Skyline Hills Association 

East Lansing, Michigan

History of the Skyline Hills Association

The Skyline Hills Association (SHA) was created when the neighborhood was originally platted and has been in
existence since the first home was built. The SHA was created to help create a sense of community for residents, and
to preserve the character of the neighborhood.

The SHA is comprised of all homeowners in the neighborhood and is led by a Board of Directors that consists of
four officers, four “at large” directors, and the immediate past President. The Board also enlists of the assistance of
six Zone Captains, to ensure that all the various portions of the neighborhood are kept updated on events, and to
facilitate communication. As you should know, the neighborhood and several of the properties within the
neighborhood are subject to a document known as the Covenant, which is attached to the deeds on the properties.
The SHA is also responsible for maintaining and amending the Covenant, as necessary.

In recent years, the SHA has proven its worth to our neighborhood in a couple significant situations. In 2013, after
the C&H grocery store went out of business, the owners of the Carriage Hills Shopping Center proposed placing a
blood donation center in the former grocery store space. Many of us believed this type of business would discourage
many businesses and residents from staying in the area. Together the Association defeated the proposed use of that
property.

Soon after that battle was won, the Walnut Hills Country Club property was purchased by a real estate developer.
The developer allowed the Club to operate for a couple years but made no secret that he intended to create a large
housing development eventually. To make that happen, the Meridian Township planning commission and the
Township Board would have to approve any plans. The SHA ensured large turnouts at all those public meetings,
voicing several concerns about the development. In four meetings, those bodies voted unanimously to block the
development. The owner ultimately sued the Township, and the case went to mediation. We had no actual input into
the mediation, but we made sure the Township knew our concerns. The agreement that was reached guaranteed a
setback of at least 150 feet from the eastern border of the Skyline Hills neighborhood, and that agreement will stay
with the property no matter who owns it and/or develops it in the future. The SHA worked with Township officials
to improve the safety of the property, as the former clubhouse and pool posed a significant health and safety risk to
the area.

The property formerly known as Walnut Hills Country Club has officially changed hands to the Williams
family. They have posted "No Trespassing" signs throughout the property. The family has committed to the
Township to raze the clubhouse sometime around January 2021, and eventually the patriarch of the Williams family
will build a new house on that site. A third and possibly a fourth house may also be built on the property eventually.

The SHA has proven time and again that there is strength in numbers and will continue to diligently protect the
value of our neighborhood.