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.