Summer Thoughts

Just last night, around 100 neighbors and I enjoyed a great concert in Marlin Park by the Internationals, a four man band from the South Bay that specializes in German beer garden music (the Lederhosen were a give away). They played plenty of polkas, but they also mixed in some spectacular cowboy yodeling, an Italian favorite, and a good bit of comedy.

The concert was sponsored by RSCA along with Redwood City, and is just one example of the good things that happen in the Shores in the summer. At the same time, a good-sized group was sweating through what looked like a basic-training workout on the basketball court, and a girls’ soccer match was underway on the field. I also was able to check out the new bench that was recently installed near the lagoon (pretty much straight out from where Cringle meets Neptune) as a memorial to LaVerne Atherley, former president of RSCA and long time supporter of Redwood Shores. RSCA wants to thank the City for their help with this, as they approved the location we hoped for, poured the cement base, and installed the bench. We’ll have a memorial plaque installed on the bench soon.

So, some beautiful evening before the end of the summer, take a walk down to Marlin Park and enjoy the view from LaVerne’s bench. It might hit you, just like it hit me last night, how special is summer in the Shores.

A Bit More on the Architectural Design Board (ADB)

I mentioned last month that the Redwood Shores Architectural Design Review Board (ADB) is responsible for overseeing the Codes Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) in a number of Redwood Shores neighborhoods west of Shell Parkway, including the Marlin and Dolphin Park neighborhoods.

This month, I’d like to mention a few specific items that fall under the CC&Rs that might surprise you:

• Fences: The CC&Rs specify where fences can be installed and how high they can be. Fences that are too tall or are too close to the front property line create visual barriers and are unattractive. For this reason, all fence installations need to be approved by the ADB.
• Landscaping: The CC&Rs require that all front yards be landscaped and that all landscaping be in good condition, with no dead plants, or weeds. Nothing hurts neighborhood property values like poorly maintained front yards. If you’re property is run down, please take care of it; if you’re planning some landscaping, please submit your plans for ADB approval.
• Exterior Color Schemes: The CC&R’s require that all changes in exterior color schemes be approved by the ADB. While neighborhoods covered by the ADB don’t have strict color palettes, ADB review is intended to ensure that exterior colors are consistent, which helps maintain a harmonious feel and high property values across all ADB neighborhoods.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

— Doug Crisman , RSCA President