President's
Message
Here we are at the end of another fiscal year for the DIA, and a very
successful one. First and foremost, not only did assessments not go up this
year, they actually decreased! Your Board is ever mindful of the financial
situation we all face and is trying to lower costs throughout the community,
without decreasing the beauty of Deerwood. This year we completed the first
phase of our much needed lighting project. Starting in the oldest section, the
project has gone smoothly and came in on time and budget and looks great. We
have started plans for the next phase and more information will be forthcoming.
Additionally, we replaced all the street signs. While the new ones seemed
much taller at first, they are certainly easier to see, especially at night.
Please be patient as we finish with these signs. The manufacturer ran into some
problems with the installer as we were trying to get the last of the signs up.
Drainage grates were repaired or replaced in several areas. Many of the
grates that are situated in lawns allowing drainage from the street had rusted
through in spots and were a hazard. As these were probably 30 years old, they do
not make them any more and we had to have them fabricated. Our drainage team has
done a great job getting these in place and moving aside grass where necessary
to allow better drainage for the street.
Paving was completed in a portion of the condominium areas. We sometimes
forget that these important residents of our community pay not only an
assessment to the DIA but also to their own condo association. Their needs are
being well cared for by their area representative.
Please join your neighbors at the DIA Garage Sale in April!
We have resolved all of the litigation against the Association and currently
nothing new is pending.
As I said, the DIA year comes to an end in March. Several new representatives
will be joining the Board and a few will be leaving, including me. I have
enjoyed working for you for the past 3 years and especially this year as
president. It has reminded me that there is no better neighborhood in all of
Jacksonville than our own Deerwood! Thanks to everyone who has made this year
such a success.
Cynthia Glazier
Yard
Sale
The Annual DIA GARAGE SALE will be held April 11th between 9am and 1pm
in the Playground Pavilion area. Call Dotty at 642-5359 to reserve / purchase
your tables now for $15.00 (limit 2 per person). Remember that they sold out
last year, so don’t delay!
This is a fun event and your old treasure may become someone’s new
treasure. Volunteers will set up 75 tables around the perimeter of our
Playground to give both vendors and buyers a little shade. Non-residents may
attend with a special parking ticket obtained from our Gate staff.
Architectural Review
Before making any exterior changes to your home, yard, fence or driveway,
please contact the ARC Coordinator, Tobé Budner, at 285-2519.
As a new year begins (the 49th year for Deerwood), ARC thought it would be
appropriate to reprint the interview with Ms. Budner done in January 2008 which
explains the role of the ARC.
DIA: Tobé, can you explain what the ARC does and the fees involved?
Tobé: The ARC reviews plans for new construction, additions, fences,
replacement roofs, pools, exterior color changes, tree removals and other
exterior changes that affect the appearance of the property or changes the “footprint”
of the existing home. The Committee reviews some plans several times before
final approval is obtained. As you know, the cost of the ARC is not included in
the DIA Assessment. ARC expenses include the fee for our architect to review
plans submitted by residents, make recommendations regarding compliance and
inspect the property at the conclusion of construction. The expenses also
include the costs for the ARC Coordinator who provides expertise and
administrative assistance to the ARC in verifying that the changes comply with
the Deerwood Covenants and Restrictions; reviews applications for completeness
and accuracy, collects fees and performance deposits and coordinates with
residents, contractors and the ARC. There are two different fees: one; to
partially recoup expenses and two; a deposit to ensure the plans will comply
with the Deerwood Covenants and Restrictions and that improvements are built in
substantial compliance with the approved plans. Some examples include: $100
fee/$500 deposit for a pool screen; $500 fee/$5000 deposit for an addition
and $1000 fee/ $15,000 deposit for a new house.
DIA: Whew, that’s a lot of information. Why does Deerwood have
an ARC?
Tobé: The ARC is charged with protecting and enhancing property
owners’ investments in the Community by maintaining the tasteful and
aesthetically pleasing architectural design of the community in harmony with the
surrounding structures, as well as evaluating each project on its own merit
rather than just taking a “cookie cutter” approach. This helps make Deerwood
a desirable place to live while maintaining higher property values. All owners
benefit from ARC, whether submitting projects or not.
DIA: I see; so what is the process if, say, I want to build an
addition?
Tobé: The homeowner would have their plans drawn up and submit them
to the ARC using the forms available on the mydeerwood.com
website. After approval by the Committee, the plans would then be presented to
the County for permitting. During the review process the ARC would review
setbacks, lot coverage percentage, window design and placement, roof pitch,
shapes, etc to make sure they blend with the existing structure and meet
Deerwood Covenant requirements. After completion of construction, the architect
would make a final inspection. In the case of non-compliance, the homeowner
would be turned over to the DIA Standards and Fines Committees for further
action.
DIA: How do the ARC guidelines apply to residents living in
condominiums?
Tobé: The ARC guidelines also apply. If the Condominium Association
wishes to make an exterior change to the condominium property, it must submit a
request and obtain approval from the ARC. In addition, an individual owner who
wishes to make an exterior change must submit requests and obtain approvals from
both the Condominium Association and the ARC.
DIA: Tobé, thanks so much for your time! Remember, you can find more
information on our website, mydeerwood.com
or call Tobé.
ARC is also working to develop a standard real-estate for sale sign in
line with our covenants to improve the look of these signs on properties in
Deerwood.
ARC Members:
Tobé Budner, Coordinator
Frank Shumer, Architect
Linda Jones-Baucom,
Chairperson
Cyndy Glazier
Darlene Register
Eunice Castillo
Did
You Know:
ANNUAL DIA MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 17TH AT DCC 5:30PM. ALL RESIDENTS ARE
WELCOME!
DIA has a Fine Committee that can institute a fine for a continuous violation
of the Covenants.
It is against the law to walk pets off leash or to not scoop their poop.
Just because we are a gated community does not mean we are impregnable. We
have had some break-ins. Lock the doors of your house and car!
You can manage your visitors on-line. Visit www.hdvr.net/deerwood/
or simply go to our website, www.mydeerwood.com,
choose DIA and Access Control Guest List, to allow visitor access.
All maintenance people must have a magnetic sign on their vehicle and the
driver must show picture identification before they will be allowed in.
Pedestrians walk against traffic, bikers with it.
Standards
Unfortunately, we have a number of residents who are not meeting the
standards outlined by our Covenants and Restrictions who have received letters
instructing them of their violations. It is incumbent upon all of us to maintain
our properties in accordance with our C&Rs. This includes maintaining your
lawns, painting your fences, parking your cars in the car port, keeping your
roofs free of mold, keeping your yard and house waste in your car port and the
like. The C&Rs for all of the Deerwood units are listed on our website, www.mydeerwood.com.
Grounds
Grounds Committee We are mapping streets that need paving as well as
repairing areas where pavement is cracked and crumbling. If you notice an area
that you think needs to be redone, please call Doug Scott.
Grounds Committee:
George Harris, Chairperson
Member:
Linda Jones-Baucom
Access
Control
Starting on 2/23/09, we'll be changing general managers for First Coast
Security, our Access Control vendor. Bob Musselwhite, who has done an excellent
job for us has been promoted and will be leaving us. He is being replaced by Joe
Holliday who has an extensive law enforcement and security background, most
recently as Director of Security for the Jacksonville Target stores. Please make
Joe feel at home when you stop by the Baymeadows Gate or talk to him on the
phone.
Our new Access Control Information System is working well and THANKS! to
those residents calling in on the new Access Control # 642-1604 and
electronically entering their own visitors utilizing our website www.mydeerwood.com.
Please remember to lock your doors to both your house and cars, as we've had
some valuables taken from cars in the driveways. Please do not leave valuables
in your car and keep them in your closed garage and/or locked. Keep an eye out
for joggers, walkers and our children on the streets of Deerwood. Please drive
safely.
There continues to be vandalism of mailboxes in Deerwood. We are
investigating alternative mailboxes, some of which are pedestal and lock. We had
a busy month for speeding tickets with the police giving out almost 30 tickets,
75% to non-residents.
Access Control Committee:
Glynn Thomas, Chairperson
Members:
Ed Ossi, Wiley
Anderson, Jerry Johnson, Stan Rozycki,
Bob Purcer, Tom Mantia, Alan Rosner and
Sam Vecchiola
Landscape
It is almost springtime in Deerwood. As your yards recover from many hard
freezes, think about tree, shrub, and flower planting. All your roses should
have been pruned and fertilized by Valentine’s Day. Human hair, soap, and
blood meal repel deer from eating your rosebushes. Wait for new growth to emerge
before you prune tender shrubs such as angel trumpets, hibiscus, and hydrangea.
Now is the time to plant new areas in your garden. Think about planting a citrus
tree for glasses of fresh orange juice. Plant fuscia ti plants, tri colored
stromanthas, purple Persian shields, or copper plants. An eight dollar flat of
impatiens, petunias, or coleus can last for months giving your entrance or
backyard an extra color boost of flower power. Remember pansies are a garnish
and loved by deer, so refrain from planting them in deer laden sections of
Deerwood. Remember not to plant until March 15 when the threat of frost is over.
It pays to wait until April to purchase larger plants.
Hope you are all enjoying our major landscape project at Crosswicks and
Little Fox. This is a much improved large section of Deerwood. The Deerwood
Improvement Association Landscape Committee (“DIALC”) appreciates your
continued support and complimentary notes. We respectfully request that our 78
islands not be parked upon. Please enjoy our lovely landscaping and encourage
your visitors and workpeople to NOT park on the islands and grass.
Please inform our DIALC of any improvements that you suggest. Join us on the
Second Tuesday of every month at the Deerwood Country Club Boardroom at 5:00PM.
Landscape Committee:
Herbert Monroe, Chairperson
Members:
Barbara Callahan,
George Dorion, Bob Emery, Alice Henderson,
Julian Jackson, Karen Merrell,
Barbara Milon, Martha Smith, and Bob Still
Treasure
Report
DIA is on budget and next year’s assessment is slightly
lower than this year. We are working to conserve our fiscal resources while
maintaining Deerwood’s infrastructure and beautifying our grounds. We have
budgeted for several large maintenance projects in 2009 including needed paving
of some needed road segments and installing new lights to keep our residents and
visitors safe. We also have some upkeep issues such as flooring and cabinets in
the Gate houses, drainage issues around Deerwood, and fence and mailbox repairs.
Treasurer:
John Heijmans
Property Manager -Doug Scott
2009 looks to be a productive and
exciting year for improvements and projects within Deerwood. The Sign Project is
essentially complete. Let me know if there are remaining issues or concerns.
Phase
1 of the Lighting Project is completed and Phase 2, which is planned to run Gate
to Gate, should begin in April. We are currently evaluating which roads in
Deerwood are in need of repaving due to significant wear-and-tear and in need of
repair. Once all the areas have been identified, the bidding process will begin
and the Project underway.
Call Doug for:
Spaces in the boatyard.
To reserve the
Playground Pavilion for a party.
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