School District :	Plano ISD
Parks/Recreation :	Breckinridge Park Sherrill Park Crowley Park Huffhines Recreation Center Richardson Department of Recreation
Golf Courses :	Firewheel Pecan Hollow
Entertainment/Culture :	ArtCentre, Southfork Ranch, Fairview Farms, Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, Heritage Farmstead, Interurban Railway Station Museum
Medical :	Baylor Medical Center Columbia Medical Center of Plano
Shopping :	Fire Wheel Mall Collin Creek Mall Plano Market Center Stonebriar Mall Allen Outlet Mall
Churches :	First Presbyterian Church of Christ Heights Baptist St. Joseph Catholic
Nearby Freeways :	George Bush Turnpike (190) Hwy 75, I-635
Direction / Map :	From 75/Central, go east on Renner Road, south on Northstar, and left onto Heather Ridge Drive.  Mapsco 9A-J

 Sales Taxes (enter Richardson, Collin)

Local Schools

The following list contains schools that are utilized by students from our neighborhood as well as the local colleges. For a complete list of schools in our district please visit the Plano Independent School District website at http://www.pisd.edu 

Stinson Elementary School (--5th)
(Grades Kindergarten – 5th)
4201 Greenfield Drive
Richardson, TX  75082
(469) 752-3400

Murphy Middle School (6th-8th)
620 N. Murphy Rd.
Murphy, TX  75094
(469) 752-7000 

Williams High School (9th-10th)
1717 17th Street
Plano, TX 75074
(469) 752-8300

Plano East Senior High School (11th-12th)
3000 Los Rios Boulevard
Plano, TX  75074
(469) 752-9000  

Builders:

- Sutherby Home
- Sovereign Homes
- Huntington

Number of homes:
154 - build-out completed 2000
Map of Neighborhood

General Home Requirements:
Floor Area - minimun 1800sqft
Brick - minimum 75%
Mailboxes - Standard approved construction
Trees - minimum two (2) two-inch trees, 8 shrubs

Yes!  Here are some things you can do....block by block… resident by resident

Maintain a visible presence; keep watch on homes, and those walking or driving through neighborhood.

• Walk and/or bike the neighborhood

• Sit in your front yard

• Do things outside in the yard

• Keep in touch with neighbors and watch each others homes and kids

• Call police at sign of any suspicious person, vehicle, activity or concern (dispatch keeps history)

Improve Home Exterior/Interior

• Keep front outside lights on at night (on/off sensor may be used)

• Turn some interior lights on at night when not home (timer if needed)

• Keep garage door(s) closed/locked (when not in garage) Keep fence and shed gates closed/locked and repaired

• Keep vehicle doors, windows, and trunks closed and locked

• Put vehicles in garage if possible Keep all home doors/windows closed/locked, especially when not home (install window/sliding door locks/pins and fix broken windows/screens/shutters)

• Keep yard, driveway, sidewalk, and porch well-kept

• Do not leave property outside such as tools, bikes, toys, etc.

• Keep yards mowed, bushes trimmed, trees trimmed, homes well painted, and fences repaired

• Do a home security survey and do what it recommends (allows for insurance discount)A home/block with well-kept exterior/landscaping, adequate lighting, fencing, and guard dogs are all crime prevention tools that make a difference.

There are several multi-use trails – the major trails are:

1.  Breckinridge Trail
2.  Spring Creek Trail at Spring Creek Nature Area
3.  List of ALL Park Trails & description

The Richardson Parks & Recreation Department has created a handy, pocket-size guide to the City's 40-plus mile trail system.   The guide includes the master plan map of existing and planned trails.    Maps are available in the Water Customer Service room at City Hall, and at Heights and Huffhines Recreation center.

The existing multi-use trails are 8 to 12 feet wide and can accommodate walkers and bicyclers, but are not always suited for fast bicycling.  Remember to stay to the right and be courteous to others enjoying the trail system. 

You can also download the map HERE.

• Painting the exterior of your home (same color does not require approval)
• Addition to your home
• Fences
• Permanent planting or landscaping having a significant visual impact (annual flowers do not require authorization)
• Deck, patio, any concrete flatwork on the exterior of your home or on your property
• Roof or overhead structure of any type, including arbors and car ports
• Large Ponds deeper than 18"
• Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs, whether in-ground or above ground.

Quality of workmanship, materials, and structural design;

The conformity and harmony of the external design, color, type and appearance of exterior surfaces and landscaping in relation to the various parts of the proposed improvements and in relation to improvements on other lots;  

The Richardson City Council recently passed an ordinance that addresses overgrown/unkempt landscape and vegetation at residential properties. The Neighborhood Integrity Office receives a growing number of complaints regarding the unsafe, unhealthy and/or unsightly landscaping at residences. Multi-family homes, office and retail properties are currently held accountable through the City's Code of Ordinances, but similar codes or ordinances don't exist for single-family properties until now. As a result of the lack of an ordinance, some property owners have allowed their landscaping to remain in a dead, dying or uncultivated state without being cited by Neighborhood Integrity. "This ordinance provides the legal basis by which Neighborhood Integrity can require owners to bring their properties into compliance," Don Magner, Assistant Building Official-Field Operations, said. The ordinance is aimed at properties that are continuously left in a poor state of maintenance. The Neighborhood Integrity staff will attempt to provide volunteer assistance to owners who because of age, disability or other hardship cannot adequately maintain their property. Contact the Neighborhood Integrity Office at 972-744-4166 to report a home that may not comply with this new ordinance.

Ordinance Provisions
An owner, occupant, or person in charge of any private premises commits an offense if the person:

(a) fails to maintain the landscaping and any vegetation, including, but not limited to trees, grass, shrubbery, bushes, and vines on the premises, in a neat and orderly manner, and healthy condition;

(b) allows the landscaping and any vegetation, including but not limited to trees, shrubbery, bushes and vines to grow on the premises so as to physically obstruct the doors or windows of any structure on the premises so as to prevent ingress or egress from the structure(s) or to project across or obstruct any sidewalk, driveway, alley or street;

(c) fails to mow, edge, prune, fertilize, water, weed and conduct other such activities common to the maintenance of landscaping in a neat, orderly manner and healthy condition;

(d) fails to keep landscaped areas free of trash, litter, weeds and other such material or plants not a part of the landscaping;

(e) fails to maintain plant materials in a healthy and growing condition as is appropriate for the season of the year; or

(f) fails to replace or remove plant materials which die.

Neighborhood Integrity Program - What every Heather Ridge Estate’s resident needs to know

The City of Richardson Neighborhood Integrity Program was created to help maintain property values and neighborhood desirability and to encourage revitalization. This takes a concerted effort from all of Heather Ridge Estates (HRE) residents. By working together, we can help keep HRE an attractive, healthy, and safe place to live.  Over the years, minimum property maintenance standards have been established to help realize this goal.

A Guide to Common Code Violations

Ordinance on Oversized Vehicles & Trailers
Under the new rules, motor vehicles, vans, buses, trucks and there similar vehicles are prohibited in residential neighborhoods if they are greater than 23 feet in length, eight feet in width or 10 feet in height.   Tow-trucks, dump trucks, concrete mixing trucks,semi-tractors and other similar vehicles are prohibited entirely, regardless of size. The new rules do not apply to vehicles that are in a neighborhood for loading or unloading passengers, freight or merchandise; permitted recreational vehicles; or vehicles used in the operation of a school, childcare center, assisted living center, etc. 

Trailers

The new rules permit trailers to be parked in residential neighborhoods so long as they are screened from adjacent streets. The rules prohibit, however, the parking of trailers on vacant property, within the front yard between any front building wall and the street, or in the side yard between the side building wall and the street on corner lots. Trailers may be parked in a side or rear yard of a residence as long as they are screened from the adjacent street by a six-foot wooden fence or a landscaping screen wall. Once again, the new rules do not apply to vehicles loading or unloading passengers, freight or merchandise; permitted recreational vehicles; or vehicles used in the operation of a school, childcare center, assisted living facility, etc. For detailed information on each of these new ordinances, please contact Neighborhood Services at 972-744-4166

Address Numbers
To enable the Police and Fire Departments to respond quickly to emergency calls, address numbers must be posted so that they are clearly visible from the street and alley. Numbers must be posted on the curb or curbside mailbox and on the front and back of a residence on the home, garage, fence, or other structure between 3 and 10 feet off the ground. Address numbers must be a minimum of 3 inches high so that they are easily seen.

High Grass and Weeds
Residents are responsible for maintaining the grass and weeds at their property, including all adjacent parkways and alley easements. Grass and weeds are in violation when they reach a height of 12 inches.

Vegetation
Trees, bushes and other vegetation must be kept trimmed 7 feet above sidewalks, 14 feet above streets and alleys, and 1 foot back from the alley pavement. All vegetation should also be kept trimmed so that it does not obstruct the view of motorists or pedestrians using public streets and alleys.

Fences
Residents are responsible for maintaining the fence around their property. Fences should be maintained so that they do not lean severely and are not missing slats or sections. New fences or significant replacement of existing fences require a permit. Call the Building Inspection Department at 972-744-4180 for more information.

Open Storage
Open storage is defined as the placement of an item that is not customarily used or stored outside, or that is made of a material that is not weather resistant in an unenclosed outdoor area for more than 24 continuous hours.

Open storage is prohibited in the front yard, on a front porch, under a carport, or any other unenclosed area. All items stored outdoors must be screened from adjacent properties, streets and alleys by a 6-foot, solid wooden fence. Outside storage is limited to one percent of a residential lot.

Trash and Debris
Residents are responsible for ensuring their property, including all adjacent parkways and alley easements, is free of litter and debris. This includes not placing trash out for collection on non-collection days. To ensure timely collection, trash should be placed out before 7:00 am on collection days only.

Brush and Bulky Item Collection
Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) is a free service offered to Richardson residents. The service is designed to help residents dispose of large amounts of brush and oversized items like unwanted appliances and furniture that cannot be placed out for regular trash collection. Residents must request BABIC service prior to placing an item on the parkway for collection.

Requests for brush or bulky item collection service can be made 24-hours a day, 7-days a week by leaving a voice-mail message at (972) 744-4111 or by Clicking Here to request form.

If you wish to dispose of (rather than recycle) small bundles of branches, they should be cut to 3-foot lengths and placed out for regular trash collection.

Minimum Property Standards
Residents are responsible for maintaining homes and businesses by keeping the exterior (brick, wood, siding, roof, windows, doors, etc.) free of holes and other defects. All wood surfaces must be painted and in good condition.

Home Occupations/Garage Sales
Home businesses are permitted in Richardson so long as they are incidental to the primary use of the premises. If you want to operate a business from your home, please contact Neighborhood Services to ensure your business does not violate the home occupation ordinance.

A residence may conduct up to three garage sales per year. Each sale may last no longer than three consecutive days.

Yard Parking
Residents may not park vehicles on grass between a front building wall and the street, or between a side building wall and the street on corner lots. In addition, vehicles may not be parked on vacant or unimproved lots.

Junk Vehicles
Junked vehicles, which are vehicles that are wrecked, dismantled or inoperable and do not have a current registration or safety inspection sticker, cannot be parked in public view.

Graffiti
The City of Richardson works with concerned residents and business-owners to locate, report and remove graffiti from public and private property. Through the Graffiti Abatement Program graffiti is promptly and persistently removed at no cost to the resident or business owner. To learn more about this free program please click on the link above or call 972-744-4166.

How you can help
Neighborhood Services is committed to working closely with residents to keep neighborhoods looking their best! In addition to code enforcement, Neighborhood Services has programs designed to get residents involved and keep them informed.

Volunteer Assistance Program
The purpose of the Volunteer Assistance Program is to unite owners who cannot properly maintain their property due to age, finance or disability with volunteer groups who wish to provide assistance. Neighborhood Services provides the expertise and experience needed during planning, implementing and evaluating stages of each volunteer project.

If you are interested in volunteering or know someone who would benefit from this service, please contact Neighborhood Services by Clicking Here or calling the 972-744-4166.

Email Update Program
The purpose of the Email Update Program is to encourage communication between residents and Neighborhood Services so that information about ongoing code enforcement activity can be shared on a regular basis. Residents who register for the program receive an email every other week detailing code enforcement activity in their neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to contact staff with questions and to report possible violations that are not listed.

To join an existing Email Update Program or to start a program in your neighborhood, please contact Neighborhood Services by Clicking Here or calling the 972-744-4166.

What You Can Do – we need your help!
With the help and cooperation of HRE residents, we can maintain attractive, healthy, and safe neighborhood and ensure that HRE remains a community in which we are proud to live.

·        Take pride in your neighborhood.

·        Get involved and get to know your neighbors.

·        Lead by example and keep your property violation free.

·        Report violations to Neighborhood Services

Neighborhood Services Purpose

The mission of Neighborhood Services is to protect the vitality and integrity of Richardson by creating healthy neighborhoods through proactive yet fair and reasonable enforcement of codes and ordinances, by providing support and resources to residents’ efforts to organize and positively affect their community, and by partnering with residents to put into action enhancement strategies that help realize a shared community vision.

Questions

If you have any questions or comments, please call Neighborhood Integrity at 972-744-4166. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents want to keep our neighborhood nice and our property value rising.  The HOA Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restriction (located in the Documents area) helps provide the legal enforcement if someone fails to comply with these restrictions.

Here a quick guide to common HOA restrictions.  

• Single Family Use only – your property may be occupied by on one family related by blood, adoption or marriage (Article IV-a).
• No boats, RV, campers, etc may be parked for storage around your property (Article IV-b).
• No 1.5 ton commercial vehicles are permitted to park overnight around your property (Article IV-c).
• No antennas, satellite dishes, etc are permitted without ACC approval (Article IV-n).
• No fence or plants should obstruct the line of sight around corner lots for safety (Article IV-p).

If you have any questions about our properties, please contact the Board.

Many people do not mind solicitors posting flyers about services on there door. Door-to-door solicitors have the right to do so as long as they follow the City of Richardson ordinance properly

1. Businesses are required to obtain a permit, which must be displayed at all times during solicitation.
2. Schools and charitable organizations are also required to have permits.
3. Permit holder may solicit door to door Mon-Sat from 9AM to ½ hour before sunset.
4. Permit holder can only attach hand-bills to door using a rubber band. (Tape of any kind is not allowed.)
5. The name of the commercial handbill distributor must be clearly printed on the flyer.

If you do not want to be solicited, Post a “No Solicitations” sign near the front entry.

Please report violations immediately to – 972-744-4800

Additional FAQ information below:

Do I need a permit to distribute handbills/flyers?
Yes.  Effective June 1, 2006 Ordinance No. 3544 (Solicitation Ordinance) now includes the requirement to obtain a permit to distribute handbills, flyers or other advertisement.

What is the fee for a solicitors or handbill distribution permit?
Permits fees are a $35 non-refundable application fee plus $10 per person. Approved applicants will receive a permit card that must be displayed at all times during the solicitation.

Where do I go to get a permit?
Permits can be obtained from the Richardson Police Department,