Island Creek Community Association
Island Creek Express - August 2020
From the Board




To Our Island Creek Community,

So many things from March onward have stopped each and every one of us from having a normal life. But one of the things I have seen, even with all this turmoil, is the goodness in people…people reaching out to others and helping those in need. That is what makes our community great!

Thanks to board members Jay and Carrie for their hard work on the 4th of July parade! Also, thanks to board members Jay and Scott for organizing the food trucks on Saturday nights…they are a huge hit!

Here are some things coming up: 
  • asphalt and concrete repairs throughout the TH and SFH sections will start in the upcoming months and will include our roads, parking lots and trails. Stay tuned for details. This will be a much-needed improvement for the community.  
  • We will also be working with Landsdowne to have more food trucks to both of our communities. 
  • The Board will also be working on contracts coming up for renewal.
  • Annual architectural inspections will be coming up soon, so make sure to get your grass cut and clean those steps! 
  • We are also preparing for upcoming elections for the Board and our annual meeting.

We receive feedback weekly, if not daily, from many residents. We appreciate all feedback. But if you want to make a true change, then run for one of the three vacant board positions coming open this Fall. Volunteering for the Board is not an easy job. But if you truly want to influence policy or how your Board runs, then throw your name in the hat!

I really encourage you to attend a board meeting. We are hosting them virtually and they are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Cindy sends out the invitation with the weblink and access code prior to the meeting.

Also, check out the Island Creek webpage for updates to events, activities and other items from the Board. www.IslandCreek.org

Thanks,
Karen Patrick
Island Creek HOA President
Three Board Positions Open



   
Three Board positions are up for election/re-election at our Annual Meeting that will be held on September 17th, 2020, location to be determined. 
 
Board positions are open to any homeowner who is in good standing with the Association and who wishes to put his/her name up for election.
  
Being a member of the Board requires a time commitment to attend monthly meetings and some additional informational meetings. The position entails the following:
 
  • Availability to attend Board meetings held on the third Thursday of each month.
 
  • Availability to spend one to two hours each month reading the Board Packet that is given each member prior to each meeting.
 
  • Availability to spend time reading any documents and/or contracts.
 
  •  Availability to attend special work sessions of the Board that may be called.
 
Board members represent all the residents of this community. When voting on Association business, Board members have to look at the Association as a whole. Personal agendas have to be put aside when making decisions that affect our entire community.

If you are interested in serving on the Board, please submit the 2020 Application for Candidacy by Monday, August 24th at:http://islandcreek.org/cgi-bin/formmanager.pl?formid=1464379127 
Thursday, September 17th

The Island Creek Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m. Due to government mandated regulations due to COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held virtually with participation details to be announced.

In order to conduct the meeting, we need a quorum of twenty percent (20%), or 209 owners, to be present either virtually or by proxy, so if you are unable to attend the meeting virtually, please be sure to vote online or send in your proxy.         
 
Owners will be voting on three (3) open Board positions at the meeting. In order to have your name appear on the ballot, please submit your application by Monday, August 24, 2020. The 2020 Application for Candidacy is available on our website at: http://islandcreek.org/cgi-bin/formmanager.pl?formid=1464379127
 
If you have any questions, please contact Community Manager Cindy Wade at communitymanager@islandcreek.org.
 
We look forward to seeing you virtually or by proxy at the 2020 meeting!
Architectural Guideline Proposal & Updates

The Covenants Committee is introducing one proposed new guideline change and two updates to others:
  1. New Electric Vehicle Charge Cord
  2. Additional invasive trees
  3. New exterior color chart (just an update from the supplier)

All of these can be reviewed in this document:


Please provide any comments on the website in the Discussion Board

               Community > Discussion Board > EV Cords Tree Colors
               Click New Topic

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Community Shred Day Saturday, September 19th

Please join us for a free shredding party hosted by Pat Holland (Embrace Home Loans) and Ania Cress (Keller Williams Reality) on Saturday, September 19th, 9am-11:00am, in the Island Creek clubhouse parking Lot. Food will not be served this year and social distancing will be observed.

Island Creek also invites our Landsdowne and Hawthorne neighbors to join us!

Patriot Shredding (www.patriotshredding.com) will be onsite to offer professional, hands-free, high end shredding of any and all document destruction needs. This process is fully automated, turning your documents into confetti and protecting you from ID theft by shredding all documents you no longer need. Start cleaning your file cabinets now. This is a totally free event. You provide the “stuff” … we provide the shredding!

Acceptable materials for shredding:
  • paper (staples and paper clips are OK), CD’s, floppy discs. 
Not acceptable:
  • binders, hard drives, garbage, cardboard boxes, etc. 

Two of our long time residents Patrick Holland (Embrace Home Loans) and former resident, Ania Cress (Keller Williams Realty) generously offered to sponsor this hugely popular event. Thank you Pat and Ania!

If you have a question about whether an item is accepted or not, please email Ania Cress at AniaCress@KW.com or Patrick Holland at pholland@embracehomeloans.com.
Adult Social & Fall Community Yard Sale Canceled

The Adult Social held every year where neighbors get to meet new neighbors, enjoy a glass of wine and some finger food along with listening to a DJ has had to be cancelled because of Covid-19. The event does not encourage social distancing which is the normal for the day. Hopefully this time next year we will again be able to have this event.
The Fall Yard Sale has also been cancelled. I coordinate these two events but felt in the interest of safety and the handling of goods it was in the best interest of everyone to cancel. I am hoping Covid-19 will be under control, a vaccine available and that restrictions such as social distancing will be removed so that I can schedule the Spring Yard Sale next year.

I know everyone looks forward to these two events and I hope we can have them again in 2020 as life returns to normal.  

Thanks,
Madeleine Galvin
Adult Social & Yard Sale Coordinator
Upcoming Food Trucks Coming to Island Creek!

Island Creek is hosting the following food trucks in the clubhouse parking lot:

  • Rocklands-Saturday, August 15th, 4pm-7pm
  • Coyote Grille-Saturday, August 22nd, 4pm-7pm
Plan Amendment Hilltop Village-NO! Do One of the Three Actions Listed Below by Monday, August 10 before 7 pm!

Your Island Creek Board of Directors has joined with our neighbors in Landsdowne and Hawthorne communities to officially oppose a proposed development intended to construct 300 residential apartments located in the Hilltop Village area. The space is currently serving as the parking lot adjacent to Panda Express and was originally zoned for commercial use. The new proposal seeks to rezone the area for five story multi-family residential use apartments:

  • Proposed five story multi-family residential building comprised of approximately 342,000 square feet of gross floor area in lieu of previously approved office building. Residential building to be served by a parking structure that will accommodate approximately 634 parking spaces. The building is anticipated to include one and two bedroom units ranging in size from 756 square feet to 1,170 square feet.

We are concerned that the development will negatively impact Island Creek and our neighboring communities in multiple ways and eventually reduce property values. Specifically:

  1. The proposal is requiring a significant 50% increase to the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), which means a much larger structure than was originally planned for (5 stories rather than 3).
  2. The increased residential use is not proportional with the open space and amenities currently servicing the area.
  3. The increased traffic is a safety and congestion issue.
  4. Parking concerns, especially extended use of Landsdowne and adjacent streets without additional investment (lights, curbsides etc.).
  5. Concern that the type and size of the planned development does not fit with the surrounding community (townhomes and single-family homes vs. apartments).

The Board of Directors of Island Creek, Landsdowne and Hawthorne are asking residents to do at least one or all three of the actions listed below - which will greatly increase our chances of halting or modifying this project, but at a minimum please take 2 minutes to sign the petition.

One-Sign an online petition that already has 1,151 online signatures which will be delivered to our local elected officials that represent Island Creek, Landsdowne and Hawthorne communities. To sign the petition please click on this link at http://chng.it/KyCC6wP8tM

Two-Send an email stating your opposition to the project. Please send all emails to one or more of our local representative listed below. Please reference the following plan code in your email: PC19-LE005, HILLTOP VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER.



Three-Virtually attend the Lee District SSPA Task Force meeting on August 10th at 7:00pm and voice your opposition to the project. Comments for the Task Force can be sent to the Lee District Supervisor’s office until noon the day of the meeting using leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov email address.
The meeting link for members of the public (two minutes are allowed per person) is provided below, along with the call-in number:

  • Access code: 129 711 1629

You can view the nomination at these links:



Sincerely,
Island Creek Board of Directors
Classifieds Ads

Island Creek maintains a list of service providers for our community. If you are interested in advertising, please email communitymanager@islandcreek.org.
 
You can check out the current classifieds on the communty website here. 

Latest New Ad from IC Resident:

Looking for tutoring in a foreign language?  I offer tutoring in FRENCH, Malay and Indonesian.  I am an experienced teacher who has been teaching French to preschoolers and school age children.  I have a degree in French-English Translation, a degree in French and also other languages. Rate: $20/hour.  There is a $5 discount for Island Creek residents. Your place or mine or a public library. Online tutoring OK too. If interested, email me at hueskes@starpower.net or call (703) 795-5547. 

Thanks and stay safe and healthy!

Yin Mei Hueskes
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