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Dream Living Takes a Nasty Turn
Homeowners association violations, skyrocketing fees and lawsuit threats are plaguing Lee's Crossing residents.
(By Erica Garman -- Loudounextra.com)
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Lee's Crossing resident Dave Sherfey announced that he had 31 signatures from residents asking for Merritt's removal from the board. Merritt and the HOA's legal counsel, Bill Daly, reiterated that they must stand by the HOA covenant documents that community members signed when purchasing their homes.
Daly said: "Does it matter about the 31 signatures? The answer is no. My advice isn't based on what's moral or ethical -- it's based on the law, and that's how I have to advise my client."
Resident Graham Davies said: "Common sense must prevail here. I'm not American, but I know what America stands for. At the end of the day, it should be what the people want and expect." Residents applauded in agreement.
At least 10 other residents, of the approximately 30 in attendance, spoke of their frustration and dissatisfaction with the HOA.
At the meeting's conclusion, board members -- including Merritt -- pleaded with residents to become more proactive and involved in community matters. The board agreed that resident committees should be formed to address problems quickly and increase communication. When a board member suggested that a certain dissatisfied resident head up a committee, the resident declined. "I travel a lot," he said.
This is one problem I hear about all too often when speaking with HOA board members -- residents don't get involved. Board presidents repeatedly say that few, if any, community members attend board meetings. Most residents, they say, don't have a clue about decisions being made on a monthly basis that will impact them and the neighborhood.
Inova Fearful of BRMC
Inova, the only hospital provider in the county, hasn't given up its fight against the Broadlands Regional Medical Center proposed by rival HCA.
"HCA's motive for coming to Loudoun County is all about profit," Inova Loudoun Hospital chief executive Randall L. Kelley told me. "The motive for them isn't to deliver quality community health care but to make money for their investors."
On April 3, HCA resubmitted its proposal to the county to build BRMC, a 164-bed hospital on 58 acres near Belmont Ridge Road and the Dulles Greenway. HCA has a certificate of public need from the state health department.
Proponents of BRMC say a new hospital is needed in the growing county. Opponents say that HCA has chosen the wrong location and that a hospital is most needed in other parts of Loudoun. The proposed BRMC site is less than five miles from Inova Loudoun Hospital in Lansdowne.
Kelley said that he and other Inova officials fear that locating a competing hospital so close to an existing facility will have negative repercussions for Loudoun.
"Inova Loudoun is a nonprofit hospital," Kelley said. "The money we make goes to improvements and community services."
