Mike Salsbury/The Olympian
Kevin Kozak (right) is the new president of the Forest Glen homeowners association. He and his daughter, Katie, 9, walk down a neighborhood street with Connie Colbeck, who also lives in the county subdivision.

City blends with country

RUTH LONGORIA THE OLYMPIAN

THURSTON COUNTY -- They say that no man is an island, but this community is -- and, proud of it.

Thurston County's Forest Glen subdivision is surrounded by the city of Lacey.

But the tall trees and chirping birds within the subdivision allow Forest Glen homeowners to partake in the peaceful pleasantries of a country atmosphere, while enjoying some city amenities.

"We get the best of both worlds here," said Kevin Kozak, president of the Forest Glen Homeowners Association.

"We have to pay a high surcharge for the Lacey water district, but we have the nice city park next to us," he said. "And it's really a nice place to live."

Connie Colbeck, 52, a teacher at Black Hills High School, has lived in Forest Glen for about nine years.

"It's nice here because it's so close to everything and it still feels like you're in the country," Colbeck said.

"For people who work in town, it's only a few minutes' commute," she said.

"This is the closest I've ever been to living in the city, but I like it here because it doesn't really feel like you're in town when you're at home," Colbeck said.

Residents have their own septic systems, but are hooked up to city of Lacey water, which about doubles their bill compared to that of city residents, Kozak said.

"That's really the only bad thing about this situation," he said.

A few years ago, Forest Glen residents spoke with city of Lacey officials to find out about becoming annexed to the city.

"We really just wanted to find out what the benefits would be. What we found out was that we've got many of the benefits and the city doesn't have any plans to annex us because, they said, it wouldn't be profitable for them," Kozak said.

Homeowners at Forest Glen pay $60-per-year association fees, which pays for electricity for street lights, maintenance of the entrance and their share of county taxes on common areas.

The subdivision is served by the Thurston County Sheriff's Department.

"But that doesn't really hurt, because in an emergency, with mutual aid, the Lacey Police department would probably respond anyway," Kozak said.

Kozak, 42, is a volunteer firefighter with the Lacey fire district. He also works for the Department of Natural Resources.

Kozak moved to the subdivision in 1994 with his wife, Barb, 40, and children, Brent, 18, a student at New Market Skills Center, Nathan, 16, a student at Timberline High School, and Katie, 9, a student at Lakes Elementary School.

The family had lived in the Hawks Prairie area for about four years and previously lived in Oregon.

"It was so nice to get a little away from the I-5 corridor and be in a real community-feeling neighborhood," Kevin Kozak said.

The 107-house community is home to a diverse group of people.

"There are some young people, some really old, some military and some retired, it's a real mix," he said.

One thing he enjoys about the community is residents' attitudes.

"The homeowners here seem to really want to take care of their homes, not like some places where people rent and don't really care so much," he said.

Community pride is becoming evident in Forest Glen, Colbeck said.

"I'm impressed with the feeling of pride people are beginning to take here, especially lately since Kevin became the association president," Colbeck said.

"We can see Kevin's enthusiasm and it seems to be catching."

Ruth Longoria writes for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5435 or rlongori@olympia.gannett.com.

Does your neighborhood have a story for Our Neighborhoods? If you have a special event, are tackling a tough issue or are planning a project, let us know. Call or e-mail Communities Editor Jerre Redecker at 360-754-5422 or jredecke@olympia.gannett.com. Our Neighborhoods runs Thursdays in Communities. Next week: The Northeast Neighborhood Association in Olympia.

Forest Glen neighbors say their community has 'best of both worlds'

For more Communities stories go to the Communities section.

Forest Glen

- Membership: 107 primarily single-family homes, some duplexes.

- Boundaries: Southeast of Timberline High School, between Mullen Road Southeast and 54th Avenue, Rumac Street Southeast and Alderglen Court Southeast.

- Who lives there: A mix of retirees, younger families, singles and military families. Homes are mid-level cost, about $135,000 average.

- Nearest schools: Timberline High School and Lakes Elementary School.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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