Please join us for the annual Wyatt Farm Community Picnic. Details can be found in this flyer, but here’s the short version:
WHEN: This Friday, September 17th
TIME: Food will be ready by 6pm, but come when you can
WHERE: The Wyatt Farm Pavilion
YOU BRING: A side dish or dessert to share; lawn chairs or blankets
WE BRING: Everything else
And back by popular demand: the Castle Moon Bounce!
See you Friday!
The Town of Blacksburg has received a request for a Religious Assembly use in the R-4, Low Density Residential zoning district for a 31.9 acre portion of Tax Parcel 166-A-4 at 2401 North Main Street. The applicant is the Blacksburg Baptist Church which proposes a multi-phase development including a multipurpose building and a sanctuary with associated classrooms. The following meetings are opportunities to learn more about and comment on the application:
Neighborhood Meeting: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 5:30 PM in the main conference room of the Blacksburg Motor Company Building at 400 South Main Street.
Planning Commission Public Hearing: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Building at 300 South Main Street.
Questions? Call the Planning and Building Department at 540-961-1126 and visit www.blacksburg.gov.
You may have noticed the new trees that the Homeowners Association planted in the playground area this spring. So far, the trees are growing well. However, with the coming of the hot and potentially dry season, it is important that we keep these trees watered. So, we’re asking you to consider helping by “adopting” a tree.
Small markers have been placed at the base of the most vulnerable trees. To “adopt” a tree simply write your family name on the marker with a waterproof felt-tip pen. Then make certain that the tree receives 6 to 10 gallons of water per week (preferably not all at once; 6 if we get significant rain, 10 if not). Note that we do not yet have an outlet at the shelter so you will need to bring water from your home.
Thanks for your help.
A cell phone was lost on Saturday, June 19th, probably in the area of the Wyatt Farm playground. If found, please contact Michele at mdlewis@vt.edu.
Update: The cell phone has been found. Thanks!
At the membership meeting held on Tuesday, June 1, Wyatt Farm neighbors voted to establish a one-time Initiation Fee for new homeowners equal to one year’s dues. This change will go into effect for any real estate closings that occur after July 1, 2010.
At the meeting, neighbors voiced opinions on both sides of the issue. The final vote was 20 to 3 in favor of adopting the fee. The change will be enacted by a revision to Article XIV of the Wyatt Farm By-Laws. The new version of the by-laws has been posted to the neighborhood web site.
A set of keys were found at the pavilion of the Wyatt Farm Commons. Send email to info@wyattfarm.org to claim.
Some pictures of the playground installation and initial use have been posted on our photo page. Check them out!
We again want to thank Heavener Rental for the donation of their bobcat and auger, which helped immensely with the installation process. Next time you rent something from those fine folks please mention our playground and extend your personal thanks to them. It’s always helpful for them to realize their efforts are truly appreciated.
And thanks again to Terry Whitesell from Woodbine, who provided key playground-installation advice and expertise. Thanks, Terry!
From the amount of use the playground has gotten in this first month, I think we can proclaim it a big hit! Happy playing!
At our last Annual Meeting in December, some homeowners suggested that the HOA Board look into the possibility of establishing an initiation fee, a one-time fee collected at closing when a home changes ownership. Over the last few months, the Board has learned that many neighborhoods similar to ours all over the country have an initiation fee, which serves as an additional source of income for the neighborhood, reducing (though not eliminating) increases in annual dues for current homeowners. Our initial concern that an initiation fee might make homes harder to sell does not seem to be the case — in fact, there is anecdotal evidence that the opposite might be true because of perceived value.
So, after much discussion, we are now formally presenting the idea of establishing an initiation fee to the membership. This change will be accomplished by a rewording of the appropriate Article in the Wyatt Farm By-Laws (one paragraph). This document shows the original paragraph and the proposed rewording. If approved, this change will go into effect July 1, 2010.
As you might expect, the amount of an initiation fee is a function of the amenities provided by a neighborhood. We created a list of the amenities at Wyatt Farm, and compared it to other neighborhoods with initiation fees. This led us to conclude that an appropriate initiation fee for Wyatt Farm would be a one-time fee equal to the current annual dues.
As part of this change we are eliminating the minor fee currently charged to buyers for the “homeowner packet” that contains information important for new owners and for the real estate transaction. We will still create and deliver the packet (electronically), but the cost will be subsumed by the initiation fee.
All homeowners are invited to vote, for or against, the rewording of the by-laws and therefore the establishment of the initiation fee. We will hold a special homeowners meeting for anyone wishing to discuss this issue, and then tally the vote. The meeting will be held at the home of Lisa and Mike Goatley, 2213 Birchleaf Lane, on Tuesday, June 1 at 7:00 pm.
Proxy votes are welcome if you can’t come to the meeting. No special form is needed — simply send email to info@wyattfarm.org with your vote. If you vote against the proposed change, please indicate your reasons so that the Board can factor them into further discussions.
Thanks to the homeowners who initially brought this idea to our attention!
Wyatt Farm is joining with Woodbine and Mt. Tabor Meadows for a massive yard sale on Saturday, May 22nd starting at 8:00 AM. Everyone is encouraged to participate. This yard sale will be well-promoted, including in the New River Current section in the days leading up to it. So clear out some of your old stuff! See this flyer for more details.
The playground is finally complete and ready for use! We appreciate your (child’s) patience through these last tantalizing days as the last steps were taken to make sure the equipment is safe and secure.
We thank everyone for their contributions to the playground construction effort, be it large or small. Every step helped! It will be virtually impossible to name names, and we’d certainly leave someone out inadvertently. So we’ll just say thank you, thank you, thank you!
We do specifically want to thank Heavener Rental for donating the bobcat and auger for hole-drilling day! That saved us quite a bit!
Thanks also to Terry Whitesell from Woodbine, who provided very helpful advice based on his experience of putting playgrounds together in the past. Terry met with us several times throughout the planning stages, and helped with the crucial step of staking out the hole locations. Thanks, Terry!
We hope everyone enjoys the playground!