The Flamingo Is Out and About!

The Flamingo is out and about! It must be Spring! That means everyone is welcome to come hang out Friday, April 21st around 7 PM.

While food and drinks are always welcome, the most important thing to bring is yourselves!

Look for it around the middle of the block (9834).

To read more about Flamingo Fridays:

• Flamingo Fridays!

Howard County Performing Comprehensive Review of Zoning Regulations

Howard County Department of Planning & Zoning (DPZ) sponsored a very informative session on the comprehensive review of Zoning Regulations on Wed. Mar. 29 at North Laurel Community Center (NLCC).

There will be a year-long process of public engagement and feedback sessions, plus written input will be welcomed.

More information (and eventually a feedback submission link) will be at:

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/regulationassessment

• In Phase 1, zoning documents will be examined over the next year with the intent to recommend ways to:

- simplify the code,
- make it easier to read and understand, and
- make sure it has the right tools to either preserve the existing character of zones (e.g., the rural west) or help a zone achieve its intended goal, as defined in Howard County plans approved by the Council.

• In Phase 2, the regulations would be rewritten.

• Specific to our area, a Route 1 planning study will also be done at the end of the year running concurrent with the zoning regulations review.

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Details:

1. HoCo will conduct a new Route 1 study to plan revitalization in late 2017 or early 2018. 

Overview: Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Recommendations

One of the topics of the November meeting of the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) covered the recommendations provided to the Howard County Executive by a task force convened in 2015 to consider changes to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO).

APFO was enacted in 1992 to slow the exploding growth of housing in Howard County, and to ensure that public infrastructure (schools and roads) were capable of handling growth.

It defines criteria ("tests") for determining when developers must provide funds or mitigations to prevent school overcrowding and road congestion.

There wasn't sufficient time to completely cover the topic, but highlights are provided below and Howard County's Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) Jeff Bronow is willing to meet with the community again if there is interest.

Highlights:

Minutes: Autumn Walk HOA Annual Meeting and Election Results (11/7/16)

Autumn Walk held its Annual Meeting on November 7, 2016 in the Emerson Clubhouse.

Highlights:

• FY17 Budget Adopted
• Monument Sign for Autumn Walk Entrance
• Maintaining Community Engagement
• Welcome Wagon
• Contact Information
• Flamingo Fridays and Events
• Yard Maintenance Issues
• Solar Panels
• New Board Member Elected

Details:

Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party 2016

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2016 Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party! There was steady stream of visitors all night and a surge when all of our trick-or-treaters returned with their loot candy.

And special thanks go out to the hosts, Allie Stegner and Daphna Morgan, and to everyone who entered the chili contest and pumpkin carving contest. There were three vegetarian chilis, five meat chilis, and nine pumpkins! (Plus an anniversary cake!)

The crowd came out in force even on a school night, and it was great to see both old and new neighbors, as well as friends from other neighborhoods.

Top vote-getters were:

• Meat Chili: Allie Stegner
• Vegetarian Chili: Jamie Humphreys
• Pumpkin: Niki Patel (Pirate Flag Pumpkin)

But all of the chilis were delicious and the pumpkins were works of art. It was hard having to choose!

Pink Flamingos Cryin' in the Rain

Well, probably many of you won't get the Willie Nelson song reference, but it was raining when these pictures were taken today...anyway the forecast is for it to be dry this Friday (November 11th), when Bindu and Dharmesh will be hosting Flamingo Friday at their house (9811)!

The Flamingo is your invitation to "come on down"! Please come out if only for a short while to say hello to your neighbors.

These are super casual get-togethers that just allow everyone to mingle and get to know others in the community.

Date: Friday, November 11, 2016
Time: 7 PM
Location: Bindu and Dharmesh's house (9811)

More information about Flamingo Fridays is on our web site, but typically the host provides drinks and everything else is variable.

Sometimes people bring snacks or appetizers too, but this is really just about the chance to meet your neighbors face-to-face and be part of a community.

• About Flamingo Fridays

Howard County Officials to Discuss Route 1 Revitalization and APFO on Nov. 1

(Please note that although both topics are on the same agenda, APFO addresses congestion from new housing in all of Howard County and not just the Route 1 Corridor.)

Howard County officials will be the guests at the next meeting of the Southern Howard County Civic Association (SHCCA) on November 1st at 6:30 PM in the North Laurel Community Center (NLCC).

• Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) 
• Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Task Force 

There will be two topics:

• 7:00 PM: Route 1 Revitalization
• 7:45 PM: Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 [add to Facebook calendar]

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: North Laurel Community Center (NLCC), 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 20723

At this meeting Howard County will provide an overview of the review committee's recommendations for the first major changes to APFO since 1992, which govern what contributions developers must make for schools, roads, and other public infrastructure to account for the increased burdens created by growth.

The committee spent hundreds of hours over the course of 2015-2016 discussing the changes and this is your chance to understand the recommendations in a condensed form.

These recommendations are expected to form the basis for discussions between the Howard County Executive and the County Council when they consider making changes to the law over the next year.

To learn more about APFO, go to Howard County's web site at:

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/About-HoCo/County-Executive/Adequate-public-facilities-ordinance-task-force

Related Posts:

• Howard County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Overview (1/12/16)

Halloween Lights (Odenton, MD)

For a little Halloween fun, the 2016 Halloween Light Show will go live on Ice Crystal Court in Odenton on Friday, October 21 from 6:30 PM to 9 PM! The show should stay up through Halloween.

See the linked article about last year's show, and go to the family's Facebook page to see the rules for visitors (which essentially ask you to be courteous to the neighbors and to be safe).

This is the fifth year the family has created a light show, and they usually do one for Christmas as well.

• Odenton Man Attracts Hundreds for Annual Halloween Light Show (The Capital Gazette, 10/28/16)
• Thousands of Lights Sync to Halloween Music in Odenton (WMAR ABC2News, 10/21/15)
• Lights on Ice Crystal (Facebook)

Fall Maintenance Tips

Angie's List has a fairly comprehensive list of suggested Fall Maintenance tasks to prepare your household for the upcoming change in seasons:

1. Seal drafts and add insulation 
1. Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip
2. Measure your insulation
3. Audit energy waste
2. Service your furnace 
1. Schedule fall HVAC maintenance
2. Replace furnace filters
3. Protect your plumbing 
1. Insulate water lines
2. Drain your water heater
3. Remove and drain outside hoses
4. Check your gutters, roof, and chimney 

Halloween Block Party and Chili Cook-Off

It's time for the 2016 Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party and Chili Cook-Off on Garden Ranges! Like last year, the event will held at 9832 (Allie's house).

To sign up for the Chili Cook-Off go to the link below or send an email to Allie at amehok01@yahoo.com:

• 2016 Autumn Walk Halloween Chili Cook-Off on Sign-Up Genius (http://bit.ly/2etJlRf)

Planned events:

• Halloween Block Party - bring your treats for the trick-or-treaters
• Chili Cook-Off (both meat and vegetarian categories)
• Pumpkin Carving Contest (on Saturday @ 5pm, bring your own pumpkin)
• Adult Costume Contest
• Food and drinks - hots dogs/chips

To Enter the Chili Cook-Off:

• Send email to Allie at amehok01@yahoo.com
• Tell her how many chili entries and which categor(ies)

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Date: Mon., Oct. 31, 2016 (Halloween!)

Location: 9832 Garden Ranges

Time: 

Saturday 10/29 @ 5pm: 

• Pumpkin Carving Contest
• Bring your pumpkin to the common area behind the 9830-9838 Townhouse Row (where the picnic was)
• Pumpkins will be judged on Halloween along with the chili

Monday 10/31:

• 5:30pm: Bring your chili entries to 9832
• 6pm - 7:30pm: Chili and Pumpkin Judging Begins
• Enjoy food, fun, and fellowship
• Vote on your favorite chili (meat and vegetarian categories) and pumpkin
• Adult costumes will also be judged by the hosts Allie and Daphna
• c. 8pm: Prizes awarded for:
• Best Adult Costume
• Best Pumpkin
• Best Meat Chili
• Best Vegetarian Chili

This has been a fun tradition for both adults and kids here in Autumn Walk the last few years, and a great way to meet your neighbors!

Please join us even if you don't intend to enter one of the contests. It's just a great way to spend Halloween!

For the full set of pictures from last year:

• 2015 Autumn Walk Halloween Block Party

Autumn Walk 2016 Annual Meeting and Elections

The 2016 Autumn Walk Annual Meeting and Elections will be held on Monday, November 7th at 7 PM in the Emerson Clubhouse.

The expected agenda:

• This year there will be 1 position open on the three-member Board of Directors. For the elections to be valid, a quorum of 12 houses is needed either in attendance or by proxy.
• Your current Board is:
• Dharmesh Patel, President
• Damon Wood, Vice President
• Mike Fitzgerald, Secretary
• The Board will also be adopting the 2017 Budget at this meeting. Look for the draft budget to be mailed to you soon. Comments can be provided ahead of time or at the meeting.

Emerson Elections

The Emerson Elections will occur just one week later, on Mon., Nov. 14th.

All three resident slots on the 5-member Board are up for re-election. 

In order to provide for better continuity in the future, the terms of office will be staggered based upon the number of votes in this election. 

The candidate getting the most votes will get a 3-year term of office, the next will have 2-years, and the final director will get 1-year.

Watch for Mail

Please keep an eye on your mailbox for the candidate forms and proxy forms that are being mailed to you (separately for each HOA)!

Emerson Capital Improvements - Town Hall 10/24

Emerson will discuss the survey results and the Board's decisions for capital improvement projects at the next Emerson Town Hall Meeting on Mon., Oct. 24th at 7 PM in the Clubhouse.

As you will recall, the Board sent out a survey asking residents to provide feedback on possible improvements to Emerson facilities in order to enhance our quality of life, ranging from an expansion and renovation of the Clubhouse to an expansion of the pool.

48% of the almost 1000 households in Emerson filled out the survey, with many write-in suggestions as well.

"No Parking" Signs

The Howard County Fire Marshal is expected to install "No Parking" signs along the traffic island within the next month. This will create fire lanes to ensure that emergency vehicles can get through.

Once the signs are installed, cars can be ticketed for parking along the islands.

Howard County School Board Candidates (Wed. Oct. 19th)

(Update 11/9/16: Three newcomers were elected to the 7-member Board of Education: Kirsten Coombs, Christina Delmont-Small, and Mavis Ellis.)

As the General Election approaches, we also have an important Howard County School Board race this year.

The independent School Board directly controls $617.5M (58.8%) of Howard County's entire FY17 Operating Budget, and Howard County has set aside an $891.3M Capital Program for education.

Date: Wed., Oct.19, 2016
Time: 6pm - 9pm (Meet and Greet 6-7 pm, Forum 7-9 pm)
Location: Forest Ridge Elementary School (cafeteria), 9550 Gorman Road, Laurel, MD 20723

The Savage Community Association (SCA) and Forest Ridge Elementary PTA have partnered to bring you a forum for the upcoming Howard County Board of Education candidates prior to the election. Come meet the current BOE members and candidates on the ballot.

http://www.frespta.org/events/howard-county-board-of-education-candidate-forum/

Please Pick Up After Your Pets

Pet waste is growing a problem throughout Emerson.

There are many Dog Waste Stations installed all around Emerson that both supply bags, and have trash receptacles for depositing them after they have been used.

Please help to keep Emerson clean! Thanks all!