Newsletter

We hope this newsletter will provide our owners and residents helpful information about what’s happening in our neighborhood!

If you have any questions about this content or Avensong, please feel contact the Avensong HOA at hoa@avensong.org!

In order to receive real-time e-blast updates, please click "Register" at the top right of this page.

Homeowners who register will also receive a password that allows them access to owner specific content on this site.

(posted October 19, 2021)

Sadly, only 5 people attended this open quarterly HOA Board meeting (other than Board members and HOA volunteers) – that’s less than 1% of our community and nobody even had to leave leave their home to attend. For those who asked about voting on community issues, we did not have a quorum (10% of owners) so even if we did have something for you to vote on, it wouldn't have mattered because we couldn't take a vote.

There was no current business for the Board to conduct at this meeting so a general community update was shared so that everyone’s time was not wasted. All of the information either had been shared previously through email updates and postings on this website or it will be shared once items are finalized.

Previously mentioned items that were shared again:

Contact information for the Boards and our management company (Homeside Properties, Inc) can be found on this website.
Owners can request current financial information from Mary Weibel at HPI (MWeibel@homesideproperties.com).
www.avensong.org is where all Avensong information is located. If you are not registered, you need to so that you can receive real-time community updates and owners can access special notices from the Boards.
Social Media is not an acceptable form of communication with the Boards. Attorneys across the country discourage HOAs from having social media platforms, including our own attorneys, and this is why there is no “official” Avensong Facebook page. Any information posted on a social media platform or website other than www.avensong.org should be accepted only as speculation and may not be accurate. When in doubt, contact hoa@avensong.org for real community information.

New items currently in the works:

2022 HOA dues are increasing across all sections. Once the amounts are finalized, an “open letter to homeowners” will be shared with owners before dues notices are mailed out.
Town Square Accounts – the Board has discovered an issue in which homeowners in Avencroft and the Village may not have their Town Square accounts properly linked (you’re not seeing Avencroft or Village when you log in). If you don’t see either Avencroft or Village in addition to Avensong when you log in, please contact Mary Weibel at HPI (MWeibel@homesideproperties.com).
After years of discussions and planning, the front entrance landscaping will be re-worked in early November. This will be done in time for volunteers to decorate the front entrance for the holidays so our entrance should look great this year! We still need decorating volunteers, please contact hoa@avensong.org if you’d be willing to help. (This could have happened sooner if we had more volunteers.)
There will be a 2022 Amenity Card Audit. Details will be shared on this website and in the 2022 Avensong HOA Dues statement expected to arrive to homeowners before the end of the year. With the increased number of investors/renters in the community, this now needs to be an annual event.
Discussions are underway regarding enhancing the lighting around the common areas, updating the basketball court and adding other activities like a pickleball court. Volunteers are needed to help source information for these projects. Please contact hoa@avensong.org if you would like to help enhance our common areas.
Volunteers are desperately needed in all areas of the HOA. There are 564 homes and only 4 people regularly involved in running our community. We would love to have ALTA come back, ACC standards need updating and people want “game night”, “card games” and other social events, but none of this can happen without volunteers.
If you would be interested in helping run the business side of Avensong, information on Board positions is available on the Owner Information page of this site. Board applications must be submitted before December 31, 2021 if you wish to be on the 2022 ballot.
An “HOA 101” document is being created for people who live in Avensong but are not familiar with what it means to live in an HOA community or how the Avensong HOAs work. It will be uploaded to the Owner Information page of the community website by Monday, October 25.

Any questions on these items or anything Avensong can be sent to hoa@avensong.org.

(posted September 20, 2021)

Mary Weibel is our new HPI Community Manager, replacing Christy Barber who has retired.

For questions about your homeowner account please contact Mary via email at MWeibel@homesideproperties.com. Please remember, Mary manages multiple communities in addition to Avensong so replies may take a couple of business days.

For general information related to your home, information on this website or Avensong, please email hoa@avensong.org.

(posted September 7, 2021)

As the summer comes to a close and the leaves begin to fall off trees, maintenance issues on our homes are much easier to see. In order to help us all, please consider this email a courtesy warning; take some time to review your property for the following items and make the repairs as needed. Official violation reviews on these items will be issued over next several weeks. The Board is well aware of the extended time it may take to hire a contractor or find materials to fix these issues and we hope that with this early notice you will be able to make arrangements before violation notices are mailed out.

The Avensong Community Design Standards are available for review at www.avensong.org/docs. If you wish to make a change in color or style to any exterior part of your home/yard, please remember to contact the ACC for approval before doing so.

Pressure Washing –

Please check all sides of your home, driveways and walkways and fencing

Painting –

Peeling or faded paint on trim and vents under the roof must be painted white. Shutters, front doors and decorative awnings must all be painted the same color except white. Make sure your color choice is from the Avensong Color Palette (See Design Standards for the Avensong Color Palette)

Missing/loose siding and broken fencing -

Check all sides of your home for loose siding. Gates, fence walls and pickets that have come loose must be repaired or replaced. (See Design Standards for specifications)

Mailboxes –

Mailboxes must be painted gloss black with gold on black Mylar numbers on the door. They should not be leaning or have broken doors.

Yard care –

If you live in the Village or Avencroft, please remember that you do have some responsibility for your front yards; replace dead/dying plants including grass and trees and pull large weeds from beds that Crabapple does not remove. (See Design Standards for tree removal/replacement information)

If you live in the Carriage; you must mow your lawn and treated for weeds. Landscaped beds must also be clear of weeds and mulched. Dead plants must be removed and front yard trees that are removed must be replaced. (See Design Standards for tree removal/replacement information)

Exposed wiring –

All wiring on the exterior of a home must be hidden or removed if not currently in use.

We hope this helps you prepare your home for the upcoming fall maintenance inspections. If you have any questions about any of these items, please contact the HOA Board of Directors at hoa@avensong.org.

(posted August 30, 2021)

We will be conducting a 2022 Amenity Card Audit again next year for access to the pool. Please look for details in upcoming emails, at the upcoming HOA Board meeting and owners can look for information in your 2022 HOA Dues statements being issued later this year. Tenants, please remember it is not the responsibly of the Board or management company to get you pool access, it is your landlord’s responsibility.

We have a tentative date for a combined 3rd & 4th Quarter HOA Board meeting in mid-October. Due to the increase in COVID related cases in our area, the meeting will again be held virtually, will NOT be an open forum and only pre-submitted questions will be addressed. Once the date it finalized we will share the date, call-in/log-in information and the meeting agenda with everyone via our community website and eblasts.

We would also like to remind everyone to clean up after yourselves around the clubhouse and common area. There is a $500.00 violation for anyone who is caught littering on the property – this includes not cleaning up after yourselves or putting personal/household trash in the clubhouse parking lot or cans. There are trash cans located under the clubhouse deck that are accessible using your active amenity card. If you have bulk items (cardboard boxes, furniture) it is your responsibility to call your trash provider and request a bulk pickup. If you break down large items like boxes and small furniture you can put them in your trash can and the trash trucks will haul it away at no extra charge. Most furniture items can be placed at the bottom of your driveway and will be taken by someone. If you dump your trash at the clubhouse and the HOA has to pay to remove it, ultimately it will cost everyone with an increase in dues.

(updated September 7, 2021)

The Pool

Our pool is now closed for the 2021 season. If you have completed the 2021 Amenity Card Audit, your amenity card will stay active for access to the tennis courts and exterior bathrooms. There will be an amenity card audit process for the 2022 pool season. Information on next year's audit will be shared beginning with the fall HOA open Board meeting to be scheduled soon.

The Tennis Courts

If you see any issues with the courts, please email hoa@avensong.org. We do have net cranks, so please do not try to adjust the nets by hand. If they need adjusting, contact the HOA Board and let us know. Also, please remember to turn off the lights when you’re done playing and please put your trash in the trash cans instead of leaving it on the benches or the courts. The people coming in after you want to play tennis too, they don’t want to have to clean up the courts!

In and around the clubhouse

Propping Open Secured Gates and Doors is Prohibited!

The gates and doors around the pool and tennis courts require secure card access for everyone’s safety and protection. Propping these gates and doors open leaves the neighborhood (you!) open to security concerns, damages and liability. It also causes damage to the gates and locking mechanisms. Anyone caught propping open secured gates and doors, or accessing the amenities by any means other than using an active amenity card will be subject to loss of amenity privileges. (Smile, you’re on video camera!)

No Overnight Parking at the Clubhouse!

Any unauthorized parking at the clubhouse after the amenities are closed will result in your vehicle being towed. If you want to park at the clubhouse overnight (extra house guests, moving van, etc.) please contact the HOA to let us know. If we don’t have your vehicle make/tag info on file, your vehicle may be towed. Contact the HOA for clubhouse parking information at hoa@avensong.org.

Amenity Committee Volunteers Needed

We are still looking for volunteers to help the Board of Directors keep an eye on things in and around the amenities. If you’ll be using the amenities and would be interested in helping keep them fun and safe for everyone (you are not “amenity police” and will not have to confront anyone) please email hoa@avensong.org. If you have already volunteered, thank you and someone will be contacting you soon!

(updated May 12, 2021)

Around the amenities

Please remember the amenities are for all Avensong residents to use and enjoy. We ask that you keep other people in mind when playing in and around our amenities and common areas. Show respect to your neighbors and to the amenities. If you are playing or riding your bike in the parking lot, please watch for cars and stay far away from parked cars. Parents should accompany small children when they are playing on the play structure. If you bring potential trash with you to the common areas (food containers, bottles, bags) please take any trash with you when you leave. If your amenity card is activated, please place trash in the receptacles stored under the clubhouse deck.

Bicycle Safety

(Originally posted March 14. 2021)

The Milton Police would like to remind all parents to make sure your kids are wearing helmets when riding their bikes. This is a law in the City of Milton, but more importantly, wearing a helmet could prevent serious injury in the event of an accident.

Children should also be extra careful when riding on the streets throughout our community. Many drivers don’t keep an eye out for bikes (or pedestrians) and often don’t stop at stop signs. Whether riding or walking, please make sure the intersections are clear before going through them, especially the two main intersections near the clubhouse: Avensong Ives/Avensong Crossing and Avensong Ives/Avensong Village Circle.

When riding bikes, scooters and skateboards or playing in the clubhouse parking lot, please stay away from parked cars. You may not know when a car is about to pull out or someone is about to open their car door. You also don’t want to damage someone's car with a bike or other toy. The gates around the old basketball court are open, please consider playing in that area away from cars and other people that are coming and going through the clubhouse parking lot.

Avensong’s Dogs

(Originally posted March, 14, 2021)

If your dog is not in your yard please respect your neighbors; control and pick up after your dogs.

The pet waste issue continues to be a big problem for our community. Please remember to pick up after your dog. Not only is it a law in the City of Milton, it is the polite thing to do. We do have a $50.00 “Instant Penalty” for not picking up after your dog when not on your own property. If you see someone not pick up after their dog, please take a picture of the person with the dog and the mess they left behind. When we identify the human, they’ll be issued a fine. (This penalty and others can be found on the Governing Documents tab of this website.)

Dogs in the Basketball Court

(updated May 12, 2021)

While it is lots of fun to let your dogs run free in the enclosed area, please remember to pick up after them. Other people, including children and other dogs, use that area to play in too. If the pet waste continues to pile up in the court area we will unfortunately be forced once again to close the area to everyone.

Dogs must be on a leash if not in their own yard. This is a law in the City of Milton and is also subject to an “Instant Penalty” of up to $50.00. It is not safe for your dog to be running loose due to speeding cars and encountering other dogs that may not be dog friendly. There are people in our community who don’t want a loose dog running up to them, their children or their own dogs. Our streets are public and everyone has a right to use them without being harassed by an off-leash dog.

When you are walking your dog on a leash (thank you!), please keep them from roaming far up into neighbor’s yards. The leash law in Milton specifies a 6’-0” leash should be used to walk a dog. We know many dog walkers use retractable leashes so please please keeps your dogs close to you and the street when walking. Most of the good smells are close to the curbs anyway!

(Updated May 12, 2021)

NOTE: For a quicker response on ACC items, please contact ACC@avensong.org and not our management company.

The HOA/ACC is currently working on projects that will help Avensong maintain its charm and appeal as a community within the City of Milton. Please take a moment to look at your home and if any of these situations apply to you, please be ready to address them. Over the next several months, formal notices will be sent to homeowners asking for these items to be addressed so this is an opportunity to address them sooner rather than later.

All Avensong Community Design Standards are available for download on the "Governing Documents" page of this website. Please remember, any exterior change/modification to your home requires prior approval from the ACC. The Architectural Modification Request Form can be downloaded from the Governing Documents page as well.

Pressure washing

Please check all sides of your home, your driveway and any fencing around your property that may need to be cleaned. It is suggested that you schedule pressure washing early to avoid delays due to many homes needing to be cleaned.

Yard Care

If you live in the Carriage section please remember that it is your responsibility to maintain your front (and back) lawns. Please provide weed control if your lawn needs it and mow regularly. We are in the growing season and weeds grow faster than grass. If you are continuously receiving notices to mow your lawn, please make sure the weeds in your lawn are under control.

Tree limbs and roots are the responsibility of the property they are on, regardless of property lines, not the property of the parent tree. If you are unsure about pruning your trees, or those branches coming across from a neighbor's yard, please contact ACC@avensong.org for help. We will be happy to help you with your tree issues!

Painting

Please remember that our community standards require front doors, shutters and decorative awnings all be painted the same color and trim around windows and doors must be painted white.

Mailboxes

Mailboxes should be cleaned, painted and in good repair.

Satellite dish

Satellite dishes and related hardware must be removed from your home if there is not an active account.

Trash cans

Trash and recycle cans/bins must be stored out of sight from the street after service.

If you have questions about the ACC or our Community Design standards, please email ACC@avensong.org.

If you own a home and/or live in Avensong, this is your community and the HOA Board of Directors needs your help taking care of it! We have several committees with openings and would love to have more of our residents involved!

If you are interested in being a part of any of these committees, or would like more information on what they do, please email hoa@avensong.org and put "committees" in the subject line!

Architectural Control Committee

ACC@avensong.org

In 2018 the ACC completed an update of our community design standards. We'll be doing that again toward the end of the year and would like volunteers to help with that. We'd love to have people with a flair for style, designers, real estate agents and contractors, professionals or hobbyists! If you are an owner or resident in Avensong and would be interested in working on a Design Standards review and update this fall, please contact ACC@avensong.org.

Please remember an ACC Change Request form must be submitted and approval received before exterior changes to your home or landscaping can begin. In the event that any exterior work without prior approval of the ACC occurs, the board may impose an immediate fine of $250.00 with additional daily fines possible.

The Design Standards and Application for Architectural Change can be found on the "Governing Documents" page of this website.

If you have questions about our community standards, exterior projects you are considering for your home or the ACC process, please contact the ACC at ACC@avensong.org.

Finance Committee

Are you good at managing finances? Do you have a knack for numbers? The HOA Board of Directors is looking for help with our community's finances. Avensong has three sections with three budgets and three separate project plans. If you are interested in helping Avensong manage your money, contact the Board at hoa@avensong.org.

Amenity Committee

If you enjoy our amenities and would like to help the Board of Directors keep them safe and open, please volunteer to help us do that! We need eyes and ears to give us a head's up if something isn't working or if there are other problems. We'd also love to get some positive feedback and ideas about how we can improve things around our community. We are not looking for "police" or "enforcement", just a little help making sure our residents are enjoying themselves. If you'd be interested in helping with this committee, please contact hoa@avensong.org.

If you have other ideas for our community, please let us know! We're always willing to hear from our neighbors!

The Neighborhood Watch

hoa@avensong.org

Currently we are not holding regularly scheduled Neighborhood Watch meetings. As the Milton Police Department provides us with crime watch updates, we will share them on the "Crime Watch" page of this website.

Future Happenings

Please check back regularly for updates about what's going on in Avensong!

If you have not registered on the website, please do so. You will be added to our email list and you will receive regular updates and notices about Avensong happenings!

If you have any comments, thoughts or questions about our community, we’d love to hear from you! Please visit our Board Members & Contacts page for how to email any of the HOA Boards of Directors and management company personnel.