This page has excerpts from the Church Point newsletters from 2005 until 2009 to highlight issues that were handled by the Board of Directors during that period. For a broader perspective of the area, please see the full history of the neighborhood. For other periods, please see:

• Church Point HOA History 2010-2014
• Church Point HOA History 2015-2019
• Church Point HOA History 2020-

Spring 2005

Intro:

After a brief hiatus, our Church Point community newsletter is back. The Board of Directors hopes the quarterly newsletter can be a good communication tool to keep everyone informed of events and issues in Church Point. 

President’s Corner: 

Your Board of Directors continues to represent your interests to the best of our abilities. As a dynamic community with people moving in and out of the community, we are always looking for additional participation in our various committees that make things happen. If you are interested in participating please contact me or our management company Select. 

We are pleased that Neal Curtin has volunteered to reinstitute our newsletter to keep us better informed. Neal has also agreed to update our Church Point Directory so we can keep in touch. The only information in the directory will be what you want in it. John Holiday has volunteered to update our website since Dr. Moffat has moved. Gary Shine has agreed to continue to host our site on one of his company’s severs. 

As many of you may know, we have had a flooding problem behind several homes at the far end of the Mews. This is because of a drainage/mosquito ditch running between Church Point and Thoroughgood that overflows during moderate to heavy rainfalls causing extensive damage to properties along that ditch. We have established a Flood Control Committee to work with our attorney and the City engineers to address this issue. As of this letter there is a repair and maintenance schedule and work order in place at the City’s Engineering Office to fix this problem. 

With most of the lots in Church Point built out, much of the Architecture Control Committee’s (ACC) work has been concerned with reviewing plans for additions, decks, pools, pool houses, fences, etc. It probably has been a long time since we have all reviewed our covenants. We do need to remember that any new construction requires the submission of a plan to the ACC for approval. The ACC is more than willing to work with our residents, and early submission of plans makes it easier on all. 

We continue to expend most of our funds on landscape of the common areas, maintenance and repair of irrigation systems and other properties: for example the gazebo, bridge, pond aeration pump, street signs etc. With no unanticipated major expenses like “Hurricane Isabel” we have had a chance to build up our reserves somewhat and are moving the funds to short term CDs. 

Longer-term issues we are still dealing with are the degenerating photenias along First Court Road and what to do with the waterfront. We plan to remove the old damaged pier sections and pilings. Beyond that we are open to suggestions. Based on recommendations of arborists we eventually will have to replace the photenias and are developing a plan to do this in concert with the Church Point Master Landscape Plan. 

Finally, a sad note. As most of you may know, one of our Board members Dr. Donald Seim has passed away. The Church Point Board of Directors extends its sympathy to his wife Sarah and his family. Don was a valuable member of the Board and his wisdom will be missed. 

I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their support and a special thanks to all the committees and to the homeowners for all your efforts to make Church Point the best place to live in Virginia Beach. 

Summer 2005

President’s Corner: 

Your Board of Directors continues to represent your interests to the best of our abilities. As a dynamic community with people moving in and out of the community, we are always looking for additional participation in our various committees that make things happen.

This is the same opening paragraph I put in the April issue just to emphasize that we always need the participation of our homeowners in order to make this a dynamic community. For example we need a welcoming committee to simply say welcome to new neighbors. Any events like the picnic we used to have at the beginning of summer or could have during the early fall needs a Social Committee to help organize such events. If you are interested in participating please contact me or our management company, Select.

Neal Curtin, who does our Newsletter, has graciously agreed to serve as a Director at Large on your Board at least until the annual meeting in October. At that time he may wish to continue in that capacity by running in the annual election.

Our committees continue to provide a service to us all. Our Flood Control Committee is working with our attorney and the City engineers to address the flooding issue behind some of our homes in the Mews. The Architecture Control Committee (ACC) continues to work with our residents and early submission of any construction plans makes it easier on all. The Landscape Committee works hard to keep us aware of the need to maintain a well kept appearance. Thanks to the Garden Club for the plantings around our neighborhood.

I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their support and a special thanks to all the committees and to the homeowners for all your efforts to make Church Point the best place to live in Virginia Beach.

With the Fourth of July just behind us, I would like to acknowledge that it is because of the men and women in uniform that we are able to celebrate our freedom. We live in an area that has seen these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice for us all. At our house before our July 4th meal with a few friends and neighbors, I simply read the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” In Congress, July 4th, 1776.

Speed Limit 25 

Summer is in full swing, and your Church Point neighbors are out enjoying the pleasant weather. With school out, this is especially true for the children of the neighborhood. Whether walking, running, riding bikes, on skateboards, scooters, or roller blades — the kids are out in force — adults, too! 

While vigilance and proper speed is always important within the development, it’s especially important now at this time of year. We’ve had increased police patrols and higher fines for speeding the past couple years. But it only takes a moment’s inattention to create a tragedy. Let’s all be extra careful and make this a safe summer on Church Point’s roads. 

Dead Trees? 

During a recent storm, a dead tree fell from HOA property onto a homeowner’s property and damaged a car. Luckily, no one was injured and the homeowner’s insurance covered the damage. We want to remove any dead trees in the common areas that might be a hazard to residents. Please, if you know of any near your property or see some in the common areas, let Select Group know right away. Hurricane season is here and we want to eliminate any potential hazards. 

Fall 2005

Homeowners’ Association Annual Meeting Held Oct. 25: 

About 50 Church Point residents attended the annual meeting of the Church Point Homeowners’ Association October 25 at the Bayside Recreation Center.

The main order of business was the election of officers for the HOA Board of Directors. Two Director slots were up for election this year. Neal Curtin and Justin Keenan were elected to fill those positions. Tom Fitzgerald continues as President of the Board, with Peggy Carnes as Secretary, and Jack Steele as Treasurer. 

Next year’s budget was also presented at the meeting, and rising costs forced the Board to reluctantly recommend the first increase in HOA assessments in several years. Recent unexpected expenses for dead tree removal and removal of the pilings and debris at the riverfront park have drained reserves. Also, the Board proposed hiring off-duty Virginia Beach police officer to patrol the neighborhood periodically as a security enhancement. Those expenses led the Board to propose a quarterly assessment of $79 per home. 

There was considerable discussion about the security issue. Through a special program, the VB police department allows officers to use police cars for this type of operation on their own time. This will be in addition to the normal patrols and speeding enforcement we already see in the neighborhood. A VB police officer spoke at the meeting, and said that, whether or not we hire off- duty officers, we should work to make our Neighborhood Watch program as active as possible, and should call the police when we have concerns. Many residents recommended a security enhancement like this because of recent incidents in the neighborhood. Other residents felt the problem was not severe and did not merit the cost. The Board is going to have further discussions before finalizing the budget. 

President’s Corner: 

After our annual meeting we now have a complete Board of Directors (BOD).Your new Board will continue to represent your interests to the best of our abilities. I would like to thank Tina Simmons for her service to the Church Point Community over several years as a Board member, the last two as an able Vice President. We also plan to fill some of the vacancies on our various committees so we can expand our activities as a community. Additional volunteers are always welcome; just state your interest in an email to me or to our management company, Select Group. Our existing committees continue to provide a service to us all. I would also like to thank our Select management representative, Alison Mercer, who is doing an outstanding job for us.

Some of our major expenses have been the removal of trees on common property that are dangerous to people and property. We use a certified arborist to advise the BOD on what is the appropriate action to take. We also removed the remnants of the pier left at the waterfront after Isabel. As the pier has always been an integral part of our community, the BOD would like to hear opinions on what to do with our picturesque waterfront. We are still working out a plan based on advice from our attorney with respect to an interpretation of our covenants and recommendations from certified arborists to deal with the degenerating photenia plants along First Court Road. Our Flood Control Committee continues to work with our attorney and the City engineers to address the flooding issue behind some of our homes in the Mews.

Because of some incidents in Church Point, a new expense item has been added to our budget this year to hire off duty Virginia Beach Police Officers to randomly patrol our neighborhood especially during the weekends. This is done in full cooperation with the city and these officers are trained, armed, insured and authorized to use official police cars. We believe this extra effort coupled with our well run Neighborhood Watch program will provide for a safer community and reduced vandalism.

The Architecture Control Committee (ACC) continues to work with our residents, and early submission of any construction plans makes it easier on all. The Landscape Committee works hard to keep us aware of the need to maintain a well kept appearance. Thanks to the Garden Club for the plantings around our neighborhood. I would also like to thank my fellow Board members for their support and a special thanks to all the committees and to the homeowners for all your efforts to make Church Point the best place to live in Virginia Beach. 

Winter 2006

President’s Corner: 

After our annual meeting we now have a complete Board of Directors (BOD).Your new Board will continue to represent your interests to the best of our abilities. I would like to welcome our newest board members: Justin Keenan, Director at-Large and our new Vice-President, Neal Curtin who has graciously offered to continue with the publication of this Newsletter. As was mentioned in the last Newsletter we are always looking for greater participation in our activities by our homeowners. 

We have effectively passed through another Hurricane season without any major damage to our properties. We still continue to remove some trees that pose a threat to people or property. Hopefully this expense will stabilize but it will continue to be a finite item in our budget as many of the mature trees in our neighborhood are subject to disease. Options of how to handle the deteriorating photenia along First Court Road are still under consideration by the BOD, the Landscape Committee and our legal representatives. 

As mentioned in my last letter we hired off-duty Virginia Beach police officers to provide additional patrols in our community over the recent Holidays to supplement our Neighborhood Watch program and regular patrols. While it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of this additional coverage, we do know that we had some minor vandalism just prior to the period of additional coverage and none after the coverage went into effect. We plan to continue random coverage over the coming year. I would like to acknowledge the close cooperation of the Virginia Beach Police Department with our Neighborhood Watch Director, LaTanya Cole, and Ali Mercer of our management group Select in coordinating our overall efforts to make Church Point a safer place to live and play. 

I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their support and a special thanks to all the committees and to the homeowners for all your efforts to make Church Point the best place to live in Virginia Beach. In the near future there will be an article about our Church Point neighborhood in the Virginia Pilot; look for it and stay warm through the winter. 

Spring 2006

President’s Corner

Welcome to spring time at Church Point; once again it is the prettiest time of the year. Thank you for maintaining your homes and landscape for the benefit of us all. I hope you have noticed the new lighting the BOD has installed at the main entrance to further enhance our appearance. We are looking into the possibility of installing some additional lighting at the Mews entrance depending on the availability of electrical power.

As many of you are aware the Photenia (Red-Tips) along the approaches to Church Point have been deteriorating because of disease and some automobile accidents. The BOD has been spraying these shrubs for several years approximately 4 to 6 times each year to control the disease. This expense has been borne by the HOA as being in the best interest of the entire community. The actual replacement of these shrubs is however a more costly endeavor.

There are several legal issues associated with a replacement program that include obligations under the existing covenants for the BOD, the responsibilities of individual homeowners along First Court Road, the role of all other homeowners, the City of Virginia Beach and the power, gas and cable company Rights of Way and easements, and any obligations of the City and power company. The BOD attorney has offered his opinion and we will be sending a formal statement outlining the BOD position to all homeowners in the next mailing for HOA dues.

Summer 2006

Summertime at Church Point is in full swing. Remember that our children are home all day, so please be extra careful as you drive around the neighborhood.

If you are planning major landscaping projects, home additions, pools, fences docks etc. you will need to submit an application for approval to the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) before you start your project. This will avoid a lot of potential problems as you go through the various city, state, Chesapeake Bay Authority, Army Corps of Engineers etc. wickets to obtain approval.

As most of you should know our landscape contractor Coastal has changed ownership. The Board of Directors (BOD) through our management company, Select, has been working with the new owner, who has been most cooperative, to ensure professional services are provided to our community.

In the last letter I addressed the Photenia issues along First Court Road. We have a draft amendment to our covenants from our attorney and intend to send a final draft with a recommendation from the BOD in the notice for the annual meeting. At that meeting and through a formal voting process, all homeowners will be asked to vote for or against the amendment for the HOA to assume responsibility to remove and replace the photenias and maintain the new plantings.

Fall 2006

October 19 Homeowners’ Annual Meeting

This year’s annual homeowners’ meeting had a good attendance, perhaps boosted by the proposed amendment regarding the photenia along First Court Road. The Board’s 2007 budget was presented, with no increase in the quarterly HOA fees. The homeowners elected three Board members to 2-year terms – two incumbents up for re-election and one new member. The new member is Peggy Dickens, who replaces Tom Fitzgerald, who retired after 6 years on the Board. Jack Steele and Peggy Carnes were reelected.

Homeowners defeated a proposed amendment to the covenants and restrictions for Church Point that was designed to facilitate the replacement of the photenia bushes along First Court Road. Even though a majority of those voting approved the amendment, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority needed to pass. The change would have provided for the cost of replacement to be borne by the HOA rather than the individual property owners along the road. The change was necessary because the bushes are actually located on homeowners’ property; without the amendment, the Board might be prohibited from authorizing funds for removal or replacement. With the defeat of the amendment, the new Board will have to reassess how best to address this issue of the diseased and dying photenia.

After the general meeting, the new Board members met to select the officers for the coming year. The new officers are: President – Neal Curtin.; Vice-president – Justin Keenan; Treasurer – Jack Steele; Secretary – Peggy Carnes; and At-Large Member – Peggy Dickens.

President’s Corner

It is a pleasure and honor to serve as President of the HOA Board of Directors this year. My wife Joan and I have been Church Point residents for 11 years, and I have been a Board member for the last year and a half. We have been proud and happy to see Church Point develop into a premier neighborhood in Virginia Beach, and I think the Board’s main job is to maintain and enhance that reputation.

I want to start this message by thanking Tom Fitzgerald for his many years of service to the Church Point Board. Tom served for six years on the Board, the last three as President. He’s put in some long hours — and endured many headaches – for the good of Church Point. Thanks, Tom, for a job well done!

While there are a multitude of issues and activities that I and the Board members will have to pay attention to over the next year, I think there are three main priorities that will occupy most of my time. These are items that carry a significant cost and/or are crucial to the neighborhood:

Maintenance and beautification of the common areas. We spend over $50,000 a year on our contract for mowing lawns, trimming trees and bushes, and maintaining flower beds. We also maintain the pond and fountain at the west end of the Mews, the gazebo at the main entrance, the carriage path along the golf course boundary, and the riverfront park in the Quays. All of these contribute to making Church Point special and deserve special attention.

Replacement of the photenia bushes along First Court Road. With the defeat of the proposed amendment, the Board will have to decide how to proceed as these bushes become diseased and die. This is Church Point’s “front door” and we want to keep it looking attractive and impressive. As we debate this issue further, we will keep everyone informed. Your ideas and input are welcome.

Maintaining good control of architectural standards. One of the things that has set Church Point apart from the start is the strict enforcement of good architectural standards, not only for the houses themselves, but for any additions, changes, fences, piers, swimming pools, etc. that could alter the character of the development. Enforcing the standards can sometimes be painful, but it is crucial that the Board do a conscientious job.

These priorities – and all activities of the Board – will be done with one thing in mind: what’s best for Church Point as a whole?

Winter 2007

Board Acts on First Court Photenia

In a December letter to all residents, Board of Directors President Neal Curtin outlined the Board’s plan for moving forward on the issue of dying photenia along First Court Road.

The letter makes clear that the photenia and fences along First Court are on private residents’ property and are therefore the individual resident’s responsibility. Under Church Point’s covenants, any changes to that landscaping are subject to Board ofDirectors approval. An amendment that would have changed this provision to have the HOA take over that landscaping was defeated at the October annual meeting.

Residents along First Court Road recently submitted over 40 letters requesting the Board to change this decision or hold a revote, asserting that many residents were not aware of the impact of the proposed amendment. Some residents also spoke at the Board’s January meeting. The Board is considering the residents’ request.

President’s Corner

I hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season. We are in the middle of the gloomy winter weather now, and I hope the Newsletter doesn’t add to the gloom. With articles on break-ins, dying photenia, and unleashed dogs, it may seem like there’s only bad news. But there is actually plenty of good news to be grateful for. Case in point – the Neighborhood Watch, under LaTanya Cole’s leadership, has really stepped up and done a great job in tackling the automobile break-in issue. She and her block captains have worked hard to get the word out to everyone and to coordinate closely with police. Be sure to read this issue’s Neighborhood Watch column for the latest from LaTanya. Another case – the Garden Club did a great job of decorating the entrances for the holidays, sponsored another successful Santa at the Gazebo attended by lots of Church Point kids and parents, and is being featured in the Virginia Beach city newsletter for the red, white, and blue pansies planted this winter as part of the Jamestown 400th anniversary celebration coming up this year.

I would like to be able to feature even more good news in future Newsletters, by starting a feature on accomplishments by students – of all ages—from Church Point families. To do that, I need to hear from you if your own children, or a neighbor’s, win an award, graduate with honors, achieve a milestone, set a record – whatever you think would be of interest to the Church Point community.

Spring 2007

President’s Corner

I had some items prepared to include in my President’s Corner for this issue, but after the tragic events at Virginia Tech on April 16, those items seemed pretty mundane and trivial. I just wanted to take a moment to express what all of us are probably feeling – shock, frustration, sorrow, confusion – over an incomprehensible act of brutality.

Just driving down the streets of Church Point (especially on a football Saturday!) it is obvious that we have a great many Tech alumni as neighbors. There is certainly one very large neighbor — a former defensive tackle for Tech, the Bills, and the Redskins — living down on the river. Some of us have or had children attending Tech. My wife and I have two sons who are Tech alumni. So all of this really hits home, and it has been gratifying to see how people across the country, and even around the world, have embraced the sorrow of the VT community. It really hit me at church the Sunday after the shootings, when our pastor read a letter he received from a parishioner. The parishioner’s son is a bio-chemical engineering major at Tech and should have been in one of the classrooms that was attacked – but he overslept and was late for class. By the time he got to Norris Hall, police had closed off the building. He said he had never been late for that class all year until that day, and he always sat in the front row. Half the students in his very specialized major were killed that day. He said the support of family, friends, church, and community has been amazing and invaluable.

I know a lot has already been written about this, and I have no special wisdom to offer. But I guess the message I would pass on is to celebrate life and embrace all that life brings – including sometimes the awful emotions of April 16.

Summer 2007

Board Schedules New Vote on First Court Road Landscaping Issue

Because of protests from affected lot owners and receipt of over 60 letters from Church Point residents calling for a reconsideration of last year’s vote, the Board has decided to conduct another referendum on an amendment to the Church Point covenants that would make the HOA responsible for maintenance of the landscaping along First Court Rd. The proposed amendment will be revised from the one voted on last year. Exact wording of the amendment will be provided in advance of the annual meeting.

President’s Corner

I hope everyone is having a great summer. Lots of news in this issue of the newsletter, and I hope you’ll especially take a moment to read page 4 and page 5 of this newsletter. On page 4, we show the work that was done on the Church Point gazebo to return it to a good state of repair. It had deteriorated badly because of water leaks, but it has been restored to top condition. With this rehab, we hope that all residents will take pride in the gazebo as a symbol of Church Point and that everyone will take care to maintain it. It’s a nice gathering place, and it is used for our Spring Egg hunt and the Santa at the Gazebo Christmas party. It is not, however, a place to skateboard, roller blade, or ride bikes. That just puts too much stress on the facility. Please enjoy it but treat it respectfully.

The article on p. 5 deals with the prickly issue of the landscaping along First Court Road. The Board has decided to conduct another vote on the issue of who should be responsible for maintenance of that area – individual property owners along the road or the HOA. I know that won’t be a universally popular decision, but we feel it’s essential. After last year’s vote left the responsibility with the individual owners, all of those affected owners and many others in Church Point wrote to the Board and came to Board meetings calling for a revote. The Board members gave considerable thought to the issue and decided that the best course of action was to conduct another vote at this year’s annual meeting. We hope that as many residents as possible will vote either in person or by proxy, so we have a real sense of what Church Point residents consider the best approach. Only 80 residents voted last year (out of more than 380 homeowners); we would hope to have much better representation this year. The Board believes the best and fairest solution is to have the HOA assume responsibility for this area, but if residents are unwilling to amend the covenants to allow this, then we will have to work with the existing requirements. A 2/3 majority of those voting at the annual meeting will be required to pass the amendment. Please look over our rationale on p. 5 and read the material that will be sent with the announcement of the annual meeting.

Board Outlines Its Rationale for Re-Opening Vote on First Court Road Photenia Maintenance

One of the more contentious issues over the past few years is the debate over how to handle the dying photenia along First Court Road. The photenia were planted by the developer of Church Point as part of the original landscape design for the entrances to the development. Groups of photenia were alternated with crape myrtle trees and a few Nellie Stevens hollies to create a pleasing look along the road, block the backs of the houses from street view, and provide some screen for the residents living close to the road. While many residents thought these plantings were on common land owned by the HOA (since they are outside the fence line), it turns out that they are actually within the boundaries of the 47 individual residential lots stretching from the shopping center near Pleasure House Road to the Church Point main entrance. Because they are on private lots, the Church Point covenants hold that the individual owners are responsible for maintenance and replacement.

At last year’s annual homeowners meeting, the Board proposed an amendment to the covenants that would have allowed the HOA to take over responsibility for this landscaping. A majority of those voting approved the amendment, but it did not receive the two-thirds majority required to pass such an amendment. After that vote failed, the Board received over 60 letters asking that there be a revote or some other resolution of this issue. All 47 of the affected property owners wrote the Board, along with several other Church Point residents from throughout the development. Because of this reaction by the affected residents and the large number of positive votes at last year’s meeting, the Board felt that it must devote some additional time and effort to this problem.

Here is the Board’s thinking that led to the proposal for another vote on this issue:

1. First impressions. That stretch of First Court Rd. is the “front door” to Church Point passed by hundreds of cars daily and for many people their first and maybe only impression of Church Point. We spend a lot of money maintaining the entrance areas to Church Point, but the First Court Rd. landscaping is the first thing people see. It is in everyone’s interest to maintain this area in first class condition.
2. History. Many owners of the affected lots said that they had assurances from the developer that the HOA would maintain that area, and the HOA does maintain the grassy area along the street – which is clearly HOA land. In some years in the past, the HOA spent money to spray the photenia for disease and to trim some of the bushes. All this contributed to the impression that this was HOA land. Granted, it’s never a good idea to go with what a developer tells you if it’s not in writing, but after all this time has gone by, the owners have a legitimate point.
3. Fairness. Is it really fair for these 47 homeowners to be expected to bear the full burden for replacing the dying photenia? They didn’t plant them; they had no say in whether the developer planted photenia or crape myrtles (which provide little screening for much of the year) behind them; and most of the homes do not have a gate in the fence, so they cannot even gain access to the bushes without going all the way to one of the entrances. Moreover, it would not be 47 owners paying for replacement; it would just be those who happened to have photenia planted behind their house (around 30 homes). So a neighbor right next door who has crape myrtles would pay nothing, while a home with all photenia could pay $2,000 or more to remove dead bushes and plant replacements. How is that fair?
4. Efficiency. Trying to maintain an attractive landscape along the road while dealing with 47 separate homeowners would be cumbersome and inevitably lead to inconsistencies in appearance. Just look what’s already happening now in some areas with this issue in limbo.
5. Precedents. Easements are already in place governing the main entrance, the entire right side of which is on private land, and the pond at the end of Church Point Place, which is also on private land. The developer granted easements for those tracts saying the HOA would take care of maintenance because it benefited the entire community. We believe the same rationale applies to the area outside the fences along First Court Rd. One of the arguments against adopting the amendment last year was that it might set a precedent opening the covenants to many more proposed amendments. Frankly, the Board doesn’t see other situations where amendments have been warranted, but if two- thirds of the voters want to amend the covenants they should be able to do so.

Prior Boards have consistently supported HOA maintenance of this landscaping; only the wording of the covenants stood in the way. We believe this amendment provides a fair and prudent way forward. While this will be expensive, we think we can manage the budget carefully, and having the cost shared by all homeowners as part of the HOA budget minimizes the burden on any one segment. We have simplified the wording of the amendment from that proposed last year to make it clear that this applies solely to this one situation. The package for the annual meeting will include details and a ballot for all residents to vote yes or no on this amendment. If you cannot attend the meeting, please submit your proxy vote so we have wide representation.

Fall 2007

Annual Homeowners Meeting Adopts Amendment on First Court Road Landscaping

Residents at Church Point’s October 23 annual homeowners meeting voted to adopt an amendment to the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions turning over responsibility for maintenance of the landscaping along First Court Rd. to the HOA. The vote, which required a 2/3 majority, passed on a vote of 115 for the amendment, and 25 opposed – an 82% majority. Board President Neal Curtin said he hoped to appoint a committee of residents to plan for the implementation of improvements to the dead and dying landscaping in that area.

President’s Corner

I know it’s hard to believe, but another holiday season is rapidly approaching. Starting with Halloween, and continuing on through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – along with other religious and national holidays during the next couple months – it seems like non-stop activity, parties, and travel. Here in Church Point, we’ll have the annual “Santa at the Gazebo” and the Garden Club Poinsettia sale which I hope everyone will enjoy. Lots of residents will be traveling sometime during this period, so please be careful to secure your home – set up some lights to come on at night, have mail and newspapers stopped, and ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house while you’re gone. When traveling, please drive carefully, watch that alcohol consumption, and return home safely.

With the end of daylight savings time, it will be dark during the prime evening commuting period, so please use extra caution when driving through Church Point. Bikers and joggers need to use the sidewalks as much as possible and wear white clothing or reflectors, and drivers really need to obey the 25 mph speed limit. Getting home a minute earlier is not worth the risk of a tragic accident.

We were able to hold the line this year on HOA fees; they will remain at the same quarterly level through 2008. I can’t promise that indefinitely, but we will try to be frugal and limit future increases as much as possible. With the passage of the landscaping amendment, we are adding some areas of landscaping that the HOA will be responsible for, but the Board will try to manage that carefully and balance the needs there with other priorities.

I mentioned at the annual meeting that we would like to revitalize our Social Committee here in Church Point. Kristin Carter, who has helped organize the Spring Egg Hunt in recent years, has agreed to spearhead a committee to plan additional events – perhaps a summer or fall community-wide picnic. Anyone who would like to get involved in this, please contact Kristin or any of the Board members. I think an additional event like this could really help us build some community spirit. You’ll hear more in future newsletters.

Winter 2008

President’s Corner

One of the unique and appealing aspects of Church Point is the amount of common land throughout the community. We have three sizeable parks – Mews (or Gazebo), Commons, and Quays (or Riverfront) Parks – as well as numerous trails and open areas. Many homes abut this common land, and some residents have landscaped and improved the common land adjacent to their property. You can see this especially along the Carriage Path by the golf course and in the area back by Thoroughgood between the Gazebo Park and Bishops Court. Some residents have even installed irrigation and landscaping lighting to enhance the common land. While those types of improvements are welcome when they result in attractive areas, owners should bear in mind that these areas remain common land, open and available to all Church Point residents. Anything that would restrict access or passage in the common land is prohibited — it is private property that belongs to all HOA members. While on the subject of common land, please remember, too, that everyone can help keep these areas looking good – if you see litter, please pick it up and dispose of it properly; if you walk your dog on common land, please “scoop the poop”; if you see fallen trees or branches, let Select know so we can schedule tree removal. Do not dump trash or yard debris on common land. In these simple ways, all of us can help maintain our valuable common land asset.

The annual Spring Egg Hunt is scheduled for March 16; see the short article on page 2 of the newsletter. I would like to encourage residents to help out with this event. Kristen Carter has taken the initiative to keep this going, and she could use more help. Give her a call (363-6111) if you can help out on this always fun event. We would like to see more events like this in Church Point, especially some type of community picnic in the summer or fall. If you would be interested in helping organize an event like that, please contact me or any of the Board members. I think it could be a good way to build community spirit — and have some fun!

Sprint 2008

President’s Corner

Several residents have asked why the street lights at the main entrance have not been working for the past several months. These are decorative-type street lights installed by the developer when Church Point was first build. The lights went out during a heavy rain back around Christmas. Some of the landscape lighting also went out then. An electrician got the landscape lights working, but could not do anything to fix the street lights; he said it looked like a problem with the underground wiring. Dominion Power looked at it and said it wasn’t their problem. Select called the city and they agreed it was their responsibility and said they would fix it by the end of April. Hopefully by the time you get this newsletter, the lights will be shining again at the main entrance.

I’m sure most of you have noticed that Coastal Landscaping is back as our lawn maintenance contractor (see article on p. 2). After a year with Valley Crest, the Board decided to look at other options, and Coastal won a competition with several other bidders. Jim Butler, Coastal’s owner, said he is committed to first-rate service for Church Point, and so far his crews have been doing a good job. Jim knows the Board, and all of you, will be watching, so let us know if you see anything amiss in their work.

Please read the article on p. 7 of this issue by Edie Schlain concerning her committee’s work on planning for landscaping improvements along First Court Road. She summarizes the committee’s efforts to date and provides some of the committee’s ideas for the area. The Board will be making decisions soon on the committee’s recommendations.

On a related issue, I sent a letter out in April to all residents on Church Point Place whose property backs up to First Court Rd. concerning power-washing of the fences. The Board is asking the owners to power wash the side of the fences facing the road to remove dirt, mold, and mildew, which have made the fences very unsightly. A copy of my letter is on our web site churchpointonline.com.

As the end of the school year approaches, many Church Point residents must have family members, friends, and neighbors who had significant achievements this year. I’d like to recognize them in future newsletters, so please send in names and details of awards, scholarships, championships, etc. so we can let your neighborhood share in the accomplishments!

First Court Road Landscape Committee Begins Work

The committee began meeting in January 2008, and has been busy surveying the current landscaping, discussing alternatives, and arranging bids from contractors for various options. The committee has agreed on a number of items and is still discussing and debating others. Let me bring you up-to-date on our current status and thinking.

First, the committee agrees that the photenia are diseased and dying, with several bushes already dead. We cannot wait too long to begin a replacement program, or the landscaping will steadily deteriorate.

Second, there are two main components to the project – removal of the current photenia plants, and then replacement with new plants. We have obtained bids on both phases for a section of the area (about 1/3 of the total). Removal will cost between $5,500 and $6,500 for that section, making the likely total cost for removal of all plants in the range of $16,000 to $19,000. We contacted the Sheriff’s Office to see if we could obtain free prisoner labor for the project, as they have done for some other areas, but we were turned down because of the size and scope of our needs. There are some issues with underground utility lines in the area that may make removal difficult. We are in the process of looking for additional bids for removal to see if we can find less expensive alternatives. Replacement involves two decisions – the type of plant and the spacing. The committee believes that Nellie R. Stevens hollies offer the best alternative – they are large, evergreen, fast growing, and disease resistant. (See the box and photo below for a description of these hollies from About.com). Cost estimates have been fairly consistent in the various bids we obtained –approximately $150 per plant for 15-gallon size (which includes labor for planting). The issue that the committee is still considering is how far apart to space the plants, since the spacing determines how many plants will be needed, and thus the total cost. Estimates vary on the optimal spacing – anywhere from 8 feet to 15 feet spacing is suggested by various experts. Some of the mature Nellie Stevens hollies along First Court Road now are as much as 15-18 feet across at the base. Ultimately, the committee will make its recommendation to the Board, and the Board will have to decide on the most cost-effective spacing. We would not expect to begin any replacement program before fall of 2008, and the phasing of the project – how much to do at one time — is still under discussion.

Finally, the committee has asked the Board for funds to replace four dead crape myrtle trees along the fence line. These will be relatively inexpensive and can be done quickly to provide an early improvement to the look along the fence line. These could be installed by the end of April.

Summer 2008

Work Underway on First Court Road Landscaping Improvements

By the time the newsletter is distributed, you should see work underway on landscaping along First Court Road. The Board has adopted a recommendation from the ad hoc committee set up earlier this year, headed by Edie Schlain. The committee recommended that we undertake the project all at once, rather than stretch it out over a number of years doing a section at a time. The committee’s main argument was that doing the job piecemeal would result in long periods of disruption and a hodge-podge of landscaping that would not be attractive. While this will require a greater outlay of money this year, it saves a lot of money in the long-run, because quotes provided for doing a section at a time were much higher than a one-timejob. What makes it feasible to do the project all at once is that the committee – after extensive research and competitive bidding – came up with a price for the entire project of about $15,000, or less than a third of what we thought the project could cost. The Board agreed with the committee’s reasoning and felt this price was too good to pass up. It passed a resolution at the July meeting to approve the contract and begin work.

The project involves removal of over 350 dead or dying photenia along First Court Road from the shopping center to the main entrance. This work is being done now and should take a little over a week. The photenia will be replaced with 120 Nellie Stevens hollies, to be planted in October. The project will be funded out of our reserve accounts and will not require any new funding or increased homeowner fees at this time.

President’s Corner

My thanks to Edie Schlain and all her committee members for their difficult and thoughtful work on the First Court Road landscaping issue. As you can read in the article above, we will be able to do the needed work quickly and at a very reasonable cost because of their efforts. Committee members were Gene Hamrick, Paula Larkin, Doyle Quisenberry, and Tom Robinson. (By the way, we wish Edie a speedy recovery from her recent back surgery!)

With removal of the dead/dying photenia this summer, it will allow a couple months of time for those residents along First Court Road to finish power washing their fences. Many residents who have crape myrtles behind their fence have already completed washing, and it looks great. The new hollies will not be planted until early October, so this will provide a good window to complete power washing where the photenia were. The new landscaping and the cleaned fences will really improve the look of that area.

Please take time to read the article on page 7 of the newsletter concerning Board review and approval of architectural changes to your homes or yards. Church Point’s Covenants are very clear on the need for HOA approval of significant changes to the exterior of your home or landscaping. The Board has noted a number of cases recently where work was underway without approval. Select Group sends letters to those owners, and hearings, fines, or other sanctions can be taken against homeowners who do not comply with Covenants. We have put some new procedures in place that are described in the article and on our website. Before beginning any work on the exterior of you home, please contact Select (Gayle Pinero, 486-6000), Bob Whipkey (our focal point for this issue), or a Board member to see if you need to provide your plans for review and approval. It is important for the good of the Church Point community to assure that the Covenants are enforced thoroughly and consistently.

Fall 2008

President’s Corner

No one has devoted more time and energy to Church Point over the past 5 years than Jack Steele, who is leaving the Board this year after many years as our Treasurer. I want to thank Jack for all his service to the community. His hard work and good judgment were invaluable assets to the Board, and we’ll miss him. Thank you, Jack!

While on the subject of thanks, I want to also publicly acknowledge and thank Bob Whipkey for his efforts on behalf of the Board and Church Point. Bob is our focal point for architectural standards, and he has reviewed all the applications that come in from residents, and he has worked with residents and the Board to resolve concerns that arise from time to time. His dedication to maintaining Church Point’s high architectural standards benefits all of us.

With the First Court Road landscaping situation close to completion, the Board will turn its attention to other needs. Thankfully, none of them will be as thorny or as costly as that project. We will only fund what we can afford out our normal operating budget, so we can build back up the reserve accounts. Most of the work will be in the way of cleanup and trimming some of the common areas, especially the carriage path and areas around the Gazebo park and main entrance. Probably the most major issue we want to resolve is an electrical problem at the main entrance. It took herculean effort to get the street lights working again at the entrance, and I think it revealed other electrical issues that need to be fixed. The landscaping lights have been out on one side because of problems with the electric circuit, and the gazebo lights go out frequently because the ground fault interrupter switch pops randomly. That work, plus the usual tree trimming and removal, will keep us busy next year. The good news, though, is that we can live within our current budget and will not need to raise HOA fees in 2009.

Winter 2009

First Court Road Landscaping Project Completed

You may not have appreciated all the rain we’ve had since early November, but the Board and committee responsible for the new landscaping along First Court Rd. are very grateful! The new Nellie Stevens hollies were in the ground just in time to benefit from the plentiful rainfall we’ve had the past couple months. This should get them off to a great start.

Residents with the new hollies behind them should watch the weather for the next few months. If we get an extended period without rain, the Board asks that residents put a hose over the fenceandwaterthenewbushes,ifatallpossible. Thiswill keep them healthy and promote rapid growth, which will help provide better privacy and screening along the road.

In time, the hollies should grow tall and wide like the existing hollies planted by the developer years ago.

President’s Corner

Happy New Year, Everyone … and good riddance to 2008! If you’re like me, your net worth is probably not quite as robust as it was at this time last year. The country is really tightening its belt in these tough economic times, and 2009 will probably be a year for some belt-tightening by the Board as well. We have dipped into reserves the past couple years, first for the gazebo rehab in 2007 and then the photenia replacement last year. Our goal is to use the next couple years to build the replacement reserves back to a healthy level. We will be due for another reserve study in 2012, which will give us a good picture of where we stand. I think we will be fine because we have already taken care of the two biggest expenses.

The Board will also take a careful look at the operating budget this year to see if there are areas that can be cut or other areas that need to be built up. We have decided to stay with Coastal Landscaping as our contractor for grounds maintenance in 2009, and it looks like there will a nominal increase in that cost. Our management fees charged by Select Group, our second largest contract expense, will also rise by over $1,000. We have not raised the HOA dues in the past couple years, so we will have to look for areas we can economize to stay within the budget. If we can avoid unusual legal fees and have another benign hurricane season, we should be okay. Because the budget is tight, it’s important that homeowners pay their dues on time and in full when billed. Please help us and treat those payments as investments in your neighborhood.

One item that continues to rankle is vandalism in Church Point. It hasn’t reached the point of a major expense, but it is disappointing and a real nuisance. Graffiti has once again shown up on the newly- painted gazebo, and over the holidays, someone drove a vehicle up on the lawn around the gazebo and in front of Bishop’s Court, leavingdeeprutsintheground. Thistypeofvandalismisalmost impossible to stop, unless someone can catch them in the act. Please be alert for unusual activity and call the police if you suspect foul play or vandalism.

I hope you will take a look at the article on p. 7 which summarizes the discussion at this year’s annual homeowners meeting in October. I would also like all homeowners to consider getting involved in the HOA this year. There will be several positions open on the Board come October.

Spring 2009

President’s Corner

Church Point is certainly a neighborhood of beautiful houses and abundant natural beauty. But what really makes a neighborhood are … neighbors! And for Church Point to continue as a top-notch Virginia Beach community, we need more neighbors willing to get involved in community activities. While many residents have helped out with the Neighborhood Watch, Landscape Committee, Garden Club, Ladies Group, and other activities, the number of volunteers is just a small fraction of our Church Point population of over 380 homes. And we rely heavily on a very few people to make things happen around here. Here are two prime examples:

–LaTanya Cole was the founder and has been the captain of our Neighborhood Watch program for 6 years now.

–Paula Larkin has headed up our Landscape Committee for a number of years, overseeing our landscaping contractor and helping assure good maintenance of our common lands.

LaTanya and Paula have done a great job in those positions, but I think they both would welcome a chance to step back a little and let others take on leadership roles. And I think it would benefit the community to have others step up – more participation and new ideas can only help improve Church Point.

That goes for the HOA Board as well. This fall, several Board members will be at the end of their terms, and we would welcome more homeowners to come forward and volunteer to run for Board positions. Serving on the Board or in these other leadership positions gives you a new perspective on Church Point and a chance to help maintain our excellent standing in Virginia Beach.

Summer 2009

President’s Corner

In the next week or so, you will see some new signs along the path to Thoroughgood next to the gazebo. The old signs said simply “No Motorized Vehicles.” The new signs will be much more explicit:

Private Property
Park Closes At Dusk
No Motorized Vehicles Church Point Homeowners Assoc.

The signs will be at both ends of the path and are intended to alert everyone to the fact that this is not a public park; it is Church Point HOA private property. By posting that this park closes at dusk, we believe it will give fair warning that we will call the police if anyone is loitering in the park area after dark.

We have simply seen too much vandalism in the area to ignore. No sooner had I painted over some graffiti in the gazebo last month than new graffiti appeared. Residents are regularly picking up beer cans and other trash from the wooded area at the back of the gazebo park. We will be looking at additional measures such as more lighting or security patrols of some type.

Other areas, too, are experiencing vandalism, most notably the walkway from the end of the Mews to the shopping center. Slats have been broken out of the railings and trash thrown in the pond.

Our Neighborhood Watch has been a big help over the years in working to control crime and minimize vandalism. I want to thank LaTanya Cole for all she has done to invigorate the NW program. LaTanya is stepping down soon, and we need someone to step forward to assume leadership of this important activity (see LaTanya’s column on p. 2).

Fall 2009

President’s Corner

Please plan to attend the annual homeowners’ meeting at Bayside Rec Center November 5. If you cannot attend the meeting in person, be sure to complete the proxy form that you will receive in the mail before the meeting. It is important that we have a quorum of owners – either in person or by proxy – so that we can conduct official business. While there are no controversial issues to be voted on this year, we need a quorum to elect a full slate of HOA Board members for 2010.

I have decided not to run for another term on the Board. I’ve been on the Board for five years now, the last three as President. It’s time to step aside and get more residents involved in exercising their leadership and judgment in service to Church Point. New enthusiasm and new ideas are always healthy for any community. If you have ever thought of serving on the Board or know of a neighbor who would be a good Board member, now would be a good time to get involved and run for a vacant position. I plan to continue my role in pulling together the Church Point newsletter each quarter, and I’m sure I’ll find other ways of keeping involved with the neighborhood.

Church Point’s biggest asset is the common land preserved by the developer in his master plan. Three large open green spaces – by the riverfront, in the commons, and by the gazebo near the front entrance – are accompanied by a series of paths and smaller open areas throughout the neighborhood. Some newer residents – and even some of us who have lived here a long time – sometimes ask about the location of all the common lands in Church Point. This newsletter provides maps showing the common areas on pages 4- 6. Save this issue or pull out those pages, and take a walk along some of the common areas to really experience Church Point’s uniqueness.