Your Home Town Bulletin • December 2024
NW Landing office closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays
The Northwest Landing office will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. The office will reopen Monday, December 2, at 9 a.m. The office will be closed for the winter holidays from noon on Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, January 1. The office will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 9 a.m.
Holiday lighting rules
Holiday string lights may be displayed 30 days before and 30 days after traditional holidays. NOTE: For the Deck the Halls contest, decorating should not begin before November 25. All holiday lights should be turned off at 10 p.m. This time limit does not apply to Edison-type string lights in backyards and on the front porch (can be on 24/7). This is not only in consideration of your neighbors but area wildlife. Northwest Landing building guidelines respect “dark sky maintenance.” Light pollution is caused by overly bright lights that shine into the sky, confusing and harming migrating birds and wildlife. The guideline for lights to be turned off by 10 p.m. does not apply to exterior light fixtures installed on the house or garage. This lighting should not shine upward, except for flag lighting. If you are considering installing permanent string lighting that can change colors, you must submit a property improvement request through the ROA office.
ROA budget ratified for 2025
ROA board members and staff met with a few homeowners who attended the budget ratification meeting on November 20. There are no big surprises in the 2025 budget and assessments will not increase. Landscaping assessments for Palisade Village cottage owners, however, will increase. Most of the expenses will go toward updating landscaping and irrigation systems in the ROA’s 152 green spaces, most of which were installed more than 20 years ago. All homeowners were mailed budget materials. They are also filed on the website. Go to Member Logins. After you login, click on Documents, then Budgets, which are listed by year.
Avoid fines for late or non-payment of assessments
Some homeowners prefer to pay ROA assessments all at one time. But many pay monthly. If you do pay your assessments monthly, consider setting up automatic payments. You can very easily set up automatic withdrawals from your bank or credit union account. Call 253-964-1289 or email for help setting up automatic payments.
Did somebody say cookies?
Creative members of the DuPont Community Garden not only grow wonderful plants, they make and sell cookies for the holidays! Two-pound boxes of festive homemade cookies are $30 each. Email with your name, email address, phone number, and number of boxes you want to purchase. Order by December 13. Pick up December 21 between 10 a.m. and noon at the garden, on Powerline Road off Center Drive. Your order supports to work of the garden, which donates fresh produce to food banks in Lakewood and Thurston County.
Who to call – city or ROA
Whether you are new to Northwest Landing or have lived here for several years, you may not know who to call about something like an abandoned car on the street or a tree that is ready to fall down. 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, 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 . If you receive a violation notice or fine and have questions, call 253-964-1289 or . If you’ve got a complaint about a property in Northwest Landing, you must submit it in writing to .
The Northwest Landing website hosts a Who You Gonna Call webpage which includes common topics our office gets questions about. Governing documents for the association are also available without logging into the members’ portal.
Plans for renovating greenspaces
The Board of Directors of Northwest Landing Residential Owners Association has hired The Davey Tree Expert Company to
perform work in several ROA green spaces in December, weather permitting.
We love our trees but there are several in ROA green spaces that need to be removed because they are damaging property. We are working with a landscape company on a replanting plan for those areas in the spring. Please make sure everyone who lives in your home knows what is planned.
Work planned for green spaces:
• South side of Rooklidge Street: The stumps of three silver maples that were removed previously will be ground down.
• Willson Street playground: Five sweetgum and two pine trees will be removed and stumps ground down. The arborist tells us that many trees are planted too close to the fences and have invasive roots and recommends these removals. This green space also has several large oak trees in that will remain in place. The arborist will clean out dead and damaged branches from oak trees in the area.
• Southwest corner of Bob’s Hollow Lane and Wallace Street: Remove two cherry trees and grind the stumps. Treat birch trees for birch beetles.
• Northwest corner of Bob’s Hollow Lane and Wallace Street: Grind remaining stumps and roots from two cherry trees that were removed earlier this year.
• Yehle Village entrance on north side of McNeil Street: Clean out dead branches, fertilize and mulch large red cedar tree.
Northwest Landing Events
Register for Night of Holiday Cheer here Register for Holiday Decorating Contest here
Night of Holiday Cheer– Saturday • December 14 • 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join us for hot cocoa, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, and a gift-wrapping station. Attendees receive one vehicle pass per family to visit Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park.
Holiday Decoration Contest – deadline to sign up is December 15.
Board of Directors – 5:15 p.m. • Wednesday • January 22, 2025 – via Zoom– reservations required by January 15. 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 about a violation notice or want to report a problem with a Northwest Landing property.
.
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,
I want to put an antenna on my roof so I can watch local television stations without paying for cable service. My neighbor told me that I can’t do that. What can I do?
– Wants TV in Yehle Village
Dear Wants TV,
Satellite dish companies usually place a dish on the edge of a roof, attached below the eaves of the roof, or in backyards. A satellite dish doesn’t need approval from the Property Improvement Committee. An antenna, however, would need approval. Please call 253-964-1289 or email and someone will help you. By the way, if you have Internet service, you should be able to stream any of the local television stations without an antenna.
Reminder about fall leaves
Many trees are dropping leaves right now. An easy way to keep them picked up is with your lawn mower. A side benefit is the mowed leaves can then be used as mulch around shrubs and in gardens. If you use a blower, please don’t blow leaves into the streets and alleys, especially keep stormwater drains clear to prevent street flooding. Note: Premier Landcare, the landscaping company the ROA contracts with, does blow leaves into the street to make it easier for their refuse truck to pick them up.
Removing and adding new trees
If you are planning to remove a grown tree or plant a new tree, be sure to submit a property improvement request (tips on how to find forms is under Northwest Landing Events above). You may also need a permit from the City of DuPont to remove a landmark tree or one with a trunk diameter of 24 inches or larger. DuPont Citizens Tree Care Manual
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
Senior Lunch & Movie • Tuesday • December 3 • $10 plus tax • sign up in advance
Tree Lighting • Friday • December 6 • 6 p.m. • Ross Plaza • 1500 Ross Plaza Loop • Kick off the holidays at the City of 
DuPont Tree Lighting • Polar Express readings with Santa, 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. at Bliss Ice Cream • arts & crafts at the ACU building • cocoa, coffee and cocoa floats at Bliss Ice Cream.
Annual Santa Breakfast • Saturday • December 7 • 10 a.m. • The Home Course • Tickets are $18 plus tax and must be purchased in advance. Children age 2 and younger are free.
DuPont Museum Gingerbread Open House • Sunday • December 15 • 2-4 p.m. • free • DuPont Historical Museum • 207 Barksdale Avenue • decorate a gingerbread house, meet Santa (2:30-3:30 p.m.), refreshments, good cheer, great shopping!
Gentle Yoga Class • Saturdays • October 26, 2024-January 4, 2025 • 7:30-8:30 a.m. • DuPont Community Center • $150.
Valor Conservatory of Dance • classes held at DuPont Community Center • fees start at $55 a month
Teen Events and Programs • Dungeons & Dragons • Knitting Club • Teen League
Savvy Seniors • November 2024-February 2025 • Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1 p.m. • DuPont Community Center • meet new friends • board & card games • fun projects
Sign up for city news
You can sign up or city email lists on a variety of topics including parks and recreation, public works, and city council news. Sign up for City of DuPont newsletters and alerts here