Montclair Property Owners Association
Welcome!
New Resident Guide
Office Information MPOA Office 3561 Waterway Drive Montclair, VA 22025 Phone: (703) 670-6187 Fax: (703) 670-9620
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays April-October until 8 p.m. Dropbox available outside of building for non-busines hours.
Management Company FirstService Residential Phone: (703) 385-1133
Website www.MontclairVA.com
(Items left in dropbox after 5 p.m. are processed the next business day.)
What is FSRConnect? FSRConnect is a secure, password protected website for residents to stay informed. When you register for FSRConnect, you can access account information, receive community emails & phone alerts, access association documents & forms and view the community calendar. Lakefront owners are required to register for FSRConnect to receive important lake lowering information. To register, go to: dcmetro.fsrconnect.com.
40 years of families - looking back with pride, forward with promise!
Board of Directors Who makes the decisions on how the community is managed? MPOA is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 11 homeowners elected by the community. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to manage the business and affairs of the MPOA. The Board also instructs the contracted management company on what to enforce and how to regulate the community. When does the Board meet? The Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Additionally, the community has an Annual Meeting for elections and budget in March. Who is my board representative? Montclair is divided into four precincts. Each precinct has a specific representative on the Board of Directors. Log on to ArmstrongConnect to find out which Board member is your precinct representative. From there, you can find their contact information on our website or in the community’s monthly newsletter, The Montclairion. How do I join the Board? Elections are held every year for different positions on the Board. A Call for Candidates is posted in The Montclairion before the election and residents who meet the proper criteria can submit a Candidate form. The election is held at the Annual Meeting in March. If you are elected, you will serve your community for the allotted term of that position.
Committees How do I join a committee? Montclair has many committees to assist the Board of Directors in managing and making decisions for the community. Committees typically meet one weekday a month in the evening, usually after 7 p.m. To join a committee you must be a resident current in payment of your monthly assessment. Forms to join a committee are available online and in the MPOA office. Have multiple interests? Don’t worry, you can join more than one committee! What are the committees? Budget & Finance: Meets August through December to discuss the annual budget Communications: Discusses ways to improve The Montclairion, MontclairVA.com and other methods of community correspondence Community Events: Provides ideas for features at events and new events Covenants: Reviews Property Improvement Requests (PIR) for exterior improvements Election: Meets at the beginning of the year to oversee the community election History: Discusses history and preservation of Montclair and surrounding areas Lake Management: Provides input to the upkeep and maintenance of the lake Landscape & Facilities Management: Plans improvements to community landscaping and the MPOA building Safety: Discusses ways to keep the community and residents safe See the Local Directory on the last page for information on Committee Chairs.
Assessments Assessments are due in full either at the beginning of the community’s fiscal year (May 1 through April 30) or on the first of each month, May through February. Assessments that are paid monthly have an additional $2 processing fee. Assessments received after the 10th of the month will incur a $45 late fee. In addition to MPOA assessments, certain residents may be subject to sub-association assessments. If you live in any of the following sub-associations, make sure you are paying all applicable assessments: Alexander Square Homeowners Association Island Homeowners Association Northside Townhome Association Nob Hill Forest Townhome Association Southlake Cove Townhome Association * Southlake Landing Townhome Association * Water’s Edge Townhome Association * Southlake Cove and Southlake Landing also are responsible for Southlake Recreation assessments.
What do my assessments pay for? Basic Services: administrative costs, legal counsel, taxes, landscaping, insurance, lifeguards, etc. Community Facilities Maintenance: parks, beaches, lake, common property, etc. Community Activities: 4th of July, Oktoberfest, etc. Reserve Contributions for Long-Term Repair or Replacement: lake dredging, roof replacement, playground, asphalt and concrete on community-owned property, etc. Management Fee: cost of the MPOA Staff Trash and recycling services are not included in your assessment, so be sure to set up an account with American Disposal, (703) 368-0500. All accounting issues are handled by FirstService Residential.
Lake Montclair What are my responsibilities as a lakefront homeowner? Lakefront owners, specifically those with docks, have responsibilities for the upkeep of their dock. Proof of insurance must be submitted annually in October, along with a Dock Permit Application and a $5 check. MPOA must be listed as additional insured or certificate holder on the dock owner’s policy, where applicable. In addition to insurance being submitted annually, a copy of the insurance must be submitted when the policy renews. MPOA requires proof of insurance for dock owners because the dock is located on Montclair common property. Additionally, all lakefront owners must be signed up to receive messages from FSRConnect. Frequently, the management team will send out notices to residents informing them that the lake is to be lowered due to inclement weather. Dock owners are notified of this to prevent damage to docks and boats. Do I need to register my boat with MPOA? All boats must be registered at the MPOA office annually and new boats must be registered as soon as they arrive in the community. Any boat that is in public view within Montclair without current registration tags will receive a non-compliance notice from the MPOA office. How can I store my boat at West Beach? There is a boat rack available at West Beach for storage of small boats such as canoes and kayaks. Residents may pay an annual fee of $25 to store their boat at the West Beach racks. Boats stored at West Beach that are not properly registered or renewed will be auctioned off at a Montclair Boat Auction. West Beach is also home to the only boat ramp for launching boats. Many homeowners use the boat ramp for launching fishing boats, or use the ramp to remove their boats from the lake for repairs and maintenance. In order to access the boat ramp, a $75 refundable key fob will need to be purchased from the MPOA office. West Beach also has a gate at the parking lot entrance. In order to access the parking lot during off-hours, a gate key will need to be purchased for $20. The gate key is also refundable if you are moving and will no longer need to access West Beach. How is Lake Montclair’s water level managed? Lake Montclair has an earthen dam, located at Dolphin Beach, which helps maintain water levels. The dam’s sluice gate is opened in inclement weather to maintain the water level. Due to its size, an inch of rain translates to a foot rise of water in the lake. Therefore, the management staff makes careful observations about incoming weather systems and confers with the Board when it seems the weather will be severe enough to warrant opening the sluice gate. If the dam does rise above a set height, the spillway is activated at Dolphin Beach and allows water to escape around the dam, which prevents a topping of the dam. Is the lake lowered for dock or boat maintenance? The lake is lowered annually for inspections and maintenance. Notices are posted in The Montclairion and sent to lakefront owners on ArmstrongConnect months in advance to make them aware of this scheduled lowering. The dam is left at the lowered level and refills to its normal level gradually with rainfall. Is fishing allowed in the lake? Fishing is available to residents with recreation tags and their guests from community docks and most MPOA common areas that abut the shoreline. The shoreline that abuts private lakefront property and the docks of lakefront owners may only be used by or with the permission of the property owner.
Recreation Areas What recreation areas are available to residents? Montclair contains many areas for residents who would like to spend time outdoors. Lake Montclair is a feature of the community and has three beaches with swimming areas. If swimming isn’t your style, you can enjoy yourself at one of the many parks with basketball hoops, playgrounds, and more! Beaches Dolphin - 4398 Spillway Lane: Dolphin Beach is the largest and most popular beach in the community. Many of the larger community events are held at this beach. There is a pavilion with picnic tables for hosting parties, a playground facility for children, basketball hoops, an ampitheater and a large parking lot. There is not much shade at this beach, except at the pavilion. West - 4616 Spalding Drive: West Beach is in the middle, with a smaller beach and parking lot than Dolphin but still larger than Beaver Landing. There is a small playground with swings and a picnic area. West Beach is also home to a boat rack where residents can pay a yearly fee to store their small boats (kayaks, canoes, etc.). The beach also boasts plenty of shade. Beaver Landing - 15462 Silvan Glen Drive: Beaver Landing is the smallest beach in Montclair. There is no parking lot for this beach, so residents must use available street parking or walk for access to this beach. There is a picnic area and the beach has plenty of shade. Parks Kids Dominion - 3561 Waterway Drive: Kids Dominion, located behind the MPOA office building, is a large playground area. There are picnic tables and benches for parents, as well as a large lion water fountain to keep everyone hydrated. The area is surrounded by trees and stays shaded most of the time. Residents using Kids Dominion are welcome to park in the MPOA office parking lot. Hockersmith - 15907 Edgewood Drive: Hockersmith Park has a basketball court as well as a large grassy area. There is no parking lot, so residents should use appropriate street parking or walk to access this area. Membership-Only Recreation Areas Montclair Country Club - 16500 Edgewood Drive: The Montclair Country Club owns and operates the golf course within Montclair. Also available through the Country Club is a clubhouse with pool access and tennis courts. Contact the office at (703) 670-7503 for more information regarding obtaining a membership. Southlake Recreation Center - 5070 Higgins Drive: The Recreation Center in Southlake can be used by members who pay the Southlake Recreation assessment. This area has a tennis court, playground, pool and indoor area available for reservations. Non-members may obtain pool passes. Contact the community manager, Lin Stauffer, at (703) 670-2376 for more information. How do I access these recreation areas? Residents of Montclair desiring to access MPOA common areas as well attend community events are required to display recreation, or “beach”, tags. Beach tags are identification for residents nine years of age and older living in Montclair. They are proof that the holder is a Montclair resident and therefore should have access to common property. How do I obtain tags? Tags must be picked up at the MPOA office during normal business hours starting at the beginning of May. Residents must fill out the Recreation Tag Request form with all required information. Residents must also bring
a form of identification listing current Montclair address for everyone requesting tags over the age of 18 years. Renters must bring a copy of their current lease or current utility bill. Residents must also be current on their assessments, so make sure to pay your yearly assessment or monthly installment before trying to obtain tags. There are two types of beach tags: Unrestricted: Tags for residents ages 12 and older Restricted: Tags for residents ages 9-11, required to be accompanied by a person 16 years of age or older. What happens if I lose my tags? Replacements are $25 per tag. Oftentimes, recreation guards will find tags on the beaches or in parking lots, so call our office if you misplace your tags as we may have them. Can I bring guests to these areas? Yes, residents can bring their guests to recreation areas and events with their beach tags. There are four guests allowed per unrestricted beach tag on a normal day and two guests per unrestricted beach tag on an event day. Guests are not allowed on restricted tags. Residents bringing guests are responsible for the actions of their guests the entire time they are accessing a beach or park. When are the beaches open? Montclair beaches are open from 6 a.m. to dusk daily and are guarded by lifeguards from 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. during the summer season. What are recreation guards? Are they the same as lifeguards? Recreation guards are employees of MPOA in charge of sign-in and tag checking at the entrance of the beaches and Kids Dominion. Their primary purpose is to ensure only Montclair residents and their guests are utilizing MPOA facilities. They are not lifeguards. Is there a lost and found at the beach? Anything found on the beaches is brought to the MPOA office and stored in a lost and found box. You may call the office during business hours to see if we have your item. You may be asked to describe your lost item to verify ownership. Can I reserve a picnic area for a party? Yes, picnic areas at the beaches are available for reservation by residents in good standing (that is, you have paid your yearly assesment or monthly installment). Holiday weekends and MPOA-sponsored event weekends are not available for reservation. To make a reservation, submit the Recreation Area Reservation form along with a copy of the Declaration Page of your Homeowners/Renters Insurance Policy and a copy of the guest list for the party to the MPOA office. All reservation requests must be submitted a minimum of two weeks in advance of the desired date. Beach tags are also required to make reservations. Reservations begin two weeks before the beaches open. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis so be sure to get yours in as soon as possible to ensure your date is not taken. Each beach has a limit of how many guests it can accommodate: Dolphin Beach: 60 guests West Beach: 40 guests Beaver Landing: 25 guests Residents are required to stay at the party the entire time. They are responsible for the behavior of all in attendance and for cleanup after the party is over.
Communications What publications are sent to residents? The MPOA publishes a monthly newsletter called The Montclairion, as well as bi-weekly e-newsletters with a condensed version of important information. Also available to residents is the website, www.MontclairVA.com. Can I advertise in these publications? Advertising is available in The Montclairion. Display and classified ads are available to both residents and non-residents. Residents are given priority for advertising. You must have your ad in to the MPOA office by the 5th of the month prior (for example, submit your ad August 5 for the September issue) in order to be considered.
Covenants Are there rules in regards to appearance of my house? Yes, residents of Montclair are subject to the MPOA Declarations and Guidelines. Within these guidelines there are certain rules regarding upkeep of property. The MPOA office has Covenants Inspectors on staff who perform property inspections in order to maintain curb appeal and prevent issues from things such as tall grass or unauthorized improvements. These guidelines can be accessed on our website under Documents & Forms. Does MPOA have the right to inspect my property? Yes, Covenants Inspectors and Maintenance Staff have the right to inspect individual lots in Montclair to ensure properties comply with the community guidelines. Annual inspections of all properties in Montclair begin in the spring, weather permitting. What should I do if I receive a letter of non-compliance? You must bring your property into compliance per the letter’s instructions. If you are unsure of the action to be taken, you need more time to complete repairs, or if you have questions or concerns about the letter, please contact the MPOA office. What is a PIR? A PIR is a Property Improvement Request. Property owners desiring to add to and/or alter the exterior appearance of their home or lot (removing a tree, changes in paint color, adding a deck, etc.) must complete a PIR form and submit the PIR and all necessary attachments to the Covenants Department at the MPOA office. The Covenants Administrator will review the form for completeness, date it, retain an active file copy and record its receipt. The Covenants Administrator will then route a copy of the PIR to all Covenants Committee members for their review and on-site inspection. If the Covenants Committee approves the request at their regularly scheduled meetings (1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month), a letter of approval from the Covenants Administrator will be sent to the applicant and a copy placed in the individual lot file at the MPOA office. Is the Covenants Committee inspecting my property? The Covenants Committee is only on homeowner property when they have applied for a Property Improvement Request. When you submit a request, the Committee will review the area before the improvement to ensure that it will fit with the aesthetic of the home. The Covenants Committee does not perform inspections and send violation notices. Covenants Inspectors are responsible for inspecting properties for issues of noncompliance and then sending letters for such properties. How do I report a violation? Can I remain anonymous? Residents may call the MPOA office and speak with an inspector about any potential violations. An inspector will assess the property and address any violations as needed. The caller can choose to remain anonymous, or they may leave callback information to get an update on the situation. Regardless, the homeowner with the violation is never made aware of who has made this call. One thing to keep in mind when calling in a violation is the nature of the call. Quite often, we will receive calls that are better suited with a neighbor-to-neighbor talk or call to the police. The Covenants Department handles aesthetic violations, such as tall grass, dirty siding, excessive/prohibited decorations, unauthorized improvements, etc. The Covenants Department does not have regulations regarding noise complaints (music, pets, etc.), trespassing, neighbor feuds, stolen property, etc. If you are unsure whether or not the item is in violation, you can download a copy of Section 5 of the MPOA guidelines, which lists all architectural guidelines. Parking issues within townhome associations are best handled by the sub-association manager. Their phone numbers can be found in the back of The Montclairion along with further sub-association information.
Events Does the community host events for residents? Yes, Montclair hosts events for residents throughout the year. The community’s largest events are Montclair Day, 4th of July, and Oktoberfest. There are smaller events throughout the year such as the St. Patty’s Pet Parade, Teen Beach Party, Beautification Day and many more. All events take place at one of the common property locations (beaches, playgrounds, parks) in Montclair and recreation tags are required to attend them. The calendar of events is available on the website and in The Montclairion. How can I get involved? If you are interested in volunteering for an event, you can submit an Event Volunteer form to the MPOA office. Montclair Day and Oktoberfest have specific volunteer shifts as the events are so large. The shifts will usually be posted on the website or in The Montclairion prior to the event, so be sure to volunteer early to get the spot you want. Can I bring guests to events? Yes, residents with recreation tags are allowed to bring two guests per unrestricted tag to events. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests at the event and must remain in attendance while their guest is at the event. How much do the events cost? Admission to events is free for residents and their guests. However, some events will have tickets for sale for certain aspects of the event. For example, at Montclair Day residents must purchase tickets to get food, play games and purchase beer. Those tickets are available at the event. Other times, ticket purchases are required prior to the event. For the Adult Beach Party, participants must purchase food tickets in advance. In all cases, the resident is still permitted to attend the event without purchasing any tickets. How do I know if the event has been cancelled? If the weather on an event day is questionable, residents have many options for checking the event’s status. If an event is cancelled due to inclement weather, an alert will be posted on the website, a message will be left on the MPOA office phone, an ArmstrongConnect alert will be sent out and, if the event is at Dolphin Beach, a notice will be posted at the Dolphin Beach message board.
Local Directory Utilities
Electricity, NOVEC...............................................(703) 335-0500 Gas, Washington Gas..........................................(703) 750-1400 Trash, American Disposal..............................(703) 368-0500 Water & Sewer, PWC..........................................(703) 335-7950 Telephone, Cable & Internet Comcast.....................................................................1 (800) 266-2218 Verizon........................................................................1 (800) 837-4966
Prince William County
Animal Control.......................................................(703) 792-6465 Landfill.............................................................(703)792-5750 Mosquito Control...................................................(703) 792-6279 Non-Emergency Police....................................(703) 792-6500 Park Authority..........................................................(703) 792-7060 Post Office - Dumfries.........................................(703) 441-8304 Zoning....................................................................(703)792-8154
Board of Directors
President & Precinct 3 Representative Ned Greene...............................................................(703) 680-4669 1st Vice President Tracy Hansen.............................................................(703) 590-0611 2nd Vice President & Precinct 2 Representative Linda Cheng-Khan................................................(703) 583-1975 Secretary Pat Hall...........................................................................(703) 878-7957 Treasurer Doug Taggart...............................................................(703) 878-1216 Precinct Representatives Precinct 1, William McCombs.......................(703) 628-8606 Precinct 4, Ray Boisvert...................................(703) 489-7092 At-Large Directors Jim Cech.......................................................................(703) 371-9587 Amy Frederick...........................................................(703) 730-3739 Brad Hancock...........................................................(571) 229-5050 Joellen Welch..........................................................(703) 828-5656
Committee Chairs
Budget & Finance Peter Frank.................................................................(703) 932-1049 Communications Trisha Helchinger....................................................(715) 379-6182 Community Events Carolyn Perez............................................................(586) 863-2418 Covenants Allan Legrow..............................................................(703) 680-5221 Election Barbara Ball...............................................................(703) 670-4381 History Bill Riski..........................................................................(703) 670-8541 Lake Management Richard Arvin.............................................................(703) 878-1657
Landscape and Facilities Management Terry Tallent...............................................................(703) 680-4935 Safety Marie Juliano..............................................................(703) 583-9719
Armstrong Management Staff General Manager Heather McDevitt....................................gm@montclairva.com Assistant General Manager of Administration Jennifer Hughes...........administration@montclairva.com Assistant General Manager of Operations Tom Whiting..............................operations@montclairva.com Community Services Manager Megan Chambers...........................events@montclairva.com Community Services Administrative Assistant Samantha Bates....................newsletter@montclairva.com Covenants Administrator Ashley Harrell..............................covadmin@montclairva.com Covenants Inspectors Kristie Pullen.....................covinspector1@montclairva.com Chris Engleright............covinspector2@montclairva.com Administrative Assistant Elizabeth McKeone...........adminassist@montclairva.com
Elected Officials
U.S. Senators Mark Warner.............................................................(877) 676-2759 Tim Kaine...................................................................(202) 224-4024 U.S. Congressmen First District, Rob Wittman..............................(202) 225-4261 Virginia Senator Toddy Puller..................................................................(703) 765-1150 Virginia House of Delegates Representative Scott Lingamfelter.................................................(703) 580-1294 Richmond Office..........................(703) 580-1294 Potomac District Supervisor Maureen Caddigan..............................................(703) 792-4645 Potomac District School Board Rep Betty D. Covington.................................................(703) 221-0883
Schools Ashland Elementary 15300 Bowmans Folly Drive Manassas, VA 20112 Phone: (703) 583-8774 Fax: (703) 583-9542
Benton Middle 7411 Hoadly Road Manassas, VA 20112 Phone: (703) 791-0727 Fax: (703) 791-0977
Henderson Elementary 3799 Waterway Drive Montclair, VA 22025 Phone: (703) 670-2885 Fax: (703) 670-5521
Graham Park Middle 3613 Graham Park Road Triangle, VA 22172 Phone: (703) 221-2118 Fax: (703) 221-1079
Montclair Elementary 4920 Tallowwood Drive Montclair, VA 22025 Phone: (703) 730-1072 Fax: (703) 878-0356
Saunders Middle 13557 Spriggs Road Manassas, VA 20112 Phone: (703) 670-9188 Fax: (703) 670-3078
Pattie Elementary 16125 Dumfries Road Montclair, VA 22025 Phone: (703) 670-3173 Fax: (703) 583-7233
Forest Park High 15721 Forest Park Drive Woodbridge, VA 22193 Phone: (703) 583-3200 Fax: (703) 583-6867
Montclair Property Owners Association 3561 Waterway Drive Montclair, VA 22025