WPOA Survey of Property Owners 2022

Introduction

Karen Asher, President
Wintergreen Property Owners Association

First of all, I am pleased to report there was a high level of response to the Wintergreen Property Owners Association’s December survey of its members. This single statistic–40% of all 3,549 households–clearly says Wintergreen is a community full of caring and engaged individuals. That’s not news but it was wonderful to see it plainly documented.

The survey also revealed that those who have property in this beautiful place have a good deal in common– the survey made it clear the love of Wintergreen’s natural surroundings and outdoor recreation was the driving force that brought many of us here.

The primary reason behind doing this professional survey was to help the WPOA Board understand our communities’ current needs and ensure the majority of Wintergreen’s property owners’ expectations are being met.  An executive summary with a graphic presentation of the results is here for everyone’s review.

The survey responses are presented in Zogby Analytics’ report in six categories – Demographics, Property Usage, Covenants and Rules, WPOA Operations, Short Term Rentals, and Amenity Usage and Improvements.

A large number of those taking the survey gave significant positive scores for WPOA regarding communications (i.e., newsletters, website) as well as roads, snow removal, mowing, and other infrastructure duties. This was true of both the Valley and the Mountain.

Along with the community-wide results, the different demographics of the Mountain and Valley communities are detailed in the survey results. As an example, when asked if their property is their primary residence, 12% of Mountain owners and 81% of Valley owners consider Wintergreen to be their primary residence. When asked about working status, 36% of Mountain owners identify as retired versus 67% in the Valley.  These differences may help explain the significant variation in responses to some questions since they are influenced by an owner’s perspective.

Valley and Mountain responses to covenant changes–and specifically the prohibition of short-term rental–were different. Overall, a majority of responding Mountain owners do not support a community-wide change while about half of responding Valley owners do. When asked about changes specifically to Stoney Creek covenants, most Mountain residents were unsure or opposed.

Written comments (over 4,000) revealed a large number of homeowners do not understand the difference in the responsibilities of WPOA and Wintergreen Resort. (It is confusing.) There is also confusion about some specific responsibilities within WPOA, most notably our Architectural Review Board.

The survey results showed that WPOA amenities are not heavily used. Other than the addition of walking paths in Stoney Creek, and some modest improvements of the Chestnut Springs and Rodes Farm complexes, there is little support for funding new or expanded WPOA amenities. 76% of respondents see no need for additional amenities.

Those are just a few of the many interesting conclusions from the survey. We’re sharing the summary of results so that all property owners can see for themselves. If you have questions about the survey responses or the interpretation of the results, please submit your questions by clicking HERE.

Thanks to those property owners who have provided input to help shape the future of our community. As WPOA’s management and the members of the WPOA board make decisions on how to improve our community while remaining fiscally responsible, they will be paying close attention to property owners’ responses from the survey.