Vearl Smith Historic Preservation Lecture

Jim Switzer will lead two Historic Preservation & Design Review Board (HP&DRB) presentations on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and Thursday, Aug 31 at 10:30 a.m. in Orchestra Hall. These lectures are supported by the Vearl Smith Historic Preservation Endowment.

“Changes to the Zoning Regulations in Lakeside”
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 30 | Orchestra Hall
The Lakeside Association Board of Directors began a mission to update the Rules and Regulations in 2019. As part of the development of the latest Rules and Regulations, certain rules needed to be adjusted to either better align with current zoning laws or better align with the needs of Lakeside, causing the need to change the Danbury Zoning Ordinance sections that impact Lakeside.

Known as a text amendment to the Danbury Zoning Ordinance, there were two separate and distinct applications and changes to zoning. Switzer will discuss the impacts of zoning changes for the first round, primarily addressing the existing “Lakeside L District (L)” and the “Lakeside Business Overlay (LBO)” District changes.

Switzer will then address the second round of changes, which introduces the “Lakeside Municipal Overlay (LMO)” District, or primarily the association land outside of the LBO, describing the changes for “Permitted Uses”.

“The Lakeside HP&DRB Process for Cottage Exterior Changes”
10:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 31 | Orchestra Hall
Every cottage owner has signed a Lakeside Association “Assignment of Lease” acknowledging that they understand they are buying in to an association that has Rules and Regulations. It further notes that the buyer has read the rules.

With the new Rules and Regulations adopted on April 1, 2023, by the Lakeside Association Board, this is a great opportunity to understand and get a refresher on the rules, specifically related to making changes to your cottage.

Switzer will outline the steps necessary for your project to sail through the HP&DRB process. The newly adopted rules now allow Switzer, the Lakeside Development Administrator, the authority to approve certain types of projects without having to present to the full HP&DRB.

Jim Switzer is a full-time resident of Lakeside, having owned a cottage with his wife, Laurie, at 526 Elm Avenue for the past 10 years. Switzer is currently the Lakeside Development Administrator overseeing the Historic Preservation & Design Review Board (HP&DRB) and Lakeside land usage on a part-time basis. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Lakeside Municipal Services. Switzer served on the Lakeside Association Board of Directors before taking the Senior Vice President position.

Switzer retired from a 38-year career in telecommunications in 2018, the majority of which was with AT&T (Ohio Bell-Ameritech-SBC-AT&T!). He led many project management teams in the development of critical elements in emerging technologies, including cable television, DSL (first telephone company high speed internet services), fiber to the home and cellular communication.

Switzer received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mount Union and his master’s degree from Baldwin Wallace University.