Summer 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our newest resident:  Olive Gallie McGinty Randall who arrived May 4th, 2023 at 6 lbs 4oz. It is good to have more babies and young kids in the neighborhood.

Thanks to everyone who participated in some fashion on cluster cleanup.   It always helps to have more residents participate in sprucing up the cluster.  A special thanks to Bob Babcock for fixing a problem area left over from the parking lot repairs and putting in a retaining wall to stop the flow of dirt in the corner of the South Lakes Court parking lot.  We will be doing this again in October and hope to see even more residents helping.

Parking reminders:  We want to remind residents to park in their own parking spaces and

leave the spots around the island on Colts Neck Court for guests, repair people, nannies, health care workers, etc.  Since spaces are marked for residents, when you leave your space open, no one else can park there. 

We continue to receive complaints about this happening.  Only the board can have cars towed and this is not something we want to do.  Please be considerate and follow the parking regulations so that we don't need to tow.

The parking rules also require that all cars have current inspection stickers and current license plates in order to park here.  Since we spent a lot of money last year on redoing the parking lot and hope to have it last a good while, every now and then back out your car and be sure your vehicle is not leaking fluids.  We want to maintain the lot in good condition and in accordance with the consultant and contractor's recommendations, the parking lot will be sealed around 2026.

Dues:  There have been no delinquencies in 2023.  Let's keep it that way.  The 2023 budget has to be figured prior to the cluster's August board meeting and several of the figures come from calculations after all dues are paid in July.  It would assist the Treasurer if you could ensure that your payments are to her in a timely fashion and received by the last day of the month or earlier if possible.  She has very little time to run all the calculations needed before the next board meeting so that we can get all owners information in early September prior to the October annual meeting.

Fixing up properties:    A number of owners are making repairs to their homes.  There are new roofs, new siding, a new fence, yards being improved, and a new screened in back porch has been approved (the 3rd in our cluster).  Now is the time to get things in order.  Please keep in mind that a lot of things done to our homes on the outside may need Reston Association approval.  We strongly recommend that even when RA tells you it might not need an approval that you get that in writing or submit a simple application so that you have an approval in your file.  Different counselors have different interpretations and we have found having the approval for everything or at the very least an e-mail from them can be of benefit down the road.  Remember anything changed even from one approved style or color to another is considered a change and most changes needs an approval.    There are certain styles for most things, and each cluster has different styles and standards.  One thing picked up often by Reston Assn on inspections for sales is light fixtures.  There are a couple of styles available (not carriage lights) and front and back fixtures must match.  Don't spend time and money on things and find out later it is a violation for Reston Assn.  Our current counselor at Reston Association is Erin Gable.  (703) 435-6521 erin@reston.org; www.reston.org

Trash:  Reminder, these are the pickup dates for Trash.  All go early morning except

recyclables, which seem to go later in the day:

Regular trash – Mondays and Thursdays.

Recycling:  Wednesdays

Yard debris:  Saturdays.

The trash company is here very early for regular trash and quite early for yard waste.  Remember trash is trash, even yard debris.  Other than on cluster cleanup days, yard debris should be put out Fridays after dark.  No one wants to look at trash bags, whether filled with trash, or filled with yard debris, for more than a day,

Upcoming board meetings: 

Board meetings:  7:00 p.m.

 July 26 – 11850 South Lakes Court

August 16 – 11856 South Lakes Court

September 20 – 11850 South Lakes Court

Annual meeting – Community Center Hunters Woods; October 4, 2023, 7:30 p.m.