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Stratford Manor Association’s Welcome Letter
Welcome to Stratford
Manor, New Owners and Residents:
Whether you are a new owner or resident, Stratford Manor HOA has prepared this reminder list to share key information and help you avoid common community violations, unnecessary issues, and added frustration.
1. KEEP UP WITH WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: To receive the monthly newsletter and other timely
updates, please email secretary.stratfordmanor@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list.
2. GARBAGE/TRASH:
-
Garbage is
collected every Tuesday. If a city holiday falls on Monday or Tuesday, pickup
is delayed by one day. City guidelines require garbage can lids to stay
closed to keep trash from spilling into the street. Please mark your bins
with your house number for easy identification.
-
For collection,
place your container 3 to 4 feet away from vehicles, poles, mailboxes, and
other obstructions. If the truck cannot access
the can, it will not be picked up.
-
Be
sure to put your garbage cans out on the afternoon before pickup and please
promptly retrieve your bins by the next morning after the day of pickup. Garbage bins are to be stored behind your
home (or on the side of your home if an end unit). Please DO NOT store your bins in your front
yard.
-
Bulk Waste – Bulk waste may be placed at the curb beginning the
weekend before its scheduled pickup, but not earlier. Pickup occurs every two
weeks. Large trash piles set out during the wrong week often led to complaints
and violating HOA rules. Yard waste, including grass clippings, small branches,
and other garden debris, must be placed in clear plastic bags. The city will
not collect items in dark bags or items that include glass, tires, paint
cans, bricks, bags of clothes, Styrofoam, or other materials listed on the
City’s website under “Bulk Waste.”
-
Orange spray
paint on an item at the curb means the city has rejected it, and you must
dispose of it another way. Keep bulk waste separate from garbage and recycling
bins.
- Call 311 to schedule appliance pickup, as appliances are collected by a separate truck.
2. PARKING:
-
Each owner or
resident has two assigned parking spaces. Parking in another person’s space or
elsewhere in the community is not permitted.
- Parking along Stratford Manor medians is not allowed, and vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense. Median parking creates a safety hazard, especially for emergency vehicles. Contractors working in the community may sometimes need to park near the customer’s curb. Visitors should park on a nearby public street.
3. LANDSCAPING AND OTHER EXTERIOR UPKEEP:
- SMA maintains the common-area landscaping, but owners and residents are responsible for maintaining their own property. Please keep yards trimmed, weeds under control, and exteriors in good repair. Missing address numbers, broken light fixtures, rusting vents, and sagging gutters are not permitted.
4. FRONT PORCH STORAGE:
- Please keep front porches clear and do not use them for storage. Items such as coolers, tools, and bikes can quickly make the community look cluttered when left outside.
5. SPEED LIMIT WITHIN STRATFORD MANOR:
- The speed limit throughout the community is 15 MPH. Please drive slowly to help protect pedestrians, including seniors and children.
6. PETS AND PROPER PET ETIQUETTE:
- City of Newport News rules require dogs to be leashed whenever they are outside, regardless of temperament. Pet waste stations are available throughout the community. Owners must clean up all pet waste left on their property or in common areas. Please keep pets from urinating on common-area plants and bushes, as it can damage the landscaping. If your pet defecates on your patio, clean it up promptly to prevent odors for neighbors.
7. PLANNING HOME IMPROVEMENTS: Before making exterior changes to your home, please submit an architectural review application to Associations@abbitt.com. The application is available at stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com.
8. NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY: If you witness
a crime or illegal activity, call 911 immediately. Do not wait until the next
morning to email Abbitt Management Company or contact an SMA Board member, as
they cannot respond to emergencies. Stratford Manor does not provide police or
security services and cannot make arrests. Also, please remember that an SMA
rule violation is not the same as a crime.
For your safety, lock your car and keep your front and back porch lights
on.
If you have ideas, concerns, or
questions about the HOA, its vendors, or its policies, please contact Abbitt
Management at Associations@abbitt.com. Owners are also welcome to attend
board meetings, which are held every other month. The Annual Owners’ Meeting, typically
held in November, provides another opportunity to ask questions of Abbitt
Management and the board.
When you decided to
join the Stratford Manor community either by ownership or as a resident, you
become responsible for maintaining your property and your yard. In addition, you are responsible for
complying with the rules and regulations of the HOA. You also become a part of our community, and
play an important part in keeping it peaceful and a beautiful place in which to
live in.
(Revised July 2026)
