The ARB is a group established by the Afton Glen Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, which are part of the deed documents governing your home and all other homes in the neighborhood. ARB members are appointed by the Afton Glen Homeowners Association Board of Directors for 3-year terms. The Declaration of Covenants states that the ARB’s duties are to "regulate the external design, appearance, and locations of the Properties and improvements thereon in such a manner so as to preserve and enhance values and to maintain a harmonious relationship among structures, the natural vegetation, and topography."
In a broad sense, the Architectural Review Board works to protect the value of your property. It does this by ensuring that the homes in our neighborhood comply with general aesthetic standards established by the neighborhood association’s Board of Directors. These standards help preserve an attractive appearance for the neighborhood overall and sustain the property value of our homes individually.
The ARB does not monitor compliance with county zoning ordinances or permit requirements, which are the responsibility of the homeowner.
The property management company’s representative is allowed to act on behalf of the ARB by conducting periodic drive-by surveys of our neighborhood, notifying homeowners if something in their yard does not meet ARB guidelines, and accompanying ARB members during the annual neighborhood inspection.
The current members of the ARB are:
ARB members are neighborhood residents like you who are appointed for their terms by the Afton Glen Board of Directors. Any Afton Glen homeowner may volunteer to serve on the ARB (other than someone who is a current member of the Board of Directors). No special expertise or training is required. We encourage you to contact any member of the ARB or the association Board of Directors if you’re interested in volunteering for this valuable community service.
Below are links to download important ARB documents and forms.
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ARB Guidelines, revised Dec 2023 |
This is the Afton Glen Homeowners Association Handbook, revised December 2023. It contains the complete Architectural Review Board guidelines. It spells out the rules and procedures for obtaining approval for modifications to property or homes, review criteria, enforcement procedures, and various guidelines for property appearance and potential nuisances. It includes a blank copy of the Architectural Improvement Request Form as an attachment. |
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Architectural Improvement Request Form, revised Feb 2023 |
This is the application form you must submit to our property management company to obtain prior approval for architectural changes. The property manager records receipt of the form and forwards it to the members of the ARB for action. |
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During the annual inspection of properties, the ARB consults this checklist to identify any needed action. It is not an exhaustive list but covers the most common problems. Consult it for reminders about typical concerns that come up, and to determine for yourself beforehand whether your house or property might need corrective work. |
All exterior alterations require the approval of the ARB. That means that unless specifically stated otherwise in the full guidelines, ARB approval is required for all improvements, alterations, repairs, change of paint colors, excavations, changes in grade, or other work that in any way alters the exterior of any lot, permanently or temporarily, or the exterior appearance of one’s property. Once a plan is approved it must be followed, or the ARB must approve a modification.
ARB approval is not required for changes that involve only the interior of your home.
ARB approval is unrelated to whether your project requires a Fairfax County permit or meets county zoning requirements. You are responsible for obtaining any required county permits.
Here are some examples of common scenarios to illustrate the difference between projects that require approval and ones that do not. Consult the full ARB guidelines for details.
Projects that DO NOT REQUIRE prior approval |
Projects that REQUIRE prior approval |
| Replacing existing approved exterior items with the same items and materials. | Changing the exterior of your home or lot. This means adding or installing different exterior features (siding, paint, windows, roof, etc.), additions, driveways, or landscaping. |
| Repainting your front entrance door with the same approved color as before. |
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| Replacing your roof with the same approved type and color as before. | Replacing your roof with a different type or color. |
| Replacing your driveway with the same approved material as before, and with the same dimensions. | Replacing your driveway with a different material and/or color, or changing its dimensions. |
| Removing trees or shrubs that are dead, diseased, or badly damaged. | Removing sizable healthy trees or shrubs. |
| Replacing your existing worn-out lawn with new sod or seeding. | Noticeably reducing the size of your lawn to install new or enlarged shrubbery beds or flower gardens. |
| Replacing old or overgrown landscaping with new plants of the same type, and your project is no larger than 20 feet × 20 feet (400 square feet). | Redesigning your front or rear landscaping, and your project is larger than 20 feet × 20 feet (400 square feet). |
| Replacing worn-out decking and deck railings with the same approved materials as before. | Replacing your deck with a larger or redesigned one, or replacing it with a new type of material. |
| Repainting or restaining your deck with the same approved color as before. | Staining or painting your deck with a different color than before. |
Submit your approval request form to our property manager, as noted on the form:
Chris Huemmer
CSH Community Management
6700 Norview Court
Springfield, VA 22152
(703) 913-1480
chuemmer@yahoo.com
The property manager will record receipt of your form and forward it to the members of the ARB for action. The ARB must act on a completed application within 30 days, or else the request is approved by default.
If you have questions about the ARB requirements as you are preparing the form or planning your project, contact the property management company or ARB members directly before you submit the application. However, even if you speak with an ARB member about your project beforehand, if an application is required you must still submit it to the property manager, not directly to the ARB members.
This page last updated: 05/15/2024