It was standing room only as approximately 100 people gathered in the Oakwood chapel to hear about proposed plans from Buckingham, the development company in the process of purchasing the Oakwood Inn and Conference Center property. People were spilling out of both the main and side doors of the chapel to hear the presentation.
Dennis Lomax of the property owners executive board, told the crowd Buckingham shared its master plan with the executive board on June 25.
Ian Rolland, Oakwood's receiver gave a brief update. "It's the kind of thing you take one step forward and two steps back, but you keep moving ahead," Rolland said.
He noted the conceptional plan has been changed and continues to change. "Don't think this is all going to happen in the next 30 days," Rolland said. On Thursday, July 14, he signed the purchase agreement between the Oakwood Foundation and Buckingham. He stressed this does not mean the sale is ready for closing.
He outlined four areas that must be dealt with before the transaction can succeed. First, the inn must acquire a liquor license. Some residents have complained about the public hearing notice. Rolland explained the hearing falls under the open door law and has to be posted.
The next item is annexation must be complete in order for the transaction to go forward. Rolland acknowledged there have been a few bumps in the road. The judge gave him the authority to enter into an agreement with the town. He was hopeful the town council would vote to approve annexation at its meeting July 19.
After annexation, the issue of zoning must be addressed. Papers have been filed for a zoning variance with the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals. Buckingham's masterplan has also been filed with the BZA.
The last issue is restoration of the piers, which Rolland said was solvable. He noted changes have already been made to the master plan regarding piers after input from the homeowners board. However, the Department of Natural Resources will have the final say.
Rolland said his receivership has been extended to the end of the year. The due diligence period started July 8. On July 13, $100,000 of earnest money was due. On Oct. 3, any objections Buckingham has regarding title work is due. Nov. 5 is the deadline for resolving the zoning issue. The deal is expected to be closed by Dec. 5.
Farmers State Bank continues to be a partner. Rolland noted the situation has been going on long enough, the issue of money is starting to crop up a bit.
There was a question as to when annexation would take place once approved. Rolland explained it would have to be publicized and then 90 days later would go into effect. Annexation has to take place before the zoning can be resolved.
Rolland told the crowd the Oakwood Foundation will continue as an entity and the judge has approved a slate for the new board. Some of the members of the proposed board are Steve Walker, Randy Tobias, Larry Lane, Dan Evans and Rolland for a brief time.
After his presentation, Chambers presented the master plan. He told the group he has been a part of the lake community for 47 years, been married 20 years and has a 15-year-old son. He was thrilled to purchase a house on Wawasee and understands the importance of life on the lake.
His company, Buckingham Companies in Indianapolis, has been around for 25 years, has about 500 employees and develops and manages properties in eight states. "We really want to see it done right. We want a quality execution," he said about Oakwood.
He said of all the issues, annexation and zoning are the most important. He noted the inn is currently considered non-conforming since its been closed for so long.
Once the sale goes through, Buckingham will renovate the inn. The roofline may change a bit. Chambers noted the building was well built, but not well designed. Balconies will be added to rooms with lake views. The interior will be completely redone, from new carpet and finishes to new bed linens.
The restaurant will be expanded and reconfigured with a bar. There will be patio seating and a screened-in porch. Two cottages will be torn down and the space used for the restaurant as well as a small ice cream and candy store for kids.
The Academy building will stay and the program center torn down. There will be a formal wedding lawn for outdoor events such as weddings or movie nights.
The entrance to the inn will be reconfigured with a road running from the Oakwood Park entrance through roughly the middle of the property. Chambers noted this will pull hotel traffic off the residential street where people run, walk and children are riding bikes.
There will be a boardwalk along the sea wall. The swimming area will remain and there will be expanded pier space around the inn. The chapel will be renovated with a linear park running down the hill toward an updated playground and community garden. The gazebo will probably be relocated to this area.
The two historic cottages will be moved, not torn down as rumors stated, although Chambers noted a location has not been determined yet. The parking lot will be reconfigured and additional parking added around the inn.
There will be a full size football and baseball field as well as beach volleyball and tennis courts. "We want to see the high school soccer teams come in. We want to see high school bands come in and use the field and stay at the inn (during competitions)," Chambers said. The outdoor amphitheater will be updated.
New proposed development includes a senior housing, mixed need towards the front of the property near the entrance. New cottages would only be built if there's a demand for them. They will be on lots roughly the same size as what current residents have, about 1,200 to 1,800 square feet.
Buckingham will commit 5-percent of the inn's profits to the Chautauqua program for a set number of years. There will be public art around the property as well.
"This plan can and will support Chautauqua. The other plan, what we currently have with greenspace can't support it. I don't think there's enough infrastructure to support it," Chambers said.
Chambers stressed throughout his presentation the plan will not happen overnight. First, Buckingham does not have the money to put in the new road and will be looking for help from the state and town. "It's going to take a village, to be honest, to make this happen," he said.
Chambers said he doesn't want to see vinyl siding on the inn, preferring clapboard or shaker siding. He wants it to be a place people want to come again and again. "No one will work harder (to make this work) because I live on the lake," he said adding he's committed to making it something the community can be proud of.
A resident asked what the potential number of new residences would be. Chambers said about 350 and that he looked at Chautauqua, New York for design inspiration such as shaker siding, front gardens and mixed use characteristics.
A resident asked if the greenspace areas would be available to residents. Chambers said yes. Another asked about pier space. Chambers noted pier space is critical to the inn, but acknowledged residents wanted a beach too, so the beach area will be kept.
Phase 1 of the project will the be the inn.
Phase 2 will be the new road.
"We have no idea how this inn will function. We can look at the last 10 years of operation but it's an apple and orange," Chambers said.
There was a question about piers in the channels. Chambers said the piers would be available to those who rent them now. Another question was how wide the new road would be. Chambers said it would have to be to town specifications, but he wants it tight, intimate with sidewalks.
One resident complained saying he didn't see the whole Chautauqua experience with 350 new homes in the park. Rolland spoke up saying it did support Chautauqua and the primary goal was to get enough cash up front to satisfy the creditors. "Buckingham's people are expert at this type of development," Rolland said.
Another asked Chambers how he would like it to have 350 new neighbors. "There's energy in people that make the Chautauqua experience," Chambers said. He added he hoped to acquire state funding to build an educational building and some of the new cottages may be seasonal galleries. He told the group he thought it would actually increase property values.
One resident asked if lights in the inn's parking areas could have shades on them. Chambers said that was done all the time. Another asked for Buckingham to take a leadership role on water quality in Lake Wawasee.
There was a question as to how long the inn would be open. Chambers said at first it would be open May through October and then for the holidays, closing down for the winter. However, staff would be on site, selling the next season. That would evolve as time went on.
There was a question about piers for the new cottages. Chambers said that would not be a given. Another asked if those who currently rent pier space would be able to afford it next year. Chambers said pier space would be available, but the details haven't been worked out yet. He stressed he has no intention of taking piers from residents.
Another person told Chambers the area across from channel 3 is a turtle breeding area.
There was a question as to how the hotel would be marketed. Chambers said events would be marketed. Some in mind include a wooden boat show and a sail boat show. He saw the hotel marketed regionally. The concern is to have the hotel occupied Monday through Wednesday, not just Thursday through Sunday.
Chambers said he wants to see job opportunities for teens such as pier attendants as well as the people who live in the community.
One person asked how many current homes will be purchased to make the plan work. Chambers said zero.
Someone asked where Chautauqua programming would be held if the program center was torn down. Chambers said he hoped to get state grant money to build a new larger education building as the program center isn't really geared for the type of events the Chautauqua committee plans to have.
Ann Strong of the Chautauqua Committee noted the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is interested in doing more at Oakwood and has discussed the possibility of using The Academy building if it can be made "acoustically friendly."
Other questions concerned a community pool and putting the plan on a website. Chambers said no to the pool and yes to putting the plan on a website.
Another resident asked if cottages could be sold in sections to keep construction to a minimum. Chambers said that would be difficult because it could slow the process. "I don't think you'll have 15 homes going up at once," he said. He also stressed there will be architectural controls in place so people couldn't purchase multiple lots for a bigger home.
Someone asked about homes on the overlook. Chambers said there will be about 100 condos.
One person noted they didn't see much concern to protect current home owners. "We're not planning to wholesale destroy everything," Rolland said. "If no home sells, you'll have a brand new road with greenspace and hopefully the inn will be a success," Chambers said. "Houses don't start unless there's a demand for them."
Rolland pointed out the infrastructure in the park "is a ticking time bomb." Chambers noted if state funding is awarded, residents may not have to pay the annexation fees; they'd be paid for out of the grant.
It was noted there will be some tree removal in the park, sparking one person to grumble "There goes Oakwood."
"We're learning, too. I don't know if there's a tree that means more. There are things that are historically significant. We want to be sensitive to that," Buckingham said. |
