Terra Bella Community Association

Unlike some of the people who live here, my «experience» at Terra Bella has not been that positive. I am not sure where to begin, but I guess I can start with the fact that owners pay both the Terra Bella HOA fees AND the North Park HOA fees, yet when you call security for any type of help, they tell me, and I quote, «Our supervisors told us not to do anything regarding Terra Bella Residents.» This includes calling regarding the lock on the gate being completely removed and kids coming into the community from the trail and smoking drugs near our deck or cars that have been parked in the same spots for over a month with flat tires. «Call the Terra Bella Property Company,» they say.
It also includes the constant, non-​stop barking of dogs in the community. The barking in one building in particular will go on for HOURS. The stench that fills the hallway of the common area permeates the residences and produces a fowl stench which is barely being masked by some electric air fresheners. At this point, they are so clogged with dog fur that never gets cleaned up, that they aren’t doing much to mask the odor anymore.
The hallway carpet hasn’t been cleaned in over a year. The walls haven’t been painted for at least 5 years. Add an owner who doesn’t care about well-​being of those living around her and you get a stinky, loud, mess.
In addition, there are dog feces everywhere around the property… and it’s the same LARGE dog. The HOA knows about the problem, yet nothing is being done about it for YEARS. This goes right down to their being feces in front of garage doors. PICK UP YOUR DOG CRAP! So gross and toxic! And visually, it’s just awful. It’s like saying, «I don’t care!» And then laughing at everyone who lives around you.
This past Saturday, it came down to a car alarm that was going off every 15 minutes for over 5 hours. I call security and Richard tells me there’s nothing he can do about it until a patrol car arrives, which wasn’t for 2 hours. He tells me I should go up to all the residences doors and tell them to turn off their car alarm. Totally makes sense… randomly knocking on doors. I and other neighbors just stood there helpless. If the owner was home, don’t you think they would have come outside and turned off their alarm? You can’t call the owner if I give you the plate number? Thanks for ruining my Saturday! And thanks for your help, Richard. Good thing there wasn’t a real issue that required security. And FYI, you’re like a toll booth worker. That’s it. Not security. You aren’t protecting anything or helping anyone.
Look, all I can say is I feel for the people who are buying these units and falling into a trap. I had considered buying when I first moved in, until I saw how poorly the common areas are maintained and how owners are allowed to do whatever they want, regardless of how it impacts their neighbors or goes against HOA rules. It’s really sad because the place has great potential, but for units that run anywhere from $ 350−485K, there is no way I would ever recommend buying one of these. We pay a lot of money to live in this community, and it is sad that they aren’t doing anything to help the residents and allow them to co-​exist.

I am one of the original owners and my opinion of Terra Bella has fluctuated over the years, depending on how crazy the crazy lady behaves (we have a few), how extreme the Board rules on issues (and I too was on the Board), how rude some people are, or how little space there is because people are hoarding unnecessary junk in their garages. But the bottom line is that as of my writing this review, all things are great in Terra Bella.
We have an excellent Board of volunteers who are dedicated to keeping our association dues minimized and there has not been a massive increase since one of the more radical members left the Board, while maintaining the properties in the best shape possible. We have the most mature landscaping and our own pool within the master association of Northpark, which means that we have full access to all of Northpark amenities and our own if we want to stay close to the house. We have our own access to a locked bike path and secured mailboxes.
Though more and more owners are renting out their spaces, there’s a good mix of renters (and some great people too) and owners.
Just one word of advice to our owners planning on renting out their units — tell renters where the sprinkler shut off valve is at to save your property and the fines you will be assessed for damages (it’s at the corner where tandem and double garages meet… under the red bell).