It’s More Than Living... It’s A Lifestyle!

Resident Ambassadors Share the SCOV Lifestyle with Prospective Residents

by Robin Coulter

Sun City Oro Valley was built by developer Del Webb. He brought the concept of active adult living to the undeveloped northern portion of Oro Valley. Sun City Vistoso was the first residential development in Rancho Vistoso, and the adventure began. As the area was built out, Del Webb turned over the HOA to be self-managed, taking the sales team along with him. So the new Association began its own marketing program with resident Ambassadors providing tours to potential residents. The tour wasn’t to sell the homes, but to sell the lifestyle of active living.

The first Ambassador tours began as walking tours in the mid-2000s by resident Marge Roetzel. She would walk the main campus including the Artisan Center and gym. Nancy Sweeney enhanced the tours by taking prospective residents in her four-seat golf cart so they could go out on the golf course, to the Desert Oasis and to Catalina Vista. A six-seat cart was purchased around 2014 when Lou Gard took the helm of the program. Lou has served in this position for the past nine years and will pass the torch of leadership to Chris Ludwig this month. We are fortunate with the longevity of our leadership. It has provided stability and development opportunities for the program. There are more than 30 residents participating in the Ambassador program today.

The Ambassador cart now has fun branding; it’s a sleek e-cart, and the twice daily tours are scheduled online for showing prospective residents the SCOV lifestyle. A potential resident receives information about SCOV, a Tipster, and they walk through the Library, the genealogy lab, the technology lab, Fitness Center, pickleball courts, Artisan Center and Activity Center. The cart takes visitors outside to see the AFC pool and the gorgeous views from that location, then drives down to tee #1 to see the vast mountain views from that spot. Next, they walk through the bustling restaurant and onto the terrace.

The driving tour continues to Sun City Blvd., with a walk through Desert Oasis and an explanation of the activities at that location. From there, the tour continues onto Lost Arrow Dr. and Del Webb Blvd. with a walk through Catalina Vista and an explanation of the various activities there.

The tour concludes at the Welcome Center. If a visitor requests information concerning a realtor, they are referred to the Tipster where many realtors advertise.

Quite often, residents will stop the cart or comment during a walk to inform the visitors just how much they like living in SCOV and the friendliness of this community. Often residents who have purchased a home without having first taken a tour will request one after relocating. rcoulter@suncityorovalley.com

The Ambassadors serve the community in other ways as well. During the Arts & Crafts Festival, they transport visitors from lower parking lots and act as greeters.

In 2022, the Ambassadors gave 305 tours and 26% of visitors who took tours purchased homes in SCOV. Ninety-eight visitors wrote reviews scoring 4.9 average out of 5.

The goal of the Ambassador program is to make visitors feel welcome, emphasize the abundance of amenities, point out activities and clubs that are available in SCOV and present as much information as possible. The next person you see on an Ambassador tour could be your new neighbor.

520-917-8070

SCOV–An Age-Restricted Community

What does that really mean...an age-restricted community? For SCOV it means a few things. First, the Fair Housing Act and Housing for Older Persons Act 1995 (HOPA) must be adhered to. The Fair Housing Act specifically exempts three types of housing for older persons from liability for familial status discrimination. Such exempt housing communities can lawfully refuse to sell or rent dwellings to families with minor children only if they qualify for the exemption. In order to qualify for the HOPA exemption, a facility or community must comply with exemption requirements. There are three types of exemptions; ours is intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older, which is the most common use of the exemption.

A community must have at least 80% of the units with at least one occupant 55 years of age or older, and they must publish and adhere to policies and procedures that demonstrate the intent to operate as “55 or older” housing, and the community must comply with HUD’s regulatory requirement for age verification of residents. The HOPA exemption does not protect such housing communities from housing discrimination liability because of race, color, religion, sex, disability or national origin.

The SCOV governing documents further address age restrictions in the Master Declaration, Section 4.25 where the Association required at least one person who is 45 years of age and at least 85% of the Lots occupied by those 55 and older. In other words, 15% can be 45 years of age and older.

So, how are ages tracked? The law requires a census to be taken every two years. SCOV does this on odd years, so this is the year of the census. In June, an Age Verification Form will be in your annual mailing with your dues invoice. This is to be filled out and returned to SCOV in the envelope provided. By your completing this form, SCOV can demonstrate it meets the requirements for age-restricted communities. Also, after the forms are received and entered in a database, there will be a good demographic picture of our community. So, thank you in advance for filling out this form and watch “This Week in SCOV” for information on the results from the census.

Lifestyle Coordinator - Brenda Puzzele-Stoltz

bpuzzele-stoltz@suncityorovalley.com

520-917-8077

There are two fun activities for May. Get your tickets now for the Rob Resetar Quintet with Sheryl Ann McKinley on Wednesday, May 24, 6 PM, Auditorium. Sheryl brings to life hits by Ray Charles, Petula Clark and Burt Bacharach and is backed up by five of Tucson’s most talented musicians. Members of the band have composed and played on major television shows and for orchestras around the country. Tickets, $15 pp, are available on the website under Member Services > Tickets.

The second event SCOV is hosting is a free car show for our community on Sunday, May 7, Noon-3 PM, in the parking lot between Rancho Vistoso Blvd. and the tennis courts. There will be music, and don’t forget to try your luck at the raffle table. To participate, please email Brenda, the Lifestyle Coordinator at bpuzzele-stoltz@suncityorovalley.com and reserve your spot today. Willy’s Philly’s Cheesesteak Sandwiches will be here. The food is delicious, and seating will be provided. The menu options include Willy’s Philly steak sandwich, fries, coleslaw, potato salad and drinks. Come on by for lunch or a quick snack.

Revised SCOV Development Standards

On March 28, 2023, the SCOV Board voted to approve the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) suggested changes to our Development Standards.

Please destroy any old copies of the Development Standards that you might have, and go to our website to read the revised Standards. After you sign into the website go to Members > Documents > Development Standards. You may also pick up a paper copy at our Welcome Center.

One of the changes is a new palette of 21 exterior paint schemes and the addition of several optional southwest front entry door and security door colors. Security doors adjacent to front entry doors may now be painted the same southwest color as the front entry door. Most of the body colors have been held over with new trim colors. Only one house trim color is now allowed in addition to an optional southwest front entry door color. Ornamental iron fencing Specifications are now included in Appendix B.

It is important for residents to be up-to-date regarding the governing documents, especially if they are contemplating making any changes or additions to the exterior of their property. A good rule-of-thumb is that anytime you want to change the exterior of the property, it usually takes some kind of HOA approval–even in the backyards. If after your review of the revised Development Standards you have any questions, please feel free to contact Katy Mosier, Architectural Coordinator.

Keeping Your Resident File Up-to-Date

Sun City Oro Valley