Author Archives: Wheelwright Cluster

June Board Meeting 

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 7pm  

ATTENDEES: Kristina Myers, Kelly Fairbank, Sandy Mohler, Aaron Rider, Cyndi Hartman, Bryan Chou, Steve Weissman, Jeffrey Cai, Antonella Cordero, Karen Reecse, Roberto Zambrana 

AGENDA 

REPAVING INCLUDING ADDITION OF PARKING SPACES AND SPEED BUMPS 

1. As discussed at the 2023 annual meeting in December, the current plan is to remove ~1/3 of the lower cluster island to insert 2 new parking spaces (or one more row of parking spaces).   

2. For reference, here is a map of the proposed area of the island to be removed and replaced with parking spaces as well as the proposed location of the lower cluster speed bump: 

3. Board’s interest in pursuing project 

1. Parking 

2. Plan for the future – i.e. ev charging stations 

3. Wrap project into repaving project – cuts cost ~$4,000 

4. Open discussion about parking spaces: 

1. Steve Weissman: not in favor of losing green space.  Feels that we need to look at other options.  Additionally, he feels the the board should not act to tear down common green space to build two new parking spaces based upon an unspecified number of “complaints” of inadequate parking spaces over an unspecified period of time. It should instead undertake its own systematic survey of open and closed parking spaces in the cluster over longer range periods of time. It should not change the built environment that has existed for 50 years based upon unanalyzed resident “feedback”.  He mentioned that there are currently several empty parking spaces by the little free library and he doesn’t feel there is a risk of having a multi-tenant household cause a parking situation in the future.  He is also worried that the board would make plans to take out portions up of the upper cluster island if there were complaints. 

2.  Aaron Rider: in favor. The new parking lot should last 20 to 25 years. How many homes have changed hands over the past 20 year. Just because we have open spaces currently, this can change quickly. At this time, the price difference between doing the additional spaces with the rest of the parking lot vs. doing them later is $3,900. This price will go up quickly. The re-pavement of the parking lots is already costing 20% more than planed after getting multiple quotes. This will also give us greater flexibility to add in electric car charges in the coming years without reducing the current number of parking spaces.

3. Jeffrey Cai: not in favor. Does not see the need for additional spaces.

4. Karen Reece: not in favor. Suggestion of parking passes. 

5. Cyndi Hartman: in favor. There are 12 single vehicle homes in upper, 8 in mid – there are not at the end of the day any where close to that number in vacancy/available open spaces. That’s 42 homes with almost 1/2 of them with 1 vehicle. I would venture to say not a usual/normal ratio. A majority of those residences are older homeowners whose kids have grown and moved out. Of those 20 residences, 12 are 3 story. You can be guaranteed upon sale/turnover, will be occupied by families with at least 2 vehicles…chances are a good percentage will have teenagers….an additional vehicle is not an unlikely expectation.  

6. Roberto Zambrano – in favor, thinks the plan looks good   

5. Community voted heavily in favor of permanent speed bumps after annual meeting.  Proposed positioning: 

All comments were positive on the placement. 

6. Reston Association DRB meeting for additional parking spaces project.  Tuesday, June 25th at 5:30 pm.  Email for more info 

EROSION 

1. VCAP project updates 

1. Waiting to hear from Adele – she said she may suggest some changes after the RA drainage meeting and talking with the Soil and Water Conservation District 

2. Catch basin project 2229/31/33 – completed 

1. Feedback: Cyndi says it seems to be working well, draining the sidewalk and keeping water out of the yard.  She is waiting to see how it will deal with possible ice buildup on the sidewalk.  

DESIGN UPDATES 

1. DRB for doors, fence post caps and clear sealing - 

1. Guidelines update, Sandy will get the PDF updated to load onto the website.  Aaron will get an announcement on the main page. 

2. Amber white – No update. 

3. New updates – No update. 

TREE WORK 

1. Kevin with TreeSmith USA 

1. Tree work updates.  Kevin will grind the hemlock stump on the lower cluster this next week. 

LANDSCAPING 

1. Soil testing updates?  Are other areas being tested?  Cost of treatment? – No update. 

2. Concerns to bring up with Chris 

1. Address how close mulch is to trees – still seeing mulch mountains burying the base of the trees 

2. Mowing – is it any better?  Still seem to be coming biweekly.  Will look into what our contract states.  Is it a certain # of mowing per season?  

3. Herbicide treatment letter is still arriving AFTER treatment.  It says specifically in the letter to keep children and pets off the turf areas for 3 hours. 

   

PET ISSUES 

1. Signs 

1. Aaron will look into the cost of a post, concrete and a post hole digger – updates? Rental of post hole digger $38 for 4 hours, $15.42 for 60lb concrete mix, $13.77 4X4 – 8ft post.  Will look into purchasing one vs. renting one.  Liability? 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS 

1. Important Dates 

1. Tot Lot cleanup – Need to schedule new date. July 28^th.  Combine with Kona ice truck. 

FINANCIALS  

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, July 9th AT 7 PM

May Board Meeting

Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 7pm

ATTENDEES: Cyndi Hartman, Sandy Mohler, Kristina Myers, Aaron Rider

AGENDA

EROSION

1. VCAP project updates

1. Design proposal was presented Wednesday, April 24th with Cyndi, Aaron, Sandy and Kristina in attendance.

2. Board agreed on the following:

1. Organic design with curved coir logs

2. Keep Cherry tree, dogwood tree and holly tree. Remove both ailing hemlocks.

3. Path to go from 2242 to 2256.

4. The erosion work will be concentrated from 2248 to 2256.

3. Waiting to hear back from Dominion regarding the meters

4. Waiting to hear from Adele – she said she may suggest some changes after the RA drainage meeting and talking with the Soil and Water Conservation District

2. Catch basin project 2229/31/33

1. Deposit sent. Verified that it was received.

2. Work scheduled, still waiting to get scheduled.

DESIGN UPDATES

1. DRB for doors, fence post caps and clear sealing – approved as submitted on 5/7 after Sandy attended the RA DRB meeting – congrats Sandy!! 🎉🎉🎉

2. New guidelines will be updated on website shortly.

3. Amber white – Is this available in different manufacture’s paint? If so, what would be the equivalent to Amber white.

4. Outdoor lighting – looking at additional options.

TREE WORK

1. Tree DRB’s have been approved by RA

1. Scheduled for the last week of May.

2. Will look at putting up cones on Old Crafts by the creek a couple days prior to block of area.

REPAVING

1. Summary of board decisions

1. The board unanimously via email on 5/7/2024 and 5/8/2024 for the following:

1. Remove drive lanes to a depth of 4″ and base in with base asphalt to a depth of 2 1/2″

2. Profile Milling 1 1/2″ and Asphalt Resurfacing 1 1/2″

3. Restriping/yellow curb/stencils

4. 2 additional Parking Spaces with the removal of half lower cluster island

5. 2 new speed bumps

6. Total cost: $158,120

7. Total cost for Pavement, LLC: $2,500

8. Total $160,620

9. Budget reallocation:

1. From General Liability Insurance (over-budgeted) $26.00

2. From Fidelity Bond (over-budgeted) $23.00

3. From Zoom (over-budgeted) $2.10

4. From Concrete (pushed concrete work to next year) $9,000.00

5. From Snow Removal (currently have $4,195.00 remaining for the year) $2,000.00

6. Reducing our reserve allocation $14,524.00

2. Pre-Construction/walkthrough meeting with Dominion and Burt

1. Wednesday, 5/15 at 9 am

2. All board members welcome to join

3. DRB is required. Kristinia is working on paperwork for Reston for additional spaces. Next meeting 6/11.

LANDSCAPING

1. Soil testing updates will be done next meeting? Are other areas being tested? Cost of treatment?

2. Mulching – very late this year – may want to address with Chris about how close the mulch is to the trees.

3. Homeowner complaint about quality of mowing, length of grass. Christina will address with Chris.

PET ISSUES

1. Signs

1. Where to put entrance sign? Looking at possibly install additional post. Aaron will look into the cost of a post, concrete and a post hole digger.

2. Where to put up grass rejuvenation signs. Aaron will look at the post on the trail.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

1. Concrete – board voted to forego concrete repair this year but will budget more for next year

2. Important Dates

1. Tot Lot cleanup – Sunday June 2 (power wash and new mulch)

FINANCIALS

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, June 11th AT 7 PM

Wheelwright Cluster HOA

April Board Meeting

Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 at 7pm 

ATTENDEES – Kristina Myers, Joy Charles, Kelly Fairbank, Cyndi Hartman, Sandy Mohler, Karen Reese

AGENDA

EROSION

1. VCAP project updates
2. Virtual meeting next Tuesday, April 16th at 7pm – Adele will have the design proposal ready for questions/discussion.
3. Meeting info:

Join the meeting using one of these easy options:

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At the scheduled date and time, to join the video and screen sharing session, click the online meeting link above, or dial in to the conference. When prompted, enter the access code followed by pound or hash (#).

If you hear audio echo or audio feedback during the meeting, there are three possible causes:

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2. Participants have computer or telephones speakers that are too close to each other.
3. Multiple computers with active audio are in the same conference room.
4. Catch basin project 2229/31/33
5. Rollover from 2023 is $5000
6. Cyndi talked to Juan – putting in 4” diameter pipe for catch basin.  Would remove one section of sidewalk.  Section needs to be replaced due to drainage issue at a cost of $2,920.  Board voted to move forward.

DESIGN UPDATES

1. DRB for doors, fence post caps and clear sealing – waiting for DRB meeting on May 7^th.
2. Amber white – no update

TREE WORK

1. Pruning work was completed on 3/26 & 3/27
2. Poplar tree in upper cluster island – recommended for removal, it is dead.
3. Other trees slated for removal include:
4. Leaning oak – adjacent 2214 – DRB submitted
5. Dead oak – rear 2223- DRB submitted
6. Diseased hemlock – 2270/72 – Trying to contract homeowner.
7. Date for removal – 4/18

REPAVING

1. Bid package
2. Dominion – total repaving – $144,920.00, additional 2 parking space -$12,640.00, 2 speed bumps – $550.00, grand total $158,110.00. Kristina will look into how long the quote is good for and what steps are needed to get the additional funds.

LANDSCAPING

1. Mulch orders for cluster and community members
2. 110 bags of mulch to be ordered and delivered this Saturday, April 13th
3. Soil testing results:
4. I have received and reviewed the soil analysis for the east side of the main drive near the small library box. The analysis shows that while there is an adequate mineral and nutrient supply in the soil, the organic matter of the soil is low at 3.4%. Optimally this number would be closer to 5-6%, up to 10%. The mineral exchange rate in the soil is also low, which is a side effect of low microbial activity that comes with low organic matter. Our recommendation would be a top dressing of compost to the area combined with a light application of a fertilizer with active microbial cultures to boost the population in the area, to be followed with seed. This can be done at any time, however the fall is the optimal season for this. 
5. Joy will look into if there are additional areas that were tested and what the cost of treatment would be.

PET ISSUES

1. Sign ordering in progress
2. $364.55 – Kristina will place the order.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

1. Concrete – concrete work to be done in spring, may push work back to 2025.
2. Speed bump – Looks like the speed bump on the lower cluster is helping with the speed, but might be creating a drainage issue.
3. Important Dates
4. Green drop donation date – Saturday, April 13th
5. Hazardous waste pickup date – Saturday, April 13th
6. Cluster Clean up – Saturday, April 20th
7. Roll off dumpster scheduled for Friday, 4/19-Monday, 4/22
8. Projects:
9. Invasive plant removal
10. Spreading wood chips on bus path and path to compost bin
11. Painting trash bin by tot lot
12. Sealing benches
13. Trash pick up
14. Cookout
15. Food/plasticware/plates
16. Tot Lot cleanup – Sunday, May 5th (power wash and new mulch)
17. Newsletter
18. Important dates
19. Using incentives from the Inflation reduction act for solar panels, ev’s, house weatherization, etc
20. Canva draft

FINANCIALS

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, May 14th AT 7 PM

Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 7pm

ATTENDEES – Aaron Rider, Kristina Myers, Cyndi Hartman, Joy Charles, Kelly Fairbanks, Sandy Mohler

AGENDA

EROSION

1. VCAP project updates

1. No update

2. Catch basin project 2229/31/33

1. Rollover from 2023 is $5000

2. Cyndi reached out to Juan but has not heard back yet.

DESIGN UPDATES

1. DRB for doors, fence post caps and clear sealing – waiting for DRB meeting. Sandy working with Erin on questions she had on design details.

2. Amber white – No update.

TREE WORK

1. Waiting for an update from the contractor.

REPAVING

1. Bid package

1. Package and bid letter have been put together by Burt at Pavement Design, LLC, who will be managing the project between the cluster and the contractor.

2. Ready to submit to contractors but need a new bid due date (listed as 3/15 in docs) will update it to the end of March.

LANDSCAPING

1. Mulch orders for cluster and community members

1. Due date for orders – Monday, March 25th. Email will be set to homeowners to place order. Charging $6 per bag.

2. Date for delivery – Saturday, April 13th.

2. Soil testing results – No updates.

PET ISSUES

1. Custom signs for entrance and rejuvenation areas

1. Corrugated plastic – 6 signs

2. ACM – aluminum composite material – 1 entrance sign 3. Total: $308.84

4. Will use funds from Ground Maintenance fund.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

1. Concrete – concrete work to be done in spring – no update, still trying to contract Juan.

2. Tree work – Sandy to send Kristina pictures of trees recommended for removal

3. Speed bump – move to lower cluster based on the feedback.

4. Cluster Cleanup – Saturday, April 20th – sealing benches, trash pickup, new woodchips on the bus path.

1. Green drop donation date – Saturday, April 13th

2. Hazardous waste pickup date – Saturday, April 6th

3. Tot Lot cleanup – Sunday, May 5th (power wash and new mulch)

5. Newsletter

1. Important dates – add to main page on website.

2. Using incentives from the Inflation reduction act for solar panels, ev’s, house weatherization, etc

FINANCIALS

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 9TH AT 7 PM

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 at 7pm  

ATTENDEES 

Kristinia Myers, Sandy Mohler, Cyndi Hartman, Aaron Rider, Kelly Fairbank, Karen Reese 

SPEED BUMPS 

1. New speed bump arrived 

1. Placement – one at entrance and one at free library.  Will move one down to in front of 2252-2254 due to complaints about the speed of cars. 

EROSION 

1. VCAP project updates 

1. Site analysis/inventory has been completed 

2. Design plan phase 

3. March meeting deadline/present plan  

2. Catch basin project 2229/31/33 

1. Riverbend proposal $7285 

2. Rollover from 2023 is $5000 

3. Cyndi will talk to Juan about his proposal to give us options. 

DESIGN UPDATES 

1. DRB for doors, fence post caps and clear sealing - waiting for DRB meeting 

2. Amber white – No update. 

3. Ideas for community meeting for members to discuss updates? – Looking to put together a meeting this summer to show the different colors, door options (hoping to have approved by Reston), deck design and possible new entrance design (front shed areas).  Date to be determined. 

4. Home guidelines – will work to make sure Wheelwright and Reston guidelines match, will put together something for the annual meeting.  Will discuss option with community of having board inspect houses for compliance and issue letters to let people know areas to bring up to date in the event RA comes through to inspect. 

PET ISSUES 

1. Custom signs for entrance and rejuvenation areas – Update for next meeting. 

2. Owner had a terrifying experience with another homeowner’s dogs. – Will send a letter from the board and encourage the first homeowner to contact Fairfax County about the experience. 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS 

1. Concrete – concrete work to be done in spring 

2. Tree work – Sandy to send Kristina pictures of trees recommended for removal – update pruning tree at 2252 and large willow by the little free library this Friday, 2/16.  Several parking spaces near the Little Free Library and near 2248-2258 will need to be cleared of vehicles for the duration of the work.  Will send out email to let the community know.  

3. Repaving - Burt from Pavement design, LLC replied – looking at Dominion for a quote among other companies. 

4. Landscaping - spring seeding – need results of soil testing, mulch order – plan on offering homeowners the option to order mulch and have delivered (deadline for orders is 3/9.  Will aim to get a load delivered April 13. 

5. Cluster Cleanup – April 6, hazardous pickup, April 13, GreenDrop, April 20, Cluster Cleanup and dumpster. 

6. Tot Lot Cleanup – May 5, power wash and new mulch.  Opportunity for community members to engage in another neighborhood project to rejuvenate the tot lot. 

7. Inflation Reduction Act Meeting – Kristina attended at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna 

1. Using tax credits and rebates for things like solar, weatherization of house, EV’s, appliances 

2. Solar panels are allowed on townhomes in Reston, but many people assume they are not. 

3. Would like to highlight the benefits of installing solar panels and how people can access tax credits and rebates – possible newsletter 

FINANCIALS –  

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH AT 7 PM