MOORINGS CLUSTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
JULY 21, 1999

The July 21, 1999 Moorings Cluster Board of Directors Meeting, at the home of Mary Buff, was called to order at 8:10 PM by Cluster President, Karen Compton. Board Members in attendance were: Karen Compton, President; Lucille Horn, Vice President; Mary Buff, Secretary; Ron Taylor, Treasurer; Eveline Marquardt, Ann DiGiannantonio, Joel Anne Lambert. Sigrid Jackman was unable to attend, but provided written comments and votes on the agenda items. Since this was an important meeting to decide Cluster-wide policy, all Cluster members were invited to the meeting to express their opinions, although they were not allowed to vote. The following Cluster members attended: Jack and Laurie Corkey, Carol Matthews, Joan Fiator, Allen and Pat Lenz, Julie Frutchey, Edie Lederman, Joel Compton and Jan Aminoff. Jeane Julien was on the speakerphone from New York. Joan Sears provided written comments on the agenda items, as she was unable to attend.
Karen read the agenda items out loud, after written agendas were passed out to all in the room. Because of the size of the crowd Karen allowed only three minutes per person for comments. Joel Anne requested that we address the main reason we were at the meeting: fences belong to both sides and both sides must have input. Jack Corkey asked what the special reason was. It was explained to him that the Julien-Aminoffs had increased the height of the fence separating their courtyard from the Matthews courtyard by three feet.
AGENDA ITEM 1a: Height of fences surrounding street side patios
AGENDA ITEM 1b: Height of separating fences between adjacent townhouses

Carol Matthews said that the extra-tall fence made her courtyard a cubicle and it was so dark that even her impatiens won’t bloom. Jeane Julien disagreed. She said that impatiens would bloom and offered data to support her comment.
Eveline Marquardt said that no discussion about sunlight or anything else has relevance except those two neighbors must agree about a fence. We were not there to solve their problems but to set a standard for the Cluster. Jack Corkey and Ann DiGiannantonio both said it was a matter of courteous agreement. Joan Fiator agreed, as did Pat Lenz, who felt that fences should remain the same height as they were originally built.
Ron Taylor, speaking as the original architect of the Cluster, explained that all fences are six feet in height, but can be higher on one side because of the elevation of the property. Ron then added that this was really private property and not a Board concern. Karen reminded the Board that we were meeting to decide if we wanted to establish a Cluster standard for front fence height, including fences between courtyards.
Lucille agreed with what the other speakers had said and added that we should vote for fence heights to remain as they are. Jeane then explained that she and Jan had complained to Carol about her lights in the courtyard and about the dead and dying house plants, and the beach umbrella, but that Carol wouldn’t listen to their complaints.
Eveline said that she feels it is not just personal but is a Cluster matter. Ann said that she understood the Aminoffs had asked to extend the fence and Carol had said no. Jeane argued that that wasn’t so.
Joel Anne moved that the Board support the removal of the fence extension, with written comments to RA. That we should get the fence to conform to other fences in the Cluster. Ron asked if it would be useful for the Board to vote to keep the fences at existing heights. For agenda items 1a and b, Joel Anne amended her motion to read that front fences (including the fences separating courtyards) stay according to original design. Lucille seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM 2a: Do streetlights provide adequate illumination of sidewalks and building fronts?
AGENDA ITEM 2b: What can individual homeowners or Reston Association do to accommodate individual desires to reduce illumination of houses?
Everyone in the room agreed that streetlights provide adequate illumination of sidewalks and building fronts. There was a general discussion of item 2b. Eveline said that we couldn’t change the streetlights on Waters Edge Lane because they are not ours, but belong to RA. Ann said the police want neighborhoods to have as much illumination as we can stand. All in attendance agreed that we should keep the illumination of the streetlights as they are. Karen said if anyone got hurt on our streets because of poor lighting both RA and the Cluster could be sued, unless the lights were tampered with, then the person who tampered with the lights could be sued.
Jeane said that they had gotten permission from RA to put on a reflector and keep only two bulbs on. She added that RA had said there was a malfunction of the streetlight in front of their townhouse.
Karen called for a motion. Lucille moved that we maintain streetlights as originally designed and installed. Homeowners should do nothing to change the streetlights. Ann seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.
Jan then said we should address garage lights, if not at this time, then at the next Board meeting. Ron reminded the group that individual things on private property are not in the purview of the Board but in the purview of RA.

AGENDA ITEM 3a: Gates – Are there any standards for design, color, size, materials?
AGENDA ITEM 3b: Do we want to specify standards for gates?
Ron said that gates were not originally part of the Cluster, but they should obviously match the fence – same material and same color. Eveline said that we should be careful that we don’t set a standard that could cause people to have to remove their existing gates. Jack added that he feels the gates should be made of wood and the same color as the fence, but it was reasonable to have some diversity.
Ron felt that we should have a basic standard, necessitating that each change get approval. Laurie added that we should have a height standard – no higher than the fence.
Ann agreed that we should have standards, including the height standard suggested by Laurie. Julie felt that we should leave some room for originality. Ron added that requests for changes to the standard should be addressed to RA, while Karen felt that the height of the gates should not be above the white brick. Jan invited all to look at their gate. Joel Compton suggested that we take up gate standards at future meetings.
Lucille moved that gates should match the fence and no higher than the top of the fence. Anyone wanting to make changes would be required to get RA permission. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
AGENDA ITEM 4: Garage Doors - Since the townhouses were originally built with car ports and garage doors have been added (almost without exception) by individual homeowners, are there design standards for garage doors? Do we want or need a set of standards for configuration, color, materials, or other considerations?
Eveline moved that garage doors should be painted the same color as the house. Variations of pattern or small windows would be acceptable. Lucille seconded the motion. Discussion followed.
Karen mentioned that several Cluster members had spoken to her about their garage doors, especially about the warranties and materials. Jack felt we go too far mandating that the doors must be the same color. Ron said that whatever goes in should look good. Jan suggested that we should allow homeowners to do whatever was in good taste. Karen stressed that there should be a standard, as the garage doors are so large and so prominent.
The motion was voted on and passed unanimously.
This was the last of the agenda items, but Karen had one item to add. Cardinal Landscaping has agreed to take care of the planting area at the edge of the Cluster on the path to Inlet Cluster five times per year for a total cost of $75. Lucille moved that the Cluster accept this offer. Ann seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously.

The meeting was then adjourned.

Mary B. Buff
Secretary
Moorings Cluster