The 411 on Snow Removal
Who removes the snow?
One of the tricky concepts to learn in a Colorado master-planned community is who is responsible for snow removal and where their responsibility starts and ends.
Snow removal is a community collaboration that includes homeowners, the Kinston Community Association (KCA), the Kinston Metro District (KMD or District), and the City of Loveland. Also, there are two special service areas (SSAs) within Kinston, where specific lots contribute to a separate budget for additional snow removal services.
Here’s how it breaks down:
The City of Loveland
If you are new to Colorado, it may surprise you to wake up on a snowy morning to see your street isn’t plowed. On the Front Range, cities do not typically clear snow from every street. For budgetary reasons, they only clear priority streets after most snowstorms.
The city, also, restricts private vendors from doing snow removal on public city streets.
If you’d like to learn more about the city’s snow removal plan and which streets are priorities, check out their “Snow Operations” page.
The District
The District is responsible for removing snow from sidewalks and parking areas located on its property. At Kinston, the District has outsourced these services to the KCA to implement and manage, but they reimburse the association for all related expenses.
For common area sidewalks, two inches is the normal trigger depth, and snow removal, typically, starts shortly after the storm ends.
KCA
The association currently manages snow removal on district property on their behalf. This includes pedestrian sidewalks, pocket-park areas, and the parking lot at the Hub. The trigger depth is 2″ post-storm, and quality control inspections typically occur the day after the storm.
If you notice an areas that was missed, submit a Community Concern form so we may track the issue through resolution with the vendor.
Homeowners & SSAs
- Single-Family Homes (No SSA)
You are responsible for your driveway/apron and the sidewalks bordering your property. (The apron is the “short driveway” or area between a garage door and the adjacent alleyway.)
The city code requires prompt removal of snow within 24 hours, which allows friends and neighbors of all ages to walk through the community safely.
Offering to help a neighbor remove snow can be one of the easiest ways to meet neighbors and plant seeds for experiencing true community.
- Metro District Public Drive SSA
SSA (managed by KCA) | They remove snow on metro district public drives that typically provide access to homes with rear-load garages (i.e. – alleyways). These homes pay an additional limited assessment, since this service only benefits them. Removal occurs on asphalt drives only.
Homeowner | Residents are responsible for the small drive apron between the garage door and asphalt drive.
- Cluster Drives SSA
SSA (managed by KCA) | One of the home styles at Kinston is comprised of six houses “clustered” around a common driveway. When the 2″ trigger depth is met, the SSA’s vendor will remove snow from the common driveway for these homes, plus their private drives — if no vehicles are present.
These homeowners pay an additional limited assessment for this service, and removal, typically, begins within a few hours of a storm ending.
