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Path connecting Stone Hollow and Highview Trail Pl

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Go Skins, Jul 9, 2006.

  1. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    Steve the difference is you all play at this as your extra job.
    I have been involved in these kinds of situations as as my real job.
     
  2. cburg

    cburg New Member

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    We, as the affected homeowners, expected this wooded lot to remain in it's original state. It's what we were told and promised. It truly was one of the reasons that we chose this lot after considering several other ones. The site map clearly showed where the tot lot was supposed to be and we even asked to make sure. We knew about the path and even though it comes really close to my property I don't have a valid argument because I knew it would be there.

    I also have a little one, but I still don't want that area disturbed. When we want to go to the park we walk down to the one by the Nature Center or go to Hillside Park. We have lived here over four years and the proposed tot lot hasn't been built yet, so we've had to find other parks to play at and it has worked out just fine.

    I respect that you have families and it would be something they would enjoy, but not at the expense of this one little patch of beauty that we have left in this development. Call me selfish if you want, but I will fight this until the end.
     
  3. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    For almost all of us building a playground will add to our quality of life and increase the value of our homes. This is s a family community and things like min-playgrounds make all of the difference.....

    THe sooner the better!
     
  4. The Sparrow

    The Sparrow New Member

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    It is more than a little privacy for the affected homes. The land is on top of the hill so everyone at the proposed playground will be able to look right into both the 1st and 2nd floors of the houses on stone hollow. So instead of buying a lot for a nice wooded view, these houses are completely on display. I'm not sure if things can be worked out with landscaping since i don't know the specific plans but at the very least you are requiring all these people to buy blinds on both floors and keep them continuously closed. Think of someone setting up an 18 foot ladder at the back of your lot and getting a nice view of your daily routine or of your family eating dinner on the deck from a bird's eye view.
     
  5. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    My 2 cents ... Playground on top of the hill ???? Safety concerns anyone ?? Possible lawsuit from injury in the future !! ???
     
  6. The Sparrow

    The Sparrow New Member

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    I'm not sure the drop off is that precarious in most places. However, it is a big hill. The top is above the 2nd story of the windows of thos houses along stone hollow. At the back of the the lots, the hill is about 10-15 ft high. it just keeps going up in the common area.
     
  7. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    This playground was part of the orginial broadlands plans... nothing new, if you didn't look at the plans - it is unfortunate......... And this is for little kids during the day
     
  8. Go Skins

    Go Skins New Member

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    Rich - That's the point everyone here is making. Folks looked at the original plans and based their lot/home decisions on that plan. VM charged premiums on lots based on those plans due to the fact that there were actually trees, not houses, behind the lots. VM has now altered the original plan numerous times and is looking to potentialy park something right behind the lots where folks were promised and paid for some privacy.

    I'm all for a playground in the original location. Should they decide to push it into the little bit of woods that remain here I too will fight in every way that I can. That being said, we've all lived with this issue for how many years now? From some of the further parts of Ridgeway/Highview, the park by the nature center is barely a mile - great distance for a walk, wagon pull, bike ride, or even a quick drive...
     
  9. cburg

    cburg New Member

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    I'm sorry, but the original Broadlands plans did not call for it to be in this proposed new area. We did look at the plans. The plans from VM and the plans from Loudoun County. Got copies too. The tot lot was supposed to be by Stone Hollow! We are dead set against it going in that wooded lot and we will do whatever we have to to make sure that it doesn't.
     
  10. glencastle

    glencastle The Paterfamilias

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    In addition to the proposed location being on a hillside, placing the tot lot inside a more wooded area will no doubt serve as good concealment for older kids who are up to no good. That is why the original location was preferable...it was out in plain view, so there would be less risk of unintended activity in the area.
     
  11. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Some of you should be receiving letters from Van Metre about the tot lot. I received a call from a resident who received one. Here is an email I sent to Broadlands Associates (Van Metre) about it:


    Hi folks-

    If you recall, the Southern Walk tot lot situation was discussed at the last Board meeting. Broadlands Associates intended to move the tot lot to a new location off the trail. I expressed concern that this could upset folks that were never intended to have a tot lot behind them. I strongly suggested that Broadlands Associates have a meeting with residents along that area to discuss the plans.

    I received a call from a resident who received a certified letter that a tot lot was being built within the next 60 days and there was no mention of a meeting. I called Kellie and reiterated that a meeting should be held with these residents.

    Broadlands Associates has already made this mistake once (moving a tot lot with no discussion with residents) and had to cancel those plans. Please don't make the same mistake twice.

    I recognize that this is not an HOA issue, but I believe this is the very least that you should do for these residents.

    Cliff
     
  12. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    The "meeting with the residents" should be on an open forum for all residents, as we are all affected one way or another. It would be a mistake to hold a private meeting. You may want to clarify with VM.
     
  13. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    I wonder what resurrected this topic with VM? Personally I refuse to get too upset or excited because I don't believe this will happen. Some homeowner will fight it (again) and it will get tabled (again) so I really don't believe anything will happen.

    Besides, even if it DOES get built in this location - the third one they've proposed - that area is so full of ticks I will never bring my kids to it anyway.

    (Yes, I'm channeling my inner-Lee for this post, clearly.)
     
  14. The Sparrow

    The Sparrow New Member

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    Is VM required to have a playground in order to turn this section over to the county? i can't imagine why they would spend money to put themselves through this grief.

    Anyhow, just for the record - the new playground location was not part of the original plans. The original location when we built this house was further down the trail closer to ridgeway. We paid for common areas behind us and a view of a wooded area. I think someone try to make the point that we all paid lot premiums. First, i am not sure this is a correct statement and secondly we paid the premiums for different perks. So if i lived on a cul de sac after paying the lot premium and then VM decided to make it street like ridgeway, I think we would all agree there is something wrong with that.
     
  15. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    Cliff,

    IF there is a meeting please make certain that all directly impacted people are invited. This is those with the playground in their backyard and those who live within walking distance (I would argue somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 mile)....

    I can appreciate the concerns of some, but when people select a neighborhood they look at things like "Trails", "Playgrounds", "pools", estc..... In this more competitive real estate market you need to have everything as righ as it can be..........

    The trail infrastructure in SW is light and there isn't a playground in walking distance............. VM is willing to fix the playground issue for us, we need to find a way to make it work.
     
  16. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Probably.. as part of the overall development they've had to set aside areas for common use, civic, recreation, etc. So they are likely on the hook for putting one in.
     
  17. Go Skins

    Go Skins New Member

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    Does anyone know why this has resurfaced? I thought it was a dead issue per Cliff's update in '06. I'm sure a lot has changed and I'm certainly not pulling the "Cliff told us" card - just curious to know the timeline of events and motivating factors.

    Thanks.

    Forum Posting by HOA President, Cliff Kierce, October 13, 2006:

    “Van Metre advised us that they will not be building a tot lot in either the original location between Ridgeway and Highview Trail, or at the new location they cleared out along Claiborne/Ridgeway. They will be adding more equipment to be built in a new tot lot in Section 62 (east of Claiborne and south of Wyndridge) and adding a few more pieces to the play area next to the Nature Center. They are considering putting in a picnic table or two in the area they had already cleared out.”
     
  18. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Simple answer: Van Metre changed their mind. Either voluntarily or they couldn't get around a county requirement.
     
  19. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    Again..... I can tell you that many of us are really excited about it and can not wait for it to be completed!!!

    Sorry to those not so happy
     
  20. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Do I see a parallel here? Seems your neighbors don't want a hospital in their backyard just as they do not want a playground. I would not trade a wooded peaceful backyard for a playground ever. Especially when it's being used as a hangout for teens. And as a homeowner, I would hold VM to their original plans.
     

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