NAOS - Land Of Confusion?
Sincuidados is a distinctive, desert community. It is distinctive because we attempt to keep the Sonoran Desert environment by retaining as much of the desert landscape as possible. The City of Scottsdale also has an ongoing interest in preserving the unique qualities of the Sonoran Desert. This includes native vegetation, scenic corridors, animal habitats, boulder outcroppings and washes.

The Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) is designed to preserve the desert in its natural state. What is NAOS? It can be confusing. See common questions and answers below.
Q. What part of my property is considered NAOS?
A. The HOA rules state that ALL of your lot outside of the driveway, your home and privacy wall are considered NAOS – in the front and in the back. When homes are built here, the City requires a formal easement to be recorded, dedicating the NAOS to protect the native desert. The City can and will enforce compliance. The HOA is the first level of enforcement.

Q. I would like to make the front of my property look more attractive, surely that’s OK?
A. We understand this desire. However, Sincuidados was never intended to be a community of manicured front yards. It is a community designed so that homes are nestled into the completely natural, untouched Sonoran Desert. The NAOS rules strictly prohibit any such landscaping or manicuring.  

Q. I’m not clear about what I can and cannot do or where my true NAOS areas are. Can you help?
A. Yes. Please ask and a volunteer from our NAOS/Firewise committee will stop by and discuss this with you.

Q. Some parts of my front landscape are bare. May I plant native cacti?
A. Perhaps, but only after you have submitted a plan and received DRC approval.

Q. Why can’t I use pre-emergent spray? My landscaper says it's OK.
A. Pre-emergent sprays are strictly forbidden by City code. They will prevent the growth of native plants. Your landscaper is misinformed.

Q. I have seen several other homes in Sincuidados with manicured front yards. What is happening with those?
A. All lots with NAOS violations that come to our attention are being addressed. In some cases, re-vegetation is necessary. Unfortunately, the damage to NAOS can take years to recover.

Q. I would like to implement a fire defensive barrier by removing certain plants and trimming certain trees, but I am confused as to what I can and cannot do. Can you help?
A. Our volunteers are very familiar with what is allowed in creating a fire defensive zone. A volunteer will be happy to come to your property to explain the rules.  

Q. Where can I learn more about NAOS?
A. The NAOS rules are clearly called out in our CC&Rs, Association Rules and Design Guidelines on our website (https://sincuidados.org/documents/). The City of Scottsdale also has information on its website (https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Building/Guide-NAOS.pdf).
Sincuidados Snippets
The perimeter wall is complete. 

The Board of Directors voted to approve the preliminary vision of a master landscaping plan for the community's common areas. This is known as the Streetscape Plan. The plan will update the look and feel of the community’s street frontages, entrances, islands and clubhouse area with a consistent natural desert look. Although these areas are HOA-owned common areas and are not part of the NAOS, the Streetscape Plan is intended to upgrade and provide a transition to blend these areas into the desert to re-enforce the community's identity as a natural open space community. The Board will present the plan to the community, and homeowners will be able to provide feedback before work begins on areas. "We've yet to see what the community thinks about this vision," said Board President Keith Prettyjohns. "There's going to be a formal presentation. We will then listen to the feedback."

The Board also voted to change the existing decomposed granite (DG) specification in the design guidelines and association rules to reflect the recommended DG mix specified in the draft Streetscape Plan. This new DG mix is now the only DG that will be approved by the DRC going forward.

To prevent deliveries from arriving at the incorrect houses, the Board also asks homeowners to consider, when possible, to provide the address 30600 N Pima Road for deliveries.
Rules To Work By
Fire officials expect this year’s wildfire season to be similar to 2020, when over 2,520 fires burned across Arizona. Dry vegetation can act as fuel for wildfires, and due to our persistent lack of rain, there is plenty of this vegetation around Sincuidados.

More than 80 percent of wildfires are human-caused, and around communities such as ours, spark-generating tools can present a real danger. To address this risk our HOA’s Board of Directors has recently approved some common sense rules to be followed by any contractor, tradesperson or landscaper working in Sincuidados.

  1. NO SMOKING is allowed outside of any lot’s building envelope or privacy wall.
  2. No cigarette butts or matches may be thrown on the ground or in the street.
  3. All smoking materials must be disposed of properly in a fireproof container.
  4. Cooking stoves or grills with an open flame are not allowed.
  5. The use of welding, metal cutting, or other spark-generating tools require a hose and water source be immediately available.
  6. No double parking or blocking access for firefighting equipment is allowed.

Our Gate Hosts are distributing flyers to all contractors entering our community outlining these rules. To keep our community as safe as possible, all residents are asked to assist with this effort by communicating these rules to their contractors and other service providers and ensuring they are consistently followed.

We appreciate your help in keeping Sincuidados safe from fire!

FireWise Tip: Remove leaf litter from your rooftop and rain gutters which can provide fuel to embers blown from more distant fires.
Baby, What A Big Surprise!
Sincuidados homeowner and professional wildlife photographer Laurel Strohmeyer shares this photo and video of Great Horned owls Peaky, Bella and their nestlings. Laurel said, "Welcome our newest residents. Please be kind to them and our beautiful planet by refraining from the use of rodenticides which poison the entire food chain and would kill a family of Raptors with one poisoned mouse. Instead consider letting Mother Nature do its job." Click here to watch the video.
Dire Snakes
Twice this month, dogs encountered rattlesnakes in a Sincuidados backyard. The dogs are OK. Someone returned the snakes back to the desert. Here are pictures of the snakes.
Have a meaningful Memorial Day.
Please obey our speed limits.
Did you add a profile picture on the new website?
Missing Links? Click Here!
Have an idea for The Sincuidados Scoop? Please contact Keith Yaskin.