Thank you to all who attended and voted for the Proposed ByLaws Amendment.
In review, the primary purpose of this amendment was to place the Architectural Review Committee (ARC)—currently a stand-alone committee— under the supervision of the Board of Directors (BOD). Other changes included: creating a flexible BOD size, Officers and succession planning, an increase in the BOD spending authority, and modernizing governance language.
Corona Highlands is a special place – not because of an organization—but because of the people who care enough to participate in it. The Association is simply a tool.
Its strength depends entirely on the willingness of its members to support it, engage with it, and help guide it forward. I also want to acknowledge something that often goes unseen:
This is a volunteer Board. The time commitment is significant, and the work is often complex – ranging from legal interpretation to financial coordination to direct engagement with homeowners, developers, and outside entities.
This is done not for compensation but because we believe in…protecting this community’s property values for current and future homeowners. We invite that participation from all of you..not just your dues.
Shorecliffs Beach Gate Update Information to Share…
We found a 1960 dated agreement in the archives that was previously amenable to some cost maintenance sharing on the gate by the former CHPOA administration. In our opinion, ingress and egress maintenance has been significantly expanded over the years to include: landscaping, insurance, property management fees, beach cleaning, capital improvements (upgrades vs. repairs), security enhancements, administrative overhead, and reserve funding for future projects. Research shows that these costs are not typically considered reasonable maintenance chargeable to easement holders. For that The CHPOA ‘Highlander’ May 2026 reason, we have opted out of the agreement in writing and are disputing the $22,000 demand from Shorecliffs received on May 1st.
Under California law, an appurtenant easement gives individual Corona Highlands owners a right of use but not ownership or control. Shorecliffs, the servant estate, retains ownership and can recover only the costs necessary to maintain the easement for its intended use. Reasonable Maintenance typically includes ‘bare functionality of access’…nothing more. Example: physical gate repair, locking mechanism, clearing of debris blocking entry, stairway or path directly tied to access, and basic safety repairs.
Beach clean up was also listed in the demand, and I found it interesting after checking with the City that Shorecliffs’ deeds go to the water’s edge. The City does not clean the beach.
We are seeking legal counsel as to how best to proceed. Our belief is that it is reasonable to make a contribution, but it has to be balanced on use and not lots. Our two-tiered membership (payers v non-payers) makes it hard to justify the Shorecliffs demand. We recognize the value to all of our property owners that the easement provides, and we are not intending to take a position to remove the gated access to the Little Corona Beach.
Landscaping complaints continue.
We are a terraced community and our CC&Rs protect owner lots with ocean views. Please be a good neighbor and trim your trees and shrubs to the allowable 16 ft. maximum height. Trees and shrubs must be removed if they are blocking a neighbor’s ocean view.
The #1 benefit the board provides the community is restoring/growing everyone’s home equity by enforcing height restrictions.
Karen, Mike, Maria, Paul, and Mark
The mission of the Corona Highlands Property Owners Association (CHPOA) is to preserve and enhance the unique character of our community by upholding the standards of our governing documents, promoting thoughtful stewardship, and fostering neighborly engagement — all with the goal of maintaining and elevating the highest possible property values for the benefit of all homeowners. Please visit the website: coronahighlands.org for FAQs. No password is required.
