RESTON LAVC ARCHITECT CONKLIN PASSES

Architect William J. Conklin, who along with late professional partners Julian H. Whittlesey and James S. Rossant designed Lake Anne Village Center, passed away in Maryland on November 22, 2018 at age 95 as reported this week by the New York Times and the Washington Post.  Along with Hickory Cluster designed by Conklin local contemporary Charles M. Goodman, the Village Center is part of the original Reston First Village envisioned by late Reston Founder Robert E. Simon, Jr.  Conklin was profiled in a 1982 American Architecture Now video interview and a Winter 2011 Reston Magazine article.  He studied architecture under modernist Bauhaus School founder Walter Gropius at Harvard University as did retired architect, HCA Block 3 Member, and former HCA Director Ralph Youngren.  Conklin is shown at far right in the photo along with former New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, former New York Mayor John V. Lindsay, and late Architect Philip C. Johnson.  Whittlesey passed away in 1995, Rossant in 2009, and Simon in 2015.

HCA TRASH + RECYCLE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 2018-19

Republic Services holiday schedule for Fall 2018 through Fall 2019 is available online and includes trash and recycling schedule information for:
THANKSGIVING DAY, Thu, Nov 22, 2018 ... no service, resumes next week
CHRISTMAS DAY, Tue, Dec 25, 2018 ... not a regular service day
NEW YEARS DAY, Tue, Jan 1, 2019 ... Thu service this week delayed to Fri
UPDATE ... January 15: Republic did not post Christmas tree recycling schedule information on their public website and they are not otherwise pro-actively notifying customers.  However, a customer service representative located non-public information and advised today that trees are scheduled to be picked-up on Wednesdays January 9 and 16.

HCA REGULAR MEETING CHANGES @ NOV DEC 2018

The HCA Board of Directors agreed during its October 17 Regular Meeting to a new November Regular Meeting date to allow for additional 2019 Annual Budget discussion, timely notification to Members of the agreed budget, and to allow full enjoyment of the November 22-25 Thanksgiving Day weekend.  The November meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, November 21 at RCC Lake Anne.  The new meeting date is Wednesday, November 14, the new location is Lake Anne Elementary School, and the meeting will start as usual at 7:30 p.m.  HCA encourages Members to attend the November meeting and provide 2019 Annual Budget input during individual three minute Member Forum comment periods.

Fairfax County also recently advised HCA that RCC Lake Anne will be unavailable for the scheduled Wednesday, December 19 Regular Meeting due to construction.  The new location is the Reston Historic Trust and Museum in the Lake Anne Village Center.  The date remains unchanged, and the meeting will start as usual at 7:30 p.m.

HCA LANDSCAPE REPAIRS + PERIMETER CLEARING

Following Fall planting season arrival and unexpected weather delays, the HCA grounds maintenance contractor replaced several warranted Dogwood and Schip Laurel plantings at both Blocks 1 and 3 entrances at no charge to HCA on October 16.  The contractor will also provide watering services up through the Winter dormancy period on an as-needed basis to ensure survival of the new plants, and install on November 7-8 almost 100 new Big Blue Liriope plants damaged or destroyed during 2017-18 HCA street repaving, VDOT, Dominion Energy, and Comcast projects.  In addition, Directors approved a contract to "Clear brush from behind (Blocks 1/2/3) town homes where it is not walkable.  In these areas a space of approximately 10-15 ft. in width will be cleared.  This does not include the removal of trees other than saplings.  All resulting debris will be removed from property for disposal." as generally indicated on this site map.  HCA encourages residents to remove unauthorized personal property stored or planted within these Common Areas before the work.  UPDATES November 3:  The contractor requested scope clarification before proceeding, and tentatively plans to walk the Common Area perimeter with a Director next week.  A new perimeter clearing date is now pending.  November 6:  Due to weather delays, the contractor has tentatively rescheduled Liriope replanting for Friday, November 9, and perimeter clearing for Friday, November 16, following a planned Saturday, November 10 site walk.  November 14:  Perimeter clearing has been rescheduled for Monday, November 19 due to the November 15 storm.

RELAC A/C 2018 SERVICE EXTENDS TO OCT 12

From Reston RELAC President Mark Waddell yesterday:  "Tuesday October 9th was the last official day of service.  But due to the 80 degree days we have stayed operational.  The low on Thursday night is (forecast to be) 54 and the high on Friday is 62 therefore on Friday October 12th we will be ending the 2018 season.  Shutoff will be in the morning. ... "  With local ownership and schedule flexibility, RELAC also started 2018 season service several weeks early because of warm Spring weather.  For additional information, see the RELAC website or the HCA webpage.

LAKE ANNE FELLOWSHIP HSE FINAL PUBLIC MTGS

The project team will make final presentations to both RA DRB and the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors starting this week.  Additional public comments will be allowed at these meetings, but site and building conceptual designs are already substantially complete.  Adjacent townhome schematic building site and elevation concepts now include numerous revisions based on extensive public meeting feedback from Hickory Cluster former Block 3 Director Ralph Youngren FAIA, Block 2 Director Michael Poss, and Block 1 Director Michael Smith.  Updates below are current as of October 31.

RA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING
@ 7:00 P.M. TUE SEP 18
From a letter dated August 28, 2018:  " ... The Applicant will present materials prepared by the Applicant's architect and civil engineer representing the final layout and architecture of the senior multi-family building and the single-family attached dwelling units.  It is anticipated that this meeting will be the final meeting before the Design Review Board prior to the public hearings schedule in October. ... "  DRB approved the conceptual site plan and massing in July.  DRB also approved related September 18 meeting submission items.

COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
@ 7:30 P.M. THU OCT 4
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
@ 3:30 P.M. THU OCT 15
From a Legal Notice dated September 13, 2018:  " ... to approve the PRC plan and to permit residential development.  ... to amend the proffers, conceptual and development plans ... previously approved for senior housing to permit an independent living facility and single-family attached units and associated modifications to proffers and site design at a density of 46.3 dwelling units per acre ... ."

RA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD WORK SESSION
@ 1:15 P.M. FRI OCT 26
From a letter dated October 5, 2018:  " ... the Applicant will present a sample board of exterior colors and materials, architectural elevation drawings, and other site development details ... ."

RA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING
@ 7:00 P.M. TUE NOV 13
From a letter dated October 26, 2018:  " ... materials (presented during the October 26 Work Session) will be revised in accordance with the discussion at the work session and presented to the DRB for a final decision ... ."

Previous project updates are posted below.  Official presentation materials are available on the project team webpage.

RESTON HURRICANE FLORENCE IMPACTS

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a State of Emergency as the storm strengthened and the possible path was extended up from the Carolinas into Virginia and the DC area, as reported Sunday in the Washington Post.  Past storms have followed similar clockwise paths.  NOAA images updated as noted.

Based on NOAA predictions, inland areas may experience prolonged heavy rain and tropical storm force winds of 39-73 mph. depending on distance from the storm center.  Experience in New York during 2012 Hurricane Sandy indicated that all standing trees risk falling in 70 mph. winds.

RELAC A/C 2018 SERVICE STARTS EARLY

With outside daytime temperatures warming up to the 80-90F range this week, Reston RELAC will begin service to HCA and other customers early again this year.  According to RELAC President Mark Waddell yesterday, system preparation has been underway for two weeks, testing is in progress today, and home chilled water should be available tomorrow.  For future service information, visit the official RELAC website.  For more information on the RELAC system, see the official HCA webpage.

HCA ANNUAL MTG + DIRECTOR ELECTIONS @ MAY 19

The HCA Annual Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Saturday, May 19, 2018, in the Rose Gallery at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne.  TWC will mail meeting information, Director nomination forms, and Proxy absentee vote forms to all HCA Members in late April or early May.  HCA will also post the 2018 meeting packet on this website.  Members in good standing with no past due balances may vote or be elected. 

Two current Director positions are up for nomination and election this year for full three-year terms.  HCA encourages interested Members in good standing to provide Nomination Form statements of interest and qualifications to TWC as soon as possible, but no later than 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2018, and to indicate if you would like that information posted on this HCA website.  Or you can choose to be nominated at the Annual Meeting itself. 

UPDATES ... May 8:  As of today, neither Vice President Lauri Swift nor Director-At-Large Blake Travis have declared their intentions to seek re-election.  However, both Block 3 Members Sean Joyner and Sarah Teagle recently provided HCA with candidate self-nomination forms.  For more information, click on their linked names above.

Volunteer Directors of this non-profit, non-stock corporation are tasked by the original 1964 HCA Articles of Incorporation with maintaining and improving the Common Areas; enforcing covenants and restrictions; and assessing, collecting, and disbursing funds; all for the benefit of the property and peace, health, comfort, and safety of residents.  Directors typically review budgets, proposals, and contracts; collaborate with other Directors, neighbors, and consultants to make critical decisions; and may provide hands-on project leadership.  Directors must meet at least quarterly, but usually meet monthly.  At whatever level, HCA welcomes your participation.

HCA REGULAR MEETING LOCATION CHANGE @ MAR 21

Fairfax County advised that all county facilities, including RCC Lake Anne, will be closed today due to the snowstorm.  As such, the typical HCA Regular Meeting site at RCC Lake Anne will be unavailable tonight.  However, Cafe' Montmartre, located nearby at 1625 Washington Plaza North in Lake Anne Village Center, will be open and graciously agreed to host the 7:30 p.m. meeting instead in the relatively quiet northeast corner of the restaurant.  HCA will post this notice on the RCC Lake Anne main entry door redirecting attendees to Cafe' Montmartre.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

The NOAA National Weather Service this morning predicted up to eight inches of snow in the Reston area from today through early Thursday.  Our snow management contractor reported this afternoon they " ... will be providing snow and ice management services to the cluster as required."

RA HCA CLUSTER INSPECTIONS @ MAR 23+

In 2008, RA conducted visual exterior inspections of all 90 HCA Goodman Houses as requested by the HCA Board of Directors.  This resulted in a clusterwide flurry of home clean-up and repair that improved overall cluster appearance and property values for many years thereafter.

In 2018, RA will perform exterior visual walkthrough inspections of Hickory, Waterview, and Burchfield Woods Clusters, as requested by respective Boards of Directors, and according to RA schedules. 

HCA specifically requested in 2018 that RA focus on a limited number of less comprehensive Goodman House exterior items with high visibility property value impacts for which existing condition corrections are reasonably achievable by homeowners.  However, RA advised that its staff teams will perform inspections according to established RA processes, RA standards, and RA checklists used throughout Reston, without HCA-requested limits. 

Assistance for exterior home repairs may be available from RA Helping Homes, an on-going community service project, to eligible HCA Members who are who are elderly, disabled, or financially challenged and are unable to make those repairs through their own resources.  In 2016, RA Helping Homes provided assistance to four Reston homeowners.

For more information and most recent updates and revisions, including 2018 product equivalents and recommendations for 1993-98 HCA Cluster Standards colors, paints, and concrete beam coatings, see the dedicated HCA RA Cluster Inspections webpage. 

UPDATES ... April 24:  For more information about RA violation letter items cited, contact RA Covenants Advisor Vern James.  April 23:  The March 2018 v1.0 "color palette" paint and coating product equivalents reference page RA provided in April 19, 2018 violations letters is an early version, it contains errors later corrected in the March 28, 2018 current version, and HCA asked RA on March 29 to replace it.  The current version is available on the HCA Governing Documents page on this website.

HCA SPRING CLEAN-UP @ MAR 1-31

The HCA grounds maintenance contractor will begin Spring 2018 flowerbed and planter mulching and clean-up, plaza blowing, and tree debris removal next month in preparation for seasonal weekly mowing.  In addition, HCA Spring 2018 Cluster Clean-Up will be held March 1-31 to prepare for March 23+ HCA RA Cluster Inspections, and plaza power washing is also being planned.  During this period, HCA encourages Members to remove personal property stored on nearby HCA Common Areas, remove debris around Goodman Houses, stack fallen tree debris near the central RA footpath or HCA streets for contractor removal, and cut or remove vines from tree trunks and branches.  However, Members should not otherwise remove invasive species English Ivy from HCA Common Areas because it provides inexpensive ground cover that controls soil erosion.  Be careful to avoid Poison Ivy and similar plants.  Contact individual HCA Directors to coordinate special projects.

LAKE ANNE FELLOWSHIP HOUSE UPDATES

August 28:  FH requested a 7:00 p.m. September 18 DRB Final Design Approval meeting.  The FH project team has posted these and previous presentation materials, including proposed schematic building and landscape plans, to a dedicated project webpage. 

July 31:  FH requested a 6:00 p.m. August 21 DRB Work Session to discuss proposed site plan revisions and new townhome architectural designs.
 
July 24:  HCA received the RA DRB July 17 full Board meeting decision letter.  Revised FH townhome concept is for 36 units.

July 2:  Next FH presentation at RA DRB is 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 17 for approval of a site plan and general building massing, hopefully with June 19 DRB townhome feedback. 

May 29:  FH notified HCA of a 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 RA DRB public meeting to request approval of a site plan and general massing plan at RA Headquarters. 

May 4:  The project team notified affected HCA Mermbers via letter of a 12:00 noon scheduled work session with RA DRB on Friday, May 25 at RA Headquarters.  Previous sessions were open to the public.  Also,  the applications are currently scheduled on October 4 before the County Planning Commission and October 16 before the Board of Supervisors. 

April 13:  RA announced today that the Tuesday, April 17 DRB working session with the Fellowship House redevelopment team at RA Headquarters is scheduled for 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., one hour earlier than the normal DRB 7:00 p.m. start time.  In addition, a video of the April 6 redevelopment team informational presentation to RA DRB is available online.  Several HCA Members and Directors attended the April 6 meeting. 

March 29:  The snowstorm-cancelled March 20 RA DRB information session is rescheduled for Friday, April 6 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at RA Headquarters.  In addition, a working session is scheduled for the regular Tuesday, April 17 DRB meeting also at RA. 

February 27:  The project team verbally reported that the next community outreach meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15 at Lake Anne Elementary School for HCA and Lake Anne Condo residents, and Fairfax County distributed formal notices on March 7.  In addition, the project team mailed Affected Party notification letters  on February 27 to HCA Members advising of the 7:00 p.m. March 20 DRB informational meeting at RA Headquarters with a direct public link to related DRB general presentation slides and Phase 1-3 initial architectural, landscape, and site drawings.  From that DRB meeting material, HCA distilled selected Phase 3 slides and drawings specifically relevant to adjacent HCA Block 1 Affected Neighbors.

RA announced February 16 that the New Lake Anne House LP project team will provide an informational presentation to the full DRB on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.  The February 2018 RA Reston Development Tracker also noted related events:  Fairfax County Staff Report available July 4, Planning Commission hearing July 19, and Board of Supervisors hearing July 31.  In addition, the team selected an undisclosed prominent home builder with Fairfax County experience as developer of up to 70 four-story single family homes to be built immediately adjacent to HCA Block 1 within four years. 

The project team recently surveyed and marked the HCA shared property line with tall wooden stakes and pink marking tape, and marked trees with metal tags and colored tape.

HCA / RA / COUNTY PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS

Several years ago, an Airbnb short-term rental of a Hickory Cluster Goodman House caused an uproar from nearby neighbors and much discussion and legal research by the HCA Board of Directors.  In response to similar situations throughout the community, more recently Reston Association established a Home-Sharing Policy based on current Fairfax County rules and Zoning Ordinances, summarized as follows:  " ... Reston has a duty to its Members to enforce the covenants and restrictions put in place to preserve the character and serenity that has made Reston the community it is today.  As the County has now officially determined that short-term rentals violate the Zoning Ordinance, Reston has a duty to enforce the covenants incorporating the Zoning Ordinance and to take action against Members in violation thereof. ... "  To align with current County and RA policies, and to protect very limited HCA Common Area parking from transient tenant "free parking on premises" impacts, HCA Directors agreed during the January 2018 Regular Meeting to prohibit unauthorized HCA short-term rentals.  HCA Members can file formal compliance complaints with Fairfax County as advised in the notice above, or in writing with RA or HCA.  UPDATE ... March 20:  The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized public hearings for proposed new zoning rules on short-term lodgings, such as those offered through Airbnb, VRBO and Flipkey.  Please note the following dates are subject to change:  Planning Commission Public Hearing on May 3, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., and Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on June 19, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.  For more information, see the recent County press release.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From our snow management contractor this evening:  "As a result of the winter weather moving into our area ... we are planning on providing snow and/or ice management services to the cluster tomorrow in the early AM. ... "

HCA 2018 PARKING HANG TAGS START @ TODAY

Managing Agent TWC advised Directors that they mailed new orange 2018 HCA parking hang tags to Members on Tuesday, January 30 based on TWC receipt of completed Member homeowner and tenant information forms.   This followed December 1, 2017 budget package and special January 19, 2018 mailings of the HCA parking hang tag notice and information form advising all Members of these updates.  Also in January, HCA Directors agreed to observe a one month transition grace period until March 1, 2018 at which time all vehicles parked on HCA Common Area, including carriage house carports, must fully display 2018 HCA hang tags or be subject to citation or towing.  All other HCA parking rules remain in effect.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From our snow management contractor this morning:  "It looks like we have another chance for winter weather in the overnight hours tonight into tomorrow. As of right now this does not look like it will amount to much. The ground temps are relatively warm and temps are forecast to go above freezing tomorrow. I will monitor the situation and report back later today with any plans. ... "

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

UPDATE ... From our snow management contractor Tuesday morning:  " ... There is the potential for hazardous commuting conditions for Wednesday morning.  A period of snow is expected with approximately 1" of snow expected on our area roads.  As a result roads could turn icy and dangerous.  We are preparing and planning for winter operations this afternoon.  We will monitor the situation and make applications of salt and sand as required. ... "  With predicted snowfall less than two inches under our time and materials contract, the HCA snow management contractor typically will not plow cluster roadways.

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From our snow management contractor this morning:  " ... The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area. The advisory remains in effect from 1:00 p.m. this afternoon to 7:00 p.m. this evening.  A wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet is expected resulting in slippery conditions. We are preparing and planning for winter operations this afternoon. We will monitor the situation and make applications of salt and sand as required. ... "  UPDATE ... " ... "We have come above freezing and it looks like whatever falls now is going to be in the form of rain. There will not be a need to make any applications. ... "

HCA ROAD STORM SERVICE UPDATE

From our snow management contractor this morning:  " ... there is the potential for hazardous commuting conditions for this Thursday morning.  As we go through the day I am sure we will have a clearer understanding of what will happen.  Right now, based on this forecast and warning from NWS, I am making preparations and planning on making a treatment to the paved areas of the cluster in the overnight hours of tonight."