Carrsbrook Homeowners Association
Minutes of the Annual Meeting
June 4, 2018
Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association (CHA) Chairman, Tom Leinbach, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Northside Library meeting room. Twenty-five neighbors attended and two guest speakers. Tom described the main purpose of CHA as making the Carrsbrook neighborhood safer and more attractive.
I. Minutes: Were accepted as written from the May 24, 2017 annual CHA meeting.
II. Election of Officers: Officers from 2017 were willing to serve in 2018. It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to accept the 2017 slate for 2018 as shown below:
Chairman:Tom Leinbach
Vice Chairman:Mary Ann Thompson
Secretary:Linda Hitt
Treasurer:Deborah Thacker
III. Committee reports:
A. Treasurer’s report: The financial statement was distributed on May 30, 2018, attached to the agenda email. There were no questions.
B. Building Committee: Neighbors should contact this committee if building anything on their lot or acquiring outside structures, such as a storage shed. The set-back requirements and general appearance/size will be looked at by this committee. The county should be contacted also if doing construction. The documentation for Carrsbrook deed restrictions can be found on-line at Carrsbrook22901.org under “Carrsbrook documents.”
C. Membership (formerly Welcome) Committee: This committee currently includes the block captains, greeter and secretary. It is important to have an up-to-date list of neighbors so that emails about meetings, social events and neighborhood concerns will be received by everyone. A sign-up sheet was distributed at the meeting seeking volunteers to help keep the membership list up-to-date. It appears that the current list of Carrsbrook neighbors needs some work.
D. Activities (formerly Social) Committee: Thanks go to Stirling and Jane Williamson for hosting the annual Carrsbrook picnic for over 20 years! A new location will start in 2018, with one possible location being Pen Park, with large shelters (rain doesn’t cancel) and grassy areas nearby. An $80 fee would reserve one shelter with use of electricity. A cul-de-sac could be blocked off in Carrsbrook, but parking might be a problem and there may not be enough space. Input was sought for the picnic and other activities through the same sign-up sheet at the meeting mentioned above.
IIII. Concerns:
A. Power outages: Tom updated the group that the Carrsbrook neighborhood qualifies to be on theDominion Power’s list for possible future underground utilities. Carrsbrook has had enough outages to qualify, but there is no information about the length of the waiting list and once Tom is notified that Carrsbrook is on the top of the list, nothing is automatic. All neighbors would need to agree to underground utilities and monthly electricbills would be somewhat higher in the future, though without a large up-front fee. Poles would not come down until other issues are resolved – such as TV cable on the poles.
B. Tall grassy areas: Carrsbrook drive has weedy areas near the road and the property near route 29 has fallen tree limbs and tall grass near the road. To turn onto 29 from Carrsbrook Drive, the weeds on the left side are blocking one’s vision to pull outsafely. The county bush hogs grass on roadsides, but only about every 6 months. CHA can’t force anyone to cut their grass but can contact the owner and if need be, pay for it to be done out of the CHAtreasury. The county might be willing to cut grass more often if many residents complained to them. Ned Gallaway will follow up on this and will get back to Tom.
V. Rio Area Supervisor’s presentation and Q&A:
A. Albemarle County’s Places 29 – Rio Community Action Committee (CAC): Ned Gallaway introduced Audrey Kocher, a resident from Woodbrook and member of the County’s Community Action Committee (CAC) on Rio/29. She requested that we consider becoming a member of this CAC to help advise the county on important issues. There are three additional members needed on this committee and currently no one is from the Carrsbrook neighborhood. Volunteer members serve two years and give input on many things. Monthly meetings start at 6 pm at Woodbrook school, last about 2 hours and are attended by 12 volunteer members, Rio area supervisor Ned Gallaway, the planning commission head, Bruce Dodson, the community development staff and interested individuals from the public. Examples brought to the committee include special building permits such as the one from the Malloy Ford Dealership and short-term stays, like Airbnb. One can apply any time for membership by goingon-line at: http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=cdd&relpage=18730
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a link to the on-line application. Applicants should be Albemarle county residents or own a business in the county. Ned encouraged all to get involved.
B. County growth: Growth continues to be 3-5% each year and is likely to continue, impacting services and schools. Mixed use development has become popular and the height of buildings is likely to increase. Examples could be a strip mall with a parking deck on top, or stores on the main floor and apartments or condos upstairs. No major changes are likely to happen in the next five years. The county will encourage owners of unoccupied commercial property to rent it or repurpose it.Structures like Gander Mountain may not be occupied soon because of bankruptcy proceedings. Albemarle County is not likely to allow rezoning up (zoning to increase the density of housing units) since the Virginia general assembly got rid of applications to do this. Albemarle County is trying to expedite reasonable plans of private companies,to encourage connectivity. Zoning R4 means 4 units are allowed per acre. If the developer includes affordable housing, then additional units can be included per acre.
C. Impact on lakes: Ned Galloway will check on the maintenance schedule of high tech biofilters near the Gander Mountain store structure to make sure they are maintained at least annually and are working properly. Woodbrook has been impacted by discharge in creeks coming from the back side of the Colonial Auto dealership. Ned will also check on that and get back to Tom.
D. Traffic flow: A housing project recently approved for 1500 houses adjacent to Route 29 at the Polo grounds light will create more traffic on route 29. Some do cut through Huntington Road from Belvedere and avoid some lights by going through Northfields and Carrsbrook Drive to Route 29, not always obeying the speed limit. Ned has the authority to put out a digital speed machine to encourage drivers to slow down.
E. Other ways to get involved: An HOA can host a public meeting for the community and Ned will bring his staff. Contact Ned any time by email through the Albemarle County website and he will respond in 24-48 hours except on weekends. Sign up for the County A list on the county website at
http://www.albemarle.org/page.asp?info=amail to receive email notifications about important meetings and happenings – for example, with the recent storms, water safety was addressed.
Adjournment: The Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association annual meeting was concluded by 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hitt, Secretary
Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association
Minutes of the Annual Meeting
June 4, 2018
Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association (CHA) Chairman, Tom Leinbach, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Northside Library meeting room. Twenty-five neighbors attended and two guest speakers. Tom described the main purpose of CHA as making the Carrsbrook neighborhood safer and more attractive.
I. Minutes: Were accepted as written from the May 24, 2017 annual CHA meeting.
II. Election of Officers: Officers from 2017 were willing to serve in 2018. It was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to accept the 2017 slate for 2018 as shown below:
Chairman:Tom Leinbach
Vice Chairman:Mary Ann Thompson
Secretary:Linda Hitt
Treasurer:Deborah Thacker
III. Committee reports:
A. Treasurer’s report: The financial statement was distributed on May 30, 2018, attached to the agenda email. There were no questions.
B. Building Committee: Neighbors should contact this committee if building anything on their lot or acquiring outside structures, such as a storage shed. The set-back requirements and general appearance/size will be looked at by this committee. The county should be contacted also if doing construction. The documentation for Carrsbrook deed restrictions can be found on-line at Carrsbrook22901.org under “Carrsbrook documents.”
C. Membership (formerly Welcome) Committee: This committee currently includes the block captains, greeter and secretary. It is important to have an up-to-date list of neighbors so that emails about meetings, social events and neighborhood concerns will be received by everyone. A sign-up sheet was distributed at the meeting seeking volunteers to help keep the membership list up-to-date. It appears that the current list of Carrsbrook neighbors needs some work.
D. Activities (formerly Social) Committee: Thanks go to Stirling and Jane Williamson for hosting the annual Carrsbrook picnic for over 20 years! A new location will start in 2018, with one possible location being Pen Park, with large shelters (rain doesn’t cancel) and grassy areas nearby. An $80 fee would reserve one shelter with use of electricity. A cul-de-sac could be blocked off in Carrsbrook, but parking might be a problem and there may not be enough space. Input was sought for the picnic and other activities through the same sign-up sheet at the meeting mentioned above.
IIII. Concerns:
A. Power outages: Tom updated the group that the Carrsbrook neighborhood qualifies to be on theDominion Power’s list for possible future underground utilities. Carrsbrook has had enough outages to qualify, but there is no information about the length of the waiting list and once Tom is notified that Carrsbrook is on the top of the list, nothing is automatic. All neighbors would need to agree to underground utilities and monthly electricbills would be somewhat higher in the future, though without a large up-front fee. Poles would not come down until other issues are resolved – such as TV cable on the poles.
B. Tall grassy areas: Carrsbrook drive has weedy areas near the road and the property near route 29 has fallen tree limbs and tall grass near the road. To turn onto 29 from Carrsbrook Drive, the weeds on the left side are blocking one’s vision to pull outsafely. The county bush hogs grass on roadsides, but only about every 6 months. CHA can’t force anyone to cut their grass but can contact the owner and if need be, pay for it to be done out of the CHAtreasury. The county might be willing to cut grass more often if many residents complained to them. Ned Gallaway will follow up on this and will get back to Tom.
V. Rio Area Supervisor’s presentation and Q&A:
A. Albemarle County’s Places 29 – Rio Community Action Committee (CAC): Ned Gallaway introduced Audrey Kocher, a resident from Woodbrook and member of the County’s Community Action Committee (CAC) on Rio/29. She requested that we consider becoming a member of this CAC to help advise the county on important issues. There are three additional members needed on this committee and currently no one is from the Carrsbrook neighborhood. Volunteer members serve two years and give input on many things. Monthly meetings start at 6 pm at Woodbrook school, last about 2 hours and are attended by 12 volunteer members, Rio area supervisor Ned Gallaway, the planning commission head, Bruce Dodson, the community development staff and interested individuals from the public. Examples brought to the committee include special building permits such as the one from the Malloy Ford Dealership and short-term stays, like Airbnb. One can apply any time for membership by goingon-line at: http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=cdd&relpage=18730
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a link to the on-line application. Applicants should be Albemarle county residents or own a business in the county. Ned encouraged all to get involved.
B. County growth: Growth continues to be 3-5% each year and is likely to continue, impacting services and schools. Mixed use development has become popular and the height of buildings is likely to increase. Examples could be a strip mall with a parking deck on top, or stores on the main floor and apartments or condos upstairs. No major changes are likely to happen in the next five years. The county will encourage owners of unoccupied commercial property to rent it or repurpose it.Structures like Gander Mountain may not be occupied soon because of bankruptcy proceedings. Albemarle County is not likely to allow rezoning up (zoning to increase the density of housing units) since the Virginia general assembly got rid of applications to do this. Albemarle County is trying to expedite reasonable plans of private companies,to encourage connectivity. Zoning R4 means 4 units are allowed per acre. If the developer includes affordable housing, then additional units can be included per acre.
C. Impact on lakes: Ned Galloway will check on the maintenance schedule of high tech biofilters near the Gander Mountain store structure to make sure they are maintained at least annually and are working properly. Woodbrook has been impacted by discharge in creeks coming from the back side of the Colonial Auto dealership. Ned will also check on that and get back to Tom.
D. Traffic flow: A housing project recently approved for 1500 houses adjacent to Route 29 at the Polo grounds light will create more traffic on route 29. Some do cut through Huntington Road from Belvedere and avoid some lights by going through Northfields and Carrsbrook Drive to Route 29, not always obeying the speed limit. Ned has the authority to put out a digital speed machine to encourage drivers to slow down.
E. Other ways to get involved: An HOA can host a public meeting for the community and Ned will bring his staff. Contact Ned any time by email through the Albemarle County website and he will respond in 24-48 hours except on weekends. Sign up for the County A list on the county website at
http://www.albemarle.org/page.asp?info=amail to receive email notifications about important meetings and happenings – for example, with the recent storms, water safety was addressed.
Adjournment: The Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association annual meeting was concluded by 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Hitt, Secretary
Carrsbrook Homeowner’s Association