CLUSTER-DEDICATED NEWS FROM RA | |
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Reston Is A Community Parking District
Did you know that all public roads located within Reston belong to a Community Parking District (CPD)? Fairfax County’s CPD designation prohibits the parking of watercraft, motor homes, campers, trailers, vehicles greater than or equal to 3 axles, vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than or equal to 12,000 pounds, and vehicles transporting greater than or equal to 16 passengers (except school buses) on public streets. Vehicles parked in violation of these CPD policies are subject to a $75 fine for each violation and may be towed at the owner’s expense.
Residents who wish to report parking violations may call the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety non-emergency phone line (703-691-2131) or contact the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (703-877-5600).
Residents who own vehicles prohibited within the CPD and wish to find alternative storage locations may contact Reston Association’s Central Services Facility for further information on parking campers, boats, trailers, and other recreational vehicles at the Association’s fenced lot on Sunset Hills Road.
Click here for additional information on Fairfax County’s Community Parking District designation and CPDs located throughout the County.
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Condo Talk: Maintaining Common Areas
By Charlotte Smith, Covenants Advisor
Covenants Staff has noted an increase in reports regarding refuse and debris on condo common ground; we know it takes a village to maintain these areas! Here are a few refreshers concerning how Reston Association defines refuse and debris, per Use and Maintenance Standards Resolution 3:
- Items not designed and/or intended for outdoor use (including but not limited to indoor furniture, rugs, mattresses, appliances, clothing, and electronic equipment) unless awaiting pickup within 12 hours;
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Items designed for outdoor use that are exposed to view on the property but not functioning for their designed purpose due to deterioration, disrepair, missing elements, or damage and destruction, including Vehicles (as defined in the Use and Maintenance Standards Resolution 4) unless awaiting pickup within 12 hours or repair efforts have been or will be initiated and completed within a reasonable time period; and
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Any other items broken or unserviceable such as but not limited to bags of garbage, leaves, cans, newspapers, trash; cardboard boxes; plastic sheeting; unstacked firewood, lumber and building materials; Christmas trees, tree limbs and other plant cuttings; loose cans, paper and plastic trash, unless awaiting pickup within 12 hours.
It is important to note that usable lumber and building materials that are neatly stacked and covered (as appropriate) and that are stored no longer than 6 months in a rear yard, or when currently being used, in other locations, and stacked, appropriately sized firewood are not considered refuse and debris.
Many association boards have successfully established common area policies that outline acceptable methods for storing and/or disposing of refuse and debris. Some condominium associations, such as Bentana Park Condos, have established designated trash areas (behind fence enclosures) with trash bins and appropriate signage and have organized opportunities for bulk service trash pick-up for oversized items. Consult with your trash vendor and you may be surprised at what may be included in your trash service contract or be available at a nominal fee to your members.
Addressing pervasive trash and refuse issues is also an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by coordinating a ‘Neighborhood Clean Up Day’ or organizing community pick-up periods around ice cream socials or other friendly gatherings. Your cluster or condo association may already be hosting a social event series; why not engage members in being a part of the trash solution?
Finally, consider asking your vendors to sponsor clean-up days as described above, or asking your landscaping company if they can help out with trash removal on days when they’re onsite. Out-of-the-box answers are often the most effective when it comes to keeping communities clean!
Should you have any further questions about common area maintenance, or RA Resolutions, please contact your condo-dedicated Covenants Advisor today!
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Dark Skies In Reston
By Cat Castrence, Covenants Advisor
Have you ever heard of a Dark Sky community or reserve? As of 2019, there were over 60 dark sky parks, communities, and reserves in the United States, as designated by DarkSky International. In case you’re not familiar with them, a ‘DarkSky Community’ is a town, city, municipality, or other legally organized community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education, and citizen support of dark skies.
Light pollution can have a significant impact on the health and quality of life of your membership, animals and even insects in and around the ecosystem of your community, and even birds and other wildlife migrating through; there are a lot of good reasons for your association to consideration it’s outdoor lighting footprint!
So, what does this mean, and what are the benefits? Organizations like DarkSky International help to protect communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through their outreach, advocacy, and conservation approaches. The advantages of reducing light pollution include an increased visible number of stars at night, reducing the effects of electric lighting on the environment, improving the well-being, health, and safety of people and wildlife, and cutting down on energy usage.
Educating yourself on responsible outdoor lighting is a great place to start; resources such as DarkSky’s Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting can serve as a cheat sheet. Once your association’s board is committed to moving in a ‘darker’ direction, familiarizing yourself with Reston-specific resources on lighting will be a critical next step:
Reducing your association’s outdoor lighting footprint can significantly benefit the health and well-being of not just your members, but also members of communities surrounding yours. Contact your Covenants Advisor today for more information on updating your cluster’s site lighting or decorative lighting standards!
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Stay Tuned for Winter Deicing Tips!
Winter will be here sooner than we know, and with it plows, shovels, and salt. Deicing salt is known to have a damaging effect on our local aquatic ecosystems and infrastructure such as metal pipes or concrete when it runs off roads.
Nonetheless, deicing salt is also an incredibly important part of the winter safety equation, as it helps to mitigate the risk of slipping for pedestrians and vehicles.
Be on the lookout for more information throughout the fall and winter from Reston Association's watershed team on best practices residents and clusters alike can follow to help find a balance between safety and environmental protection. Stay tuned.
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Demystifying the DRB Application Process
By Barbara Carpenter, Covenants Advisor
Here’s what association boards need to consider when submitting a DRB application for new or revised cluster standards:
- Description of Project – Is there a concise, written summary of your new standard? If you were a homeowner (which you are!) reading the description, would you be clear on the intent? Make sure the summary answers all the questions YOU would have. For example, if a new color palette is being considered, are you allowing any manufacturer if the color is a close match? Does the homeowner have to submit a DRB application if they change the color of their front door to color in the new palette?
- Visuals – Have you included elevation photos of homes in your cluster highlighting the elements being impacted? If you want to allow a change in color/materials for roofs, be sure to include photos that clearly show different roofs. If decorative light fixtures are being updated, show the old (and new, if already installed).
- Specifications – Always include manufacturer spec sheets, catalogs, web page links – anything that will help specifically identify the elements you want to add. If the standard is going to allow, any mailbox that is black and attaches next to the front door, include several specific examples. Include physical samples of colors and materials that can be stored with the cluster’s records for future reference.
- Notification – Have you shared the details of the cluster’s new or updated standard with your membership? Cluster-wide notification can be documented by submitting copies of any of the following: regular mail to all unit owners, email notification (listservs, email groups/blasts, etc.), printed or e-newsletters, board minutes documenting discussion, website or blog posting or even copies of distributed flyers.
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Signatures – Don’t forget to sign! Every application requires the signatures of three board officers. One signature must be from either the President or Vice President (located on page 6). The other two signatures must be from board officers (either listed with the SCC, confirmed with the covenants advisor, or documented in signed meeting minutes). Remember: directors and at-large members are not considered authorized signatories.
PRO TIP: current association boards are strongly encouraged to move their standards in a direction that will afford member property owners the greatest degree of flexibility when sourcing products and paints (or stains) for their next home improvement/maintenance project. Updates that move a standard away from listing specific models and manufacturers of light fixtures, for example, and instead describe a general style (e.g. carriage lamp style), dimensions (e.g. fixtures must fit within a 24”-36” depth measurement) and finish (e.g. any matte black or high polish brass finish is acceptable) are the best way to maintain your neighborhood’s unique aesthetic while keeping product supply reasonable and realistic.
Your covenants advisor is a great resource and will help you put together a complete package for DRB review. Find yours at Covenants Advisor Assignment Sheet.04.26.24.pdf (dropbox.com).
If you would like to learn more about the DRB application process and share it with your membership, feel free to watch the video below:
Reston Today - Covenants FAQs • Application Process (youtube.com)
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Community Association Legislation Update
Are you familiar with Virginia House Bill 528? If not, consider learning more; HSB 528 addresses landscaping within community associations. Specifically, the bill is set to establish restrictions (or the lack thereof) on community associations’ rules concerning conservation landscaping. Conservation landscaping is the practice of modifying the visible features of grassy or bare soil areas with the intent of creating diverse landscapes which help to incorporate environmentally sensitive designs, protect clean air and water and support wildlife. In Reston Association, this may include creating meadows or wildlife sanctuaries filled with non-invasive native plants, shade-tolerant mulch beds, mature riparian buffers, and more.
If passed, the house bill may affect your association's current policies on exterior maintenance. You can learn more about the genesis, purpose and current status of Virginia House Bill 528 here.
You can also learn more about the assistance available to community associations related to conservation landscaping and the grants that may be available through the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD), found here.
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