Terra Grande Community Association Newspaper Terra Grande Community Association, Inc. P.O. Box 416 Newington, VA 22122-0416 http://www.terragrandeca.org December 2013 From the President: Mike Everett Your 2014 Homeowners Board: Thanks for attending the September Annual Homeowners Meeting. The Board sincerely thanks Ben Webb, Eileen Astill, and Rachel Nichols for their service on the Board. We welcome two new members to the 2014 Board Mr. Gary Lyttek and Mr. Fred Beata. Positions within the Board remain the same as 2013 and the additions of our new Board members enable us to address issues in the community in a more timely fashion. Below is a listing of your 2014 TGCA Board: PRESIDENT Mike Everett, 451-7669, president@terragrandeca.org VICE PRESIDENTS John Austin, 913-3486, vp1@terragrandeca.org Tracey Sollers, 455-6647, vp2@terragrandeca.org TREASURER Beverly Shiner, 455-1895, treasurer@terragrandeca.org SECRETARIES Pam Engel-Austin, 929-2108, sec1@terragrandeca.org Nella Neary, 455-0575, sec2@terragrandeca.org ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL Tim Kwak, 819-0902, arch@terragrandeca.org COMMON AREAS/ COMMON PROPERTY Brandon Harvey, 703 338-6561 tgcaboard@terragrandeca.org AT-LARGE Gary Lyttek, 455-2422, glyttek@yahoo.com and Fred Beata, 455-3381, fbeata@verizon.net NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Darlene Mihaloew, 440-0264 NEWSLETTER EDITOR Jim & LeAnn Ekvall, 282-3558 WEBMASTER Renee VanFleet Your 2014 Board is off and running with a very full plate on our annual agenda. Thanks to everyone who participated in allowing the community to have one set of covenants. At the Annual Meeting in September, 84% of the quorum voted YES to approve the revised Schedule B to our covenants. See the Vice Presidents section for more details regarding the 1
vote in each section. We are still committed to maintaining the property values of our community by encouraging all residents to abide by and maintain their homes and lots in accordance with the Declarations and Covenants. Our top issues for 2014 are: (1) Maintaining property values and addressing covenant violations in a timely manner, (2) Installing the new equipment on our playground at the soccer field, (3) Addressing changes to our Policy Manual, (4) Updating our procedures for Architecture Control, and (5) Assessing options replace/alter our tennis court and basketball court located below the soccer field. Our Board members will continue working with Fairfax County, Virginia Department of Transportation and the South County Federation regarding issues surrounding of our community. What s Coming in 2014: (1) Now that we have approved our revised declaration and by-laws, our two priorities for 2014 are: (a) revising our 2011 Policy Manual and make it consistent with the revised by-laws, and (b) updating our Architecture Review Committee processes and procedures. (2) At the Annual Meeting, the Board was asked to explore options for fixing, removing, or displacing the basketball court located at the very end of the soccer field. Included in those options should be the tennis court. Brandon Harvey has the lead on developing those options and welcomes your thoughts and ideas for this project. (3) Supervisor Gerry Hyland will hold his Town Hall meeting at Mt. Vernon High School on February 8, 2014 from 9 2 pm. The morning and early afternoons are filled with information concerning Fairfax County and the Mount Vernon District. I encourage all our residents to join us on February 8 so that you can hear what is planned for the county, firsthand, from our local and elected officials. (4) A couple of community-centric events occurred in 2013. We held an Easter Egg Hunt in April and our Community Fest in October. Besides being fun events, these events were very beneficial for our Board members because we were able to hear your feedback regarding activities in and around our community. We plan to continue these events in 2014. Please continue to be flexible as we work around weather issues. If you would like to help in any of these events, please contact any Board member to volunteer. We can always use your help. Best-Decorated Home for the Holiday: Once again, we will give a prize for the best-decorated home for the Christmas season. Board members will cast their votes no later than December 22, 2013. See the Architecture Committee section for details. Residents are reminded all lights and Christmas decorations should be removed by February 1, 2014. 2
Winter is Here: The days are shorter and nights are longer. We are asking all residents to park their cars in driveways when the forecast for snow is imminent. Back in 2011, we had many residents helping to clear streets and school bus stops. It was very encouraging seeing our residents making those sacrifices so that others could get in and out of our community. That allows the snow plows to clean our streets and avoid damaging parked cars. Residents are asked to clean the leaves from their yards and place them in clear plastic bags. Wednesdays are the designated days for yard waste removal. Please avoid piling leaves at curb sides for more than a day or two. Trash Cans and Recycle Containers: The most common covenant violation in our community pertains to residents leaving their trash cans and recycle containers on the street overnight. These items cannot be visible from the street on days when your trash and recycle items are not collected. The Board normally picks a weekend day to survey the community and provide a friendly reminder to put your trash cans and recycle containers out-of-sight. Although this matter may seem trivial, this is part of our covenants and is consistent with our efforts to maintain a clean and wholesome environment. For those living on a pipestem, if the Board member sees the trash can or recycle container from the street, the Board member has no other recourse but to walk down the pipestem and place the notice in your door or somewhere it can be found. We cannot place these notices in your mailbox. Have a safe and blessed holiday season!!! From your Vice Presidents John Austin vp1@terragrandeca.org and Tracy Sollers vp2@terragrandeca.org Thank you to all of the homeowners who attended the Annual meeting to adopt the Amended and Restated Schedule B Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the Terra Grande Community either in person or by proxy. As discussed at the Annual meeting, these documents needed to be revised to bring them in line with current law. In addition, this document was initially written by section as the homes were being built. This resulted in four (4) separate sets of By-Laws. A committee was formed to accomplish two goals, one was to merge the four Sections into one set of By-Laws and also incorporate changes to ensure compliance with the law. This document was approved and the breakdown of votes by Section numbers are as follows: Section I: Consists of 50 homes. 78.5% voted in favor: There were three (3) votes not in favor (three (3) present). There were eleven (11) votes in favor (eight (8) present plus three (3) proxies). 3
Section II: Consists of 78 homes. 88.5% voted in favor: There were three (3) votes not in favor (three (3) present). There were 23 votes in favor (20 present plus six (6) proxies). Section III: Consists of 62 homes. 81% voted in favor: There were four (4) votes not in favor (three (3) present and one (1) proxy). There were 17 votes in favor (10 present plus seven (7) proxies). Section IV: Consists of 70 homes. 87.5% voted in favor: There were two (2) votes not in favor (one (1) present and one (1) proxy). There were fourteen (14) votes in favor (nine (9) present plus five (5) proxies). Final tally was 84% in favor: Twelve (12) homeowners voted not in favor (10 present plus two (2) by proxy). Sixty-five (65) homeowners voted in favor (44 present plus 21 by proxy). This document is currently in the hands of our association lawyer in preparation for filing with the court. Moving forward into 2014, as Mike stated in the President s article, the board will continue its work updating our Policy Manual and the process and procedures for the Architecture Review Committee. John is leading the effort to update our policy manual and is looking for two volunteers from the community who are not members of the board. If you would like to volunteer some time towards this effort, please contact John using the email address above or by phone: 703-913- 3486. The board continues being committed to maintaining home values and the beauty of the community. Did you know that Terra Grande has a Facebook page? This page is regularly monitored by members of the board and at times, we will post messages to the community on this page. We encourage you to check out this page. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome new residents and homeowners to Terra Grande. It is our sincerest hope that you find this to be all you hoped for. Any input you have regarding our community documents or any other concerns regarding Terra Grande are always welcomed. The board is here to assist you in any way we can. One thing we can say with complete confidence is that everyone (the board and community) working together will continue to make Terra Grande a great place to live and raise our families. We wish you and your family many joys and blessings this holiday season! 4
From the Secretaries: Pam Engel-Austin and Nella Neary Disclosure Packets Is your house on the market or do you plan to sell it soon? If so, you must provide a disclosure packet to the purchaser, as mandated by the Virginia Property Owners Association Act. This Act requires that you provide a disclosure packet to your purchaser before the sale is final and applies to all sales whether by owner or handled by a realtor or bank. Contact one of the secretaries (Nella Neary (703) 455-0575 or Pam Engel-Austin (703) 929-2108 to obtain the packet. The cost is $50. Packets are available within fourteen days after receipt of a written request and payment of the fee. An additional fee will be charged for rush order requests. Disclosure packets are good for 90 days and contain information on discrepancies, which must be resolved prior to closing. After that date, we must charge an additional fee to update the packet. If a packet is mailed, the owner will be responsible for any mailing costs. Written requests and payment of the fee may also be sent to TGCA, Box 416, Newington, VA 22122-0416. Terra Grande Trash Services Available Note: Each resident is responsible for their own selection and payment of services American Disposal - (703) 368-0500 American Disposal now offering the following lowered rates for residents of the Terra Grande Community Association. Service includes trash, recycle, and yard debris collection. **Available rates: $25 per week or $75 per quarter $23 per week or $69 per quarter No contract options are available Senior rates for 62 and older: $21.50 per week or $64.50 per quarter for trash pick-up (either once or twice per week pick-up) Trash Pick-up: Two times per week on Tuesday and Friday Recycle pick-up: Once per week on Tuesday Yard waste pick-up: Once per week on Wednesday *Note: In order to take advantage of the lower rate you MUST contact American Disposal at (703) 368-0500 Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and inform them that you live in the Terra Grande Community. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Republic Services (Formerly AAA) - (703) 818-8222 Republic Services offers the follow rates. Service includes trash, recycle, and yard debris collection. **Available rates: $136.95 per quarter without contract 5
Lower rates are available starting at $77.18 per quarter when a 2 or 3 year contract is signed. *Note: The lower rate option includes an early contract cancellation fee if no valid cancellation reason is provided. Trash Pick-up: Two times per week on Monday and Thursday Recycle pick-up: Once per week on Friday Yard waste pick-up: Once per week on Wednesday Covenant Corner Section 4: All lots and yards in the above described subdivision shall be maintained in a neat and attractive manner so as not to detract from the appearance of the above described development. Property must be properly maintained. Siding, trim, gutters, and shutters must be kept in good repair, including paint. While the Board does not mandate specific paint colors, it does reserve the right to direct that colors be changed if, in the opinion of the Board, the new color is not in keeping with community standards. Homeowners are therefore advised to seek Architectural Control Committee approval in advance for any changes in colors. No approval is needed if the paint color remains the same. Lawns are to be kept mowed during the growing season. However, the Board recognizes that it is not always possible for a resident to mow on a regular schedule due to wet weather and work schedules. This regulation is intended to address habitually overgrown lawns. During extended dry periods, lawns that are dormant will not be considered to be in violation of this provision. Compost piles, firewood stacks, trash and recycle containers, and construction materials must be maintained in an orderly manner and not be clearly visible from the front of the dwelling. Deliveries of firewood, mulch or other landscaping materials which are unloaded into the driveway must be removed out of sight of the street within 72 hours. Vegetable gardens must be of reasonable size, made with due consideration to the resulting appearance to neighbors, and must not be clearly visible from the street. Landscape timbers, bricks, and stones must blend with the character of the community in color, style, and architecture. Prior approval is not required for gardens or landscaping. However, the Board reserves the right, for example, in the event of a written complaint, to rule gardens, landscaping, or storage areas for compost or firewood to be improper and to require remediation. 6
Architectural Control: Tim Kwak Thank you for those who have contacted us or another board member with your proposed changes to your home and property. Please ensure you submit the proper documentation and include as many details about the project as possible as it makes it easier to review and approve. As a reminder, the following projects are some examples of ones that need the Board approval before you can begin: new driveway, new fence, major landscaping projects, new siding, skylights/solar panels, windows, constructing a shed or storage unit, gazebo or pergola, room addition, new roof, pool, or painting your house. Neighborhood Watch Darlene Mihaloew and John Austin Terra Grande residents are reminded to be courteous neighbors, especially during this season when there is much to celebrate. Fairfax County Noise Ordinance Chapter 108, Article 5, states that It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue to make, or cause to be made or continued, a noise disturbance within the County of Fairfax. Loud and unnecessary noises that are specifically prohibited include: Radios, TVs, musical instruments, loudspeakers, or any other sound amplification devices may not be used between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. if they can be heard across property boundaries or at 50 feet if the noise is coming from a car. Nuisance noise from animals which frequently or habitually howl, bark, meow, squawk or make such other noise that is plainly audible across property boundaries. For more information, call the Department of Code Compliance, (703) 324-1300 or read the county s Noise Ordinance (Chapter 108). Neighbors are also reminded of the Fairfax County leash laws. No dog shall run unrestricted, as defined in Section 41.1-1-1, in the County. Be aware that unleashed dogs are not permitted on sidewalks, easements, common driveways (pipestems), streets, or common property within our Terra Grande community. At this time of year, burglaries and robberies tend to increase throughout the nation. Here are a few tips regarding personal and property safety: 1. When returning to your vehicle after shopping, pay attention to the vehicles parked around you as well as your own vehicle. If anything looks suspicious, be prepared to call the police non-emergency number shopping center security also be prepared to return to the store or mall until you can confirm it is safe to proceed. 2. To reduce the chances your vehicle will be broken in to, do not leave merchandise in plain view when exiting your vehicle. Make every attempt to hide anything of value, even loose change, cell phone chargers, etc. and ensure your vehicle is locked before you leave it. 7
3. Do not leave merchandise in plain view through windows in your home when you leave, especially those that would be easily removed. When possible, shut blinds, shades or curtains so that it is much harder for someone looking into your home to spot something of value for theft. 4. When you have ordered something for delivery to your home, ensure that someone is home to take delivery on the delivery date, (and is watching or listening for the delivery truck) or ask one of your neighbors to watch for and pickup the delivery when you will not be home. (Note: Terra Grande board members ask UPS and FedEx to knock loudly when they deliver items to our community but not every driver remembers to do so, therefore it is important for us to remain vigilant.) To our young drivers and parents of young drivers in the community: Please be sure to adhere to, and ask your friends to adhere to our speed limits within the community. It is important that we all maintain slower speeds and careful driving while on our streets not only for the safety of our children and small animals but for your own safety as well. The police will be contacted when a vehicle violates any traffic laws in our community. We would also like to remind everyone that our common areas are closed at dusk each night and therefore no one is to enter these areas at night. Members of the Neighborhood Watch team continue to find evidence of trespassing and suspicious activity in these areas after dark. If you see or hear any suspicious activity, at any hour and location within the community please first report it to the Fairfax County Police non-emergency number (703-691-2131) and then to Darlene or John using the following email addresses: Darlene: nhw@terragrandeca.org or John: vp1@terragrandeca.org. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season! Common Areas/Common Property- Brandon Harvey Hello everyone and I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. As Mike mentioned in the beginning, I am heading up ideas on different options for fixing the tennis courts, as well as the basketball court below the soccer field. From the discussion at the annual meeting there were multiple ideas mentioned. If you have any other ideas please feel free to send me an email so I can consolidate them and will then bring all these ideas to the next annual meeting in 2014. 8
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