On Wednesday, June 21, the BCCA Board of Directors voted to update the 2023 season pool rules. There were four changes and clarifications made to the rules, which can be found HERE. The BCCA Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Property Manager, Pool Contractor, and Pool Committee will continue to monitor the needs of the pool throughout the pool season.
- First, and foremost, reservations are not REQUIRED to visit the pool. Having a reservation gives you priority entrance to the pool for the next session before walk-ins. Last pool season, there were only 4 sessions of reservation periods the pool reached capacity, primarily on Holiday weekends. This allows for greater flexibility for households to determine which option, reservation or walk-in, works best for them.
- The BCCA will only be resetting the deck when nearing capacity for the next session, for safety, and/or sanitation. The following factors will be considered: current reservation and walk-in totals, upcoming session reservations, and current pool/deck occupancy. Based on historic data, we expect there to be a limited number of pool resets, but when they are needed, the pool complex will remain closed until all patrons have left the pool facility.
- When resetting the pool complex, patrons will be allowed to leave their belongings, at their own risk, inside the pool complex in designated areas. Belongings will not be permitted to be left on tables as reservations have priority for table and chair space.
- Beginning July 10th, 4 guess passes per day will be permitted for each household, given they are used with a reservation. Reservations may be made up to one hour ahead of time. This supersedes the 2 guest passes per Friday through Sunday policy.
FAQs
Q: Why do you still use the reservation system now that Covid is over?
A: Though the reservation system was put in place to allow the pool to re-open during Covid, it was widely accepted by the community to help alleviate crowding at the pool during peak times. The reservation system now allows residents to check and see when demand and reservations for pools may be high and plan their visit to the pool complex accordingly. Reservations are not required for use of the pool, though they will guarantee you access to the pool complex for your scheduled reservation time. Last year, there were four sessions during which the pool met capacity and closed to walk-ins.
Q: Why is deck resetting necessary?
A: Deck resetting allows the pool staff to reset and clear the deck to check for safety and sanitation issues. Additionally, it ensures equitable access to tables and seating during high demand times for all residents. We expect, with the new policy, that deck resetting will happen far less frequently, likely limited mostly to weekends and holiday demand periods.
Q: Why do we have the 10-minute break during the last 10 minutes of the hour?
A: The break is a contractual obligation with past and current pool management companies. It gives the pool staff time to take proper breaks, proper rotation, and check the safety and sanitation of the pool. The break also allows SAYOR patrons the opportunity to swim during open pool hours. This 10-minute break has been in effect at the Briar Chapel pool complex for at least 8 summers
Q: Why have we not added an additional pool complex?
A: Briar Chapel’s Master Association has two pools at the pool complex: an 8-lane lap pool and a resort style “activity” pool. There is a third pool in the Encore sub-association that is limited to residents of Encore, per their governing documents. A 2005 site plan, shown below, shows that the developer never intended to add an additional pool complex, though they have set some parcels aside for possible usage for future amenities. As is often the case with communities that develop over decades, much of what is shown has changed over the last 18 years as Briar Chapel evolved to meet market demands.
There are several reasons why an additional pool complex is not planned for Briar Chapel.
- Cost is a huge factor. As a second pool complex is not included in the budget for either construction or maintenance, this would lead to significant special assessments and permanent dues increases for all residents of Briar Chapel.
- The current pools satisfy the vast majority of demand. Last year, the pools reached 95% of capacity only twice, both on high demand, holiday weekends (2p-4p on Memorial Day and 2p-4p on July 4th). According to entry data, the pool never reached the capacity of 450 people.
- The site often cited, at the intersection of Briar Chapel Parkway and Granite Mill Boulevard, presents several challenges, such as a grade that would need to be flattened (with unknown subterranean obstacles), substantially increasing costs, as well as its location with existing reclaimed irrigation fields and proximity to the wastewater treatment facilities. Complicating matters, this site is bisected by a major tributary to Pokeberry Creek.
- The Compact Communities Ordinance (CCO), which are regulations imposed on mixed use planning communities in Chatham County, such as Briar Chapel, govern limitations on maximum impervious surface area. While the surface area of the pool would not affect the community’s maximum impervious surface area, the rest of a pool complex including parking, the deck and pool house would. This potentially maxes out Briar Chapel’s impervious surface area allowances, significantly limiting our ability to grow and expand amenities in the future.
- Finally, the addition of a pool complex on any available parcel in Briar Chapel would lead to the loss of an irrigation spray field. These spray fields have been permitted by NNP Briar Chapel and have been provided to ONSWC. The redesign of spray fields, and the possible placement of a new storm water runoff pond, would further increase construction and maintenance costs.
With Briar Chapel nearly built out, current usage levels of the pool do not justify the cost of building an additional pool complex in the community