Vision Statement
First Colony will be recognized as a vibrant mixed-use community in which to live, work, shop, and play, known for its natural beauty, architectural design integrity, amenities, recreational opportunities, cultural diversity and consistent deed restriction enforcement.
Mission Statement
The mission of First Colony Community Services Association is to provide quality leisure opportunities and amenities, to preserve the First Colony character, and to advocate for a unified First Colony while acting in a financially responsible manner.
A true master-planned community near southwest Houston located in Fort Bend County, First Colony has unsurpassed amenities and conveniences with a sense of family & community. First Colony is a unique blend of residential neighborhoods and businesses with protective architectural guidelines and meticulously maintained streets, lakes, parks, and greenbelts.
Beautifully landscaped and well maintained, First Colony offers a spectacle of tree lined streets, miles of walking paths, lush parks and lakes for truly unlimited recreational opportunities.
First Colony Community Services Association (FCCSA) has on-site management which allows members to receive prompt response to questions and closer interaction with staff and members. Members can contact staff members through personal visits, telephone or e-mail.
FCCSA Size
14,201 Voting Units | 80 Different Neighborhoods |
9,103 Single Family Residential Units | 784 Multi-Family Units |
6,628 in Sugar Land (73%) | 4,314 Non-Residential Units (retail, office, private schools, churches, etc.) |
2,475 in Missouri City (27%) |
Our Purpose
According to our Articles of Incorporation, we are obliged to do the following:
The purpose or purposes for which said Association is organized are the act as agent for the civic and social benefit and betterment of the residents and property owners of the First Colony Community in Fort Bend County, Texas. Those purposes being as follows:
- To exercise all of the powers and privileges and perform all of the duties and obligations of the Association as set forth in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions;
- To affix, levy collect and enforce payment by any lawful means, all charges or assessments pursuant to the terms of the Restrictions;
- To acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, own, hold, improve, build upon, operate, maintain, convey, sell, lease, transfer, dedicate for public use or otherwise dispose of real or personal property in connection with the affairs of this Association subject to the limitations set forth in the Restrictions;
- To borrow money, to mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any or all of its real or personal property as security for money borrowed or debts incurred subject to the limitations set forth in the Restrictions;
- To promote and provide recreational and other facilities for the residents and owners of said property;
- To provide any activity or service conducted for the mutual benefit of residents and owners as provided in the Restrictions and to have an to exercise any and all powers, rights and privileges which a corporation organized under the Non-Profit Corporation law of the State of Texas, by law may now or hereafter exercise
Board of Directors
The Board consists of 7 elected volunteer members service 3 year terms. The Boards main focus is:
- Outward vision rather than an internal preoccupation
- Encouragement of diversity in viewpoints
- Strategic leadership more than administrative detail
- Clear distinction of Association Board and staff roles
- Collective rather than individual decisions
- The future rather than the past and present
- Proactivity rather than reactivity
- Ensure that the Association operates in a fiscally sound and efficient manner
Accounting
The First Colony Accounting Department staff works with homeowners, business owners, volunteers, real estate agents, title companies, vendors, builders, developers, MUD Districts, teh cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City, and Fort Bend County.
Working With Members
- Relationship building with neighborhood representatives and members through service
- Assist Neighborhood Reps with their Neighborhood budgets (18 neighborhoods) and with Voluntary Contribution Funds (65 neighborhoods)
- Administer member payment plans
- Prepare maintenance quotes for member home and business property sales & refinancing
- Prepare resale certificates
- Prepare 60 Day letters for mortgage companies
- Record closing/owner information when a property is sold
- Help members resolve billing and other issues through the Billing Hotline
Reason for Existence
The Community Standards staff is charged with upholding this Amended & Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions of First colony. The entire staff is involved in treating each violation fairly (without any preferential treatment). Consistent monitoring and enforcement helps to ensure members are maintaining the highest property values possible for their homes. The goal will always be to preserve the aesthetic & architectural integrity of the community.
Community Standards Duties
Each inspector performs inspections in assigned neighborhoods (3000+ homes each) and in commercial areas using general inspection criteria. Together, the inspectors service a total of 10,025 single family homes, townhomes (including Plantation Settlement Subdivision) and 500 commercial properties.
The inspector not only follows up on deed restriction notices or violation letters; but also provides other services such as….
- Inputs all data into the computerized tracking system.
- Follows up on all complaints or member inquiries.
- Explains violations and/or provides information regarding First Colony’s deed restrictions and guidelines.
- Responds to member questions via email and telephone calls in a timely manner.
- Answers all correspondence.
- Meets with members on an as requested basis (either at their home or FCCSA office).
- Personally communicates with members to resolve difficult issues.
- Inspects homes that have been sold and issues the appropriate level of Certificate of Compliance.
- Delivers Welcome Packets to new members- in an effort to meet them and establish a rapport.
The Notice Process
1. A Deed Restriction Notice, or 1st letter, is sent when the non-compliance issue is first observed or reported. | 3. A 2nd letter is sent approximately 30- 45 days after the 1st if the original issue has not been cured. Member is advised to cure the violation within 30 days of the 2nd letter. |
2. Members that are in need of assistance are requested to contact us. Recently revised letters & guidelines have resulted in more friendly customer relations and fewer complaints. | 4. A 3rd letter is sent if the violation remains uncured. This letter informs the member that if the issue is not cured, they are invited to attend the hearing of the Covenants Committee regarding their violation. |
Responsibilities
Perform regularly scheduled inspections of all FCCSA assets | Work closely with surrounding entities |
Coordinates contractor work efforts | Assist with creation and implementation of departmental budgets |
Reserve projects | Working with homeowners and neighborhood reps |
General and Capital Repair projects | Assist other departments with special projects and events |
Work Order System Creation and maintenance | Administrative and record keeping duties |
Asset Redevelopment | Monitor and report on water usage |
G.I.S. Integration
A Geographic Information System (G.I.S.) integrates hardware, software and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. It allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many years. This data quickly reveals relationships, patterns and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports and charts.
FCCSA has a new GIS based work order and reporting app, LUKE. With LUKE, you can report any maintenance requests directly to FCCSA. LUKE additionally provides follow-up services to keep you informed on the status of your request. The app works with iPhone and Android. For more information and to download the free app, please visit http://www.getluke311.com.
General Assets | Recreation Amenities |
---|---|
5 Guard Houses | 10 Neighborhood Pools |
340 Electric Meters | 50 Meter Lap Pool |
Approximately 16 Miles of Fencing | 17 Park and Playground Locations |
Mailbox Pads and Bricked Mailbox Enclosures | 6 Tennis Courts |
FCCSA Office Building | 4 Volleyball Courts |
1,000 Ornamental Street Lights | Community Clubhouse |
124 Neighborhood Entrance Monuments and Lighting | Approximately 10 Miles of Sidewalks and Trails |
9 Lakes | Disc Golf Course |
6 Miles of Bulkhead | Boat House |
6 Private Streets and Access Control Gates | Docks and Fishing Piers |
Bocce Ball Courts | |
Horseshoe Pits |
Landscaping
The landscape staff oversees First Colony’s largest maintenance contracts utilizing numerous contractors and services, to maintain the vast amounts of landscaping throughout the community. Hedges, trees, and planting beds are groomed regularly to keep these areas free of unwanted vegetation and to obtain a uniform appearance. Soil and water is analyzed. Tree and plant health are evaluated regularly to ensure that an attractive and sustainable soft scape is achieved. Mowing services range from finely manicured landscape reserves to field mowing easements. As part of the neighborhood and matching fund programs, the landscape staff also coordinate seasonal color changes of planting beds as well as neighborhood entrance bed upgrades.
Census
750 Mile of Underground Irrigation Lines | Approx. 200 Computerized Irrigation Controllers |
Approx. 50,000 Irrigation Heads | 600 Acres of Common Area |
Approx. 45,000 Trees | Fire Ant Program |
5 Pump Stations | A Weather Station with 2 Repeaters |
165 Neighborhood Entrances and Boulevard Planting Beds
LED Lighting
In a continued effort to seek out new technologies that will effectively reduce operating costs, FCCSA evaluated the performance of LED (light-emitting diode) light fixtures. It was determined that there is a cost savings. When the monument lights need to be replaced, it will be done with the LED lights.
Residential Street Tree Pruning
In an effort to provide residents beautiful, uniformly and properly pruned street tree canopies that will comply with the City of Sugar Land ordinance and FCCSA guidelines. FCCSA prunes the residential street trees within the Association.
While the city of Missouri City does not have an ordinance regarding street tree pruning, FCCSA members residing in Missouri City fall under Association guidelines and will receive the same benefit from this service.
Volunteer Opportunities
Neighborhood Representative
Interested in getting to know your neighbors and community a little better? Then we have a job for you! Volunteer to be your Neighborhood’s Representative.
Neighborhood Representatives are a vital communication link between First Colony Community Services Association (FCCSA) and their neighborhoods… helping to create a sense of community. Representatives are elected annually by the property owners in their neighborhoods and serve a one-year term. Each separate neighborhood may have up to three elected Representatives that will attend Neighborhood Rep meetings (usually 4 per year) hosted by FCCSA and then share information from these meetings with their neighbors.
A representative can also:
- Plan and organize special neighborhood events (i.e. ice cream socials, national Night Out)
- Participate in the Welcome Wagon Program for new residents
- Oversee the use of neighborhood voluntary contribution
- Create a distribution email list for subdivision to help keep neighbors informed
- Participate in “Yard of the Month” program
Other Volunteer Committees
- Realtor Advisory Committee
- Communications Committee
- Property Improvement Committee
- Finance Committee
- Covenants Committee
Special Events
Other Events |
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Recreational & Aquatic Programs
FCCSA has many classes throughout the year for adults and children. Some of these include:
Art | Yoga | Fencing | Swim Lessons |
Martial Arts | Paddleboard Yoga | Kids Spanish Classes | Summer Camp for Kids |
Adult Fitness Classes | Tennis Lessons for Adults & Children |
And Much More!
Rental Facilities
Kayak Check-Out | Heritage Colony Clubhouse & Pool Rental |
The boathouse allows the association to bring additional recreation opportunities to Oyster Creek and Brooks Lake. The kayak checkout is open weekends from late April to late October. There is no post to checkout a kayak for FCCSA members. You must have a current FCCSA pool tag as proof of residency. Non-residents may checkout by purchasing a pass at the FCCSA office. | The Clubhouse is available for members to rent and is great for bridal showers, birthdays and much more, 40 people maximum. Also the newly renovated Heritage Colony pool is available for rental during the summer, which includes a grill and water volleyball. |
Aquatic Center
Lap Pool
Operates as a “Swim at your Own Risk” facility. Lifeguards are not on duty..
Used as a lap swimming/competitive pool
A pool key issued to residents with deposit (refundable when key is returned). Over 1,000 keys issued to date
Signed liability form required
First Colony Swim Team practices and holds meets at the year-round heated 50 meter pool.
Aquatic Center Lap Pool Hours
Mon-Sat: 5am – 10pm
Sun: 4pm – 10pm (closed in the morning for maintenance)
Leisure Pool
Beach Entry | Lazy River | Interactive Toys |
Waterslide | Vortex Pool | Splash Pad |