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Franklin Farm News
Last updated: May 28, 2009

Special Announcements

Earthen Dam Repair Info Meeting: A meeting about planned repairs to the six earthen dams here on the Farm will be held on July 6 @ SPCC, 7 p.m. All are welcome.

 


Budget Hearing: A hearing on the proposed FY10 Foundation budget will be held on Thursday, July 9 @ SPCC, 7:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to participate.

 


 

 

Local News:
Trash Pickup on Pipe Stems Now Available
Pools Are Open -- Sign Up Today!
Entrance Medians Get a New Look
Watch Out for Deer on the Road
Encroachment on Open Space
How to Address Neighborhood Concerns
Three Ways to Pay Your Assessment

 

 

Trash Pickup on Pipe Stems Now Available

 

CSI and the Foundation have come to an agreement that will allow for the pickup of trash on the pipe stems in the community. If resident owners who live on a pipe stem desire this service, then all owners that share the pipe stem must agree to receive the service and pay an additional contract cost for the service.


The owners must also agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation harmless from any claims arising from this service, including holding CSI and the Foundation harmless for any deterioration of the common driveway that may be attributed to the trash trucks’ use of the common driveway.


Starting October 1, 2009, the cost of the service is $105.50 per year, with a 5.5% increase each year until September 30, 2013. For service prior to October 1, 2009, there will be a $50 charge. Pipe-stem owners interested in this service should contact the office, 703-620-6230.

 

 

 

Pools Are Open -- Sign Up Today!

 

A summer's worth of fun awaits Franklin Farm residents at the pool! Resident registration is ongoing, and it is not to late to sign up.

 

To register, mail or bring your (1) completed registration form, (2) $175 payment, and (3) required family photos ** to the Foundation office, 12700 Franklin Farm Road, Oak Hill, VA 20171. Call 703-620-6230 for information.

 

** Photos can be e-mailed to foundation@franklinfarm.org.

 

 

 

Entrance Medians Get a New Look

Check out the new landscape designs for the entrance medians at West Ox Road and Centreville Road. The trees and shrubs recently planted there are compatible with those seen throughout Franklin Farm and were chosen especially because of their color, size, and durability in the face of heat and fumes from passing cars.


Unfortunately, Mother Nature and the West Ox and Centreville Road widening work have damaged the trees in the medians over the years, and plans have been in the works for some time to give the entrances a fresh new look.


Sincere thanks go to the members of the Open Space Committee and to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for their advice and assistance during the process.

 

 

 

Watch Out for Deer on the Road

Did you know that Virginia had the eighth highest total number of deer-vehicle collisions in the United States over the 2007–08 time period?


According to Drive Smart Virginia, an estimated 54,000 (54,135) drivers have collided with deer. These issues are not isolated to rural areas of the state. Fairfax County has a very active deer population, and, particularly at this time of year, police urge motorists to drive cautiously.


Deer are especially active from pre-dawn to mid-morning and from dusk to early evening — right about the time when many Fairfax County residents are going to and from work or school. So, remember the following safety tips:


-- Be aware of posted “Deer Crossing” signs. They are placed in areas known for high deer traffic.
-- Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles; they may not work.
-- Drivers should use their high-beams when there is no on-coming traffic for a better view of the edge of adjacent woods and fields.
-- Do not swerve to miss a deer. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle, strike a tree or another vehicle or to overturn. Those types of accidents result in far more fatalities than auto-deer crashes.


If you cannot avoid hitting a deer:


-- Slow down and grasp the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
-- Take your foot off the brake at the time of impact so the front end of your vehicle will lift up and enable the deer to go under the car, rather than over it – reducing the danger of it crashing through the windshield or windows.
-- If the animal is injured or killed, report the collision through the county’s non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.

 

 

 

Encroachment on Open Space

Periodically, issues are brought to the attention of the Foundation office, the Board of Trustees, and the Open Space Committee regarding the improper use of open space by residents. We hope this article will provide a frame of reference for the use of open space, so it can be enjoyed by everyone.


There are 182 acres of open space or common ground in Franklin Farm. This area belongs collectively to the owners of the 1,777 homes in the Farm. Some of these areas are mowed on a regular basis, while others are intentionally left in a naturalized state for those interested in plants and wildlife.


The preservation of these lands depends primarily on the cooperation of each Foundation member, and, unfortunately, there are some homeowners who extend their property into open space and use the common ground as a depository for their yard clippings, firewood, or other personal items. These practices detract from the beauty of our open space.


Please be aware of the following standards. Any plants or flowers planted in open space become the property of the Foundation. The appropriate process for donating plantings to the Foundation is detailed in the Administrative Resolution 38.


Use of common ground for storage of firewood, furniture, or other items, is considered an encroachment of open space. Additionally, lawn debris dumped in open space is in violation of Foundation policy (see Policy Resolution 6A: Common Area Use and Management Policies).


If and when these instances are brought to the attention of the the Board of Trustees, the Foundation office, or the Open Space Committee, homeowners will be required to remove those items and restore the common ground to its original condition at their own expense.


If you are encroaching on open space, please correct the situation and help preserve the full beauty of our common grounds for all the residents of Franklin Farm.


 

 

How to Address Neighborhood Concerns

 

Nuisance Issues — loud noise, toys left in your yard, overgrown grass/bushes

• Speak with the neighbor (at least twice is recommended).

• Notify the Foundation office either by e-mail (foundation@franklinfarm.org) or phone, 703-620-6230.

• If noise issues are causing a disturbance, call the non-emergency number for the police, 703-691-2131.

 


Health Code Issues — pet droppings not picked up in yard, excessive garbage pileups, and rodent infestation

• Speak with the neighbor and request item(s) be properly discarded.

• Call the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2300.

• Notify the Foundation office either by e-mail or phone.

 


Criminal Activity (non-emergency) — substance abuse, vandalism, graffiti

• Contact the non-emergency number for the police, 703-691-2131. This may need to be done repeatedly to establish a case, and all neighbors who are affected should call individually.

• Document the activity (notes, pictures, video). This may need to be done repeatedly to establish a case. The more neighbors involved, the better.

• Contact 911 when you witness criminal activities (burglary, breaking and entering, domestic violence) in progress.

 


Abandoned Cars — outdated inspection stickers and/or license plates or inoperable vehicles

• Notify the Foundation of the vehicle, including type, license plate number, location, how long it has been there, and owner/suspected owner (if known).

 

 

 

Three Ways to Pay Your Assessments

The Franklin Farm Foundation has changed banks. The Foundation’s new bank is Community Association Banc (CAB) headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. This change was undertaken because of excessive fees charged the Foundation by its previous bank for services to handle assessment payments and the Foundation’s other financial transactions. CAB is a division of First National Bank of Arizona and was established to serve the needs of organizations like the Franklin Farm Foundation. We anticipate savings of over $7,000 per year with the change to CAB. The change to CAB will affect your payment of quarterly assessments in several different ways which are explained in detail below.

Please note the new mailing address, effective as of January 1, 2006:

Franklin Farm Foundation

P.O. Box 61388

Phoenix, AZ 85082-1388

 

QUARTERLY STATEMENTS

You will still receive quarterly assessment statements; however, your payments will now be mailed to CAB in Arizona. There is a change from the prior payment procedure in that you now will be asked to tear off a coupon from the statement to be sent to CAB along with your check.

If an account is in arrears, the Foundation will adhere to the collection procedure detailed in Policy Resolution 9G, Procedures Relative to Collections and the owner will receive late fee notices from the Foundation.

Quarterly assessments are payable and due on the first day of January, April, July and October. Please allow sufficient time for your payment to reach the lockbox in Arizona in a timely manner to avoid a late fee charge. The back page of the “Almanac” provides you with the quarterly assessment schedule. It is necessary to continue whatever process you currently use to pay your assessment for the December 15, 2005 assessment billing. If you are mailing your check, please tear off the payment stub and mail it with the check to the Arizona lockbox, using the pre-addressed envelope. This assessment is due January 1, 2006
 
ELECTRONIC DEBIT

Electronic debit began April 1, 2006. Those wishing to participate can pick up a form at the Foundation office or online on our Web site. With the submittal of the completed authorization and voided check to the Foundation, an owner is enrolled for the automatic withdrawal that will be made for the quarterly assessment payment due immediately following enrollment and for all future assessments.

Future Electronic Debit Enrollment: The Foundation must be in receipt of the authorization form and voided check thirty (30) days before the assessment is due to ensure ELECTRONIC DEBIT enrollment for the upcoming quarterly assessment. Please contact the Foundation Office to sign-up now for the convenient electronic debit or to answer your questions.

Electronic Debit and a Future Assessment Change: Any variance in the quarterly debited amount adjusts automatically with the approved yearly budget. Annually, this information is published in the August Almanac.
 
CREDIT CARD OPTION

The change to CAB as the Foundation’s Bank also allows you make your assessment payment by credit card. Please be aware that CAB will charge you a fee of an additional 8% of the assessment to use this service. Credit card payment of assessments can be accomplished by accessing CAB’s Website at www.cabanc.com and following instructions there. Credit card payment may be useful to avoid late fees if you have forgotten to pay your assessment to avoid the Foundation’s imposition of the $35 late fee.
 

 

 

 

 

 

The Franklin Farm Foundation - 12700 Franklin Farm Rd - Oak Hill, VA  20171
Phone:  703-620-6230     Fax:  703-620-9021     E-Mail:  foundation@franklinfarm.org
Map of Franklin Farm      Map of the foundation office

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