Lakeside’s Infrastructure News & Updates
Improving Lakeside’s infrastructure – the deterioration, drainage issues, runoff, and safety of Lakeside’s streets and sidewalks – is vital to the future of Lakeside. Many community members, homeowners and third-party professionals have expressed these concerns.
Since 2019, Lakeside has been working with MKSK, an urban designing and engineering consulting firm in Columbus, to assess the state of Lakeside’s infrastructure and obtain pre-engineering recommendations.
Through MKSK’s work, we have learned that the project is extremely complex and a significant undertaking. The scope of the project is still open. Financing and costs have drastically changed since we first started gathering information. Lakeside’s Leadership Team is revising the plan to fit our needs, financial capacity, and maintenance plan.
Property owner assessment rates will be determined by the Lakeside Board of Directors based on the street and infrastructure scope of work, cost of construction, and the interest rates on funds that might possibly be borrowed.
March 2023 Update
The Streets and Drainage Advisory (SDA) Task Force formed in November 2022 with Lakesiders David Blank and Jim Shelley appointed as Co-Chairs. Since November, the Task Force has met several times, including a meeting in Columbus with MKSK. The Task Force also conducted a full-day work session in Lakeside to review reports and streets in depth.
The Task Force has sorted MKSK’s 10 Principles into three categories: 1) Top Priority, 2) Appropriate Consideration and 3) Defer. Members of the Task Force identified the top two priorities as: 1) Plan for fixing Lakeside streets and 2) Better management of stormwater, preferably using sustainable methods.
After reviewing MKSK’s preliminary report from four years ago, members of the Task Force determined they needed more detailed and up-to-date information about the state of the streets. On the advice of the group, Lakeside has contracted a local firm to perform a complete and up-to-date survey of all streets, which is being conducted at a minor cost. The report is expected soon and will inform the Task Force on the prioritization of street work.
In addition, the Task Force is reviewing trip hazards and sidewalks. There is no plan to add sidewalks, but repairs will be made to existing sidewalks.
The Task Force will continue to meet through the spring. Recommendations for work to begin in the Fall of 2023 should be available at the May Board meeting.
Continuous Input & Next Steps
On this page, Lakeside will post upcoming town hall meetings and gatherings. We will continue meetings year-round virtually and in-person. As Lakesiders, we are stewards of this special place, Lakeside Chautauqua. Working together achieves greater results and a better future for Lakeside. Let us plan and work together to ensure the safety, cleanliness, and maintenance of our community for future generations.
Town Hall Gatherings
Lakeside Chautauqua will be planning several Town Hall Gatherings both in-person and virtually. Mark your calendar.
- Saturday, May 13, 2023
- Saturday, July 1, 2023
- Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023
- Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeside Chautauqua will be continuing to post Frequently Asked Questions. We will also send out e-communications to update you about the FAQs posted. Subscribe to Lakeside’s e-newsletter at lakesideohio.com/enews.
Why do we need to fix the streets and storm water management now?
Many community members, homeowners, and third-party professionals have expressed significant concerns over the past years about the need to fix the streets, drainage issues, and key roadways and intersections, as well as the safety of sidewalks and streets due to lack of repair. Lakeside engaged the engineering/planning firm MKSK to prepare a preliminary engineering report identifying potential scope of work for this project. That full report has been submitted to the Lakeside Executive Staff and the Lakeside Association Board of Directors, and not surprisingly, the estimated cost range for the project is substantial.
What is the preliminary engineering study, and what did Lakeside get from the study?
Conducted in 2019, the preliminary engineering study included pre-construction activities to define the infrastructure needs of Lakeside’s infrastructure improvement project. Lakeside’s preliminary engineering study included the following:
- Aerial survey of Lakeside (entire site – 210 acres)
- Topographical survey of a 3-street corridor (32 acres) involving multiple street types (residential, downtown, program areas, etc.)
- Video inspection of sewers
- Geotechnical engineering
- Preliminary engineering (streets, stormwater, etc.)
- Traffic study
When the study was complete, the comprehensive 100-page report provided detailed information about Lakeside’s stormwater management, streets, sidewalks, traffic, and sewers – all of the expressed concerns. An overview was presented by MKSK to Lakeside’s Association Board and the Lakeside Property Owners Association (LPOA) meetings.
The report included the following:
- Plan & profile sheets
- Public & private utilities disposition, including relocation and/or burial
- Lighting layouts & fixture selections
- Typical street sections & materials
- Typical intersection plans
- On-street parking configurations, curbs & crosswalks
- Major & typical traffic sign locations
- Phased construction recommendations including estimated budget costs
When was the preliminary engineering study approved, and what was the special assessment fee in 2019 used for?
At the August 2019 Association Board meeting, the Board of Directors formally approved the Infrastructure Preliminary Engineering Project and a funding plan for the initial work.
After hearing from the community that homeowners shouldn’t bear the entire burden of the preliminary engineering study, the Board agreed to split the funding, with $85,000 of the funding designated to come from sources other than the assessment.
The Board also agreed that the assessment portion of the funding would be spread over six quarters instead of four, reducing the quarterly increase that homeowners would be billed.
The assessment temporarily went from 3.08 mils to 4.38 mils, to be billed for the six quarters beginning with the July-Sept. 2019 quarter, billed in Oct. 2019 and ending with the Oct.-Dec. 2020 quarter, billed in Jan. 2021. At the end of the six quarters, the homeowner assessment reverted back to 3.08 mils.
In August 2022, the Board unanimously approved taking the next steps presented by Lakeside Staff to advance the infrastructure project. What does this mean?
The Association Board approved the following at its August 5, 2022, Board meeting:
- To use the additional assessment money collected to date to replace pavement and make curb and sidewalk repairs;
- To present the infrastructure proposal, estimated costs, and funding needs at the August 13 Lakeside Property Owners Association (LPOA) meeting,
- For the Lakeside Leadership Team to solicit construction bids for the infrastructure project; and
- For the Finance Committee to develop a final recommendation to the Board for financing the infrastructure project.
The Lakeside Board and Staff Leadership Team are committed to listening, considering the opinions and ideas of the Lakeside community, and answering your questions.
Will a final decision be made at the November Board meeting?
No. There is plenty of time for additional homeowner input, and the Lakeside Board of Directors will ensure the community is well-informed ahead of any final decisions. The Board will not make a final decision until the Lakeside Staff solicits construction bids for the infrastructure project and the Finance Committee develops a final recommendation to the Board for financing the infrastructure project.
Why is Lakeside forming a Task Force and what is it called?
Lakeside Chautauqua suffers from significant deferred maintenance in the areas of adequate drainage, storm runoff, street and sidewalk deterioration, and street/intersection safety.
Due to the overwhelming list of questions raised by Lakeside Property Owners Association members, a Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force has been formed. This team is comprised of Lakeside staff, Lakeside Association Board of Directors, Lakeside Property Owners Association representatives, and community members with professional expertise in construction, engineering, law, finance, and Lakeside’s needs.
Who is serving on the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force?
The Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force will include Lakeside staff, Lakeside Association Board of Directors, Lakeside Property Owners Association representatives, and community members with professional expertise in construction, engineering, law, finance, and Lakeside’s needs. Task Force members include the following community members:
- David Blank (Co-Chair)
- Jim Shelley (Co-Chair)
- Joseph Ballmer
- Robb Beckstedt
- Jim Edwards
- Mitch Grindley
- Brenda Haas
- Ron Janke
- Meredith Meyer
- Milt Lewis
- Bill Smith
- Jane Anderson, Board Member
- Terry Tomlinson, Board Member
Lakeside Staff
- Kip Greenhill, CEO
- Charles Allen, COO
- Jim Switzer, Director of Municipal Services & Design Review
Guest experts may be invited to attend and present at Task Force meetings from time to time.
How was the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force formed?
Through the Streets and Infrastructure discussions, community members were identified with professional expertise and experience. Lakeside is fortunate to have people with such talent step forward to examine matters within the scope of the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force, propose recommendations to the Board, and serve as a resource to Lakeside staff in areas where specific expertise is requested by staff or the Board.
When will the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force have their first meeting, and how often will they meet?
The first meeting of the Streets and Drainage Advisory Task Force will be on November 30, 2022. The Task Force will meet with such frequency as it may determine, with the expectation that the work will be complete in 6-8 months.