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In December 2025, we announced the SCCA Board of Directors voted to pursue designation as a Special Community Benefits District (SCBD). This would allow Anne Arundel County to collect annual SCCA dues through the property tax process.

We are pursuing this because currently only about 70 percent of SCCA homeowners pay annual dues, while community income does not keep pace with expenses. An SCBD would ensure all homes contribute and provide the financial stability needed to address maintenance and improvements.

On July 24, Anne Arundel County staff approved our request to begin the process. The next step is obtaining signatures from two-thirds of SCCA homeowners. Beginning in September, we will share more information on our website and in the annual newsletter, with an informational Q&A planned for our October annual meeting. We are committed to keeping the community informed and being open and transparent throughout the process.

More information to come!

A friendly reminder: all work on community-owned common grounds must be approved by the SCCA Board before it is undertaken.

While we deeply appreciate the spirit of volunteerism, this policy is essential for several reasons. First and foremost is safety and liability; uncoordinated work can create hazards and expose our community to legal and financial risks. Additionally, any modifications to common areas must comply with county zoning laws and align with the community's long-term landscaping and maintenance plans.

Under SCCA bylaws Article IV, Sections 1 & 4, Association-owned facilities and common properties are reserved strictly for the managed use and enjoyment of members in good standing under rules established by the Association. Individual homeowners do not have individual property rights to alter, landscape, or build on common property.

We've noticed an increase in residents walking in the street, especially during evenings and on weekends. While we love to see our neighbors out and about, this can create hazardous situations for both pedestrians and drivers.

For everyone's safety, we strongly urge all residents to use sidewalks whenever they are available. When walking on a street without a sidewalk, please walk facing traffic and stay as far to the side of the road as possible. Let's all do our part to keep Shipley's Choice a safe community for everyone.

During our SCCA Board of Directors meeting on December 12, 2025, the Board voted to pursue designating SCCA as a Special Community Benefits District (SCBD).

Such a designation would result in Anne Arundel County collecting our annual dues through annual county tax collection. We are pursuing this action for one reason: only 70 percent of houses that are part of SCCA pay annual dues and the community’s income doesn’t match our expenses. There are many homeowners’ associations designated as SCBDs in Anne Arundel County, including our neighbors in Chartwell.

Two-thirds of SCCA homeowners must sign a petition in order for our community to become a SCBD. Establishing a SCBD will likely be a lengthy process; we will be sure to share information regularly and provide an opportunity for members of the community to share their opinions about this initiative.

Riding bikes and scooters can be a lot of fun, but it's also important to teach our children about the potential dangers, especially when riding at night. To help keep our community safe, we encourage all parents to talk to their kids about bike and scooter safety. Here are some important safety tips to share:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Ride defensively and be aware of your surroundings.
• Use bike paths and sidewalks when available.
• Avoid riding at night.

The intersection of Governor Stone and Benfield can be especially perilous, as well as the intersection of Severncrest and W Benfield. It is vitally important for children to learn their safety basics and for drivers to be vigilant.

For more information regarding children and e-scooters, please visit HealthyChildren.org and watch this short video from MarylandEMS.