Town Crier Articles

Why Should I Vote to Approve New Town’s Revised Governing Documents?
Posted on September 1, 2022 5:53 AM by Jack Espinal
Categories: NTRA Business
 
Homeowners in the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) are facing the most important decision that they have had to make since the day they decided to purchase a home in New Town. Over the last 18 years we have been governed by documents written for and favoring the New Town developers. There is absolutely no reason why we should continue to use those documents which consist of 27 separate, developer oriented, confusing, and contradicting governing documents that are contained in 4 ½ inch stack of paper. We are now self-governing and it is time to make a change.
 
New documents for the NTRA have been prepared, vetted by legal experts, briefed to our membership, and then edited based upon suggestions from our community. The revised documents are organized, well written, and much easier to read. When printed, they easily fit in a ½ inch binder.
 
Adoption will require a two-thirds vote of our Association’s membership-411 votes. This is a very high hurdle, but the high quality of these new documents makes this possible. Please read the revised documents, and when you do, I am sure that you will support them because of the following factors:
  1. The revised documents correct the developer’s significant errors and omissions in our existing documents. 
  2. Owners’ responsibilities and the Association’s Board of Directors authority is clearly outlined in the revised documents.
  3. The documents are simpler and easier to read. They will reduce confusion for owners, our management company, and your Board of Directors.
  4. Future changes will be easier because amendments to the three primary documents will require only a majority vote of the Association membership.
  5. The revised documents better prepare New Town for the future. They provide the Association with the flexibility to deal effectively with contract costs, expansion, and other future challenges.
  6. Annual HOA assessments under the revised documents will be derived from the cost to operate the Association and the cost for services provided to individual lots. This makes it easier for members to see and understand how association funds are being collected and spent. 
  7. The new documents will allow the Association to provide landscaping services to all lots in our community including all fenced yards.
  8. The new documents have removed any reference to the Association assuming potential maintenance obligations related to Settlers Market LLC property, e.g. the BMPs around Village Walk. 
  9. All applicable Virginia Statutes and local ordinance requirements are updated and addressed in the revised documents.
As you consider your voting decision, please don’t be misled by statements that are being circulated throughout our community. Accurate information and explanations can be found on the NTRA website, or reach out to a Board member if you have questions.
 
What are the consequences of voting “no” or not voting in this election?
 
Voting ‘No” or not voting (which is essentially “no’) will have several important future consequences.   Those consequences include:
  1. Village Walk and the NTRA may continue to be at risk to fund maintenance costs for property not owned or managed by your Association.
  2. The NTRA will not provide mowing and pruning services to fenced areas.
  3. Legal costs will continue to rise as the Association responds to challenges caused by poorly written, obsolete text.
  4. The NTRA will not have the flexibility to efficiently solve future problems in our community.
  5. Administrative burdens to the management company and the Board of Directors will remain significantly higher than they need to be. 
The revised documents are well written, easier to understand, and are far, far better than our current documents. They are shorter, simpler, and more compliant. 
 
We are not Developer-centric and we owe it to ourselves to move forward with documents that reflect 1) that homeowners are fully in control of our Association, and 2) how we actually live and operate as ONE COMMUNITY. This is our chance to get things right by adopting the NTRA’s Articles of Restatement, Amended Bylaws, Second Amended Master Declaration, and two new Supplemental Declarations.  
 
Vote to approve - vote for yourself, vote for each other, and vote for your community.
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