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We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions.  If you have a question not answered below, please contact the Foundation office by email or phone at 703-620-6230. 

 

Animals	There's a skunk (fox, deer, etc.) running loose behind our house. What do we do? What do I do if there is a dog running loose in my neighborhood? What laws apply to animals in Fairfax County? Do you have a petting zoo?
Assessments	What is covered by my assessments? When are my assessments due? Where do I pay them? I paid my assessments electronically yesterday.  Why haven't you received it?
Community Center	Is the community center room available to rent for birthday parties?
Exterior Changes	I want to paint my fence (add a deck, paint the trim, etc.). Do I need an ARB application?
Mailing Address	Does it matter if I use Herndon or Oak Hill for my address?
Noise	What is the County noise ordinance?
Open Space	There is a tree down across the bike path in my neighborhood. Why hasn't it been removed?
Parking	Are cars allowed to park on a pipestem? I live in a townhouse and my street has reserved parking.  What do I do if someone parks in my space?
Pool	How do I join the pool? Are pictures required for the pool? I'm not a Franklin Farm resident. Can I join the pool?
Roads & Utilities	We have a broken street light in our neighborhood. Who do we call? There is a large pot hole on my street. Who is responsible for fixing it? We have polybutylene pipes in our house.  How do we get them replaced?
Selling House	We are going to sell our house and have been told that we need some documents from the Foundation office. What are they and how can I obtain them?
Snow	Who is in charge of snow removal in Franklin Farm? Who shovels the sidewalks?
Trash & Recycling	When is the trash picked up? I need someone to pick up my old refrigerator. Who do I call? My trash has not been picked up all week. Why?
Yard Debris	I have yard debris to dispose of.  How do I need to bundle it?

There's a skunk (fox, deer, etc.) running loose behind our house. What do we do?  (top)

Many different types of wildlife inhabit Franklin Farm and are usually harmless. However, if the animal is acting in an unusual manner or if you are concerned, contact Animal Control at 703-830-3310. Periodically you will find information about our wildlife published in the Almanac.

What do I do if there is a dog running loose in my neighborhood?  (top)

Fairfax County has a law that prohibits dogs from running unrestricted at all times. (Unrestricted refers to a dog being off a leash and off private property). The County authorizes Animal Control to pick up stray dogs, please call Animal Control at 703-830-3310. If your dog is picked up, bring proof of rabies vaccination and current dog license to the Animal Shelter at 4500 West Ox Road, Tues. - Sat. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, Fairfax County amended the “Leash law” to include a provision that dog owners are required to “pooper scoop” after their pups.

What laws apply to animals in Fairfax County?  (top)

A summary of animal ordinances is available under "Your Pets and the Law" and more information can be found on Fairfax County's website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Do you have a petting zoo?  (top)

No, that's Frying Pan Park, which is not in our community.  Frying Pan Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road and their phone number is 703-437-9101.

What is covered by my assessments?  (top)

General Assessments cover Open Space maintenance, Foundation administration, capital reserves for long-term maintenance and/or replacement of Franklin Farm amenities (i.e. pools, tennis courts, community center, etc.). Neighborhood Assessments cover twice-weekly trash collection and services unique to each particular neighborhood. For those neighborhoods with private streets, street repair and snow removal are also included.  

For more information, review "Where Do All the Dollars Go?", a quick reference guide to your assessments prepared by the Financial Advisory Committee.

When are my assessments due? Where do I pay them?  (top)

Assessments are billed on a quarterly basis and are due in accordance with the schedule below:

Qtr	Mailed	Payment Due	Payment Delinquent
1st	15 Sep	1 Oct	30 Oct
2nd	15 Dec	1 Jan	30 Jan
3rd	15 Mar	1 Apr	30 Apr
4th	15 Jun	1 Jul	30 Jul

 

All accounts not paid by the delinquent date will be assessed a $35 late fee. If you do not receive a statement in the mail, it is your responsibility to call the Foundation Office.

An envelope is provided each quarter with your assessment. Your assessment is mailed to a lock box at the bank and processed there. Assessment payments will not be accepted at the Foundation Office. If you do not have the envelope, the address is:

Franklin Farm Foundation

P.O. Box 61388

Phoenix, AZ 85082-1388

I paid my assessments electronically yesterday.  Why haven't you received it? (top)

Isn’t technology wonderful? An increased number of Franklin Farm residents now pay assessments utilizing online banking services.  Please understand that the Foundation office does not accept electronic payments from your bank at this time. If you use an online service, your bank or service provider is mailing a paper check on your behalf. Most banks recommend setting the payment date 5–7 business days before the due date to allow enough time for processing and mail delivery.  Make sure your payments are being mailed to:

Franklin Farm Foundation

P.O. Box 61388

Phoenix, AZ 85082-1388

If you are interested in having your payments debited directly from your bank account, please consider signing up for our Electronic Assessment Payment Service. Call the Foundation office at 703-620-6230 for more information.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Is the community center room available to rent for birthday parties?   (top)

Yes, the meeting room at the Still Pond Community Center is available on weekends.  If you are interested in renting the room, please review the usage agreement and contact the Foundation office for availability.

I want to paint my fence (add a deck, paint the trim, etc.). Do I need an ARB application?  (top)

Any work done to the exterior of your home which alters the appearance does require an application. Guidelines are also available on the web at www.franklinfarm.org/arbguide.htm.

Does it matter if I use Herndon or Oak Hill for my address? (top)

Since the Zip Code is the same it does not matter which one is used, the mail will be delivered.  The Foundation office uses Oak Hill.

What is the County noise ordinance?  (top)

Chapter 108 of the County code prohibits noise violations.  Here are some specific violations for outdoors and the hours during which they are prohibited:

Televisions, radios, musical instruments, and animals that howl, bark, meow, or squawk frequently and habitually are declared a noise disturbance anytime when plainly audible across property lines or through partitions.  To report a noise violation during normal business hours, please call the County Zoning Enforcement Branch at 703-324-1300.  After 4:30 p.m., please call the non-emergency police at 703-691-2131.  Noise or zoning complaints can also be filed online through the County Zoning Branch's complaint form.

There is a tree down across the bike path in my neighborhood. Why hasn't it been removed? (top)

Our residents are the eyes and ears of the Foundation in identifying areas that need attention. Please report concerns to office via phone, e-mail or regular mail. Staff will follow up with a site inspection, phone call or other appropriate course of action. The issue will be worked until it has been successfully resolved.

Are cars allowed to park on a pipestem? (top)

All vehicles must be parked only in areas designated for parking.  Parking is prohibited on pipestems by Fairfax County as well as Franklin Farm governing documents.  Parking on a pipestem can block emergency vehicles that may need to reach your home or your neighbor's.  

Vehicles parked on pipestems can be towed at the owners expense. If you want to have the vehicle removed from your pipestem, any owner on the pipestem may call Battlefield Towing, at 703- 709-7723, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Be prepared to give your house number. You must be available when the tow operator arrives in order to show ID to the driver and to sign forms stating that you are a resident of the house on the pipestem. These and other procedures protect the tow company from frivolous calls. If the vehicle is moved before the tow truck arrives, call Battlefield so the dispatcher can recall their truck.

If you have been towed, call the non-emergency police at 703-691-2131.

I live in a townhouse and my street has reserved parking.  What do I do if someone parks in my space? (top)

Any vehicle parked in an assigned space without the assignee's permission or that is parked in a fire lane, on open space, or in such a way as to block a property parked vehicle or the normal flow of traffic may be towed at the vehicle owners risk and expense and without further notice.

If you find a vehicle unexpectedly parked in your reserved space, please:

1. Check with household members.  Check with other members of your household to see if anyone else gave their permission for the vehicle to be parked there.
2. Try to contact the vehicle's owner.  If you believe you know who owns the vehicle or where the owner might be visiting, please attempt to contact that person directly.
3. Follow these towing guidelines. If you want to have the vehicle removed from your reserved space(s), you may call Battlefield Towing, at 703-709-7723, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Be prepared to give your house number and space number. You must be available when the tow operator arrives in order to show ID to the driver and to sign forms stating that you are a resident of the house associated with the space in question. These and other procedures protect the tow company and the Foundation from frivolous calls. If the vehicle is moved before the tow truck arrives, call Battlefield so the dispatcher can recall their truck.

Franklin Farm has two pools that are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  Membership to both pools is on a seasonal basis.  Pool membership is not included in your assessments.  Residents can pickup an application for membership in the Foundation office starting in February of each year and throughout the pool season.  Registration forms, fees and information are published in the Almanac and the website.  Information on the Franklin Farm Froggers Swim Team is also published in the Almanac and the website.

Are pictures required for the pool?  (top)

Yes, pictures are required for every member of the pool with the registration form. 

I'm not a Franklin Farm resident. Can I join the pool?  (top)

Franklin Farm Foundation offers 100 pool memberships to non-residents. The Foundation has a waiting list for families requesting to be non-resident pool members.   Approximately 10 memberships open up each year, depending on how many membership families leave the area, decide not to renew, etc.  Please be aware the waiting list is very long and, depending on each year's turnover, it could easily be 5-10 years.  

To be added to the waiting list, please submit your name, address, phone number and a short statement with your signature stating that you would like to be added to the waiting list to the Franklin Farm Foundation office. The Foundation will contact you when space becomes available.

We have a broken street light in our neighborhood. Who do we call?  (top)

You may contact Dominion Virginia Power directly at their toll free number at 888-667-3000.  They typically respond within 48 hours.

There is a large pot hole on my street. Who is responsible for fixing it?  (top)

The majority of streets in Franklin Farm are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). All problems should be reported directly to VDOT at 800-367-7623. Franklin Farm does have some roads which are privately maintained. Any problems with them should be reported to the Foundation office.  Private roads are listed below:

Apple Barrel Court, Coates Lane, Elevation Lane, Foxlease Court, Higgs Court, Hill Haven Court, Kinfolk Court, Old Dairy Court, Piney Ridge Court, Rosemere Court, Stone Heather Court, Tayloe Court, Tranquility Court, Whaley Court

We have polybutylene pipes in our house.  How do we get them replaced?  (top)

In the October 2002 issue of the Almanac, an article was reprinted from the Washington Post with information for residents concerning polybutylene pipes.  Please review it for more information on who to contact and if your household qualifies.

We are going to sell our house and have been told that we need some documents from the Foundation office. What are they and how can I obtain them?  (top)

As of July 1, 1997, the Virginia Property Owners Association Act requires that all new home buyers must be provided with the Foundation disclosure documents. The disclosure documents include all information pertaining to Franklin Farm, the financial information associated with the lot and an outside home inspection. There is a $70.00 fee and it takes 14 days to process each request. It is recommended that you fill out your request form at least 3 weeks prior to your settlement date to ensure your packet will be provided on time.  For more information, please read this summary of the Disclosure Documents.

Who is in charge of snow removal in Franklin Farm?  (top)

Most of the roads in Franklin Farm are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Private streets in the townhome neighborhoods of Foxlease, Stone Heather, Rosemere and Tranquility are maintained by the Foundation. VDOT maintains the major arteries leading into these areas (Old Dairy Road, Tranquility Lane and a portion of Stone Heather Court).  If you live on a public street that has not been plowed, report it through the VDOT local office at 703-383-VDOT. If you live on a road maintained by Franklin Farm which has not been plowed, call your neighborhood representative or the Foundation office.  Private roads are listed below:

Apple Barrel Court, Coates Lane, Elevation Lane, Foxlease Court, Higgs Court, Hill Haven Court, Kinfolk Court, Old Dairy Court, Piney Ridge Court, Rosemere Court, Stone Heather Court, Tayloe Court, Tranquility Court, Whaley Court

Who shovels the sidewalks?  (top)

As courtesy to all, don’t forget to clean the sidewalk in front of your home and mailbox. Please note that the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Foundation do not remove snow from the sidewalks or paths.

If you want uninterrupted mail delivery, please keep all obstacles at least ten feet from any mailboxes. This includes snow, recycle bins, trash containers and cars.

Rural Mail carriers (like those who serve zip code 20171) are not required to dismount or exit their vehicle in order to make deliveries or collect out-going mail.

When is the trash picked up? (top)

Regular trash is picked up on Tuesday and Fridays. Recyclables and yard debris are picked up on Wednesdays. Please note that, in the townhome neighborhoods, recyclables are picked up on Wednesday and yard debris is picked up on regular trash days. Trash is to be placed curbside no earlier than 6 p.m. or dusk the previous evening or no later than 6 a.m. the day of pick-up, including yard debris and recyclables.

I need someone to pick up my old refrigerator. Who do I call?  (top)

Contact American Disposal Services at 703-368-0500 to arrange for special pick up.

My trash has not been picked up all week. Why?  (top)

Please contact American Disposal Services directly at 703-368-0500.

Please follow these guidelines for preparing yard debris to be ready for pickup. If brush is not properly cut and bundled it may be not be picked up by American Disposal Services. If you have any questions, call American Disposal at 703-368-0500.

I have yard debris to dispose of.  How do I need to bundle it?

•  Brush should be cut in four-foot lengths with less than six inches in diameter limbs.

•  Brush should be tied in bundles no larger then two feet in diameter and placed at the curb.

•  Please remember to place yard debris at curbside the evening before pickup after dusk or before 6 a.m. the morning of pickup.

The Franklin Farm Foundation - 12700 Franklin Farm Rd - Oak Hill, VA  20171
Phone:  703-620-6230     Fax:  703-620-9021     E-Mail:  foundation@franklinfarm.org
Map of Franklin Farm      Map of the foundation office at the above address

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