LAND USE STUDY DEBUTS

After 12 months of work, the Land Use Study report was submitted to the Board of Directors in December, 2001 and formally accepted by them at the January 5, 2002 Board meeting.

Great appreciation is extended to the committee "Core Group" Al Sanborn, John Hakola, Bob Sherba and Nash Love for major contributions; to the following who performed specific studies and reviews: Jim McLuckie, Jack Stockdale, Elaine Chambers, Jim Drabant, Dave Kovarik, John Broaddus, and Lois Goodwin; to those "regular" visitors to meetings who provided ideas and comments; Bill Mason, Mike Musatow, Bob Magill, Don Crawley; to those who reviewed draft sections, and to Pete Rainey who served as final editor and advisor.

This extensive document - almost 400 pages in all - includes an executive summary, main text, an appendix of discussions and details on the issues, and an appendix of summary data and maps of all LOWA properties. Below is a list of the major recommendations from the executive summary and other significant points excerpted from the main text.

Major Recommendations This study concludes that the following objectives/visions are required:

• Emphasize single-family housing occupied by owners, with provisions for a limited number of units for senior citizens
• Expand LOW assessment base with new housing sections
• Insure sufficient variety and location of amenities for all ages, interests and seasons
• Take steps to separate service facilities from housing and amenities
• Promote LOW amenities and improve the quality of facilities and common grounds to attract and retain individuals and family homeowners
• Seriously cooperate with the county and local businesses for residential and amenity development, ranging from coordination to partnership
• Enforce the Covenants and Regulations

Increase the assessment base and amenity use both in the near and far term:

• Sell as many of the LOWA owned lots as possible for residential use
• Establish a new section for senior (minimum maintenance) units
• Develop new housing sections within Routes 3, 20 and 601.

Close most of the Campgrounds:

• Improve a limited area for short term use by owners and guests with self-contained motor homes, RV’s and trailer units, plus tenting areas for youth groups and owner/guests. Sell at least Section A for housing lots.

The Stables should be moved to a larger area:

• But none exists! There are several parcels of land adjacent to LOW between Monticello Circle and Route 20. If this adjacent land could be purchased, then there is a possibility of Stables expansion. The LOWA Board of Directors and the Stables Committee should further investigate this means for obtaining pastureland

The front gate is rapidly approaching overload. An additional entrance(s) must be established and become operational within the next 1-2 years. Develop 9.9 (area adjacent to Campgrounds):

• Clean-up/reorganize 9.9. Develop secure area. Construct new access road
• Develop long-term plan for relocation of Maintenance to 9.9

Improve Boat and Trailer Storage Area by eliminating other uses:

• Improve space layouts, drainage, surfacing and landscaping
• Relocate RV’s, motor homes and camping trailers to secured area of campground if space becomes a problem

At the end-of-life of the Clubhouse pool, a new pool should be located outside of the Clubhouse area instead of restoring in place:

• Develop long-term plan for Clubhouse area. Coordinate with dam reclassification, meeting room/community center needs and marina needs
• Place additional boat rental slips in the Clubhouse area

Implementation:

• The BOD should form a Development Committee similar in composition to the Investment Committee. They should manage the acquisition/development and sale of land for the Association and audit major projects
• The BOD should retain an architect and engineering firm, similar to the practice of annually retaining a legal firm
• LOWA should produce a Master Plan about every five years. This should replace the Vision Statement, Long-Range Plan and 5-Year New Capital Plan
• The Finance Committee should be responsible for providing 10-year financial plans to include in the Master Plan
• The BOD should establish a new position, that of Assistant General Manager for Project Management
• LOWA should develop a system to collect useful demographic data

Other Significant Points

• The study included analyses of all LOWA properties and facilities, criteria to apply, prior LOWA studies and conditions outside of LOW (amenities, property and similar communities)
• Retain the golf course as is, but improve the financial conditions and make cost-effective improvements in the future
• Make major improvements to the common grounds by: using more landscaping (such as in the Holcomb area and at mail stations); performing adequate maintenance of parks, beaches and roadsides; adding "greenspaces" where feasible
• Continue expanding the trail system for walking, hiking and biking
• Continue to plan and implement provisions for maintaining the health of the multi-use lakes
• Improve the Shoosmith area, including an alternative location/facility for the Teen Center and more cost-effective use or disposition of the property
• Sell all the LOWA-owned lots and parcels which cannot be reasonably utilized for facilities and common grounds
• Improve the utilization and extent of all types of meeting spaces for adults and teens, including coordination/cooperation with the County and businesses
• Do not expand facilities for sports fields, but work with the County to provide parks/fields in the northeastern area of the county.

At this time, the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Land Use Study have neither been approved nor disapproved by the Board. A discussion is planned for the February 14 Board of Director’s Workshop, with any further action pending decisions of the Board.

For any of our members who would like to review this document, a copy of the report is available in the Reading Room located downstairs in the Holcomb building, which is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. ‘

by Al Sanborn, Chairman Ad Hoc Land Use Committee