The Shawnee Ridge Homeowners Association (HOA) Board (Board) is seeking to update the Covenants, Conditions, Easements and Restrictions (CC&R’s) for Shawnee Ridge. The Board recently completed litigation involving portions of the CC&R’s that arguably were unclear and open to interpretation. The Board asked the attorney representing the HOA to review the CC&R’s, to make changes where relevant to align with current state law, and to strengthen wording where ambiguity existed.
The Board would greatly appreciate your approval of these matters. Passing these ballot measures will help reduce the risk of future litigation, streamline the Board’s review of homeowner ACC requests, and ultimately preserve the beauty and property values of our beautiful Shawnee Ridge community.
The Board will be holding question and answer sessions at the South Hill Pierce County Library at 15420 Meridian E, Puyallup, WA on April 7th from 6pm -7pm regarding these proposed changes to the CC&R’s. Questions may also be directed to Lorne Martin of JC Higgins via email at lorne@jc-higgins.com
Ballots will need to be received no later than close of business on April 22nd, 2026 either by mail or on location at JC Higgins and Associates at 802 39th Ave SW, Puyallup WA.
Proposed Changes:
A. Article 9, Section Five: Time Limits
The current CC&R’s require a response from the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) within 30 days. Depending on how the dates of the ACC/Board meetings fall the meetings may be more than 30 days apart which does not allow the ACC/Board sufficient time to review the application and respond. This proposed change would extend the response period to up to 60 days.
B. Article 9, Section Twenty-One: Tree Height
This section is redundant and in conflict with Article 9, Section Forty-Eight: Trimming of Trees and Vegetation. The proposed change would delete this section from the CC&R’s and place tree height restrictions in Article 9, Section Forty-Eight.
C. Article 9, Section Twenty-Eight: Vehicle Parking, Storage, and Screening
This section would update wording on what is adequate screening for Non-Passenger vehicles. The current CC&R’s were deemed to have ambiguous language following the recent litigation. The proposed change will clarify and strengthen the definition of “adequate screening”. This change will not affect existing approved vehicle screening.
D. Article 9, Section Thirty-Four: Garbage and Refuse
This section would update wording to adequate screening for garbage, refuse, rubbish, cuttings or debris from public view.
E. Article 9, Section Thirty-Five: Tanks, Etc.
This section would update wording to adequate screening for elevated tanks, clothes lines, equipment coolers, wood piles, or storage piles from public view.
F. Article 9, Section Forty-Eight: Trimming of Trees and Vegetation
This section would update wording limiting tree height to ten feet where the ACC/Board determines the offending tree materially affects the view from other lots.