About Us

The River Woods Homeowners Association is one of the oldest and largest townhouse associations in Minnesota.

Founded in 1972, River Woods’ 324 townhomes are situated on 87 beautifully wooded acres. It has a swimming pool and volleyball court for residents.

River Woods townhouse owners pay a monthly fee that covers maintenance of all the common grounds, i.e., all the land outside the footprint of their houses. This includes, among other things, plowing and shoveling of snow off roads and sidewalks, sanding, planting of shrubs and flowers, trimming and – if necessary – removal and replanting of trees, cutting grass, application of herbicides, etc. We also maintain and replace the many retaining walls on association grounds.

Residents’ fees also pay for shingle replacement on every townhouse approximately every 20 years and painting of all townhouses every 8 years.

Owners of River Woods townhouses are responsible for everything, aside from re-shingling and painting, on the inside and outside of their homes, so long as the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) approves any changes to the outside of the townhouses. As with most townhouse associations, we strive to keep the exterior appearance of our homes attractive and consistent, which is why we require ACC approval for any changes in outside appearance.

In addition to monthly maintenance fees, residents must pay yearly for their share of a Master insurance policy that ensures the complete restoration of any home damaged by fire, weather events, or other causes. This Master Policy, which also covers liability for the common grounds, including the pool, does NOT cover replacement of residents’ personal goods or any remodeling they may have done in the house. For this reason, we strongly encourage residents to buy a personal HO-6 policy through their own insurance agent, which covers personal goods, liability within their houses, and any deductible amounts in the Master Policy.

No outside agency owns River Woods. It is owned by the 324 townhouse owners, whose decisions are restricted only by the original Articles of Incorporation, Declaration of Covenants, and By-Laws. The association’s owners can amend the Declaration of Covenants and the By-Laws.

Maintenance and administration are handled by a 9-member board of directors, with three members elected for three-year terms at each annual meeting, which is usually held in June. Each year, the board elects a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer from within the board to handle day-to-day decisions. In contrast, major decisions and expenditures are managed by the whole board at its monthly meetings. The board members and officers are all unpaid volunteers, as are members of various committees that advise the board, including the Maintenance Committee, the Architectural Control Committee, and the Welcome Committee. Any owners interested are encouraged to join one of the committees.

The board employs two full-time and several part-time employees to handle maintenance and administration, which includes collecting fees, maintaining the grounds and pool, and performing other duties necessary to keep the grounds and equipment in good shape. The association also owns trucks, plows, and other equipment needed for maintenance.