In a previous board meeting minutes item, approved lamp post replacement lamp heads were posted: http://benjaminfarmhoa.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/lamp_posts.pdf

Please note there will be a deadline on fixing the current lamp, or replacing it wth an approved lamp.

UPDATE 3 - 10/21/11 The sign proposal has come to light again. The board has already met once with the land owner and lawyer. Some residents of Benjamin Farm and the surrounding neighborhoods were in attendance. A 2nd meeting is scheduled for 10/29/11 @ 10:30am - location to be determined. If you would like to attend please contact the board at trustees@benjaminfarmhoa.org

UPDATE 2 Hello All, I Just wanted to let you know that Mr. LeHotan has decided to withdraw his massive billboard sign application from the Board of Zoning Appeals. He said he has decieded to go in another direction. If I hear word that he has decided to re-apply I will most certaily let you know. I guess we can breath easy, at least for now. Chuck Ricco Councilman Ward 1

UPDATE Email from Ward 1 councilman Chuck Ricco Hello All, I Just wanted to let you know that Mr. LeHotan has decided to withdraw his massive billboard sign application from the Board of Zoning Appeals. He said he has decieded to go in another direction. If I hear word that he has decided to re-apply I will most certaily let you know. I guess we can breath easy, at least for now. Chuck Ricco Councilman Ward 1

WWW.NOSIGN.US
UPDATE:
Here's a letter from Chuck Ricco, our ward 1 councilman, regarding the LED billboard sign. This is no longer an issue for now, but might come back again. It is important to submit your email address using the form to the right so we can contact you if this becomes an issue again!

"I wanted to thank all of you for your efforts regarding the I-71 sign variance. I was able to talk to the applicant yesterday and was told by him that he would table his request. I received confirm...ation this morning that he did in fact ask for his variance to be tabled. We can rack this up as a victory! However, there still remains the option for him to put this back on the agenda at a future date. For now the troops can be immobilized as this issue will NOT be heard at tonights BZA meeting. Thank you again for contacting me, should you have any issues in the future please do not hesitate to contact me again. I appreciate hearing your input as it helps me to better represent you."

[Notice from Brunswick Board of Zoning Appeals]

It will be visible from your house!
The proposed sign is 1344 Square foot of flashing changing advertising that’s larger than the entire front of your house! That much space is: 45ft wide 30-70ft tall!

Are property values going to drop $10,000 to $20,000 as the second sun flashes all night? Can we stop the new monster sign? Yes, but only if you go!

You must attend the hearing on 3/22/2011 @ 7:30pm to say no!! or Sign the petition against the sign variance! The Board of appeals will approve the sign if you don’t speak up! Why didn’t you get notice? Only the homes within 500 ft of the sign which is the entire back street of our development!

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.NOSIGN.US
Sign the petition against the sign variance!

http://www.ipetitionscom/petition/jumbotron

Goals for 2011

1. Continue to reduce mailings costs using emails only.
2. Protect our home values.
3. Use of new ARC forms for quicker and easier submission.
4. Meeting notes published to the website.
5. More informational Website.
6. Balanced budget

General Information

1. Last year, our homeowners association has adopted a collection procedure for past-due association fees. There are quite a few people who are late and a few who do not pay at all. For details on our policy, please visit our website. In brief, there are administration fees for each month late, and after a set period of time, the account is turned over to our attorneys for collection and the home owner is responsible for the additional fees which usually add up to more than your original HOA fee. This is not something we want to do but a necessary procedure based on the few who are very late or never pay each year.
2. Last year the park was not re-mulched in an effort to save money. This spring it will be redone! Anyone wishing to see our budgets or the next 3 years projected budget is welcome to come to our annual meeting and or attend one of our bi-monthly meetings.
3. We need more volunteers to run the HOA please help! Because of the lack of people helping we never get the time to plan events, write newsletters or any of the other community building items.
4. For those planning outdoor projects, don’t forget that the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) must approve ALL projects, whether or not the City requires a permit. This includes, but is not limited to: basketball hoops, decks, fences, jungle gyms, patios, playhouses, sheds and in-ground pools.
   • Please contact the ARC for approval PRIOR to construction. Our by-laws dictate that the ARC must approve all structures and/or additions. Forms & Instructions are available on our website. If you have any questions, please contact the board by letter at: Benjamin Farm Homeowner’s Association, ATTN: ARC, Post Office Box 1161, Brunswick, OH 44212 or via our website. We now have an easy email submission form available on line to help speed up the procedure.
5. Gas lights are out in our development. There will be a new procedure in place by the middle of the summer to address this problem. It will involve the HOA fixing the lamps of those homeowners who do not maintain them, by hiring an outside company to handle the repair, which will then be charged back to the homeowner. Some lamps no longer work due to gas line issues and fixing them can sky rocket into the thousands of dollars, and we are aware of this. We are in the process of approving specific non-gas lamps. In the meantime, if you can, please fix your gas lamps!