Venetian eSplash 11 October 2018 – Master Plan Member Review & Comment

Venetian Pools Master Plan Request for Member Review & Comment:

Background & History
A Master Plan for Venetian has been in the works for many years. The purpose of the plan is to create a “map” of our 4-acre property with areas designed to maintain the serene environment of our pool while recognizing that the pool and its amenities need updating and improvements as it ages.

A Master Plan design was created in 2011 and presented to the Board of Directors at that time; however, the plan was never executed.

In 2016, a Master Plan committee was re-formed to look at moving this forward. In 2017, a survey was developed by the MP committee and sent to the membership. The committee used the information from the survey to update the 2011 plan with those items that were prominently requested by members and realistic in scope.

The plan from 2011 was designed by Todd Hill (pool member, former board member, and landscape architect), so the committee asked him if he would make updates to the design that were requested by the MP committee. These changes and updates were made and the new MP was approved by the MP committee. The MP was presented to the board at their meeting on August 13, 2018. The board voted unanimously to approve the MP.

Request for Review and Comment
The Master Plan was posted on the website and sent to all members via eSplash on September 6 and then presented at the VPCA Annual Meeting on September 13, 2018. We are now sending the MP out one more time to the membership for a 2 week review and comment period. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to building.grounds@venetianpools.org.

The plan you see here is a site plan – meaning that the exact materials and surfaces aren’t detailed in the plan, but how the land will be used is shown.

Note from communications: I tried to provide the largest size file to fit into the eSplash format.  For better viewing, you can download the file here: VPCA_Master_Plan_2018.jpg and the .pdf has been posted under Member Matters.

The following is a description of the key items on the MP and a brief description of each item:

A. Venetian Oasis – the area was cleared, damaged trees removed, shelter rebuilt with ceiling fans and lights, fireplace repaired, fence installed and turf area maintained

B. Bridge repaired with new decking and cable railing

C. Rip-rap stones installed at detention area spillway to mitigate erosion

D. Granite fines and timber steps to create a safer path and walkway to the V-Oasis

E. Replace grass lawn with faux turf similar to what was placed in that area this summer

F. Build a deck with railing along the north end of the pool for expanded seating and table area

G. Shade canopy over kids pool – this is scheduled to be installed fall 2018

H. Alt. #2 – sand volleyball court (long term outlook) – see “O” for more details

I. Half-court multi-use court – for basketball, or pickle ball anyone?!

J. Existing play structure to be relocated to be closer to kids pool

K. New wood steps to upper terrace, to not impede concrete drainage flow

L. New accessible control point/gate access – other entries to be closed and all access the pool property via this gate – includes realignment of perimeter fence

M. Create an ADA accessible entry to the dance hall from the back of building

N. New ADA accessible ramp to be built from the current parking lot to the new gate house

O. New parking area with safer entry/exit points – will have to be approved by the City of Decatur, which means that it may be a long time before it comes to fruition. If approved and we move forward with this, it would be built with a pervious surface and on the existing area of the volleyball court. There would be no loss of tree canopy

P. Atl. #1 – volleyball court stays in its current location until such time that more parking is created

Master Plan Committee and Board Members involved in the final design:

Future Events & Important Dates:

Monday, November 12: VPCA Board Meeting, 7 pm, Location TBA

Submitted by Nick Cortese, communications@venetianpools.org