Dear Philip Hedger and Mary Ellen Comella, Thank you for taking the time to solicit input from the residents and put together a thoughtful presentation. Please note that when developing the approved plant list originally our focus was on native species found on the ranch prior to development. The main issue as we evaluated the request is attempting to keep the pallet focused on native species from this area along with a few non-natives that grow well in this area and fit within the look. We are also concerned that we don’t want the South Florida tropical look to invade the ranch while we find a balance of allowing more native color. We feel that the look if the common areas of the community reflect well on the original list of approved plants that we chose. We are hesitant to allow some of the items requested as we don’t want to see the builders plant them with new homes. Also, if we approve additional plants, they could be planted widely through commercial areas which could begin to change the look of Starkey Ranch. We recognize that some of these species can be allowed in later years when residents control the MPOA. Please review the responses below and provide your feedback. We anticipate updating the design guidelines to include the approved additions at the annual MPOA board meeting. We could use your assistance in providing the Latin names for the species that we are agreeing to add. Sincerely, Starkey Ranch ARC Ground Cover Society Garlic (top request; widely planted throughout the neighborhood already by Pulte; VERY closely resembles approved Bulbine in appearance, but purple flowers instead; fits with the ranch like esthetic) - Yes Agapanthus (top request; planted in the neighborhood; grassy plant most of the year very similar in appearance to the irises and lilies on the approved list already; during spring for only a couple months it has attractive stalks of white or blue flowers then is green the rest of the year; butterfly, bee, and hummingbird attractant; ranch like esthetic) - Yes Firecracker (top request; fern plant with red flowers that closely resemble the approved coral honeysuckle; also a butterfly, bee, and hummingbird attractant; very nice plant; ranch like esthetic) – Yes Pentas (top resident request; widely planted throughout the neighborhood and in common areas; variety of color options; top pollinator plant) - Yes Golden Thyrallis (yellow flowers on and off yearlong; attractive red hued stems; ranch like esthetic similar to the approved firebush look, but yellow flowers) – Can we add Brush Daisy instead? Expansion of Lantana color choices (currently yellow or purple only; expand to allow additional multicolor varieties and native varieties such as Pineland Lantana and Wild Sage/Button Sage Lantana) - Yes Dwarf Tibouchina Lepidota (deep purple flower shrub) – No Purple Cuphea aka Mexican Heather (another ground cover option) - Yes Foxtail fern (popular top request from residents) – No Trees Bottlebrush Tree (top tree request; there are two versions; upright and weeping) Callistemon citrinus: Red Bottlebrush “upright” Callistemon viminalis: Weeping Bottlebrush (top request; already planted in several homesites by the builders; top pollinator tree for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; red flowers; ranch esthetic; similar concept and overall appearance as approved crepe myrtles, but red flowers) - No Jatropha tree (small tree with red flowers; butterfly and hummingbird attractant; ranch like esthetic) - No Shrubs Gardenia (popular resident request; white fragrant flowers) - Yes Ixora (top resident request; widely planted throughout the neighborhood by the builders in a variety of colors: orange, yellow, and coral that flow with ranch color scheme) – No Sunshine Ligustrum (TOP REQUEST planted on many homesites throughout the ranch; resembles approved anise in color but easier to find at nurseries; top request by residents; very nice contrast color shrub for esthetically appealing landscaping) - Yes Sweet Viburnum (request as additional option to form privacy hedges as residents state having difficulty with ones on current approved list, such as podocarpus) - Yes Loropetalum (planted on some model homesites; burgundy colored foliage with “Fringe” type pink flowers; ranch like esthetic with nice contrast to green foliage; popular request) - No Bougainvilllea (top resident request so wanted to include it in the list based simply on the number of residents inquiring about it; a lot of homeowners have had to repot them from the ground so requested they be considered) – No – Ok in a pot Crotons were a very popular request, so perhaps the “Mammy” style and/or “Gold Dust” which both have a more ranch like esthetic compared to the other varieties, although any option croton would be desired based on the numerous requests. – No – Ok in a pot Shredded Mulch was also requested as additional option to pine bark (Brown variety similar in color to pine bark, NOT the RED colored variety) – No. We want the uniform look of pine park or pine straw. Native butterfly host plants for Florida butterflies BACKYARD USE ONLY – we propose modifying the design guidelines to use the same language as we have for vegetable gardens. Ok if planted in the back yard and 100 square feet or less with no approval needed.
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