As a Real Estate Agent, I am commonly being asked questions regarding the Island’s POA. Whether you are new to the Island or have lived here many years, I hope to provide some clarity and possibly unknown information to those who may be wondering…what are they all about.
The POA oversees 26 subdivisions, with the exception of Packery Channel (who doesn’t have one), and Cane Harbor (who has their own). All but three subdivisions (Seapines, Section A and Section B) that DO belong to the POA pay the new fees (that aren’t really new anymore). Back in 2007, they changed. Annual POA fees are calculated by the size of the lot itself. Prior to 2007, the fees were .1 cent a square foot for an interior/water access lot, and .2 cents a square foot for a waterfront lot. With the exception of the three aforementioned subdivisions that did not approve the fee change, they’ve been .2 cents a square foot for interior/water access lots and .10 cents a square foot for waterfront lots for 10 years now. These annual fees cover the following: Maintaining the medians at Whitecap and Seapines, common area maintenance such as cul de sacs, canal end landscaping, and the 7 public boat ramps around the Island. The reason the cost is higher for a waterfront home is because these fees also cover canal bulkheads.
FACTS:
POA
- When voting, POA board members need 50% + 1 to pass.
- They have a seed account in the event of a hurricane in access of $9,000,000, of which they added $300,000 to this past year.
- They spend roughly $500,000 a year on repairing canal bulkheads.
- The architectural control committee (ACC) is responsible for reviewing plans for new builds, renovations, fencing, decks/docks, shade structures/any structure really, but NOT landscaping. Currently, the committee has 4 members, but they are seeking a 5th.
- The ACC is also in charge of “unsightly properties,” defining them, and working on cleaning them up to maintain property values.
- A gentleman is out on the canals every single day cleaning the debris.
- On the POA website, you can find requirements for building, setbacks, decking depths, etc. for each and every subdivision.
- The POA has three notaries.
- The POA has a swapping library.
- Approximately 5,300 residents are within the association, making PIPOA the largest HOA in Texas and possibly the United States.
ISLAND STATS
- Available lots left:
629 interior
148 waterfront
87 multi-family
277 commercial
- The population on the Island is approximately 13,000, compared to roughly 330,000 in Corpus Christi.
- Of all crime committed in Corpus, only 2% of it comes from the Island, and 60% of that is “victim assisted,” meaning garages are left open, items in boats aren’t put away, etc.
- 525 children are enrolled in the Island charter school.
- All parks on the Island are actually owned by the city.
- Water depths: 18 inches – 2 feet near the bulkheads, and roughly 6 feet in the center of the canals.
- It is a NO WAKE ZONE until you get to the ski canals or the Laguna Madre.
ISLAND STICKER
- Often referred to as the “vanity sticker” as Island residents are proud to show where they live, the sticker allows residents to park at the boat ramps.
- Common misconception: the sticker DOES NOT allow you back on the Island in the event of an evacuation. Sticker or not, you’ll only be allowed back on with two forms of ID showing your Island address AND utilities have to be back on before anyone is allowed access.