Your Home Town Bulletin • April 2025
Spring annual meeting is virtual this year
The beginning of spring seems like a good time to revisit how things work (or should work) in Northwest Landing. April is also when elections are held for the board of directors and our annual meeting is planned. This year, the annual meeting will be online (via Zoom). In the past decade, fewer than 40 homeowners have attended the annual meeting. In most associations, that’s when votes are cast for the board of directors. We now use the annual meeting as an opportunity to present an overview of revenue and expenses, and answer questions from members. If you own property in Northwest Landing, you are a member of the association. The Northwest Landing ROA Annual Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, online via Zoom. We need to know if you plan to join the meeting so that we can plan for the number of participants. We will use the list of the owners who RSVP will be used as a sign-in sheet of the owners to compare with those who sign in to join the meeting. If you plan to join the meeting, please email to reserve by April 20. If you didn’t RSVP on time, and still want to join the meeting, you may still be accepted into the meeting, if we have not already met the limited capacity for Zoom. Owners who RSVP by April 20 will be entered into a drawing for gift baskets.
It’s time to VOTE!
All residents should have received an annual meeting and voting notice in U.S. mail. Thank you to the 11 ROA members who stepped up to run for the board of directors! Three board positions are open, so please vote. You should also receive an email message from with instructions for voting for ROA board members. If you don’t receive an email, please send a message to so we can add your email address. We started working with Vote•HOA•Now two years ago, which also marks the first time in many years that we have reached quorum. We are required to collect votes from 10 percent of members for the board election to be valid. For the past two years, we’ve managed to collect votes from more than 25 percent of members!
Did you get a violation notice?
Spring is also when it becomes really obvious that there are things that need to be done outside our homes. Spring cleaning also needs to happen outdoors. And, if we’re not doing anything about trash cans left out, the 6-foot shrubs covering our windows, the multitude of toys we’ve been keeping on the front porch, or the roof that has turned green from moss, we’re likely to receive a warning from the ROA office that our home is out of compliance with ROA rules.
Maybe your first reaction is to be indignant – who do they think they are telling me what to do? Understandable – nobody likes to be told what to do. But you did choose to live in a community that has a homeowners’ association. The upside of living in Northwest Landing is that the association hires professionals, most of whom have worked in community organizations for many years and have undergone professional management training. Smaller associations may delegate that work to volunteers, who sometimes let personal opinions color how fellow residents are treated.
The purpose of an owners’ association is to ensure that owners maintain their properties to a certain standard, protecting property values and attractiveness. Monitoring whether residents are taking care of things is the job of ROA staff. There are four staff members located in our office on Wilmington in the ACU building. They are responsible for acting on procedures adopted by the board to so our property is maintained the way we agreed to when we purchased in Northwest Landing.
Don’t know what the association rules are or how to find them? On the Northwest Landing website, there’s an About Us page that includes the current Resident Handbook, Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), and other important documents. If you receive a violation notice or fine and have questions, call 253-964-1289 or email . If you want to make a complaint about a property in Northwest Landing, you must submit your complaint in writing to .
Do you think there are rules that should change?
The first step is to submit your suggested change in writing to the board of directors. The board has the authority to amend the rules without a vote of the ownership, as long as these changes are consistent with the language in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that we are all subject to. The board cares what owners think about these changes, which is why owners have been polled about some of these changes in the past. However, an amendment of the CC&Rs requires written approval of 67 percent of ROA members. For example, when we amended the rule for string lights, allowing Edison or café lights year-round, it took more than two years. The Property Improvement Committee and the board revisited the rule after several homeowners asked that lights be allowed on front porches. We sent out a survey and received 850 responses, which is a third of our membership. The revised string lights rule is posted on the website.
An issue for Northwest Landing is our large number of absentee owners – about half of the residential properties here are rentals. We have found that we receive more responses from owners who reside in their Northwest Landing property than from those who do not live here. That could make it more challenging to amend the CC&Rs , which require a majority vote – 1,889 owners.
March – in like a lion…out like a BEAR
Sometime in March, the 20,000+ black bears in Washington state wake up from their long winter’s nap. A few are showing up in DuPont, especially in neighborhoods that border our woodlands. There were two bear sightings on Hoffman Hill this year at the end of March.
< The young bear pictured here was spotted on the Edmond Marsh Trail (that’s a runner in the background) on a June morning.
Please call DuPont Police to report bear sightings. Call the non-emergency number – 253-287-4455, if you have evidence of a bear’s visit (torn down fence, bird feeders destroyed). If you see a bear NOW, call 911. Why? Because bears can be a public safety hazard, especially if you are unwittingly feeding them with your bountiful trash can or tasty bird feeders. DuPont Police will alert the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Bear Safety Tips – Bear Encounters (BearWise)
Community Yard Sales 2025
Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, and Saturday, September 20, are the yard sale dates for Northwest Landing. Please note that yard sales are not sponsored by either the Northwest Landing ROA or the City of DuPont. Governing documents for Northwest Landing state that yard sales may be held two times a year and are announced by the ROA. If there is enough interest to hold a two-day yard sale in September, we will announce that later this year.
City of DuPont is hosting Big Bargain Bonanza at Clocktower Park on May 31 with 20×20’ spaces for $25 each.
Who to call – city or ROA
If something is on a city street, grass strip between sidewalk and street, park, or trail, the City of DuPont has jurisdiction. That includes lost dogs, dangerous or sick wild animals, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, and fallen trees. Go to Report a Problem on the city’s website.
If something is in an alleyway or a greenspace/pocket park (most have red benches), Northwest Landing ROA has jurisdiction. Call 253-964-1289 or email .
The Northwest Landing website hosts a Who You Gonna Call webpage which includes common topics our office gets questions about.
Northwest Landing Events
Easter Egg Hunt – 11 a.m. • Saturday • April 12 • DuPont Powderworks Park • all ages egg hunt, no registration required.
Board of Directors – 5:30 p.m. • Wednesday • April 16, 2025 – via Zoom– reservations required by April 9. Call 253-964-1289 to reserve. On Zoom. Your 2024 Board of Directors can be reached at . Please contact staff at if you have questions or concerns a violation notice or want to report a problem with a Northwest Landing property.
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Property Improvement Committee – meetings are generally held at 5:30 p.m. – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Except for underground irrigation systems, this committee must review all exterior modifications, including painting, roofing, adding central air conditioning, heat pump or solar panels, fences, sheds, patios, patio covers, decks, landscape renovations, adding or removing trees. Some projects may also require a city permit. Underground irrigation systems require a city permit. Property Improvement forms can be downloaded from the homeowner’s portal on the website. Go to Member Logins. After you login, click on Documents, then open the folder Property Improvement Committee Forms. Call 253-964-1289 if you need help finding PIC forms.
Dear ROA,
Okay, I’m really torqued. I park my truck on the street, but I don’t drive it very often. Somebody keeps stealing the current tabs off my license plate. Now my truck has been towed because it doesn’t have current tabs! All they had to do was look up my registration, which is current. What’s the deal?
- Got Towed in Northwest Landing
Dear ROA,
Just sharing, at the corner near my home, there is this truck that never 
moves with a flat tire. Please take appropriate action. It never moves. Trashy! See pic. >
- Trashy Pickup in Palisade Village
Dear Got Towed and Trashy Pickup,
First of all, city streets are not in the jurisdiction of the Northwest Landing ROA. If these vehicles were parked in an alley or a driveway and never moved, we would send a violation notice to the homeowner. If you believe a vehicle has been abandoned or your vehicle was towed, call the DuPont Police Department at 253-287-4455.
Let’s unpack the problem here. Northwest Landing was planned with most of the community having alleyways for garage access. Thirty years later, many of us have turned our garages into storage areas or our vehicles are too large for the garage. So, we park on the street. But what happens when you have more than two vehicles? Parking becomes a premium. Many of the streets in Northwest Landing were designed to slow traffic to make it safer for pedestrians and bicycles. And now that many of us park on the street, some of our streets are essentially one lane.
So, what’s the answer? If you have a vehicle that you rarely drive and you already have two or more vehicles, consider doing the neighborly thing and pay for storage. That applies to boats and RVs too. There are many neighborhoods where our neighbors park a boat on the street but infrequently take the boat out on the water. Nearby vehicle storage is available at DuPont Heated Self Storage and at Public Storage, which has locations in Lacey and Lakewood. You can apply for a temporary parking permit (for up to 72 hours) through the City of DuPont for a boat, camper, or RV.
If you are going to be away from home for a period of time, be sure to fill out a Vacation House Check form on the DuPont Police Department website. Are you military and getting ready to deploy or be away on special assignment? Let DuPont Police know.
Have a question for Ask ROA? Send a message to nm
Lawns, shrubs and trees – time to show them some love
Shrubs and trees
Be sure to maintain plants and shrubs in a healthy condition and remove any dead plant material. Prune plants and shrubs below windowsills – don’t block the window. Also be sure that plants and shrubs are pruned to prevent them from growing onto the roof and siding. Maintain clearance around the house numbers as not to block visibility of the house numbers. Water a minimum of twice per week to maintain healthy plants.
Trim trees and other plantings so anyone walking on sidewalks and home walkways can clear them. The City of DuPont requires adjacent property owners to maintain and water trees and ground cover in parking strips. If a tree dies, the homeowner is responsible for replacing it. The city requires a permit for tree removal and planting: City of DuPont Tree Permit. These trees should also be pruned to prevent damage to parked vehicles.
Living fences: In Northwest Landing, plants identified as living fences are three or more trees and most are arborvitae. Fences may be no taller than 6 feet and trees bordering the inside or outside of fences should be kept no taller than 8 feet.
NOTE: All trees must be approved by the Property Improvement Committee. If you are adding one shrub, approval is not required but is if you are planting more than one. The City of DuPont also requires a permit for tree remove and planting: City of DuPont Tree Permit.
Join the DuPont Community Garden
Love gardening? Did you know that DuPont hosts a community garden? Started in 2009 by Intel employees, the garden was moved to 1.5 acres of city property off Powerline Road, where volunteers grow produce and flowers to donate and sell. In 2024, the community garden grew nearly 8,000 pounds of produce – at least 6,000 pounds was donated to area food banks.
Rent a garden plot for $50 a year which includes irrigation, soil amendments, seeds and plant starts, and gardener education. Join the garden here. The gardeners also hold plant sales throughout the spring and summer – and a cookie sale in December to support the garden. The first plant sale will be held May 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the garden.
Washington State University’s suggested timeline for fertilizing lawns in western Washington is November 15–December 7, April 15, June 15, and September 1.
Gardening resources for Washington State – flower beds, fruits, lawns, pest management, and more.
If you have suggestions about plants and plant care for the bulletin, email
City of DuPont Events
Savvy Seniors • Wednesdays • 1-3 p.m. • DuPont Community Center • meet new friends • board & card games • fun projects
Gentle Yoga • Saturdays • 8-9 a.m. • DuPont Community Center • 303 Barksdale Avenue • $150 for 10 classes, $18 for drop-in session.
Yin Yoga • Wednesdays • 5:30-6:30 p.m. • DuPont Community Center • 303 Barksdale Avenue • $150 for 10 classes, $18 for drop-in session.
Cherry Blossom Tea • tea with Queen Victoria • Saturday • April 5 • 2 p.m. • The Home Course • advance tickets required: $35 or $264 for table of eight.
Outer Space Explorers Camps • ages 7-9 • April 7-9 • DuPont Community Center • 303 Barksdale Avenue • $125
Youth Sports • Spring Registration Open • FastPitch Softball • Baseball • T-Ball
Summer Youth Camps • ages 3 and up • sports, arts & crafts, and more!
Teen Events and Programs • Dungeons & Dragons • Knitting Club • Teen League
Teen Thrift Trip • Friday • April 11 (during Spring Break) • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • $10 to register • transportation and lunch included.
Shred Event • Saturday • April 12 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • DuPont City Hall • 1700 Civic Drive • up to 3 shopping bags full of documents shredded for free.
Spring Community Cleanup • Saturday • April 26 • place unwanted materials in bags or boxes not to exceed 45 lb. each in your usual trash pickup spot. No hazardous or oversize material.
Park Appreciation Day • Saturday • April 26 • Give your favorite park some love! Register in advance here. Fun and comradery starts at 9 a.m.
Historic DuPont Village Walk • Saturday • May 3 • 10 -11:30 a.m. • led by museum volunteers, please arrive at DuPont Historical Museum at least 5 minutes earlier to sign in. All ages welcome, ages 12 and under must be with parent or guardian.
Mother’s Day Market • Saturday • May 3 • 10 a.m.-3 p.m. • Clocktower Park • shop, sip and snack • food, craft and flower vendors.
DuPont Farmers Market • Thursdays • 3-7 p.m. • May 29, June 5, 12 & 26, July 10, 17, 24 & 31 • Fall Market – September 14 • Clocktower Park • 1301 Palisade Blvd.
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