Image Up Advertising & Design

FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2015 5 By Leighton McLaughlin Plans for improvements to the Lodge grounds have been delayed by the earlier-than-expected construction of Rec Center 3. HOA General Manager Jeri Mupo said the center was thought "to be several years in the future — but not so." Builder K. Hovnanian Homes is preparing its plans for the center now and expects to present them for city of Beaumont approval "in the next few months," she said. In order to avoid expensive duplication, the HOA Board had decided to wait until the Rec Center 3 plans are known before continuing with improvements. Duplication is a real possibility, said Mupo, because both the builder and the Board are working from two very similar resident "wish lists" for features they would like to see installed. The Lodge list was created from suggestions made over the years to the Board, the Landscape Committee and the Safety and Facilities Committee. It asked for such things as a putting green, larger bocce ball courts (to make them regulation size), an extra tennis court, an extra pickleball court, an upgraded amphitheater, extra shade canopies and the like. That list was given to a landscape design consultant who came up with a plan that incorporated all the requests. That plan was presented at a Town Hall meeting in the Lodge to get resident reaction. Before further steps could be taken, K. Hovnanian announced its accelerated schedule for Rec Center 3, on Four Seasons Circle at Breckenridge Avenue. At that point the Board decided to put its planning on hold. The builder posted its tentative plans in the Lodge Lobby and on the Four Seasons website, then asked the HOA to get resident reaction. That was done through a questionnaire on the website and in the Lobby. Replies were received from 124 residents. They asked for a number of features that were on the Lodge list and others specific to Rec Center 3: a larger swimming pool than planned, a putting green, a dog park, a multipurpose room for a number of activities including ping pong, a second billiards room, a second movie theater, and a large workout room. K. Hovnanian has the list and is studying what it can do within the space limitations of the building site and cost considerations. Mupo emphasized that the Lodge plans were tentative in the first place, contingent on resident reaction, costs, and a consideration of what features would be replaced by the new ones. Also, there are a number of construction considerations: how to get the proper equipment onto the Lodge grounds without tearing down existing structures, what disruption of normal activity would be caused, how much disruption could be tolerated and for how long? But all of that is in the future, waiting for the development of Rec Center 3, she said. Accelerated Schedule For Rec Center 3 Construction Above: One of the many statues on the grounds of the Lodge. Improvements for Lodge grounds delayed as Rec Center 3 is built.

• Cover