News Articles
September 2025 Newsletter
Posted on Oct 15th, 2025
Fairland Towns Homeowner Association
PO Box 1376
Annandale, VA 22003
www.fairlandtownshoa.com
September 2025
Dear Neighbor,
As we wind down the dogdays of summer, trust you are enjoying the pleasant change of weather. Now let’s hope that it stays! I am back to my long-winded ways this month and ask you to spend time reading through the annual community meeting minutes part.
Irvin Court Road Repairs.
Irvin Court will undergo repairs 19-20 September. During repairs Irvin Ct will be closed to all traffic. All community homeowners are requested to make maximum use of garages and drives for parking during the repairs and allow Irvin Court residents priority in common parking areas, particularly along Major Street. I will send out a stand-alone reminder just ahead of repairs to provide sufficient notice so that homeowners can prepare prior to the start of work.
Garden of the Month.
August Garden of the Month belongs to 4721 Minor Circle. Another simple, but bright spot in our community. Stop by to congratulate your neighbor and see photos on our website. Additionally, I hope you notice the improved look about our grounds. All the recent work we are doing is making a difference for EVERYONE.
Riding a Sugar High.
We had a very good turnout for our Labor Day Social on Irvin Commons. We were able to hear your concerns ahead of our annual open meeting; we collected updated contact information so we can reach neighbors with urgent community information; kids had faces covered in ice cream (or was that the adults?) and everyone got to meet at least one new neighbor. We’ll look to another in the Spring.
HOA OverDUE DUES.
We appreciate all homeowners who paid on time (31 July). We still have a number of homes overdue. If you have yet to pay, please be considerate and tack on the requisite $100 overdue fee provided you pay by 30 September. We rely on your prompt payment of dues so we can pay our bills for essential services that the community counts on.
ARB Infractions.
Thanks again to those who were diligent in repairing and reporting Spring 2025 ARB matters by the 01 September goal. Unfortunately, 10 homes of the original 42 with needed repairs from the April inspection are still non-compliant. If you are one, you have been sent an email reminding you of your need to complete repairs AND report to the ARB (Rudy Ghul). Fines will continue to accrue monthly until work is complete. At our Community Meet, the Board recommended one change to the “Grandfather Clause” for mismatched paint color on decks and fences. While we encourage homeowners to match stain color on fences and decks at the earliest opportunity, decks and fences that did not match prior to the new bylaws going into effect 01 January 2025 will remain grandfathered, but any home that goes up for sale in the future must have matching fence/deck prior to a resale package being issued. This is intended to ensure the new homeowner purchases a fully compliant FTHOA home. We remain committed to working collaboratively with homeowners to maintain properties for owner and community benefit, but we will no longer ignore flagrant disregard for our established community bylaws. Our goal is to be a safe, healthy and attractive community. Please do your bit to keep Fairland Towns a preferred living destination and keep resale values rising.
2025 Annual Community Meeting.
We had a great turnout with 19 homes represented on 3 September. A wide range of homeowner and Board concerns were tabled and robustly discussed. Highlights included:
- We had a presentation and Q&A by our new Professional Grounds (ProGro) Landscaping contract account manager. I believe residents’ expectations were satisfied with ProGro’s program for both summer and winter services. There was consensus among homeowners present that they desire to ensure driveway entrances are clear of snow after significant snowstorms and plowing. The Board committed to taking this onboard and working with ProGro to provide those services (at added cost) when deemed necessary (significant accumulation) and cost-effective. Additionally, the Board is considering a menu of grounds beautification projects by ProGro over the fall and spring, finances permitting. We will have a clearer picture once Irvin Court repairs are completed later this month. More to follow as winter gets closer. Finally, while some residents requested to have a point of contact at ProGro, we will not do that and ask you to trust the Board to represent the community through a single communication conduit. That way, no wires crossed.
- A community EV charging station policy for home installation was discussed and decided so that FT can support alternative energy efforts. In short, homeowners may install an individual charging station in their garage or on an external wall. A certified electrician must do the installation. If external, a fit-for-purpose white, weatherproof charger cabinet will be required (avail online), and chargers and cables must be stored inside the box when not in use. An Architectural Change Request must be submitted prior to external install and include plans to locate the cabinet to minimize the box profile as seen from the street and preserve neighborhood aesthetic. Vehicles must be parked in home driveways when being charged. We will incorporate a detailed statement into our bylaws.
- The Board will more deliberately consider “kid-friendliness” in future policies and decisions for the neighborhood. We commit to preserving the Irvin Court Commons as a designated safe play area for our community youngsters.
- On finances we discussed the purpose of each of our three streams of revenue. Dues are intended to cover community essential services, with the residual going into the treasury for community wants and nice-to-have rainy day expenditures. There will be no increase in dues in 2026. Assessments are taxes levied equally across homeowners intended to cover identified one-time large and/or catastrophic needs. They require a community consensus. Fines are used only to incentivize compliance with community bylaws. They are not otherwise a dependable funding source, as ideally we strive to not to impose fines, preferring that ARB guidelines are followed and dues are paid on time by homeowners. Any monies collected for late dues or ARB infractions will be set aside and designated for use by the Board explicitly for FT community safety and health projects.
- Home Resale Packages will increase in price, immediately, from $300 to $425 for the basic hardcopy package. This is in line with existing law and is keeping up with inflation, as our prices have not increased since the community began, that we could find, when homes were in the low $200Ks. Fair enough, we believe.
- The matter of insufficient lighting on Major Ct was raised. This has been a perennial issue, but this year’s discussion included some fresh ideas for achievable solutions. As most are aware, the Major Ct units were not built with street lampposts for individual homes as was the rest of the community. We still encourage owners to leave their porch lights and streetlamps on from dusk to dawn. There is a commercial streetlamp at the top of the Major Ct. parking area. We have already pruned the cypress trees around that post to allow better light in the lot and will notify Dominion Power to see if we can have a higher wattage bulb installed. The Board will consider options for solar lighting along the street, as a priority in planned expenditures in the remaining year. We are committed to improving the situation and nighttime safety for our residents.
- Board nominations and elections were held. For 25-26 your FTHOA board is Jeff Kaufmann (VP), Neil Delfinado (Treasurer), Jenny Huang (Secretary), Rudy Ghul (ARB) and Kevin Ketchmark (President). We will post mug shots and direct contact information for each of us on our FT website soon.
Full meeting minutes will be posted once all board members have reviewed them. Changes to our Bylaws due to EV Charger Policy and fences/decks will be added as temporary changes until they can be codified by required consensus in a future community referendum.
Rats!
A concerned resident recently reported the use of rat poison in an area outside the fence line of another home. This practice can obviously pose danger to our kids, pets and wildlife. We have researched country protocols and will soon publish useful guidelines for utilizing this type of hazardous material. Thanks to both neighbors involved for reporting the matter and together working for resolution. In the interim, best to hold tight on using these products.
Handy Dandy.
A significant benefit of all the work done by homeowners in the community recently is an expanded list of contractors available to do an array of work for us. If you have someone you would like to recommend, please send their contact information, specialty and why you recommend them to me or Rudy Ghul. We will get them posted to our website soon. We are also in the process of updating our approved paint and stain pallets and will get them posted as well.
Is There a Change in Your Future?
If you are considering ANY external work to your property – big or small – you must submit an Architectural Change Request Form BEFORE you begin your work. This includes a written acknowledgment from your adjoining neighbors that they are aware of any significant work that will occur and that you have discussed concerns (i.e. noise, dust, hours or work, etc). These forms can be found on our FT website. At the very least contact our ARB officer, Rudy, and get an opinion on whether a change request is required. These are intended foremost to protect YOU. If we the Board approve your plan and you execute according to ARB standards, you cannot be held accountable for future changes/decisions by another board. The board will retain a copy of the approved request in your file, and so should you. Reading the bylaws, filing a change request and/or simply asking are sure ways to avoid headaches and financial “Whoopsies.”
Hip, Hip, Hooray!
We join the entire FT community thanking and congratulating Ronda Collins (VP and Treasurer) for her 25 years of community service, and Hector Centeno (ARB) for his 5 years of service. They exemplify what it means to be a ”Good Fairland Towns Neighbor.” We wish them both well as Honorary FTHOA “grey beards.”
That is all for September. Keep an eye out for our little and not-so-little community residents going back to school.
Spread kindness!
Cheers,
Kevin (703-772-6216), Jeff, Neil, Jenny and Rudy
PO Box 1376
Annandale, VA 22003
www.fairlandtownshoa.com
September 2025
Dear Neighbor,
As we wind down the dogdays of summer, trust you are enjoying the pleasant change of weather. Now let’s hope that it stays! I am back to my long-winded ways this month and ask you to spend time reading through the annual community meeting minutes part.
Irvin Court Road Repairs.
Irvin Court will undergo repairs 19-20 September. During repairs Irvin Ct will be closed to all traffic. All community homeowners are requested to make maximum use of garages and drives for parking during the repairs and allow Irvin Court residents priority in common parking areas, particularly along Major Street. I will send out a stand-alone reminder just ahead of repairs to provide sufficient notice so that homeowners can prepare prior to the start of work.
Garden of the Month.
August Garden of the Month belongs to 4721 Minor Circle. Another simple, but bright spot in our community. Stop by to congratulate your neighbor and see photos on our website. Additionally, I hope you notice the improved look about our grounds. All the recent work we are doing is making a difference for EVERYONE.
Riding a Sugar High.
We had a very good turnout for our Labor Day Social on Irvin Commons. We were able to hear your concerns ahead of our annual open meeting; we collected updated contact information so we can reach neighbors with urgent community information; kids had faces covered in ice cream (or was that the adults?) and everyone got to meet at least one new neighbor. We’ll look to another in the Spring.
HOA OverDUE DUES.
We appreciate all homeowners who paid on time (31 July). We still have a number of homes overdue. If you have yet to pay, please be considerate and tack on the requisite $100 overdue fee provided you pay by 30 September. We rely on your prompt payment of dues so we can pay our bills for essential services that the community counts on.
ARB Infractions.
Thanks again to those who were diligent in repairing and reporting Spring 2025 ARB matters by the 01 September goal. Unfortunately, 10 homes of the original 42 with needed repairs from the April inspection are still non-compliant. If you are one, you have been sent an email reminding you of your need to complete repairs AND report to the ARB (Rudy Ghul). Fines will continue to accrue monthly until work is complete. At our Community Meet, the Board recommended one change to the “Grandfather Clause” for mismatched paint color on decks and fences. While we encourage homeowners to match stain color on fences and decks at the earliest opportunity, decks and fences that did not match prior to the new bylaws going into effect 01 January 2025 will remain grandfathered, but any home that goes up for sale in the future must have matching fence/deck prior to a resale package being issued. This is intended to ensure the new homeowner purchases a fully compliant FTHOA home. We remain committed to working collaboratively with homeowners to maintain properties for owner and community benefit, but we will no longer ignore flagrant disregard for our established community bylaws. Our goal is to be a safe, healthy and attractive community. Please do your bit to keep Fairland Towns a preferred living destination and keep resale values rising.
2025 Annual Community Meeting.
We had a great turnout with 19 homes represented on 3 September. A wide range of homeowner and Board concerns were tabled and robustly discussed. Highlights included:
- We had a presentation and Q&A by our new Professional Grounds (ProGro) Landscaping contract account manager. I believe residents’ expectations were satisfied with ProGro’s program for both summer and winter services. There was consensus among homeowners present that they desire to ensure driveway entrances are clear of snow after significant snowstorms and plowing. The Board committed to taking this onboard and working with ProGro to provide those services (at added cost) when deemed necessary (significant accumulation) and cost-effective. Additionally, the Board is considering a menu of grounds beautification projects by ProGro over the fall and spring, finances permitting. We will have a clearer picture once Irvin Court repairs are completed later this month. More to follow as winter gets closer. Finally, while some residents requested to have a point of contact at ProGro, we will not do that and ask you to trust the Board to represent the community through a single communication conduit. That way, no wires crossed.
- A community EV charging station policy for home installation was discussed and decided so that FT can support alternative energy efforts. In short, homeowners may install an individual charging station in their garage or on an external wall. A certified electrician must do the installation. If external, a fit-for-purpose white, weatherproof charger cabinet will be required (avail online), and chargers and cables must be stored inside the box when not in use. An Architectural Change Request must be submitted prior to external install and include plans to locate the cabinet to minimize the box profile as seen from the street and preserve neighborhood aesthetic. Vehicles must be parked in home driveways when being charged. We will incorporate a detailed statement into our bylaws.
- The Board will more deliberately consider “kid-friendliness” in future policies and decisions for the neighborhood. We commit to preserving the Irvin Court Commons as a designated safe play area for our community youngsters.
- On finances we discussed the purpose of each of our three streams of revenue. Dues are intended to cover community essential services, with the residual going into the treasury for community wants and nice-to-have rainy day expenditures. There will be no increase in dues in 2026. Assessments are taxes levied equally across homeowners intended to cover identified one-time large and/or catastrophic needs. They require a community consensus. Fines are used only to incentivize compliance with community bylaws. They are not otherwise a dependable funding source, as ideally we strive to not to impose fines, preferring that ARB guidelines are followed and dues are paid on time by homeowners. Any monies collected for late dues or ARB infractions will be set aside and designated for use by the Board explicitly for FT community safety and health projects.
- Home Resale Packages will increase in price, immediately, from $300 to $425 for the basic hardcopy package. This is in line with existing law and is keeping up with inflation, as our prices have not increased since the community began, that we could find, when homes were in the low $200Ks. Fair enough, we believe.
- The matter of insufficient lighting on Major Ct was raised. This has been a perennial issue, but this year’s discussion included some fresh ideas for achievable solutions. As most are aware, the Major Ct units were not built with street lampposts for individual homes as was the rest of the community. We still encourage owners to leave their porch lights and streetlamps on from dusk to dawn. There is a commercial streetlamp at the top of the Major Ct. parking area. We have already pruned the cypress trees around that post to allow better light in the lot and will notify Dominion Power to see if we can have a higher wattage bulb installed. The Board will consider options for solar lighting along the street, as a priority in planned expenditures in the remaining year. We are committed to improving the situation and nighttime safety for our residents.
- Board nominations and elections were held. For 25-26 your FTHOA board is Jeff Kaufmann (VP), Neil Delfinado (Treasurer), Jenny Huang (Secretary), Rudy Ghul (ARB) and Kevin Ketchmark (President). We will post mug shots and direct contact information for each of us on our FT website soon.
Full meeting minutes will be posted once all board members have reviewed them. Changes to our Bylaws due to EV Charger Policy and fences/decks will be added as temporary changes until they can be codified by required consensus in a future community referendum.
Rats!
A concerned resident recently reported the use of rat poison in an area outside the fence line of another home. This practice can obviously pose danger to our kids, pets and wildlife. We have researched country protocols and will soon publish useful guidelines for utilizing this type of hazardous material. Thanks to both neighbors involved for reporting the matter and together working for resolution. In the interim, best to hold tight on using these products.
Handy Dandy.
A significant benefit of all the work done by homeowners in the community recently is an expanded list of contractors available to do an array of work for us. If you have someone you would like to recommend, please send their contact information, specialty and why you recommend them to me or Rudy Ghul. We will get them posted to our website soon. We are also in the process of updating our approved paint and stain pallets and will get them posted as well.
Is There a Change in Your Future?
If you are considering ANY external work to your property – big or small – you must submit an Architectural Change Request Form BEFORE you begin your work. This includes a written acknowledgment from your adjoining neighbors that they are aware of any significant work that will occur and that you have discussed concerns (i.e. noise, dust, hours or work, etc). These forms can be found on our FT website. At the very least contact our ARB officer, Rudy, and get an opinion on whether a change request is required. These are intended foremost to protect YOU. If we the Board approve your plan and you execute according to ARB standards, you cannot be held accountable for future changes/decisions by another board. The board will retain a copy of the approved request in your file, and so should you. Reading the bylaws, filing a change request and/or simply asking are sure ways to avoid headaches and financial “Whoopsies.”
Hip, Hip, Hooray!
We join the entire FT community thanking and congratulating Ronda Collins (VP and Treasurer) for her 25 years of community service, and Hector Centeno (ARB) for his 5 years of service. They exemplify what it means to be a ”Good Fairland Towns Neighbor.” We wish them both well as Honorary FTHOA “grey beards.”
That is all for September. Keep an eye out for our little and not-so-little community residents going back to school.
Spread kindness!
Cheers,
Kevin (703-772-6216), Jeff, Neil, Jenny and Rudy