The Water’s Edge Board of Directors held a virtual (Zoom) annual homeowner’s meeting on Nov. 18th at 7:00 PM. The meeting was well attended.
The meeting included updates from your Board about community projects, the annual budget, and 2021 dues. Additionally, the Board updated residents on 2020 accomplishments and 2021 projects.
2022 Dues
Dues for 2021 will increase 5% vs. 2020.
• Townhomes: $368.55/quarter
• Single Family*: $244.65/quarter
If you currently pay your HOA dues automatically via online banking, auto credit card payment or other automated method, please ensure you update the monthly or quarterly amount to avoid short-paying and incurring late fees.
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The previous temporary collection of yard waste combined with household trash ended on Friday, October 15th 2021.
From now on, all yard waste material must be placed in bio-degradable brown paper bags or a personal container labeled “yard waste”. No yard waste combined with trash or in plastic bags will be collected. American will resume picking up yard waste separately on Wednesdays for single family homes and Thursdays for townhomes.
Yard waste should only be placed out for removal on your weekly scheduled yard waste collection day.
As a reminder, yard waste season runs from March 1st through December, 24th.
A separate notification announcing the dates for picking up of Christmas trees will be forwarded when determined by American Disposal.
Thank you for your cooperation.
ARC Regulations Updated
The Water's Edge HOA Architectural Regulations have been updated by the Board.
The update includes Protective Covenants designed to increase resident's awareness and understanding of the general rules and regulations of the community and to provide homeowners and renters with basic property regulations.
The update includes language to require that renters must communicate HOA issues and requests to the HOA through the landlord. Additionally, all owners with renter(s) shall provide the management company, in writing, the owner’s current address(es) and telephone number as well as the tenant’s telephone number(s).
Keeping Our Kids Safe…
And Out of the Streets
With the warmer weather approaching, it’s time to remind parents with children, that our streets are NOT designed as playgrounds for small, unsupervised kids. Playing in the streets is very unsafe for small children if not under the watchful eyes of a parent.
Last year, with children home from school due to Covid, we had several near misses and incidents of children almost being hit by cars. In most examples, they children were too young to be playing in the street unsupervised.
Nearly half drivers in a recent survey admitted driving over 10 mph over the speed limit in a residential street in the last month. These are areas where children play, and could unexpectedly run out to chase a ball. Two in five drivers report reading a text message while driving and one-third sent a message in the last month while driving.
With the increasing level of distraction among drivers, it’s best to require kids to play in yards, in the grassy circles or our community tot lots and multi-use ball court.
REMEMBER: All it takes is just a few seconds of distraction, even for the most innocent purpose for a child to be hit by a car. Let’s keep our kids safe and OFF THE STREETS.
REMINDER to Townhouse Residents...
Fire Pits & Chimeneas are Illegal
For townhome residents in Fairfax County, using ANY type of portable outdoor fireplaces, including fire pits, chimeneas or other forms of solid-fuel portable fire places are illegal per Section 307.4.3 of the Fairfax County Fire Prevention Code.
This law was created to reduce risk of house fires, property damage, occupant displacement, and personal injury or death from the operation or storage of portable outdoor fireplaces in or around townhouse structures. Potential fire risks associated with misuse of portable outdoor fireplaces is high. A popping ember, an unattended fire pit or improper disposal of leftover ashes can result in accidental ignition of a deck, patio, furniture, or vegetation that could start a fire that burns not just your townhouse, but several of your neighbor’s townhomes.
For violators, Fairfax County can assess a fine up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail, or both for each violation.
This law does not apply to single-family homes, but single-family homeowners are reminded to use any fire source safely and responsibly and always have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Please do not place large boxes that are not broken down and flattened next to your recycling bin for pick-up. Please break them down flat and place them in your recycling bin. If you have more boxes than can fit into your recycling tote, please flatten all of them for easier handling by our hard-working trash collectors.
Good Neighbor Parking...
With more people at home due to Covid, we ask all residents to please be a good neighbor and fully utilize ALL of their private parking spaces, including your garage and driveway BEFORE parking your vehicles in our limited number of guest parking spots.
We thank you for your neighborly cooperation.
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--- Upcoming Meetings & Events --- Note All Meetings Are Now Virtual Contact SCS to Participate |
New Mailbox Installation
Friday, November 26th to Monday, December 6th at Communitywide
Monthly ARC Meeting
Tuesday, November 30th, 6:30 pm at Virtual
Board of Directors Meeting - NO DEC. MEETING
Tuesday, December 14th, 6:30 PM at No Meeting
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Water's Edge News |
The Audubon at Home Program of Northern Virginia received funds from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to demonstrate the concept that native plants, so critical to wildlife habitat, can fit nicely into a suburban aesthetic, including formal or semi-formal settings. Audubon at Home invited homeowner and civic associations to apply for matching grants of $2,350 apiece to beautify their neighborhood entrances using low maintenance native plants. Water’s Edge HOA was one of six associations out of 35 applications to receive grant funding this summer.
Re-landscaping of the south entrance of Water’s Edge at Great Heron Drive will commence around September 24th. The Water’s Edge Landscaping and Grounds Committee is working with Hands Dirty, a company that is certified as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional specializing in designing, consulting, installing and maintaining conservation landscapes and native plants.
Once the landscaping design plan is finalized, it will be shared with the members of the HOA. All existing invasive species of plants, shrubs, ground covers and trees will be removed. Only native plants will be used in the entrance planting. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides will not be used in the future because chemicals endanger pollinators such as bees and other wildlife. A professional water service will be utilized until the plants are sufficiently established.
A Message to Dog Owners:
If you walk your dog around the south Water’s Edge entrance, please DO NOT let your pet walk in the mulch bed. Pet urine will adversely impact the health of the new plants.
Enjoy watching the new plantings take hold and emerging into a beautiful swath of color and habitat for pollinators such as butterflies, beetles, bees, and birds, which are so essential to the overall production of plants.
Water’s Edge Landscaping and Grounds Committee
The Board has approved two projects for implementation in the fall. These include:
Mailbox Replacement
The HOA will replace all the old mailboxes in the community with new and more secure cluster boxes.
Expected completion: Early 2022.
Board and ARC Meetings Move to Virtual Meeting Format
The monthly Water’s Edge Board of Director's meeting and ARC meetings will continue in a virtual format using Zoom videoconferencing service. This change is for the safety and health of all participants. The Board and ARC will continue to meet monthly at their usual dates and times. The virtual format will continue until further notice.
Please be assured that the Board and SCS will continue to manage the HOA's operations as well as the ARC to review Exterior Applications and assist homeowners in projects.
If as a homeowner you have a critical need to attend a Board meeting, please contact Anastasia Demos, our Community Manager at 703-631-2003 or via email at ademos@scs-management.com and let her know the specific issue or question you have. We will attempt to conference in the homeowner by providing a link to the meeting or address the issue offline.
If you need the ARC's assistance, have questions or need advice on an exterior project, please contact them at WatersEdgeARC@gmail.com.
Please watch this web page for updates and additional information regarding Board meetings or other HOA news.
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Homeowners - How to Register |
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To access any of the features or information in the Members section, homeowners and residents must register and login.
To register, select the Register option on the left navigation menu. All you'll need is your name, address, email address, and Water's Edge Account Number*.
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Other Local News & Tips |
Or visit Farfax County's Covid-19 page at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/
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Volunteer to Help |
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The Association is looking for several volunteers for help out on a couple committees:
- Architectural Review (ARC)
- Landscaping and Grounds
- Social
- Website & Newsletter
The community needs a couple people for the ARC and the Landscaping and Grounds Committee to keep our community looking good and property values high. It's also tough to create a "sense of community" without getting to know your neighbors so a social Committee is needed to help people get out and meet their neighbors on a social basis, plan a few friendly events and get people involved. And lastly, the website and expanded newsletter won't create itself without a few volunteers for the Website and Newsletter Committee helping write and edit our resident communications.
If you would like to volunteer for a committee, and WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please use the Contact Us form and send your message directly to the specific committee. You may also complete the Committee Volunteer form and submit it directly to SCS. The form is located on the Forms & Documents page.
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