FAQs

What are amenities & common areas?

Amenities are the recreational features within the community and typically include parks, greenbelt trails, pools, lakes and playgrounds. Amenities within every Friendswood Development community are designed and implement for the exclusive use of the residents living within that community. Common areas include the entry, boulevards, sidewalks and all other areas shared by the residents, that enhance the overall appearance of the community. The annual assessments maintain the appeal and care of these amenities and common areas, and are the responsibility of the community or homeowners association. Greenbelt trails, a term commonly heard in Friendswood Development Company communities, are paved trails that wind throughout communities enabling residents to walk, jog or bike throughout neighborhoods and enjoy convenient access to surrounding amenities.

How builders & developers work?

Homebuilders are independent businesses that purchase lots or homesites from the developer, build homes and offer them for sale to the public. Friendswood Development Company does not build or sell houses and does not control the homebuilders who build in its communities. Builders are responsible for the final preparation of the homesites including the grading to conform to drainage plans, house plans and specifications, all of which must conform to the applicable deed restrictions, builder guidelines set forth by the developer, and drainage plans. Builders submit plans to the developer for review by the Architectural Control Committee and the plans are reviewed to determine whether the exterior appearance of the home is compatible with its setting, the surrounding homes, and the general appearance of the particular neighborhood and whether the plan complies with applicable square footage, setback and similar restrictions. The builder is entirely responsible for the design and construction of the house and all of its components, including lot drainage and for compliance with the local government and industry standards for residential construction.

What is a community association?

Community associations are organized by the developer to collect assessments, enforce deed restrictions, operate and maintain common areas such as pools and greenbelts, and provide services such as fire protection and trash collection. Assessment fees are billed to residents once annually and vary in amount by community location. Residents are provided with a copy of deed restrictions and other documents applicable to their prospective neighborhood when they sign a sales contract for their new home.

What are deed restrictions?

Deed restrictions, which are set in place in the planning stages of a Friendswood Development Company master-planned community, are designed to protect the integrity and long-term aesthetic appeal of the community. These restrictions maintain a uniform look throughout each neighborhood and offer residents the peace of mind that they and all of their neighbors are held accountable for things like the property maintenance of the exterior of their home, the care of their yard etc. Deed restrictions also protect residents by making sure that their community maintains its character as a residential community, with all-residential development and commercial development remaining in areas designated in the community's master plan.

What does a developer do?

A land developer prepares undeveloped land for development, by arranging for road construction, installing sewer, water and other utility services and the construction of amenities such as greenbelts and parks. The developer is also responsible for the land plan function, preparation of detailed plats and engineering drawings, securing necessary approvals from government entities and coordination with public utility districts, utility companies and others that provide community services. In Friendswood Development communities, the developer also subjects the land to protective convenants that restrict the property to a specific use such as single-family residential, multi-family residential, office, retail, school, or other uses, and provides for architectural control and other restrictions.