Architectural Review

*Quick Links*	*Meeting Dates*
ARB Application	Regular Monthly Meeting -- Tuesday, April 6, 2010 (6:30 p.m.) (Applications due in office by 5 p.m. on March 30)
Architectural Review Procedures and Architectural Standards
Real Estate Signs
Find Your Lot Number
Recently Approved Applications
Window Air Conditioning Units
Selling Your House?
Trash, Recycling, Yard Debris
Equipment Storage

Before you Apply Refer to the Architectural Standards (click on link to download in .pdf format). If you have any questions regarding Exterior Alteration Applications, you may contact the office at 703-620-6230 or send an e-mail to foundation@franklinfarm.org.

Spring will soon be here, and as many of you start getting exterior home improvement projects lined up, the Architectural Review Board (ARB) wants to urge all of you to refresh your ARB knowledge with regard to the following points.

All exterior alterations require an application in accordance with the Architectural Review Procedures and Architectural Standards (revised and updated July 2008), and for your convenience, the application can be downloaded from our Franklin Farm Web site.

Applications require several components, including, but not limited to, neighbor’s signatures, detailed descriptions of the materials being used, the size of the improvement, and sometimes even architectural drawings. A checklist has been created for your reference and can be found on page 19 of the Architectural Review Procedures and Architectural Standards.

All residents are encouraged to attend the ARB meetings. This is especially helpful if you have an application before the Board and questions come up during review. The ARB meets twice a month, except for December, in order to provide the community a fast turnaround for applications.

Delays in the application process are almost always due to incomplete applications, so please read and follow the Architectural Review Procedures and Architectural Standards carefully.

Here are a few easy steps you can take to stay warm and keep your energy bills low —

Get a tune-up! … Just as you do with your car, to improve gas mileage and overall performance, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling equipment can improve its efficiency and performance — and offer you more “mileage” from your system. Now is the time to call a licensed HVAC professional to arrange for an annual visit to inspect and tune up your furnace.

Change your filters! … Replace or clean the air filter on your home heating system every single month to keep your system running efficiently and avoid wasting energy. Dirt and neglect are the No.1 cause of premature failure of heating and cooling equipment.

Let the fresh air in! … Take advantage of extended periods of time during the fall when it is not too hot or cold outside by giving your heating or cooling system a break and opening up the windows for a little fresh air. Heating and cooling your home amounts to about half of the average home’s annual energy costs!

More tips from EPA to save energy and help reduce your “carbon footprint” —

Sleep is good! … Check the sleep or “power management” settings on your computer’s CPU and monitor to ensure they go to sleep when you are not using your computer for more than 15 minutes.

Unplug it! … Make an effort to unplug battery chargers when not in use, turn home office equipment off from a power strip, and turn lights and ceiling fans off when no one is in the room. Many products use energy, even when turned off, if they are still plugged in. Small trickles of energy use in your home can drain your wallet — and waste our natural resources.

Reprinted from the Professional Landcare Network Web site, www.landcarenetwork.org

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) reports that the proper placement of shrubs and trees around your home or office can reduce utility bills and conserve energy while creating a healthy environment.

• Proper selection and placement of plant material can lower heating and cooling cost by as much as 20%.

• During summer months, one large tree can absorb as much heat as several window air conditioners and can lower temperatures by 10 degrees.

• In climates with cold winters, the goal is to block the winter wind with trees and shrubs while capturing the winter sun (solar heat). In warmer climates, the goal is to block the summer sun while channeling in the summer breezes. In temperate climates, both strategies are employed.

• A dense row of evergreens to the north and northwest works effectively for extreme and temperate climates. Deciduous trees and shrubs should be planted to the east and west.

• A semi-circular row of deciduous trees and shrubs planted from southeast to southwest, with a break to the south, will funnel in summer breezes.

• There are three ways in which trees and shrubs cool the air: by providing shade from solar radiation, by cutting wind speed, and by reducing air temperature through evaporation and transpiration. They also absorb heat, thus reducing the need for air conditioning and allowing for less carbon dioxide to be emitted from electric generating facilities.

• Plants also absorb pollutants, and they block noise levels. For instance, a cypress hedge planted two (2) feet thick along the front of a property will reduce street noise by five (5) decibels.

• Growth rates and hardiness of plant materials in your geographic region should be factored in. Healthy plants that are able to adapt to your region will work the hardest for you.

• By using plant material appropriately, you can make any living or work environment a healthier and more enriching place to be.

The blustery winds common during late fall and winter can create challenges during days of trash pickup. A single unsecured trash container can result in an entire neighborhood covered with newspapers, loose litter and other debris. With a little forethought, the amount of miscellaneous trash can be reduced resulting in “litter free” neighborhoods. To avoid a wind-blown mess on your street, follow these tips in preparing your trash and recyclables for weekly pickup.

-- The best possible trash container is a hard-sided unit with a tight lid attached to the container. When using containers, consider using bags inside them to allow for easy disposal and to minimize the scattering of trash.

-- Recyclables should be weighted down inside the container. Blustery winds can blow the lightweight plastic bottles and newspapers into neighboring yards.

-- Watch the weather reports and when high winds are predicted, wait until the morning of the scheduled pickup to place trash or recyclables at curbside.

Every fall residents begin reporting more sightings of skunks, fox, ground hogs, mice and rats in the area. To help keep wildlife away from your home, the following tips from the Fairfax County Health Department may be helpful:

-- Remove attractants, such as garbage and pet food, from the vicinity of your house. (Place trash at your curb the morning of pickup instead of the night before).

-- Keep seeds and shells from bird feeders off the ground, as they attract rats.

-- Eliminate convenient den sites such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and porches, and access to crawl spaces under houses. Confirm that the animal has left the site before you block it, so you do not trap the animal.

-- Remember, do not approach these animals. Let them move away from you and, if you notice abnormal behavior, please contact the local animal control authorities at 703-691-2131. For removal, contact a local pest control company through the Yellow Pages. You may also contact the Health Department to report violators at 703-246-2300.

The placement of directional, real estate signs will be allowed only on weekends and must be removed by sundown on Sunday evening. Front yard real estate signs must meet County regulations with respect to size, content and removal. Signs may only be placed on the front yard of the property and only one sign per property is allowed. All signs must be removed one week after verification of complete contract acceptance.

Please remember, air conditioning units extending from windows are prohibited. If additional cooling is needed in your house, additional ground air conditioning units may be added or relocated pending an approved ARB application. Applications are available at www.franklinfarm.org or at the Foundation office.

The storage of lawn equipment, snow removal equipments, barbeque grills, etc., is not permitted in the front or side of yard. All such items must be stored either in the garage, approved storage shed or back yard screened form view of adjacent properties. Decks and patios my be used for storage of items such as grills and outdoor lawn furniture, which are normally used in those locations.

Many forms for the Foundation require the lot number and section number of your house, as well as your Franklin Farm neighborhood. A quick and easy tool has been developed for you to retrieve this information. Check it out!

The Architectural Review Board shall ensure and maintain the architectural integrity and aesthetic qualities of homes, ensure that exterior alterations comply with the objectives set forth in the Covenants, and monitor issues and new initiatives that impact Franklin Farm’s Architectural Standards.

We meet the first Tuesday of each month at the Still Pond Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Some months, the Board may also schedule a mid-month review meeting -- if so, the date and time will be listed under "Meeting Dates" above.

ADDRESS	PROJECT	PUBLIC REVIEW CLOSE DATE
12607 Franklin Farm Road	Replace roof	3/19/2010

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