Glenwood Community Access and Maintenance Agreements

This page explains, in plain English, how the Glenwood Homeowners Association (HOA) works, what the HOA fees are used for, and how the different private roads fit together. It is based on the recorded agreements that govern the community.

Overview

The Glenwood Homeowners Association was created in the early 1980s for a very specific purpose: to build, maintain, and manage a private bridge over Gales Creek and the main access road known as Glenwood Lane. Over time, additional private roads—Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, and NW Johansen Lane (recorded in 1983 as Roy Road)—were formally connected into this system through separate agreements.

The HOA exists primarily as a shared governing and enforcement body, while individual roads may have their own representatives for road-specific issues.

What the Glenwood HOA Is Responsible For

The Glenwood HOA was created by the Bridge Construction and Maintenance Agreement in 1981. Under that agreement, and later agreements that reference it, the HOA is responsible for:

Construction, repair, and long-term maintenance of the bridge over Gales Creek
Maintenance of Glenwood Lane, which is the primary access road leading to the bridge
Collecting annual assessments, transfer fees, and other required fees related to the bridge and Glenwood Lane
Managing liens, enforcement, arbitration, and dispute resolution related to these obligations

There is one common assessment that covers the bridge and Glenwood Lane. That single assessment is managed by the Glenwood HOA.

What HOA Fees Can Be Spent On

General Glenwood HOA fees may be used for:

Bridge inspection, repair, and maintenance
Glenwood Lane grading, repairs, drainage, and related upkeep
Administrative costs directly tied to managing those responsibilities

Those general HOA funds are not automatically intended to pay for repairs to every private road in the area.

How Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, and NW Johansen Lane Fit In

Beyond Glenwood Lane, three connector private roads each have recorded agreements that tie them into the broader Glenwood system. Grimmett Road is governed by a Private Roadway Agreement signed in 1983. Grover Lane has a 2001 agreement. NW Johansen Lane is governed by the 1983 Roy Road Private Roadway Agreement—the recorded instrument still says Roy Road, but the roadway was later renamed to NW Johansen Lane. It is the same road, not two separate agreements. In general, each agreement:

Establishes that road as a private roadway with shared access among benefited properties
Requires property owners on that road to pay their pro rata share of the actual cost of maintaining that road
Allows those owners to elect trustees to manage road-specific maintenance decisions
Connects the road legally to the Glenwood HOA for enforcement, liens, and dispute resolution

Importantly, the agreements make a clear distinction:

The shared Glenwood HOA assessment covers the bridge and Glenwood Lane only
Maintenance of Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, and NW Johansen Lane themselves is paid for by the owners on each respective road, not by the general HOA fund

These connector roads each serve a relatively small number of properties. Trustee groups are small as well, so in practice they often function more like working groups than large formal boards. Always read the recorded agreement for a specific road for exact procedures and obligations.

Is There One HOA or Multiple HOAs?

There is one main homeowners association: the Glenwood Homeowners Association.

However, the structure is layered:

Glenwood HOA serves as the central governing, banking, and enforcement body
Individual roads, including Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, and NW Johansen Lane, can elect their own trustees or representatives to manage road-specific issues

This means:

There is not a separate incorporated HOA for each of these connector roads
Trustees for Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, or NW Johansen Lane do not replace the Glenwood HOA
Road trustees may informally assign roles similar to a president or coordinator, but legal authority under the recorded agreements remains with the Glenwood HOA

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we have an HOA if this is a small rural area?

The HOA exists because the bridge and roads are private. The county does not maintain them. Without an HOA, there would be no clear way to collect funds, manage repairs, or enforce shared responsibilities.

Why do roads like Grimmett, Grover, and Johansen have trustees when they are so small?

The recorded agreements call for a simple governance structure on each private road so maintenance and cost sharing can be decided fairly. On short roads with few lots, trustees usually represent nearly everyone affected and act more like a working group than a large committee.

What happens if someone does not pay their share?

Under the agreements, the Glenwood HOA has authority to place a lien on the property and deny use of the bridge or roadway until payments are made.

Can the HOA change how funds are used?

Not unilaterally. The HOA is bound by the recorded agreements. Any long term change in how assessments are structured or spent would require agreement among affected property owners and updated documentation.

Do Glenwood homeowners have the right to use Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, or NW Johansen Lane?

Not automatically. Each of these is a private road governed by its own recorded agreement. Only properties specifically listed as benefitted under the agreement for that road have a legal right to use it for travel. Glenwood homeowners who are not owners on that particular road do not have an automatic right to use Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, or NW Johansen Lane by vehicle or on foot. Any casual use, such as walking or dog walking by others, is a neighborly courtesy rather than a legal right, and that permission may be withdrawn by the owners on that road.

Why does the Roy Road agreement still say Roy Road if the street is now NW Johansen Lane?

Recorded agreements keep the names used when they were signed. The 1983 instrument refers to Roy Road; county records later renamed that roadway to NW Johansen Lane. The legal obligations still apply to the same easement and benefited properties. A separate recorded rename document may exist; when we have a copy, it will be posted on the recorded instruments page.

What happens if an owner on one of these private roads invites someone to use the road and that person causes harm or damage?

When an owner on Grimmett Road, Grover Lane, or NW Johansen Lane invites or allows a guest, dog walker, or recreational user onto that road, that access is typically treated as permission granted by that owner. In those situations, responsibility generally follows the permission. If injury, property damage, or other harm occurs as a result of the invited use, the inviting owner may bear responsibility for their guest, rather than the Glenwood HOA or other owners on that road. For this reason, owners should be thoughtful about granting access, particularly for non-essential or recreational use.