Church Point HOA History 2020-

This page has excerpts from the Church Point newsletters from 2020 onwards 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:

Winter 2020

President’s Corner

I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season and Happy New Year. We had a very good turnout for the annual homeowners meeting in November and it was great to see everyone. The Board election results saw the incumbents voted in for another term so congratulations to Vice President Neil Bonney, Treasurer Ron Couture and Director-at-Large Jack Palmer. Additionally, the proposed amendment changes to allow paver driveways passed unanimously. We had another great presentation by our financial advisor, Joe Monaco with Monaco Capital Management, who continues to do an amazing job for the HOA with safe and secure investments – imagine what he can do for you personally in this current Bull market. Joe can be reached at 757-333-7676; make sure you let him know you are from Church Point.

One of the items of concern brought up at the annual meeting was the continued growth of Ivy choking our older trees in the community – specifically along the carriage path and the large tree at the waterfront. Ron Dennis, our landscape coordinator, is setting up a volunteer work event for any homeowners willing to give a little of their time to help cut the ivy off the trees. This will significantly reduce expenses for the HOA instead of hiring a 3rd party contractor to remove the ivy or worse yet, remove dead trees killed by the ivy. We made great progress last year when we tackled the problem on the carriage path but we need annual touchups and a new effort to try and save the waterfront tree. Everyone will meet on Saturday April 4th at 9am at the open field on Timber Ridge Drive. Please mark your calendars and let me know, if you will be able to attend so I can give Ron a head count.

Finally, the Garden Club has some great plans coming up for a project at the waterfront that is truly amazing, and we can’t wait for future updates. As always, please start thinking now about your Spring projects and get any needed AREC application into Select Group early.

Spring 2020

President’s Corner

In this unprecedented and unique time during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, I hope everyone is healthy and doing their best to stay that way and following all COVID-19 CDC precautions and cleaning guidelines. This economic shutdown and forced quarantine have caused many bad things but also some good, as it is great to see so many neighbors out walking, riding bikes and walking dogs. We have even seen budding artists in neighborhood youth creating wonderful chalk drawings on the roads. As always, with increased outside activity, please be cautious with speeds while driving through the community. The Board of Directors has not officially met since the quarantine started but is doing its best to conduct business via email. Additionally, the Select Group has restricted their offices and Association Managers are working from home with limited office hours, but the Select Group is still open and operating, if anyone needs to reach out to them.

Since there is limited information to share these days on HOA activities, I thought I would save some space in this newsletter edition and afford the Garden Club greater focus. Members of the Garden Club have been working tirelessly for a long time on how to enhance the appearance of the waterfront area. They have researched history and spoke with many people and organizations including the City of Virginia Beach and landscape architects on the best course of action to revitalize our waterfront area. They have developed an amazing and beautiful plan they will describe in this newsletter. Hopefully everyone will review and freely provide comments and feedback.

It is hoped that with the Governors reopening plans for Virginia, we will get back to the new normal way of life soon, and quickly and safely. Until then, please remain safe and observe social distancing.

Summer 2020

President’s Corner

I hope everyone has been safe, healthy, and making the best of these challenging times dealing with the pandemic. The Board of Directors have, like most organizations, not been meeting face to face due to COVID restrictions and have been doing our best to conduct specific homeowner business via email and conference calls. Based on the current state of restrictions by the Governor’s Office along with guidance from our HOA retained legal counsel, most likely the Board will continue to not meet face to face through the end of the year.

The greatest challenge we face of course is the safety of the homeowners and the Board while ensuring the meeting space is fully and completely sanitized and safe. We are unable to guarantee that currently thus we cannot hold meetings. Similarly, we have been in discussion with the Rec Center about the upcoming November Annual Homeowners Meeting. The Rec Center and of course the City by default cannot guarantee a meeting space that is free of the COVID virus nor can they guarantee any homeowner would not get sick attending the meeting. Likewise, the Board has a responsibility to all the homeowners and a responsibility to ensure the safety of all homeowners at a sanctioned meeting thus incurring a risk of liability should a homeowner catch the virus while in attendance.

Since neither the City Rec Center nor the Board of Directors can ensure and guarantee the safety of homeowners attending a meeting and in concurrence with advice from legal counsel, we will NOT be having an annual homeowner’s meeting this Fall. As we do annually, the budget, once adopted by the Board, will be mailed to all homeowners of record. We sincerely hope nobody in the neighborhood catches this virus. We also hope a vaccine is in the immediate near future to allow Virginia Beach, the state of Virginia and our great Country to return to a sense of normalcy.

Fall 2020

President’s Corner

We continue to hope everyone is remaining healthy during this pandemic and following all recommended guidelines. The holidays are upon us with Christmas quickly approaching and it is great to see homeowners decorating their yards with seasonal decorations and lights.

Due to the pandemic, we were unable to hold an annual meeting this year and it is unknown when we will be able to, as we await relaxed restrictions from the governor and a vaccine in the very near future. It is with sadness I announce the resignation of one of your Board Members, Matt Ripley. The Ripley family have moved from Church Point and we wish them all the happiness in their new home and neighborhood. The Board of Directors has voted to appoint Brian Kollar to fill Matt’s seat on the Board. Brian, his wife Valerie and their two children have lived in Church Pint for over 12 years and the Board looks forward to having Brian work with us to keep Church Point one of the premier neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. Please join us in welcoming Brian to the Board as your new Secretary.

We wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season and a Very Happy New Year – hopefully, we will return to a sense and pattern of normalcy in 2021.

Winter 2021

President’s Corner

It is hoped everyone had a safe and joyful holiday season and Happy New Year. The increasing COVID levels put restrictions on a lot of holiday/social activities, but hopefully as the vaccine becomes readily available, those restrictions will be eased soon in time for Spring/Summer activities.

Due to complaints from several homeowners about “non-resident” youth riding bicycles and hanging out along the Carriage Path, the Board procured several HOA Private Property Signs that have been posted in various locations. Additionally, the Board is executing roofing, structural wood, and ceiling refurbishments to the Gazebo to replace severely rotted wood and failed roofing that have compromised the integrity of the gazebo. This refurbishment should allow us to enjoy the gazebo for many years to come.

Although the cold and rainy weather has contributed to everyone staying indoors, spring will be here before you know it and time to freshen up your landscaping, home exteriors, and driveways/fences. Start planning now, and if you are making changes above and beyond a “spring cleanup,” please get your AREC applications in as soon as possible. The Board is still restricted from meeting in person in the conference room at Bayside Presbyterian Church, but we are conducting business virtually so please do not hesitate to email us with questions or concerns.

Spring 2021

President’s Corner

Spring has arrived and I hope everyone had a joyful and safe Memorial Day Holiday. It was especially good timing that the Governor eased COVID restrictions in time for the long weekend. We have been seeing an increase in home sales this year which is great news as home values are increasing during this sellers’ market.

It is time again to homeowners to perform routine fence, driveway, and home exterior cleaning maintenance. Many homes with EIFS/Stucco siding need to be cleaned and painted to remove the dark mold and mildew growth staining. Similarly, brick homes need pressure washing to remove the dark growth areas on the north or shady sides of homes. Several homes need door and window trim sanding/prime and painting. Fences need to be pressure washed, especially the fences that back up to First Court Road – reminder only clear sealer is allowed, no staining of those fences. Finally, many driveways and walkways/sidewalks need to be pressure washed. These are all easy maintenance items that increase curb appeal of the homes and the community as a whole. In a real estate market where Church Point homes are commanding higher than normal values, those sales and price points help everyone’s home value. Please do your part to increase curb appeal for everyone.

In conjunction with the lifting of COVD restrictions, the Board of Directors will begin looking into options to return to in person HOA and Board meetings again. As we identify possible options, we will update with required timely notification with days, times, and locations. I would like to give special recognition to two young neighbors that assisted this year with the placement of the Memorial Day flags at the entrances. To Campbell and Tyler Reid, thank you for your community service.

Summer 2021

President’s Corner

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer and did their best to have a normal one after a very challenging summer last year with COVID restrictions. I wanted to start by sharing the sad news that one of our Board members, Neil Bonney, has resigned for personal reasons. Neil has truly been a joy and pleasure to have on the Board, a mentor and friend to all and was always providing sound guidance. Neil was a tremendous advocate for the community in his many years on the Board. He will truly be missed but we wish him the best. To complete his term on the Board of Directors, the Board voted to appoint James Hegerty to Neil’s open seat on the Board. James, his wife and their 4 children, all under the age of 10, have been homeowners in Church Point since 2020. They love the community and absolutely plan to stay for many years to come. James is an active-duty naval officer and is the head of the Portsmouth Naval Psychiatry program. Please welcome Jim to the Board of Directors.

The annual meeting this year is currently scheduled for Monday, November 15th at 6:30pm in the meeting rooms of the Bayside Recreation Center. Registration will begin at 6:00PM. Although we have reserved the Recreation Center, we have already been advised the reservation is “tentative.” The increasing numbers of the COVID Delta variant are being monitored closely in the state and throughout Virginia Beach and we will notify homeowners should the City or the Governor impose restrictions that would prevent group gatherings again even with social distancing and masks. Let’s hope the COVID positive numbers go down, especially with kids back in school and we will be able to hold an annual meeting.

Finally, the Board is still working closely with the Garden Club on a landscape refurbishment project at the Waterfront. Although significantly delayed by COVID and contractor availability, we hope by next spring to have a different and more relaxing, flourishing location to enjoy the waterfront views, read a book, or have a family picnic. The waterfront is a tremendous amenity to the community that has been an after- thought for years. I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone, safely, at the annual meeting on November 15th.

Fall 2021

President’s Corner

It is hoped everyone is looking forward to a joyful holiday season and terrific new year. The annual HOA meeting was held in November at the Recreation Center. Unfortunately, we did not have enough attendees to obtain a quorum. It is a homeowners meeting and an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and generally just meet your neighbors. Hopefully, next year we will have greater percentage of attendance. As a result of no quorum, we were unable to hold an election and the existing Board of Directors rolled over. I am confident the current board of Brian Kollar, James Hegarty, Jack Palmer and Ron Couture, will continue to work with me tirelessly on your behalf.

Several issues were raised at the annual meeting to include maintenance and upkeep of the common space, gazebo, and the bridge. Continued concerns with the landscape contractor not fully maintaining the minimum clearance within the commons area paths will be addressed by the Board. The gazebo recently underwent roof repairs for leaks and a full pressure washing/reseal of the main deck area. Ongoing repairs to the bridge, mostly from bikers hitting and breaking picket posts, should be completed by end of the year. Our landscape committee chairman, Ron Dennis, recently left the neighborhood but I do want to take a moment to thank him for his many, many years of service to the community in Garden Club, as overseer of the Tree maintenance and upkeep program as well as Landscape Committee. Fortunately, Johan Goosens has stepped forward to take over the landscape committee and work with our landscape contractor to maintain the community. Additionally, Ron Creamer has stepped down as the AREC committee chairman. I can’t thank Ron enough for his 10 years of dedicated service to the neighborhood as the Architectural and Rules Enforcement Committee Chairman. Very few have worked longer for Church Point and if you see him, please thank him for his service. The Vice Chairman of AREC, Stan Bialis, has agreed to take over as AREC chairman and the Board is confident that Stan will continue to do a great job for the neighborhood. If you are interested in helping Stan on the AREC committee, please reach out to him at AREC.churchpointhoa@gmail.com.

Finally, as 2022 approaches and hopefully a greater return to normalcy from the pandemic, we encourage everyone to get to know your neighbors, look out for your neighbors, attend events in the community, do your best to maintain your residences (home exteriors and landscaping), and take a moment to review the small list of neighborhood rules so we can continue to be one of the premier neighborhoods in Virginia Beach.

Spring 2022

President’s Corner

It is hoped everyone is glad Winter is over and Spring has finally arrived with warmer weather and azaleas coming into bloom. Although a relatively quiet Winter season in the community, Spring is time to take a good look at the exterior of your homes and landscaping. Many homes need to be pressure washed/cleaned and re-painted – especially EIFS homes that should be painted and sealed every 10 years. This is also the alternating year cycle to perform the fence maintenance with power washing and repairs, especially for those homes along First Court Road to maintain the uniform appearance. Several homes also need wood trim repair/replace and especially a fresh coat of paint on the trim. Yard landscaping and turf is required to be maintained per the rules and Spring is the perfect time of year to clean up those landscape beds, add a layer of fresh mulch and prune trees and shrubs. The Board has engaged a tree service to remove the last cluster of dead and dying Red Tips at the east of the First Court Road common land as well as surgically prune the deadwood out of the trees along the asphalt walk path to Thoroughgood. Additionally, this Spring the Board will be executing maintenance on the asphalt paths to repair the raised trip areas caused by roots, etc. along with maintenance to the foot bridge.

Unfortunately, we are still getting complaints about neighbors putting lawn bags and yard debris/stick bundles out at the curb early (rules are specific to no earlier than Tuesday of each week) and additionally noise issues. As COVID numbers continue to decline and more social gatherings are happening along with Spring graduation parties, etc., we want to remind everyone to be respectful of your neighbors with noise volumes and hours for parties along with large quantities of vehicles in the community. City noise restrictions/curfews and traffic blockages on Church Point Streets are enforceable by the VBPD. Many of your neighbors’ work on the weekends and need to get up early so please ensure noise and traffic congestion are reduced by 11PM as a general courtesy to all neighbors.

Finally, Church Point is a very large community, and it takes all neighbors working together to keep the community looking great. The city is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the city streets, sidewalks and light poles in Church Point (with exception of Bishops Court) but the city needs your help in reporting deficiencies. If you notice street lights out (there is a number on each pole) or sidewalks that have dangerous trip hazards in front of your home or a neighbors, please report those directly to the city via the SEE CLICK FIX website www.seeclickfix.com/virginia-beach/report (Virginia Beach, VA – Report potholes, graffiti, street light out, and other community issues. – SeeClickFix – Web and Mobile Government 311)

Fall 2022

President’s Corner

I hope everyone had a great summer and terrific fun for Halloween. I wanted to start by paying tribute to a neighbor, friend and dedicated supporter of Church Point. This past summer, John Holladay suddenly passed away at a way too young age. Many of you might remember John as the young man frequently riding his bike in the neighborhood and around Virginia Beach. He always had a smile and would take the time to talk to anyone and cheer up their day. What many of you might not know is that for probably the last 15+ years, John managed and operated the Church Point Website, www.churchpointonline.com. John loved Church Point and with his background in computer science, volunteered his time unselfishly with almost no recognition to keep the site updated and running. John communicated regularly with me to keep the calendar, the contacts, and the events current and accurate. John will be truly missed.

We, as a community, are fortunate to have an original owner in the community that just retired from a lengthy career in cyber security at the national and international level to take over the reins of the website. Johan Goossens has recently completely overhauled and brought current the technology and visual interface running our website and has also significantly improved the back door security on the website to prevent hacking. We can’t thank him enough for taking on this task to keep our website running and safe.

As we all know, our current HOA documents are a very large and cumbersome set of documents with repetition across the three sections: The Mews, The Commons and The Quays. The Board has engaged the HOA attorney of record to rewrite the documents into a singular smaller document that incorporates all the previously approved amendments, deletes duplicity, clarifies language, and ensures compliance with current state law. This is a large undertaking that was long overdue. The Board will also be reviewing the rules and regulations and would encourage input from the owners at the upcoming annual meeting to provide feedback.

The annual meeting, that everyone should have received the notification of in the mail, will be held on Monday, November 21st at 6:30PM at the Bayside Rec center. Registration commences at 6:00PM. The annual meeting will also see the election of two Board members. Although I am up for re-election this cycle, I have decided that after 12 years, it is time to step away from the duties as your President and a Board member. I have worked tirelessly over the years to keep and maintain Church Point as one of the premiere neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. I volunteered my time out of a sense of pride of the community and giving back for which, I am confident the remaining Board members and future new Board members will continue in my absence. I have committed to the Board to remain available and active as a counsel to share my gained knowledge and experience of community affairs. I hope to see many of you at the annual meeting to share goodwill, history, and memories over the last 12 years.

Finally, as 2023 approaches and hopefully a greater return to normalcy from the pandemic, we encourage everyone to get to know your neighbors, look out for your neighbors, attend events in the community and do your best to maintain your residences. If interested in getting involved in the community, the Board is looking for someone to help with the Landscape Committee and AREC (Architectural and Rules Enforcement Committee). Please let a Board member or The Select Group know of your interest in helping. Thank you for allowing me to serve you as the President of this terrific HOA. Happy Holidays.

Fall 2023

President’s Corner

I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits. As your elected Board President, I want to pause and express my gratefulness to each of you for your unwavering faith in our team and our collective mission to enhance the comfort, value, and beauty of our beloved Church Point community.

We, the Board, want to assure you that each decision made, and action taken is executed solely with the communities’ best interest at heart. We understand that at times, our choices may stir up various emotions or create dissimilar perspectives among community members. Still, please rest assured that there is no malice or ill intent behind any of our actions. Our only objective is to secure a harmonious, prosperous, and thriving environment for all.

Taking heed of your feedback, we are taking strategic steps to enhance openness and foster a more participative community culture. In our pursuit of continuous improvement, we are committed to elevating our levels of transparency. Our mission is to make certain that every member of this community feels listened to, valued, actively engaged, and well-informed about every development that shapes our neighborhood.

Be assured, your voices are not falling on deaf ears, but rather inspiring changes and shaping our community’s future. It’s heartwarming to see how deeply you care about our community and are willing to work in unison towards its betterment – we deeply appreciate that.

To further enhance our beloved community’s aesthetic appeal, this coming year will greet us with welcome changes, such as tree recreation, landscaping enhancements, and the addition of annual flowers that will breathe new color and life into our surroundings.

Lastly, we understand the critical role of consistent communication to keep every resident well-informed. To ensure you receive all important communication promptly, we will be sending out frequent, comprehensive updates via mail along with utilizing other digital platforms that might be more convenient for some residents.

We, the Board, are committed to the continued growth and improvement of our Church Point community’ steeped in unity, transparency, and shared fulfillment. Thank you for believing in us, and for every small and big way you contribute in making church Point a community we can all take pride in.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us. Your feedback indeed inspires us to strive harder and aim higher.