Parkfairfax Unit Owners Association

Parkfairfax Floral Landscape

New Resident Information

Welcome to Parkfairfax

You are now part of a unique community of 1,684 units in 132 landscaped and wooded acres. This community began as rental units constructed to meet World War II civilian housing needs. In 1978, Parkfairfax was converted to a condominium and is now home for people of all interests, occupations, and ages. Among the amenities Parkfairfax offers are three swimming pools, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, eight tennis courts, an exercise facility, tot lots, a party room, a car wash/maintenance yard, laundry rooms, and woodland trails.

Parkfairfax Condominium is different from other condominiums in that we share more of our public spaces, live comfortably close to each other and have not fenced our backyards into tiny isolated islands. It takes cooperation and community spirit to keep things going. We hope you will take the opportunity to get to know your neighbors and enjoy living here.

First Steps as a Parkfairfax Resident

  1. Confirm that the front office has a working copy of the keys to your condominium (for maintenance and emergency use) and that a copy of your lease or settlement statement is on file (required by the Bylaws).
  2. Get your access card. This picture ID provides access to the maintenance yard, pools, and fitness center. There is a charge of $15 and is payable by check or money order.
  3. Register your pets . If you have more than one, the second one must be approved by the Board of Directors.
  4. Register your bicycle if you plan to store them in the laundry/storage rooms. They must be secured to an available bike rack.
  5. Keep your front light burning at night, for safety. Photo-sensitive outdoor light fixtures are available for installation through the USP program .
  6. Read a recent issue of the condominium newsletter, the Parkfairfax Forum .

Alphabetical List—Things you Should Know

AR-2    A governing document, Administrative Resolution No. 2 , specifies regulations for most of the changes you might want to do inside and outside your unit. A sampling of items over which rules apply: Landscaping and Planting, Patio Areas; Noise & Carpet; Door Hardware; Fences and Screens; Plumbing; Electrical Wiring; Painting, Wallpapering, Decorating; Exterior Antennas.

Board meetings

Regular Board meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.  in the Board room at the condominium office.

Committees

There are 9 active committees: Activities , Buildings and Utilities , Communications , Covenants , Landscape , Recreation , Technology and Transportation and Land Use . They are open to all residents and their meeting times and dates can be found on the calendar in the newsletter and website.

Common Elements/Limited Common Elements

All areas outside the individual units are Common Elements. These include the land, building structures and the utility infrastructure.  Some elements are designated as Limited Common Elements for the exclusive use of individual unit owners.  These include patios (the area extending 20 feet to the rear of ground floor units), attics and assigned storage spaces. Common Element areas are maintained by the Association and Limited Common Elements are generally maintained by the resident.

Governance

The community is self-governed by the Parkfairfax Condominium Unit Owners Association (PCUOA) and managed by Community Management Corporation. The PCUOA is comprised of all unit owners and a Board of Directors —nine elected directors, including four at-large positions and one representing each of five wards. Get involved! Volunteer committees advise the board and management on relevant issues. Regulations must be followed by everyone: renters, guests, and owners.

Maintenance Questions/Problems

If you have a maintenance problem, call one of the Service Coordinators at (703) 998-6315 to report the problem. Check your chart of maintenance responsibilities in the Bylaws to determine if you or the Association is responsible for the maintenance and repair.

Newsletter

Read it. The Parkfairfax Forum , delivered each month, contains useful information such as maintenance task reminders, committee reports, contact information, upcoming events, and news on local issues. Some legally required items also appear (Board meeting minutes, audits, budget). The newsletter also has a classifieds section for resident services and information.

Parking Policy

There are no reserved parking places in Parkfairfax; parking is available on all public streets. Lyons Lane, Holmes Lane, Coryell Lane, and Fitzgerald Lane are Parkfairfax property and considered Common Elements, as are the small off-street parking cul-de-sacs on main streets. You may park in any space available and the following applies:

  • Limit of one car or truck per unit on Common Elements; guests may park anywhere, but NO RV, commercial vehicles (except on a temporary basis), boat, or trailer parking is allowed anywhere in Parkfairfax.
  • You must have a City of Alexandria sticker, a valid inspection sticker, and a current license plate to park in Parkfairfax. These must be correctly displayed on your vehicle within 30 days of moving into Parkfairfax.

Patios and Gardens

  • Major planting and landscaping projects generally need prior approval of the Covenants Committee.  However, residents may plant an area up to 10 feet on the side and front of their units 30 days prior to receiving approval if the area does not cross a sidewalk and your unit has adjacent ground area.
  • Landscaping crews maintain the Common Elements and will also trim plants and remove leaves from unit areas unless the Limited Common Element is marked with yellow stakes which are  available from the office.  Placing these stakes around your garden  indicates that you will do all landscape maintenance including mulching, fertilizing, raking and removing leaves, and pruning.
  • Items such as patio furniture and potted plants are allowed on stoops, breezeways, and patios, but sheds, excessive outdoor furniture, indoor furniture, and trash cans are not allowed.

Pets

Parkfairfax is pet-friendly, but pet owners must follow a few important guidelines:

  • All cats and dogs must be registered with the management office and have a City license. If you own more than one pet, the second pet must be approved by the Board of Directors.
  • Always clean up after your pet and dispose of waste at your unit or in the pet waste receptacles found throughout Parkfairfax.
  • All cats and dogs must be either carried or restrained on a leash. Leash laws are enforced by both the City of Alexandria and the Association.

Policies

There are many policies that have been established over the years for regulating potential conflicts and to preserve the quality of our historic landmark community. If you have a question, call the front office and ask about where to find specific information governing the issue. And, FYI: rules about yard sales are under Administrative Resolutions ; pets and parking are in Policy Resolutions .

Snow Removal

Snow removal is provided by the Association for streets and primary sidewalks; residents must remove snow on sidewalks and stoops adjoining their units. Special assistance is available to the elderly and any incapacitated resident needing help. You must complete and submit a request form to the Association office each winter. The form is printed in the Forum during the winter months and is also available from the office.

Trash and Recycling

  • Trash is picked up on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday is for recyclable material only. There is no trash pick-up on Sundays.
  • Trash should be placed in plastic bags on your front stoop, before 7 a.m. on the day of pickup. If you placed your trash outside by 7 a.m. and your trash is not picked up by 1:30 p.m., call the Association office at (703) 998-6315 to arrange for late pick up.
  • The maintenance yard has large trash and recycling dumpsters which can be used as needed, but no paint or hazardous materials may be left in these receptacles.
  • Wednesday is recycling day and only recyclable materials are to be placed on your stoop—newspapers must be separated from the other items in paper bags or bundled in twine.
  • The Association will also pick up large items, excluding appliances ($65 charge per truck load). Call the office at (703) 998-6315. Our trash service provides a free large-item pick up on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month (excluding appliances.
  • Appliances can be disposed of at the maintenance yard as long as they do not contain Freon. There is a large, open topped construction dumpster for metal only, near the carwash, where you may dispose of the appliance.
  • There is also a recycling receptacle at the maintenance yard that is a single-stream receptacle; items do not have to be separated.

Information—Where To Get It!

  • Parkfairfax Forum – which is delivered monthly to your doorstep by a volunteer. Governance and management contact information appears in every issue, as does a map of all amenities and facilities, and a list of volunteer committees.
  • Management office – located at 3360 Gunston Road; phone is 703.998.6315
  • Management Company – Community Management Corporation. www.cmc-management.com

For even more information, take a look at the Welcome Packet