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Homeowner Feedback Solicited For Architectural Guidelines Handbook
The Mason's Passage HOA Board of Directors is seeking your input on the new Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Handbook.

Members of the ACC have spent the last few months developing the handbook to help homeowners understand the various rules contained in the HOA Covenants regarding what kind of permanent modifications may be made on homes and their property in Mason's Passage.

The Covenants were approved by the County as part of the developer's plan and were in place before homeowners began moving in.

The handbook clarifies the language used in the Covenants.

The Board wants homeowners to have an opportunity to review the handbook and provide feedback on the guidelines. However, any proposed change to the handbook which would require a change of the Covenants can only be made by a 90% vote of the homeowners.

The handbook has been posted on the Mason's Passage website for review at Mason's Passage Handbook. If you would like to have a copy sent to you by e-mail or via mail, please contact Armstrong Management at wtomlin@armstrong.net or 703-313-9359 x 3013. Comments will be collected by Armstrong Management through August 23rd and presented to the ACC and the Board at the end of August.

Come to the Mason's Passage Annual Community Picnic
The Annual Mason's Passage Community Picnic will be held July 13th from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.

Schedule of Events:
Noon-3:00 pm
Food at Village Green
3:00-6:00 pm
Games and activities at Recreation Field

As usual, the picnic will be potluck so please bring a dish or two to share with others. We'll need side dishes, salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken or other items for the grill in addition to desserts. Extra coolers are also appreciated. The HOA will supply chips, sodas and paper products.

For the afternoon's activities at the recreation field, events will be organized including a egg run and 3-legged race in addition to a game of volleyball for older kids and adults. Be sure to stay for the prize drawing around 4:00 for your chance to win a door prizes from Target or Home Depot.

Information will be available at the picnic on the HOA's latest activities and on volunteer opportunities. Board members will also be present to answer questions.

Come to this fun event to get to know your neighbors!

Townhome Parking Update
Comments regarding the assigned spaces parking plan for Seafarer Way (included in the June issue of the newsletter) have been received and considered. The Board approved the plan at it's meeting in June.

The Board has also approved a motion to have lot numbers painted on the pavement for each assigned parking spot. Advance notice will be given to homeowners regarding scheduling of painting.

HOA Activites Since September
Since the general community meeting last September at Gunston Hall Elementary, the Mason's Passage Homeowners Association has been very busy.

At the meeting, the community took over the HOA from the developer and a Board of Directors was elected comprised of five homeowners with staggered terms of service. The Board also facilitated the formation of four committees-the Architectural Control Committee, Grounds Committee , Parking Committee and Communications Committee.

The Board and Committees are made up of individual homeowners with busy schedules of their own, but who have volunteered their time and efforts to ensure that Mason's Passage is a great place to live. While we are a small community, a lot of work has to be done with any HOA. The efforts of these homeowners is especially appreciated.

The following information highlights the activities and hard work of the HOA since last September:

Budget and Finance
When founding an HOA, much attention must be given to responsible planning. The Board's Treasurer led an audit of the association's finances to ensure its fiscal soundness. The Board also spent many hours working on a budget for 2002 which had to be put together and passed very soon after the Board was formed.

Parking
This past Spring, the Board formed a new committee to consider parking issues within the community. Within a couple of months, the committee proposed a parking plan for assigned spaces for homeowners on Seafarer Way who don't have garages. The committee is also coordinating an effort to have lot numbers painted on assigned spaces. Guidelines for visitor parking for the remaining townhomes and single-family homes will be forthcoming.

Dues Collection
When the new Board began meeting last September, it became clear that one of the first matters that required attention was setting in place a procedure for the timely collection of dues. There were a number of homeowners who weren't paying the dues they owed, some for as long as two years. The Board had to take immediate action to create a collection procedure which would be fair to homeowners and yet allow the HOA to function. A process has been set in place and posted on the website and back dues are being collected.

Grounds
Soon after taking office, the Board needed to take action to improve the appearance of the common grounds of the community. The Grounds Committee was tasked with investigating how to improve the appearance of the village green at the front of the community and make a recommendation on a new contractor to service the common grounds. Kids were asked to stop playing on the village green in order to encourage grass to grow and the committee looked into what, if anything, the developer's responsibilities were. Lots of hard work went into soliciting and reviewing proposals and bids. After much deliberation, the Board approved the committee's recommendation to accept Silverbrook Nursery for grounds maintenance. Future plans are in the works for further developing the village green, but cannot move forward until the developer is released from his bond with the County.

Architectural Control
The members of the Architectural Control Committee face one of the most difficult jobs in the HOA-reviewing and deciding applications from homeowners for modifications to the outside of their homes or property. Fairfax County approved covenants set up by the developer regarding the style of homes and general appearance of the community. The ACC must work within these rules when considering applications and must also keep in mind fairness and equality to homeowners. The committee meets monthly to review applications, but often receives urgent requests from homeowners for immediate consideration. Despite the committee members' own busy schedules, it does its best to work with homeowners in this situation. The committee recently proposed a handbook for homeowners to use when trying to understand the various architectural guidelines. The committee is currently accepting feedback until the end of July. The Board expects to vote on the handbook at its August meeting.

Transition Study
In order to ensure that the developer and/or builder has fulfilled all required obligations, the Board began a transition study. A transition study concerns the property owned by our association and any issues that may affect our common grounds brought on by action or inaction of a developer and or builder. The Board hired GJB Engineering to survey various aspects of the community to ensure they are not in violation of any county or local ordinance. Comments were solicited from homeowners to ensure that no pertinent issues would be overlooked in the study, such as drainage, foliage, streets and sidewalk repair, playgrounds, easements, park areas, etc. Once the study is complete and any issues resulting from it addressed, the county will release the developer from his bond.

Reserve Study
The HOA also made plans to conduct a reserve study to ensure that proper resources are set aside to pay for major improvements as needed over time. The study will determine the life of the item, its replacement cost, and the reserve amount that should be set aside annually to fund the replacement. The Board authorized a reserve study by GJB Engineering, which will be conducted in 2003. The study will commission the reserve study which will identify the maintenance and reserve funds necessary for the upkeep of Association assets - such as streets and sidewalks.

Newsletter and Website
Through the work of the Communications Committee, a newsletter was established for the community with the inaugural issue being published in January. The newsletter has served as an important tool to communicating with homeowners regarding notices, events and actions taken by the board. The committee also posted a website, which was created by a homeowner at no charge to homeowners and is updated regularly.

Community Signage
For the safety of homeowners and their children, the HOA approved the purchase of stop signs and speed limit signs. The signs were recently posted along with signs that state the community's non-solicitation policy. Signs have also been posted regarding use of the village green. A shadow box has been approved and will soon be erected for the posting of notices and rules for usage of the village green.

Community Clean-Up
In April, the HOA hosted a Community Clean-Up Day to improve the appearance of Mason's Passage and to make the recreation field a safer place to play for children. The event was a rousing success with many homeowners lending a hand to haul away many bags of trash and old tires and TV sets among other items.

Neighborhood Watch
The Board of Directors approved the creation of a neighborhood watch for Mason's Passage. A meeting was held earlier this year for volunteers with members of the Fairfax County Police Department to explain what a watch program is and how homeowners can get more involved in protecting our community. Block Watch signs have been posted and a run-down of local criminal activity is included in each issue of the Mason's Passage newsletter. The Block Watch continues to look for members as well as a volunteer to head up the group.

**Anyone interested in volunteering to serve on a committee or be a part of the Mason's Passage Block Watch should contact Armstrong Management at 703-313-9359 x 3013.

Have an Idea for This Newsletter?
Send any comments or suggestions to Kristin Bowl at kristinbowl@yahoo.com.