INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSESSMENT
It is our intention to collect communitywide information regarding the various amenities and common public improvements, listed or not identified in the reserve study compiled by Giles Flythe Engineers. This will include, but not limited to, tennis courts, boat launch, dog park, Lake House, pools, landscaping, roadways, and stormwater conveyance systems.
Note: It is a common practice by HOA’s to update reserve studies every three to five years. The controlling factors for more frequent reviews would be years of dramatic increases in projected inflation, poor useful life performance of items listed in the study, inadequate or non-existing maintenance procedures and a significant increase in projected size of original development. We believe all these factors are present in our situation and impact the amount of money that should be held in the Reserve Fund. In this light, we will conduct an overall assessment of the current reserve study then recommend where the Fund should be adjusted.
Tim Traynor
John Battaglia
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October 17, 2025
Below was a Person to Person email between Tim Traynor (IAT Team) and Alison Simmons (Berkeley County Dir. of Planning & Zoning)
“Good morning Alison,
I hope my note reaches you well and enjoying the gift of content happiness that our good Lord has granted us both. I wanted to ask you if my information has been helpful in peeling back the various issues I have brought about in our community's effort to get fair treatment from KHOV. I have tried to give you specific things of substance that would assist you in the enforcement of the "rules of the game" so to speak. By now, I know that you understand why we have raised the alarm on many issues that have slipped under the County's radar.
Four Seasons is a community of folks that averages in their middle sixties to lower seventies who moved into Berkeley County to enjoy the last chapter in some pretty interesting lives. For example, I live next door to the 1980’s former Clemson football line coach Larry Vanderhaven, who along with his sweet wife Lois, enjoy exchanging tales with Anise and I of their past life often in a quixotic way. They are one of the reasons I committed to getting the developer to follow through on their obligation to leave us with a community that will have an enduring ability to perform as designed and hold its economic value for them, their heirs and those that come after.
What many of us here have discovered is that the establishment of the 2006 Master Development Plan relied heavily upon the basic construct that it would bring forth an idyllic and functional place of residence that celebrated the natural beauty and potential of Berkeley County. Although that goal may still exist, the results, at least for the Four Seasons’ community, have left some wanting.
Think of us as a bunch of happy grandparents who hand out hard candy that has been bouncing around in the bottom of their oversized purses for the past ten years just wanting to find a kid without the watchful eyes and quick intervention of parents who are deeply in debt to an orthodontist.
Pickleball and line dancing are two of the most athletic engagements that we can still get our creaking bones to respond to. With few exceptions, we are an interesting band of non-violent curmudgeons just trying to make it to the Promised Land before they close it down.
But I am sure your parents would agree, as a class we do not like to be taken advantage of, especially if one thinks they can get away with it because we are stupid. We are far from stupid… perhaps a little slow to catch on, but we eventually get it. What has taken place within our community has been, for most, a slow realization that the guardrails that should be in place to hold our developer accountable were not very well defined back in 2006 to the detriment of those who purchased the advertised product.
We have discovered, post-sale, that our roads are deteriorating, the stormwater drainage does not function as designed, our streetscape trees struggle and often fail because the preparation one should expect was not followed, and the list of these shortcomings continues to grow like mushrooms in a dark room.
Thankfully, we are blessed with the intelligence and kindness of you and your staff, to help at every turn. Without your fortitude, this would have been a lopsided outcome as predictable as David without his slingshot. This latest revelation of the streetscape debacle has encouraged me and my small team of retired experts to dig deeper, literally in some cases, to uncover all of those bloopers, mistakes, gaffes, bungles whether unintentional or premeditated by a combined developer, builder, engineering firm, contractors, and supervision team.
Our time here on earth might be limited but we will spend it wisely on such matters to the benefit of our community. I know that our combined resident population has expressed their gratitude for letting them know of the defects we have discovered so that we can negotiate a fair and equitable outcome before the KHOV group leaves us.
We are all hopeful that the County will enforce its authority and require KHOV to follow the Streetscape ordinance as it was written and approved in the Master Development Plan of 2006. What is currently in place makes a mockery of both intent and the governance that requires the ordinance to be constructed per its guidelines. We all realize that there may be the need to make some exceptions but hope that in those areas where the ordinance can be implemented without concession, the County will fully enforce it.
The IATeam will conclude its survey of the entirety of Phases 6, 7 and 8 over the weekend. You should receive a spreadsheet that cites each violation of the approved Berkeley County Streetscape Ordinance on an address-by-address listing. This information should make the time your staff has to spend pointing out these violations to KHOV and its consultants to a minimum. I would also ask that you require that KHOV install the root barriers at this time in Phases 9 and 10 before they begin requesting exceptions because of their failure to properly sequence and construct these appurtenances in a timely sensitive manner.
Thanks again for all of your efforts to enforce the often-weaker version of current Planning requirements versus those established by another administration. This cannot be an easy task for you and your staff.”
TimTim Traynor, UPS, DDT and OY
Infrastructure & Assessment Team Leader
FS Community Voices
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4/8/2025
Great News from Tim Traynor, Infrastructure Assessment Team Leader
Below is the email sent by Tim Traynor to Jack McSweeney, Steven Baker, and Krista Dorris on April 6, 2025.
Good morning friends,
I am writing to you this morning to express my gratitude for the recent agreement that KHOV struck with the Berkeley County Planning Department regarding your willingness to fully comply with the Cane Bay PD-MU requirements for Streetscape Trees and construction of other appurtenances going forward in Phases 6 through 10.
At the last Annual Board meeting, I was rather surprised to hear Steven Baker state that he would not be complying with the Cane Bay PD-MU requirements as described typically on Sheet LS2.1 of the Thomas and Hutton plans. He stated that KHOV was not bound by these requirements as Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay was a “private community”. I was certain that this was not the case and wished to continue the conversation with Steven Baker for clarification but unfortunately, he told me that he would not talk with me again. Of course the only option left to me would be to contact Berkeley County Planning alerting them of your intentions to disregard its obligations.
It is important to note that there are numerous steps to be taken prior to and during the planting of the Streetscape Trees, none of which were performed during the earlier failed attempts at planting and replanting of Streetscape Trees in Phases 6 and 7.
Aside from planting trees that were not part of the approved planting list, some which failed to meet the specimen dimensional and formation requirements, I found the following shortcomings that you will need to correct:
· Proper staking and layout of the trees as per Street Tree Planting Note #6 (Previous attempts by your landscape contractor allowed for its workers to simply use footfall measurements… hardly accurate)
· Performing 24-hour percolation tests observed and certified by the landscape architect as required in Street Tree Planting Note #7
· Mitigating failed soil tests through proper rendering and soil amendments as per Street Tree Planting Note #8 and general notes on LS2.1
· Removing the burlap/ strapping from top 1/3 of root ball Street Tree Planting Note #15 - 18
· Guy all trees properly per Street Tree Planting Note #19
· Maintain proper spacing of plantings with a special consideration of driveways as designated in 5.1.a. through e.
· Installation of root barriers as required in 5.1.f. & g.
These are only a few of the failed installation requirements done previously by your contractor, and landscape architects prior to the issuance of this memo. When I observed the earlier planting, I noted that the landscape contractor did not have a copy of LS2.1 or any other relevant plans and specifications to guide him which meant that he had no idea as to what the requirements were. It occurred to me that perhaps you don’t have the proper documents. I should think that you would be able to secure them directly from Thomas and Hutton, that is if they make an exception regarding their copyright rules.
Please be advised that the IATeam will be monitoring all of the work going forward and issuing reports to Berkeley County Planning daily on any deviations from the requirements. Of course, my offer to work directly with you and your representatives still stands. As stated numerous times, the homeowners are only interested in making sure that the work is performed in full compliance with the permitted plans and specifications. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience in this regard.
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3/20/2025
Did you know?
Your Community Voices Finance Team found a significant, non-disputable mistake in the 2024 Reserve Study approved by the HOA Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
The Reserve Study starting reserve balance at 8/31/24 was overstated by $544k or 35%. By the end of 2024, the discrepancy grows to $596k or 36%. We questioned the discrepancy in the annual Q & A’s and successfully got the HOA to acknowledge the mistake.
As a result, the Reserve Study will be corrected and re-posted on Town Square.
Why does this matter?
The Reserve Study states the reserve balances were used to create the reserve funding plan. Inaccurate reserve balances could lead to the need for future capital calls on our residents.
We appreciate the HOA’s willingness to admit to the mistake and agreement to correct the Reserve Study. We will review the 2024 reserve balances in the revised Reserve Study for accuracy on behalf of our residents.
Contributor:
Cynthia Rice - Homeowner
John Lisee - Homeowner
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1/22/2025
Preamble
Four Seasons of the Lakes of Cane Bay is a 55+ retirement community with great amenities and friendly residents. Many appreciate the management of events and classes. While the community offers excellent opportunities, long-term residents have noticed a decline in addressing issues regarding the upkeep and care of the community by the Association that affect their quality of life.
We anticipated that this new, more comprehensive Reserve Study, conducted five years after the initial study, would provide an objective assessment of our situation. In many respects, this has proven to be accurate. However, there are multiple issues that necessitate thoughtful and transparent responses from KHOV and its HOA.
The following questions stem from our collective experiences and a perceived lack of transparency from KHOV, its Board of Directors, and its management entity, Associa.
These inquiries have answers that should be readily available to the community and its customers following some research. This process incurs costs for the developer or builder, due in part to the necessity of having responsible parties such as site contractors, past managers, and County representatives inspect and verify the completed work.
The intent of our questions is to ensure strict adherence to approved plans and specifications during the design, construction, and execution phases. If these standards are met, the transition from KHOV to the community will be seamless and positive, as it should be. Ultimately, we aim to enjoy the community promised to us, executed and managed efficiently.
In this context, we present these observations, legitimate and well-researched questions, along with the concerns of the residents, with the expectation that our community aligns with the standards established by the Founder of K. Hovnanian® Homes, Mr. Kevork Hovnanian.
Prepared by:
Tim Traynor - Homeowner
John Battaglia - Homeowner
Scroll down or go to File Manager to view and/or download the questions submitted by friends and neighbors living in our Community for the 2025 Annual Town Hall.
Note: there are three 2025 Annual Meeting Question documents.
1. General/Administration
2. Budget/Reserve Study – Finance
3. Reserve Study – Infrastructure
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From the Infrastructure and Assessment Group
11/23/2023
As part of the Infrastructure and Assessment Group’s research, I would like to ask you, our friends, and neighbors, to monitor and report any flooding or standing water that you witness over the next year. This would include your residential property as well as the streets and common areas throughout our community. Photographs and/or videos are most helpful along with an address or specific location, date, and time of day, as well as a brief description for each incident. Indicating how long these conditions lasted would be a great help as well in determining a recommended course of action.
I have received photos and videos from several residents illustrating flooding conditions and standing water. One particularly troublesome area noted has been the 10-foot space separating our homes which often fills with water because of poor soil drainage and improper pitch. I personally have witnessed this and other areas where these conditions exist leading to overall concern.
To remind everyone, we are collecting this information to encourage the developer to make the necessary modifications or repairs to the community prior to the transition from developer-controlled HOA to property owner’s control. This effort is intended to minimize any costs to homeowners for defects, missing or incomplete work before we assume the responsibility to maintain our community. From time to time, we will add to this list to include other items of concern. Stay tuned for updates and reports of our findings in the coming weeks.
Please send your observations and attachments to FSCommunityVoices@gmail.com
Thank you,
Tim Traynor
IAT Team Leader