Belmont Community Association -- 3-10-16

BCA presentation to HOA Symposium: March 10, 2016

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“COMMON SPACE FOR THE COMMON GOOD” BELMONT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

(HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION—ASHBURN, VIRGINIA)MARCH 10, 2016


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Belmont Community Background•1474 acres—anchored by Toll Brothers Audubon Certified golf course•2717 homes in 37 “villages”•Developed between 1999 and 2009—mix of attached and detached homes•Governance:

•Elected Board of Directors with appointed volunteers on these committees:

•Grounds, Facilities and Safety•Finance•Covenants•Outreach

•Five person staff from Associa management firm•$6.2 Million annual operating budget•$5.5 Million in replacement reserves


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Belmont Community BackgroundStrategic Plan

•Five Year Plan (2015 to 2020)•Long Term Capital Improvements•Budget $850,000 to $1,000,000•Most projects are landscape investments•Project selected with these criteria

•Replace non-native plants with natives•Enhanced care of tree save areas•Reduce storm water flow•Reduce pollutants carried in storm water•Enhance property values through well designed landscape improvements•Improve strategic use of landscape inputs


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“COMMON SPACE FOR THE COMMON GOOD”

BELMONT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION—ASHBURN, VIRGINIA)

MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community BackgroundStrategic Plan

•Requires bold thinking by all concerned•Volunteers unsatisfied with status quo•Get pre-approval from Board to explore projects•Makes it hard for Board to say “no”•Must be done by and for the community

•Homeowners will never take meaningful action on their own•Select big projects with big impacts—no nibbling around the edges•Grab the imagination of the community•Appeal to mercenary instincts—better property values•No rain barrels!

•No excuses for inaction•Money is available•Must have the will to levy for it and spend it•Funding partnerships may be available


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MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community BackgroundEnvironmental Baseline

•Detailed analysis of property: “Storm Water Management in Belmont”

•Land Use•Impervious Urban: 303.15 ac•Pervious Urban: 854.97•Forest: 286.37 ac•Water: 30.12 ac

•Annual load (N,P,S) without treatment: 374,340.7 lbs/year•Current treatment (reduction) (N,P,S): $177,800.6 lbs/year•Current load (N,P,S); 196,540.1 lbs/year•Managing 1.6 billion gallons of rainwater

Current Load considered good outcome—can do better


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MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community ActionsCompleted

•Hunt Civic Center Native Garden: $25,000•Three year project•Rip out all non-natives•Replant with natives•Explanatory Sign (photo)•20109 Boxwood, Ashburn

•Replant Claiborne Berms: $10,000•Drought Resistant native trees•Three year project


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“Common Space for the Common Good”

BELMONT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (Homeowners Association—Ashburn, Virginia)

March 10, 2016

• Fountains in Hunt Storm Water Ponds: $27,000• Two ponds• Vastly improves pond health• Ponds teeming with wildlife• Esthetic improvement• Loudoun County welcomes these improvements


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Hunt Riparian Tree Planting Project: $55,000 less $17,400 county reimbursement

•Project in conjunction with Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District (grant)•Planted 500+ 5’ to 8’ foot native trees (nine species)•Three pollinator friendly entrance gardens•Covered 2.2 acres•Will result in major increase in wildlife habitat•Reduces storm water runoff•County gets BMP credit•Permanent land easement•Explanatory signs on premises


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Arborist review of all trees: $8,000 : •Recommendations

•Get Deer population under control•Clear invasive plants from tree save areas and replant•Manage health of street trees

•Pruning•Feeding•Root management•Disease as needed

•Controlling deer: Free•Reviewed situation with Virginia Game Warden•Gave permission to hunters to kill deer on property•Set parameters for safety (bow hunting only)•Completing second successful season


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MARCH 10, 2016Belmont Community Background

Action Plan: Completed•Clearing invasive plants and replanting: $9200 and $15,000

•Hired eco-goats to clear three of 16 tree save areas•Used goats followed by hand clearing •Major community buy in—encore requested•Replanted cleared verge with 115 native trees


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MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community ActionsProposed and Ongoing

•Clearing invasive plants and replanting: $TBD•Three year rotation to clear and maintain all tree save areas•Goats and hand clearing•Replanting as needed•Fund with replacement reserves

•Replanting Tournament Drive (main spine road): $45,000—3 years

•Remove all Ornamental Plum Trees•Replant with flowering natiivs:

•Forest Pansy Redbud•Serviceberry•Fringetree•Dogwood•Silverbell

•Entire road planted with native trees•Some bushes need replacing


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Street trees project: $TBD•Trial plan proposed•HOA take over street tree care

•Pruning•Feeding•Disease control

•Better outcome for community•Need to build into budget


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Install floating ponds in selected storm water ponds: $TBD

•Studying plans•Will get estimates later in 2016

•Install rain gardens in HOA drainage areas (swales): $TBD

•Mapping selected areas for proposals•Seek to reduce turf grass and sheet rain water flows


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Landscape Belmont Ridge Road (Phase I) $200,000+•Work with VDOT on plans•Install mature landscaping•All natives•Berms and medians•2018

•Landscape Belmont Ridge Road (Phase II) $150,000+•Work with VDOT on plans•Install mature landscaping•All natives•Berms and medians•2018


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Re-landscape Claiborne and Gloucester: $500,000

•Work with VDOT on plans•Have retained LPDA to start plans•Install mature landscaping—must comply with VDOT regulations•Use rain gardens around existing drains•All natives•Replace turf grass•Berms and medians


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MARCH 10, 2016


•Centralized landscape care•Turf grass plan

•First Spring application: 17-0-5 liquid + Barricade and Escalade2•Second Spring application: 17-0-5 liquid + Barricade and Esclade2•First Fall application: aerate, over seed, 19-0-5 liquid•Second Fall application: 28-0-5 liquid

•Shrub plan•Spring application: 14-14-14 slow release granules•Mulch all beds after fertilizer


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MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community Conclusions

Build a strategic planBiggest impact is on landscaping—best return on investmentDo it carefully and rightMany, many opportunities in each communityIt’s a long journey


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MARCH 10, 2016

Belmont Community Resources

• “Storm Water Management in Belmont” by David Mowbray ([email protected])

• Dennis Cumbie, hydrogeologist at Loudoun County Department of Building and Development ([email protected])

• Chris Van Vlack, Loudoun County Soil and Water Conservation District ([email protected])

• Brad Amico, et. al, Toll Landscaping (our contractor) ([email protected])

• Brian Knox, Eco-goats ([email protected])• Joe Estrada, Thrive Arborist ([email protected])• Zac Lette, LPDA ([email protected])• Gem Bingdol, PiedmontEnvironmental Council ([email protected])• Nicole Hamilton, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

([email protected])• Brian DiLuigi, Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries (game warden)

(brian.diluigi@[email protected])• Allegra Print (signs) (www.allegradulles.com)