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Charlestown Owners Association
Springfield, Virginia
A Williamsburg Townhouse Community Established in 1966.
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The documents on this website are presented in Adobe Acrobat ".pdf" format. To view these files, download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software from the Adobe website:
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PRUNING - MAY 4, 2012
HLS will begin pruning shrubs and bushes in the Common Areas (everything outside the patio walls), beginning Monday, May 28 (weather permitting). If there are shrubs or bushes that you wish to prune yourself please mark them with white strips of cloth.
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JANUARY 12, 2012: FIRE LANE UPDATE
On Jan 10, 2012 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to the Fairfax County Fire Code. These changes included the following exception:
Exception 2 to section 503.1.1 of Chapter 62:
2. In communities developed with single-family dwellings and/or townhomes that were constructed prior to December 31, 1979, wherein the Fire Code Official has no site plan and/or subdivision plan depicting or identifying designated fire lanes/fire apparatus access road for the development, the Fire Code Official may conduct an analysis to designate and/or modify the requirements of this section. Any code modification shall require a written request from the community association accompanied by a site plan depicting the dimensions and location of the subject streets relative to all dwellings, structures and points of assembly. Before granting a fire code modification request, the Fire Code Official shall evaluate the type and grade of construction, structural components, including but not limited to the exterior wall coverings, accessibility and/or obstructions throughout the subject area, available water supplies. The distance and rescue response time from a fire station, and other relevant factors. Such fire code modifications may be granted by the Fire Official only if the health, safety, and welfare of the community is not compromised.
This exception will enable Charlestown and a few other communities built without designated fire lanes to be evaluated individually and requirements tailored to the specific situation so as to ensure the safety and health of residents as well as the safety and ready access of Fire and Rescue emergency responders without imposing unreasonably restrictive parking limitations on the community.
While we must still work out the specific details with the Fire Marshal, all indications are that we will not have to do much, if anything, in the way of further restricting parking in order to reach a final resolution of this case. We should be able to work this out over the next few months. In the meantime we will make no changes.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergency Services Information - click here to view.
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COA TRASH SERVICES
Contact Trash Away, Inc.: 703-339-4560
Trash Away, Inc. Services
Trash Away, Inc. Recycling Information
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HELP NEEDED! CHRONICLE DELIVERERS
We have recently lost several of our stalwart Chronicle deliverers and are in desperate need of volunteers to get our newsletters out to our community. Chronicle delivery is only once a month and the number delivered by each carrier is not great. It requires only about an hour - at most - and is a great service to our community. Please call the COA office to volunteer at (703) 569-1959.
We would like to thank Chuck Enterline and Valerie Mullineaux for the many years they have volunteered their time and energy to faithfully deliver our newsletter. Thank You for being a big part of what makes our community special!
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GROWING THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TEAM
As the community knows, the Neighborhood Watchers are performing exactly as expected -- excellence! The evidence is the relative absence of trespassing and/or any other significant issues. The program's only problem is the shortage of watchers, i.e. only 14 are on the roster, yet not all are equally available. At present, there are potentially seven two-person teams, but the same teams are working every 4-6 weeks, which is wearing. If we could recruit ten more residents -- who would be trained of course -- the potential would become twelve teams and that would change the rotation to one shift every 7-10 weeks. If you are at all interested, please contact the Neighborhood Watch coordinator, Marc Powe).
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OWNER INFORMATION UPDATE
Did you know that the Bylaws require all owners to have current contact information on file with the COA? This information is critical for the smooth operation of the COA and benefits the owner in case of an emergency (roof problems, neighbor water leaks, fire) and for reasons of home security, car security, outside maintenance issues and neighborhood upkeep. Many phone numbers, email addresses and other contact information in the COA system is either out of date or missing. Please take a moment to comply with our Bylaws and ensure that the COA can contact you in a timely manner, if necessary. Fill out the information requested in the Owner Contact Information Form and return it to the office as soon as possible. This information is used for COA business only and is not released to third parties.
Owner Contact Information Form - click here to view.
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CHARLESTOWN LADIES BOOK CLUB UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, Thursday, April 19, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the home of Ann Brown
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet, Thursday, May 17, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the home of Karen Powe
New members always welcome! See the community newsletter for more information.
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CHARLESTOWN MOMMIES CLUB
Moms! Come meet other neighborhood moms. Do you have a little one looking for playmates close by? Join a local playgroup/mom's club in Charlestown. For more information contact Karen at knchaudhry@gmail.com or 703-644-0947.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
A big thank you to the residents of Garfield Court and V Drive for their compassion and generosity this Christmas. On December 9th, they donated 161 cans, boxes and jars of food - a whole car trunkfull! - for the Capital Area Food Bank in Lorton. The Food Bank is very grateful for their support.
--Karen Heal
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2010 REPORT FROM THE ASSOCIATION'S AUDITOR
2010 Report from the Association's Auditor - click here to view.
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2011 RESERVE STUDY
July 2011 Community Reserve Study - click here to view.
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MAY 30, 2011: FIRE LANE UPDATE
Pat Herrity (with the help of the County Attorney and the cooperation of the Fire Marshal) drafted a change to the Fairfax County implementation of the State Fire Code. This change will allow the few communities which, like Charlestown, were built before 1979 (when designated Fire Lanes were first required) to continue without designated fire lanes. We don't have the specific language yet, but understand it will say parking in these communities will be allowed on one side of streets at least 20' wide (almost all of ours are 24' with a few that are 22'). Our appeal to the State Technical Review Board has been deferred pending final action by the County Board of Supervisors. Pat is confident that the proposed amendment will be enacted by the Board of Supervisors in August or September. We will take no action pending this vote.
We all must thank Pat who has been the driving force in this. Without his considerable efforts this matter would have been resolved to our detriment months ago. Pat has gone well beyond any expectation of what could reasonably be expected. He brings a whole new definition to the term "constituent support." He deserves the thanks of all Charlestown residents.
Dave Albo also offered to support our appeal to the State - and, if needed, to attempt to author a legislative fix at the State level when the House of Delegates convenes in January.
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APRIL 14, 2011: FIRE LANE UPDATE - RESULTS OF THE APPEAL HEARING ON THE FIRE MARSHAL'S NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Results of the Appeal Hearing - click here to view.
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APRIL 5, 2011: FIRE LANE UPDATE - APPEAL OF THE FIRE MARSHAL'S NOTICE OF VIOLATION
The Appeal of the Fire Marshal's Notice of Violation will be heard by the Fairfax County Building Code Appeals Board on Wednesday, 13 April 2011, in Rooms 2 & 3 of the Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. Residents may attend. NOTE: We understand that the board will hear three appeals that day and ours may be last.
Fire Lanes Flyer - click here for more information.
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STATUS UPDATE ON FIRE LANE AND PARKING ISSUE
The Fire Marshal has issued a Notice of Violation to Charlestown (see link below) which designates Fire Lanes for us.
Fire Marshal's Notice of Violation to Charlestown - click here to view.
It would eliminate all curb parking on all Charlestown streets, traffic circles and parking lots except Lakinhurst and Willow Forge which are one-way, Queenston and the one block of each of Seabright and Wickham which are wider VDOT streets. We are appealing this decision to the County Board of Building Code Appeals (see link below). Supervisor Pat Herrity supports our appeal and will send the Board a separate letter.
Charlestown's Appeal of Fire Marshal's Edict - click here to view.
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CHANGES TO PARKING AND STREETS
The board approved the letter below and the actions outlined within it during our 20 July board meeting and we are hopeful that the actions taken will satisfactorily resolve the matter with the Fire Marshal without further more drastic action being required.
Fire Lane and Parking Issues - President's Letter to Fire Marshall 7-21-2010 - click here to view.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: CHANGE OF ADDRESS FOR PAYING ASSOCIATION ASSESSMENTS
Cardinal Management Group has changed the address for Dues/Assessment payments from the Ashburn, VA address located on your payment coupons, to the address below:
PO Box 71209
Philadelphia, PA 19176-6209
Please send all future payments to this address. If you use an online banking service to make your payments, you will need to change this information in your Billing information. Dues paid by automatic withdrawal will not be affected by this change.
If your payment has already been sent to the Ashburn address - it will be forwarded to the address above. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Cardinal Management Group
Agents for the Charlestown Owners Association
8533 Lakinhurst Lane, Springfield, 22152
Phone (703) 569-1959, Fax (703) 569-6109, http://www.charlestowncoa.org
Printable Version - Change of Address Notice for Assessment Payments - click here to view.
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What's New
*Monthly Assessment for 2012 is $206.36, due on the first of each month.
*May 2012 Newsletter
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Coming Soon
*May 1, June 5, July 3 - Monthly Architectural Committee Meeting - 7 pm
*May 15, June 19, July 17 - Monthly Board of Directors Meeting - 7 pm
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