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HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses? (merged)

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by frostsh, May 6, 2008.

  1. frostsh

    frostsh New Member

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    I've been lurking here for a while, but figured there's no time like the present to say something.

    I was curious if anyone who attended today's HOA meeting got the impression that the board was considering new restrictions on home-based businesses. I know the discussion centered around a preschool, but it seemed that the primary topic was traffic. Lots of discussion on how many cars were involved, parking, length of time parked, etc. It would seem to me the same traffic discussions would be applicable to piano teachers, weekly cub scout den meetings and regular bunko or poker nights. Admittedly, I have a bit of a anti-regulation streak, but the discussion seemed like the first step on a slippery slope. Did anyone else get a similar impression?
     
  2. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    I was at the meeting and didn't get that impression. I did get the impression that they might be more "forceful" when it comes to making sure the home-based businesses have the appropriate licenses, but I definitely did not get the impression that they were going slip down a slippery slope. I don't see what happened in Lansdowne happening here.
     
  3. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Hello,
    I was unable to attend last nights HOA meeting. I live on the street of that preschool, and was wondering what the final outcome was. I am hoping that she has to close down because its too many cars,and too many kids.. And she is not licensed, and didnt plan on getting licensed until she was "caught".
     
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    What area is the preschool located?
     
  5. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    dang, why did i think the mtg was on the 13th???

    anyway- did it seem to be just home based businesses that incur traffic and draw customers to the home?
     
  6. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    The annual meeting is on the 13th at Mill Run Elementary school at 7 pm - last night was a business meeting scheduled because "normal" business is not conducted at the annual meeting.
     
  7. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    ok so the annual mtg is NOT where where we can come and bring up homeowner issues, like the landscaping community property abutting homeowner property thread issues...?
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    We have a question and answer session at the Annual Meeting.
     
  9. frostsh

    frostsh New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Landsdowne!!!...I was trying to think which of the northern communities it was that had this issue come up last year.

    I fully support being "forceful" on licensing. I think there are plenty of hoops that folks need to jump through for zoning, state and county licensing. If somebody complies with those rules, I think that should be sufficient, just as it has in the past. I don't want to see us (through the Board) trying to go beyond those requirements and setting up rules that say you can have Business A on a through street, but not on a cul-de-sac, etc. That seems like a Pandora’s box to open up.
     
  10. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Oh, please, please don't make new HOA rules against home-based businesses! It just causes a lot of trouble, as seen in Lansdowne. The legal fees incurred there are ridiculous. Do you know the HOA in Lansdowne has actually put a lien on some homes there with LEGAL home based businesses? It's terrible, especially since at least one of the businesses has written approval to have their business there!

    Pandora's box of problems there...
     
  11. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Isn't licensing a county issue? If this place isn't licensed then the county should be involved not the HOA.

    Well..until the HOA decides against home businesses.
     
  12. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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  13. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    I don't live on your street nor is my child in this daycare. ...but I am curious what exactly is too many cars & kids?

    Are we talking 3-4 parked outside during AM/PM for less than 20 minutes at a time?
    How many kids are you talking about?
     
  14. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    One important thing is to crack down on businesses that are not properly licensed. That can solve some of the problems there.

    The fact that this particular school is located in a cul-de-sac has its pros and cons. The homeowner needs to be especially careful to maintain good communication and relations with the neighbors. I can see how traffic could be an issue but really we're talking about around 9 cars (at full school enrollment in the case of Little Sprouts) at specific times of day: drop off and pickup. Typically the cars should be on the street for 5 minutes or so to drop off or pick up. My guess (and experience with this issue) is that for about 10 minutes around drop off time and 10 minutes around pickup time there will be cars and traffic associated with the school. Outside of that, not any additional comings and goings. The homeowner needs to communicate with her neighbors and try to work out some type of agreement to make everyone happy.
     
  15. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Well I know for a fact that she had 12 kids at a time.. It wasnt until licensing came in that she went down to 5. And these cars were zooming in and out during those less than 20 minutes. She did talk to us about the traffic problem, but her solution was to have everyone park on the cross street not even coming into the cul de sac, and walk down.. well that brings traffic all down another street now.. and who is going to want to do that in the winter.
     
  16. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Villager - I think you hit it on the bulls-eye.


    I agree that proactive communication with fellow neighbors would foster an environment for an amicable resolution concerning the traffic issue.

    I just think Mrs Smith’s post (# 3) "hoping that she closes down” seemed a bit harsh, however that could have been born out of frustration.

    Not having the proper license is an issue, but one that could be easily fixed and if the limited resources of our HOA can do it - that's great!

    Beyond that (and has you have stated) t
    his could open up Pandora’s box - frankly it would be a shame to see our HOA dues go up b/c of legal fees, etc associated with "policing home-based businesses" (ei Lansdowne).
     
  17. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Yes, My "hoping it closes down" was out of frustration. I have talked to parents in the preschool, and this owner wants her cake and to eat it too. She moved in a year ago, and started this business, brougth this traffic, runs an un-licensed facility, and doesnt seem to have a problem with that. I know one of the parents personally, and she wouldnt provide parents with information to file this "daycare" expense on their taxes.. Thats a whole lot of "wanting it her way".... And its not like she has been in the process of getting a license, she admitted to only getting one because they came in and made her.
     
  18. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Ok, I can see minor concerns with a dozen kids, but with 5? Many families in this area have 4-5 kids and these kids play with a bunch of other kids. On our street kids who live there constantly number 8-10 or more during the weekend and nice evenings/nights. We do not have any issues.
    As for traffic, it truly cannot be that big of an issue other than cars parked directly in front of your driveway.

    And have you talked to the daycare owner? Let her know your concerns and perhaps she will let the parents know to slow down.
     
  19. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Mrs Smith - Yikes - it does sound like you have been dealing with this for a long time and I think anyone could now understand your frustration. Not that it matters but I am wondering if the street you live as well as the adjacent street (that parents now park) is private (under the HOA) or has it been turned over to Vdot?
     
  20. Mrs Smith

    Mrs Smith New Member

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    Re: HOA considering restrictions on home-based businesses?

    Well the parents currently still park on our cul de sac nothing has been changed as of yet.. We are on Fern Brook Ct and the cross street is Marsh Creek
     

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