Exciting News:
ARB has taken the applications On Line!

Everyone is working hard to develop an online system for ARB application submissions.
This will make the process easier to submit and easier to review.
If you have to submit an application – please check out the online applications available.
The board encourages the use of the online application over the paper form.
If you don’t see your specific project offered – please use the paper application and
provide as much information as you can for consideration.

Your Neighborhood Photo Could
Win you a Prize!

Starting May 1, 2025, we will be accepting residents’ photos of the Lake Sawyer South community, for consideration to win our Best Photo prize and to be used on our Website.

Winner will have their photo used on the Home Page of LakeSawyerSouth.com and win a $25 Publix Gift Certificate.  

Runners-up may have their photos used on other pages of the Website, and displayed in our Photo Gallery

Deadline for submission is May 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m.

Tennis Courts are Closed

Upon inspection, we found defects in the court surface that must be addressed in order to keep everyone safe.

We have vendors out taking a look at it and get it repaired.

Happy Spring Everyone…

Spring is a busy time within the community.

Easter Egg Hunt was on April 5th at 10am at the park and it was a huge hit. Over 750 eggs were found in 1 minute and 44 seconds. Thanks so much to all the kids and families who attended.

Let’s talk Housekeeping…

I am from the north, so spring cleaning is a big deal. It was the time to open all the windows and air out the house from being buttoned up tight from the winter. It was the time to see the sprouts of grass coming through the dead lawn and landscaping coming back to life. Here in Florida, we just get to keep cleaning up oak and magnolia leaves from one season to the next (my idea of a joke) but joking aside, it is a good time to look over your home with a critical eye. So, let’s all go outside and see if any of these items may need your attention:

1. Does your house or roof have visible mold or discoloring?
2. Does your fence have visible mold or damage?
3. Does the paint on your home look faded or thin?
4. Does your sidewalk and driveway have signs of dirt, mold, stains, or dark in color?
5. Does your driveway have excessively broken or lifted concrete or pavers?
6. Are there dead areas of grass in your lawn, including the section between the sidewalk and the street?
7. Do you have trees, bushes, and/or shrubs that need to be trimmed? This includes the tree between the sidewalk and street.
8. Does your grass need to be mowed, edged and/or weeded?
9. Does your mailbox need painting or new numbers?
10. Do your flower beds have weeds or dead foliage?
11. Do you need mulch for your landscaping?
12. Are your trash/recycling receptacles left out and viewable from the street?

If you answered yes to any of these items, now is a good time to address them. This list is just a guide and is not all-encompassing. Check out our ARB Guidelines and HOA Governing Documents for more information.

Playground: We are still waiting for Orange County to give us a permit. We are all deeply frustrated at this process as many of you may know that feeling if you put in a pool or some other big project having to go through the permitting process with Orange County.

Pool:  it is time to go to the pool. I want to remind everyone that the pool is yours and should be treated as you would your own pool.
Please don’t let someone in without a keycard. Would you just allow anyone to come into your backyard and use your pool? Please throw away your trash. There are 5 trash cans in the pool area, please use them. The furniture is not a trampoline. If your children are using it as such – please ask them to stop. It is your furniture – your dues pay for replacements when they are damaged. Pool activity is monitored by 24 hours surveillance cameras.

NO CHALK IN THE POOL – the pavers, the wall blocks, the tabletops are not chalkboards. Please do not bring chalk to the pool or to the playground.

Be respectful of others

I can’t wait to enjoy warm afternoons at the pool with my grandkids.

Roof Replacement and Exterior Painting:   It doesn’t seem that you can walk down a street and not hear the sound of the nail gun or see the gleam of a new paint job. The question is always:  Do I need an ARB application for a new roof or to repaint my home the exact same colors?  The answer is YES! Both applications can be found on the Lake Sawyer South website and are very easy to use and submit as online forms. Please don’t make the costly mistake of installing a roof or painting your home without ARB approval.

Involvement:   I don’t get asked that question nearly enough, but I do like to throw it out there. Community involvement is important, and we would appreciate your time and talents serving the community. It doesn’t have to be on the board, but we have a wish list of community activities that we would love to provide. We don’t have the manpower to make it happen. Check in with Tiffany if you would like to be put on the list to help the Fun Committee and someone will reach out to you. And if serving on the board is something that interests you, please let Tiffany know. Our board meetings are posted on the Lake Sawyer South website, and we would love to have you attend.

Well, I think that is it for me. Enjoy the beautiful weather that spring has to offer. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact Tiffany. Always a reminder, balls, dogs, and kiddos can bounce out in the street at any time; so, keep your eyes up and the speed down.

Shannon
Chairman, Board of Directors

Power-washing Time

Power Washing has started. Our spring power washing of the common areas has started this past week.  Our efforts have started in the townhomes and will continue through the entire community.  Dianne, our vendor, does a great job setting up signs letting everyone know what area will be cleaned and when.  Please make sure you have your vehicle removed from the area and personal belongings taken down and stored elsewhere during that scheduled time.

Your Leaves are NOT Our Leaves

It has come to our attention that many homeowners and/or landscaping vendors are blowing leaves from their yard either into the street or into HOA Common Area for the community landscapers to pick up.  Please pick up your own leaves each week and if you hire a landscaping team make sure that debris is being picked up (NOT blown down the storm drain) and removed from the home.  Landscape debris is NOT to be put on the curb until Tuesday evening for Wednesday morning pick up.  Be courteous to those around you.

New Lake Sawyer South Community Paint Schemes

The ARB is excited to provide new paint schemes starting in 2025. These schemes might be similar to what you see within the community now, because they are keeping with the Horizon West Design Plan that was initiated in 1993 in its Master Plan. What we have tried to accomplish is giving homeowners a few more options for each scheme.

How does it work? First ,you choose the body color from the 44 available. Then if your home requires a secondary body color, it is listed. Then you pick one of two trim colors. In some cases they are close in color and other cases they are very different. Then we have updated accent colors from which you get to choose one.

We are finalizing the new online application for painting that will be a great help in walking you through the process of choosing.

What if you like your color? You can repaint your home the same color with ARB approval. It will also be an option on the new online application.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW LAKE SAWYER SOUTH COMMUNITY PAINT SCHEMES.

Updating Your House Numbers or Garage Lights?

Our lit house numbers are all consistent, and we prefer they stay that way. That makes it easier for anyone looking for your house. And you might have to change the light bulb when it burns out. Go ahead, that’s fine.

But if you want to change the numbers or the fixture they sit in or your garage lights, that requires ARB approval.
That includes if you add additional or solar-powered light fixtures.
You must fill in the ARB APPLICATION and submit it for approval.
It must be received no later than 5 days prior to the next scheduled ARB meeting.

Don’t Feed the Gators!

Our friend, “Smiley”, has been spotted from time to time on the shores of Lake Brofield Ave. Loop. Be sure to leave him alone and keep your distance. He doesn’t need your food. He finds his meals in the lake perfectly well.

Alligators have inhabited Florida’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties. In recent years, Florida has experienced tremendous human population growth. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict.

Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water. Smiley’s relatives were here long before any of us were.

Playground Closure UPDATE

As you drive by, you continue to see nothing happening in the way of progress in the playground.  Most parents are frustrated that their children do not have a safe place to play and most residents are angered by the big mess that sits in the playground site.  As a board member and a grandparent, I am too!

Where are we in the process. Everything is ready to go but we are having trouble with Orange County issuing us a permit.  We are now stuck in “housing” which I am not sure how that pertains but our project manager has done everything from having to circle the word playground on a map that says playground to certifying the mulch that is there.  I have been in contact with Nicole Wilson’s office about the continued delay but no solution has been reached in getting us our permit.

I would have never guessed this would have been such a painful process to all of us.  I want to let you know that the board understands your frustration and anger and acknowledges that this wait is painful.  Please feel free to contact Commissioner Nicole Wilson at district1@OCFL.net to let her know about our frustrations in getting a permit to put in a new playground in the exact location that the old one was in.

Shannon Boe
Lake Sawyer South HOA President

Lake Sawyer South Neighborhood Guidelines:
“Do’s and Don’ts”

In order to maintain the home values and cordial atmosphere in our neighborhoods,
we hope everyone will respect these simple “Do’s”, so we can all enjoy a safe and comfortable environment.

• Do be respectful to other Dog owners and only take Waste bags you need right now.
• Do be respectful to your neighbors by picking up after your dog.
• Do bring your garbage and recycling cans into your garage as soon as possible, after they have been emptied.
• Do use our new Putting Green with respect, and only use for Putting, not Soccer and not chairs.
• Do pick up your leaves and put them out on Yard Waste Day (Wednesday), so they don’t get into our storm drains.
• Do park your car in your driveway, and not across the sidewalk.
• Do trim the branches of your trees over the sidewalk and over the street,
so your neighbor walkers and delivery trucks
(and Post Office trucks) aren’t bumped by the low branches.
• Do ask your landscapers to take away any landscaping debris.
Yard Waste should only be visible on Tuesday evenings for pick up on Wednesday morning.
• Do keep your easements (between the sidewalk and street) neat and edged properly.
• Do provide Association with a current mailing address, if you are renting your property.

NO DON’TS!

Sorry, one DON’T:

• DON’T dump your yard waste into conservation areas. It’s against the law, and violators will be prosecuted.
If you see someone dumping anything into the conservation areas please report it immediately
to Tiffany at Leland Management.

What’s Horizon West?
Yes, if you live in Lake Sawyer South, you’re part of it!

Horizon West is a new community located in southwest Orange County designed using the principles of Garden Cities and New Urbanism to create self-sustaining, mixed-use villages. As the community continues to grow over the next few decades, this foundation ensures that new development will contribute to a sense of place, environmental preservation, excellent architectural design, quality bicycle and pedestrian facilities and vibrant community gathering places.

Horizon West includes nearly 23,000 acres of former citrus groves until the devastating freezes of the 1980s, which created the impetus to institute appropriate master planning for the area’s urbanization over time.

READ MORE ABOUT HORIZON WEST

Waste Collection Tips

• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
can injure waste workers and contaminate the environment.

• Check out the virtual celebration of over 30 years of recycling in Orange County,
and see what happens to your waste by watching the “Landfill Video Tour (in English and Spanish) :
www.ocfl.net/OCRecyclesDay.

TRUE OR FALSE:

• Plastic bags can go in the recycling cart. –
FALSE:
Plastic bags and wraps should never go in the recycling cart. Visit BagandFilmRecycling.org to find a drop-off location near you.
For us, Publix would be the closest spot.

• Containers must be washed before recycling –
FALSE:
A quick rinse or wipe is sufficient for bottles and containers to deter bugs.
Too much food or liquid can contaminate other recyclables like paper, Recyclables should be empty and dry before placing in the cart.

• It doesn’t matter what goes into the cart; it will all be sorted eventually –
FALSE:
Too many unacceptable items can make the recycling load too contaminated for processing.
For example, “stringy things” like hoses and wires get tangled in the sorting equipment and shut down operations for hours, even days.

• If an item has the chasing arrow triangle symbol, it can be recycled. –
FALSE:
The symbol indicates the type or plastic resin used to make the item and not what goes in the blue lid cart.
Remember to “Think 5” and only place these items in the recycling cart:
(1) plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs #1 – #5, (2) metal cans, (3) glass bottles and jars, (4) cardboard, and (5) paper.

Important Numbers to Know!

311

Call or use the App for code enforcement, violations/ordinances –
to report concerns that a deputy is not needed to attend to.

407-836-HELP (4357)

Goes straight to a deputy for assistance, but is not an emergency situation.

911

Call for emergency help.

Header Photo: Daya Zoldan
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay