John Wilson bought his home on Tramore Court in Sterling in 1987. Since then, the emergency access road that connects the Connemara Woods neighborhood to Sterling Park has caused him nothing but headaches.
Wilson, president of the Connemara Woods Homeowners Association (HOA), said vandals stroll along the paved road and spray paint on and carve scratches in the wooden fences that line it.
By the time neighbors call the Sheriff’s Office, Wilson said, the teenage vandals are nowhere to be found.
In order to prevent future destruction, Wilson proposed installing a metal gate that would block access to Sterling Park. Now, Connemara Woods homeowners can enter and exit the neighborhood with a key. The gate, Wilson said, will hopefully keep vandals away from their property.
THE ONLY WAY to access the Connemara Woods neighborhood when it was built in 1985 was Route 7. At the time, the neighborhood was served by the Sterling Fire Department located in Sterling Park. If Route 7 was blocked during the time of a fire, there was no alternative route to access the houses there.
"The county demanded emergency access," Wilson said.
So, the neighborhood's developer built an emergency access road behind Wilson’s house on Talmore Court. The path cuts through the backyards of several homes on Tramore Court and Edenbury Court.
In order to discourage residents from driving on the emergency access road, the developer strung cable across the three entrance points on the path, but parents complained about the safety of their children riding bicycles up and down it. Wilson said the Connemara Woods HOA, who owns the area, was concerned about liability issues.
So the HOA took down the cable and as a result cars began driving from Sterling Park to Connemara Woods via the emergency road.
"We have the authority and obligation to keep it up," Wilson said. "We have the authority to use it or not to use it."
So the HOA put two heavy flowerpots where the cable used to be to prevent cars from driving on the private road.
THE HOA was able to discourage vehicle traffic through flowerpots, but neighbors have a new problem on their hands; spray painted graffiti and scratches on the back of fences that separate their backyards and the emergency access point.
Danette Cruthirds’ house borders the emergency access road entrance on Tramore Court. She said she has filed at least five reports with the Sheriff’s Office for vandalism to her cars and fence.
"I’ve had my tires slashed, ripping off hood ornaments, things like that," Cruthirds said.
She said she hopes the fence prevents future vandalism because she has been directly impacted by it.
Cruthirds, who has two small children, said she will request a key because she has two small children who enjoy playing on the path.
THE SIX-FOOT TALL black metal gate is the result of a year-long conversation between Connemara Woods HOA board members and their neighbors.
They considered a number of options including a wooden gate, but homeowners feared a wooden gate might be the target of more spray paint and scratches.
Developers installed the $3,000 metal gate, paid for by HOA funds, which has two entrances, one for pedestrians and one for emergency vehicles, Friday, but it will remain unlocked until early next week due to some installation problems, Wilson said.
Once the gate is installed properly, Wilson will lock the two gate entrances with cable locks. It is easy for fire and rescue workers to cut through the cables in an emergency.
"Every homeowner [in Connemara Woods] who wants a key can have a key," Wilson said. "We just ask you treat them like you would your house key."
The HOA board members will issue keys to residents who directly request them.
Wilson has taken further security measures by installing a no trespassing sign in front of the gate, to clear up any confusion as to whether or not the road is private property.
"We’ve given police permission to come on to the property and make arrests," Wilson said.
Wilson, an original homeowner and 20-year resident of the Sterling neighborhood, said he is willing to leave the gate unlocked on weekend days, to accommodate neighbors and children who use the path to walk, ride bicycles and run.
"If we have any problems, we will lock the gate all of the time," Wison said. "We’re not trying to be mean. We’re kind of at our whit’s end and we know the problem is coming from Sterling."