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4 <br /> <br />• Lack of systemic watering is resulting in the death of some valuable larger <br />species <br />• Labels are falling off plants <br />• Though there has been some mowing of larger areas between plants, no <br />mulching not basic plant care has occurred… <br />• Rare species have been removed to make way for commercial activities, e.g.: a <br />turnaround in the driveway, the veranda <br />• The King-Garrett house has become an Airbnb <br /> <br />It appears that available resources have been diverted from the arboretum to these <br />commercial activities. The arboretum has been badly neglected and it shows. It is no <br />longer a place where I would be proud to have my horticultural colleagues visit. <br /> <br />Elise Alexander read the following comments: <br /> <br />Hello, <br />My name is Elise Alexander, and I am an adjoining landowner to the Keith Arboretum. I <br />am also the HOA representative for the Brights Way Residential community that also <br />adjoins the arboretum. <br /> <br />Thank you for all of your diligent work. <br /> <br />I would like to make three points. <br /> <br />FIRST: <br />Residential communities surround the Keith Arboretum. I would like to make it clear that <br />it was only with the realization that open fires were permitted on any location on the 220 <br />acres of the Keith Arboretum and the Pickfords Forest that the Brights Way HOA <br />representatives requested to meet with the property owners. I quote from the emails <br />from February 5, 2017: <br /> <br />Request: <br />“What would be a good time to meet this week. The Brights Way HOA has some <br />questions/concerns regarding ROMR camping/camp fires. We would be happy to meet <br />you on site. Please me via email options. Thanks.” <br /> <br />Reply: <br />“Please put your concerns in writing. The 220 acres I own is a farm. People burn wood. <br />And they will camp on the land. That will not change. I do not ask my neighbors when <br />and how they burn wood or allow campers on their land, and the fact that you would <br />question camping and burning wood on my land is baffling to me.” <br /> <br />These comments and multiple negative interactions over the years have created <br />community mistrust. We are not skeptical of policies going forward. <br /> <br />SECOND: <br />The Keith Arboretum incorporates 2 lots of the Brights Way residential community. The <br />Brights Way Covenants, Article V, Section 2, states that, “ No lot shall be used except for <br />residential purposes.” Section 13 of Article V further provides that, “No noxious or <br />offensive activity shall be carried on upon any lot, nor shall anything be done thereon