant Lot Maintenance Policy
Vendors
Please review the Conceirge List for landscape vendors. If you have hired a vendor to maintain your lot and would like to recommend them for the Conceirge List, please email david.geen@ccmcnet.com or nabate@ccmcnet.com.
View or download the Conceirge List
- J&S Landscaping – 480-579-9447
- Benny Garcia – 480-227-8678
- Victor Munoz - 602-459-4718
Invasive Weeds/Species
Invasive weeds are plants that are introduced into new environments where they are not native, and once established, they can spread aggressively, outcompeting native flora and disrupting ecosystems. These plants often have characteristics such as rapid growth, high reproductive output, and the ability to thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions, which allow them to dominate landscapes quickly.
Witches Broom
Fountain Grass
Mistletoe
Stinknet
Climbing Milkweed
Buffel Grass
Compliant Vacant Lots
Be on the lookout in the future for before and after photos of non - compliant and compliant Vacant Lots.
FAQ's
Q: Can we still pay the HOA to spray my Vacant Lot?
A: No. This program was discontinued after the 2023 Weed Spray due to difficulty coordinating with owners, and an inability to adequately address every lot. Further, the pre-emergent spray has never addressed plant removal, trimming, etc. As desert vegetation has matured and died, the scope of work needed on vacant lots exceeded what the SMOA could take on effectively.
Q. If my lot was sprayed by the SMOA in the past, am I still responsible for cleaning it up?
A. Yes, the SMOA only sprayed pre-emergent in the spring to minimize new weedy growth. The removal of dead, overgrown, or invasive species is the responsibility of the lot owner, and will be called out in the inspection form you receive.
Q. Are these requirements specific to my lot?
A. Yes, your lot was inspected, and the notice was customized to the specific needs of your lot. It has been formatted such that you can share the inspection checklist with your landscaper of choice and they should understand what plants need to be trimmed or removed.
Q. Why are the Vacant Lot Owners given six months to bring their lot into compliance?
A. The Landscape Subcommittee recognized that an initial clean up may require more work, time, and capital than ongoing maitinence. Once the initial clean up of the lots is completed in the first year, inspections by the site time, and communications to owners will be more timely and handled in accordance with other compliance items, on an ongoing basis.
Q. I don't own a vacant lot. Am i still required to remove the invasive species from my lot?
A. Yes. Invasive species can spread rapidly and are NOT on any approved plant list, and therefore should be removed.
Q. Is the HOA conforming to this policy?
A. Yes, generally. Wash maintenance and other common areas are maintained on a cycle, within guidelines governing 404 washes, and within budget constraints.
Q: Why do we need a Vacant Lot Policy?A: This policy is needed for several reasons – First, to ensure that our community is maintained and cared for, including properties that have not yet been built; Second, there are a lot of weeds, invasive plants and excessive vegetation on many vacant properties; and lastly these weeds can and will spread to neighboring properties.
Q: What is an invasive species?
A: An invasive species is one that “takes over” existing landscapes. Generally, invasive species are not native to the area (Stinknet or Globe Chamomile is an example of a non-native invasive plant). However, there are some native species that tend to be invasive or “weedy,” that is, they spread rapidly and take over existing landscapes. Desert broom, brittlebush, and climbing milkweed are examples of weedy native plants.
Q: What about plants that are native to the Sonoran Desert, such as brittlebush, desert broom, mistletoe, and climbing milkweed? Why do these need to be removed?
A: While these plants are indeed native to the Sonoran Desert, they are either fire hazards (brittlebush), they spread very rapidly by seed (brittlebush, desert broom), or they represent a hazard to other, more desirable existing plants (mistletoe, climbing milkweed). For this reason, the plants listed have been targeted for removal from our community. In addition, these plants are not on the approved plant list for the community.