Special Edition - Grounds Committee Report
RESIDENTS - PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE NOTICE ON PAGE 3 REGARDING HERBICIDE APPLICATION Formation of New Grounds Committee Board member Shannon Watson (Court 9) has organized a group of residents to develop on-going plans to renovate, improve, and maintain the landscape of Fairlington Mews Condominium Association. In early July, Elizabeth Grenfell (from Court 15) and Tom Corbin (from Court 9) volunteered to serve as co-chairs of the grounds committee with the concurrence of Ms. Watson, who has responsibility for Buildings and Grounds for the Board. Ms. Grenfell is a student of horticulture, treasurer of the Herb Society, and member of three other plant societies. Mr. Corbin is an experienced gardener and former member of the Mews Buildings and Grounds Committee. Residents Brenda Camenzind, Tom Corbin, Penny Glass, Elizabeth Grenfell, and Bob Griss met informally to discuss grounds concerns on July 19. The Committee is currently benefiting from the advice and assistance of landscaping experts from Blade Runners, the company under contract to the Mews, and from a noted horticulturist (see below). This committee performed an informal grounds "walk around" on July 23 to assess the condition of the landscape in our community; an initial report of landscape problems and problem areas was developed. The committee invited court representatives to meet with them on August 9 at the South Fairlington Community Center to discuss their concerns about the landscape and its maintenance. At that meeting, the group decided the mission of the committee would be: (1) to evaluate the current grounds' condition; (2) to develop an on-going plan for landscape maintenance and replacement; (3) to monitor landscape health, condition, additions, and removal; and (4) to begin a program to educate our community about our landscaping and their role in its care. Court representatives agreed to conduct individual court surveys to determine any additional areas of landscaping concerns missed in the initial walk around. Tom Corbin and Elizabeth Grenfell met with Bernice Pivarnik, a recognized, local horticulturist and landscape designer, to discuss replacement and renovation of some areas of our landscape. Ms. Pivarnick recommends the severe pruning of the overgrown yews, the removal of most of the euonymus, and the replacement of the overgrown arbor vitae. She concluded that some of the landscape, particularly the arborvitae, dwarfed the buildings and detracted from the aesthetic appeal of our architectural features. She also noted that many shrubs had grown too large, particularly around windows. She recommends the planting of slower growing shrubs such as dwarf nandina and boxwood in areas where shrubs are overgrown and suggests planting Nelly Stevens and Foster hollies or upright Hicks yews as replacements for the arbor vitae. Both trees are manageable, offer year- long attraction, and are slow growing. Bladerunners owner Eric Storck and designer Terry Turner accompanied Mr. Corbin and Ms. Grenfell on a walk around of the Mews and provided input about areas that need attention. They proposed improvements to include the following:
The grounds committee plans to make a proposal and budget request to the Mews Board of Directors at its September meeting for beginning the fall implementation of these suggestions with further work in the spring.
Some Grounds Committee members have deadheaded and weeded the island plantings at Wakefield St. and the stone-edged bed at the intersection of S. 34th and 36th Streets; other minor pruning has been done. We plan winter plantings for the 34th St. bed and some spring additions to the Wakefield St. island beds. Future projects to involve and "educate" the community about our landscape include working with the Master Gardener Program of Arlington and Fairfax counties to present seminars about patio landscape and suitable plants, trees, and shrubs for our location. The committee will also consider organizing resident volunteers to perform some simple pruning, weeding, and general upkeep to the grounds. A patio tour in conjunction with other villages in the spring is under consideration. The grounds committee would also like to explore securing state and local grant money to improve the island plantings of S. 34th St. Areas for future landscape consideration include solving the erosion problems in Courts 13 and 10 to prevent mulch from covering the sidewalk and planting groundcover such as liriope in areas where grass does not flourish. The next grounds committee meeting is scheduled for September 19 at 7:30 PM in Room 4 of the South Fairlington Community Center. Check the signboard at the front entrance in case the community center's management has changed the room. Any interested resident is encouraged to attend. Lawn Care A FOURTH AND FINAL APPLICATION
Resident Involvement in Plantings/ Landscape All Fairlington residents appreciate the time and effort many gardeners put into maintaining attractive flowerbeds around their homes. Such work demonstrates community pride and enhances "the quality of life" of Fairlington. Special thanks to all of you who have maintained your flowers all summer. Your efforts make for an attractive neighborhood and help protect all owners' investments. (Remember fall is the time to plant bulbs for spring bloom!) All residents and owners should familiarize themselves with their role in maintaining attractive landscape and grounds by referring to the appropriate sections in the "Fairlington Mews Condominium Association Welcome Handbook" dated March, 1999.
Bladerunners will not service these beds; it is imperative that residents maintain such plantings by mulching, weeding, pruning, and deadheading on a regular basis. When residents no longer assume the maintenance of their borders, they should remove the red reflectors. Vegetables are not to be planted in commons areas and should be removed as they "strangle" the growth of perennials and shrubs. Residents are liable for any damage caused to structures by plantings they make in their patio areas. Patio trees and shrubs must not obstruct common areas or neighboring yards and in general must not exceed 20 ft. In landscaping patio areas, residents need to consider the potential size of their plantings so as not to create inherited problems for future residents. In general, patios must be relatively neat and clear of impediments. The Board of Directors may direct an owner to clean up a patio area and to remove inappropriate plantings. If this is not completed, the association may have the work done and charge the owner. The Board of Directors may ask an owner to remove or prune patio trees or shrubbery, which are potentially dangerous. If the resident does not comply with this request, the Board of Directors will have such work done and charge the owner. Climbing vines are prohibited on building walls; certain aggressive vines such as ivy and wisteria damage fence structures and should be removed. Items (including chairs, toys, strollers, etc.) are not to be stored on front porches. Residents should properly maintain any planters they place on porches and stoops. The Continuing Problem of Trash Imagine this scenario…
Most residents in the Mews follow the rules for trash pick up, but too many residents ignore them with increasing frequency. All of us see trash out after the scheduled pick ups, on Sundays, and at inappropriate times. All residents whether owners or renters are reminded that:
When residents cause the association to pay for special trash pick up because of inappropriate items placed on the street, all residents suffer because this is your money. The individual responsible for the trash should be paying to have his stove, commode, sink, or other such items picked up unless it is the first Saturday of the month! OTHER NEWS Fairlington Historical Society Meeting The newly established Fairlington Historical Society has scheduled its first annual meeting on Thursday, October 12, 2000, for the purpose of electing a Board of Trustees. The meeting will be held at the North Fairlington Community Center at 6:30 p.m. In order to encourage the largest possible turnout for the election, the Interim Board will consider all attendees at the October 12 meeting as voting members and eligible to participate in the election if they are residents, unit owners, or former residents. There are five members of the Fairlington Historical Society Board of Trustees. Any one interested in being a candidate for a Board position can either notify Ron Patterson prior to the October 12 meeting or nominate herself or himself from the floor at the meeting. Feel free to call Ron at (703) 931-0687, send him an email at ronaldp755@aol.com, or drop him a note at 4624 S. 34th Street. Fairlington's Own Website www.fairlington.org Remember - you may access information of interest to all Fairlingtonians at this website and find out what's going on in your community and surrounding area. It has the latest Board minutes and newsletters from each association as well as listings of existing association Board members, property managers, and special features on the history of our community and links to other sites. Most importantly, the site provides Fairlingtonians with the latest news of interest to the community, such as the proposed development plans for an expanded "Shirlington Village." Community leaders are working with the Arlington County Planning Commission and the developer to come up with a plan which will reduce negative impacts on Fairlington and which will result in a "neighborhood friendly" addition to our part of the County. The web site is providing residents with events as they occur in this ongoing process, including a petition to the County Board, which can be printed off the web site. The site has recently added a "bulletin board" (called "Speaking Out") which permits residents to post messages on the website and exchange views on a variety of issues. Topics currently available on the bulletin board for discussion include:
Recently posted on the site is a section devoted to the issue of the use of herbicides, which includes an exchange of letters between the Board and residents of Court 11. See the page entitled "A Controversy Over the Use of Herbicides in Fairlington Mews" (posted on the site on July 9, 2000) at the following web address: www.fairlington.org/mewsherb.htm. The page can also be accessed from the web site's "What's New" page under "Recent Additions." Also added recently is a "Community Calendar" which is available to all community organizations for posting the dates for their meetings and events. On-Street Parking/Automobiles The laws of the State of Virginia and the County of Arlington govern on-street parking. Enforcement of those laws is provided by the Arlington County Police Department, which patrols our community on a regular basis. Residents are encouraged to report violations of Arlington on-street parking regulations to the Arlington County Police. Police may enter the parking lots for the purpose of enforcing the law. Vehicles not in conformance with these laws and parked in lots will be ticketed. In addition to compliance with applicable laws, residents and their guests are requested to park courteously on the street by:
Fairlington Mews Council of Co-Owners Board of Directors
Committee Chairs
Court Representatives
Additional Important Numbers
24 Hour Maintenance Call-In - Legum & Norman - (703) 848-4325 MewsNews Published bi-monthly by the Fairlington Mews Board of Directors for owners and residents in Fairlington Mews. Suggestions or items of interest from residents are always welcome.
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