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Lake of the Woods

Neighbor Information Hub

📍 You are on: 1984 vs. Draft 9 — What Owners Are Voting On

📍 1️⃣ The Vote: 1984 vs. Draft 9 2️⃣ Revisions: Draft 9 vs. 6 3️⃣ Legacy: Draft 6 vs. 1984

Just want “plain English”? Click Here 📱 “Plain English” - Mobile-Friendly Version

Last updated:

📘 DRAFT 9 FINAL DOCUMENTS — RELEASED JULY 10, 2026 · “FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL” — the version owners will vote on · Read & download the documents → · 📘 DRAFT 9 FINAL DOCUMENTS — RELEASED JULY 10, 2026 · “FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL” — the version owners will vote on 📘 DRAFT 9 FINAL DOCUMENTS — RELEASED JULY 10, 2026 · “FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL” — the version owners will vote on · Read & download the documents → · 📘 DRAFT 9 FINAL DOCUMENTS — RELEASED JULY 10, 2026 · “FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL” — the version owners will vote on

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What's Happening?

🗳️ How the Vote Works — Ballot Details 📘 Draft 9 Final Documents — Released July 10, 2026 ⚖️ What You Lose / What You Gain — Plain Table 🗳️ Special Meeting Results — July 27: Initiative Defeated (24–21.5) ⚠ May 7th Meeting — Minutes Pending 🗳️ Election Results — Released May 18, 2026

🗳️ Not voting is NOT voting no.
This ballot has no deadline — it stays open until one side reaches its number. A ballot left in the drawer can never defeat the documents; it just leaves the decision to whoever does vote. The only vote that counts — for or against — is a returned ballot. Why? See the math →

The Lake of the Woods HOA Board of Trustees has proposed replacing our original 1984 governing documents with entirely new 2026 "Amended and Restated" versions. This is not a simple amendment — it's a complete replacement of both the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants and the Bylaws. On June 9–10, 2026, the Board finalized Draft 9 of both documents, labeled "FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL," and released them to owners on July 10, 2026. Draft 9 is the version owners will vote on. This page compares Draft 9 against the 1984 documents that govern today — the actual choice on the ballot. What changed between Draft 6 and Draft 9 has its own page (the revisions), and the original Draft 6 analysis is preserved on the legacy page.

Why does this matter? The original 1984 Restrictions and Covenants were recorded with the Summit County Recorder as covenants running with the land. Every homeowner received these protections as part of their property deed. The proposed 2026 documents would change many of these recorded protections.

🗳️ How the vote works — what owners have been told so far. Official ballots arrive "by way of a plastic bag ... hung on your mailbox within a week" (of the July 10 release). Completed ballots are returned by mail to the board president's home "for safekeeping until the results are known." There is no deadline for returning ballots — "balloting will remain open until a result is determined, one way or the other, on each instrument" — and each document (Declaration, Bylaws) is voted on separately. Official ballot instructions are said to accompany the ballots. Source: these details come from the board president’s July 10, 2026 email — an advocacy message rather than a formal notice, and so far the only written description of the process. Read the email (PDF) → | Why not voting isn't voting no → | Is this process allowed under the current documents? →

To help neighbors understand what's being proposed, we've prepared several independent analyses comparing the current and proposed documents side by side. All claims are cross-referenced to specific page numbers and sections in the source documents so you can verify everything yourself.

This site is by neighbors, for neighbors. We are not attorneys, and nothing here constitutes legal advice. Our goal is to make these complex legal documents accessible so that every homeowner can make an informed decision. As more documents, drafts, and information become available, they will be added to the webpage. We encourage you to read the source documents yourself and consult an attorney if you have legal questions.

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We Want to Hear From You

Neighbor Survey

This anonymous survey helps us understand what concerns and interests neighbors truly have about the proposed changes. In order to ensure this survey accurately reflects the community, please, limit your submissions to one survey per household.

Take the New Survey →

📊 Spring 2026 Survey Results

Your privacy is respected. Survey responses are anonymous. Results will be shared with the neighborhood via this website to help inform our collective decision.

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Key Changes at a Glance

Here are some of the most significant changes between the 1984 originals and the proposed 2026 Draft 9 (FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL). Each card includes the specific document references so you can look them up yourself. Where Draft 9 softened a Draft 6 provision, the card says so.

Just want plain English? Click Here | 📱 Mobile-Friendly Version (Draft 9 editions, updated July 2026 — the Draft 6 editions remain on the legacy page.)

Sweeping New Nuisance Definition

The 1984 covenants simply prohibit "nuisances and noxious or offensive activities" — an objective standard. The 2026 Draft expands this into a broad provision banning anything that "causes or tends to cause embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance, or nuisance" to the Association, its employees, agents, or any Person. This subjective language could be used to restrict legitimate activities like yard signs, neighborhood organizing, or vocal disagreement with the Board.

1984 Art. I, §C.8, p. 6 → Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(o), p. 17 (unchanged from Draft 6)

Assessment Control Shifted to Board

The 1984 covenants tied assessments to a specific maintenance scope requiring member approval to change. Draft 9 still moves assessment-setting to the Board and keeps the new categories (special assessments and enforcement assessments — all liens on your property that can lead to foreclosure), but restores two member checks that Draft 6 lacked: a member majority may raise or lower the annual assessment, and Board increases above 20% per year require member approval. Special assessments may now also be levied against specific lots rather than everyone.

1984 Art. II, §B, pp. 15–16 → Draft 9 Art. VIII, §§1–3, pp. 32–34 (improved vs. Draft 6)

Board Silence Now Equals Automatic Denial

Under the 1984 covenants, if the Board doesn't respond to your building plans within 30 days, your plans are automatically approved. Draft 9 keeps Draft 6's reversal — silence now means denied — and adds a mandatory reconsideration request (with its own 30- and 60-day clocks) before you may challenge a denial in court.

1984 Art. I, §E, pp. 11–12 → Draft 9 Art. V, §2, p. 25

Board Can Amend Without Owner Vote

The 1984 covenants require signed instruments from a majority of all owners to amend. The 2026 Draft creates "Board of Directors Amendments" allowing the Board to amend the documents alone, without any owner vote, for seven broad categories.

1984 Art. I, §F.1, p. 12 → Draft 9 Art. XI, §§1–2, pp. 42–43 (unchanged from Draft 6)

13 New Rental Restrictions

The 1984 covenants have no rental restrictions. The 2026 Draft adds 13 sub-sections regulating rentals: minimum 12-month terms, Board approval, no subletting, and the Association can even initiate eviction proceedings.

1984: No comparable provision → Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(k)(1)–(13), pp. 13–15 (substantively unchanged from Draft 6)

Expanded Enforcement Powers

The 1984 covenants limit enforcement to court proceedings. The 2026 Draft allows the Board to enter your property, perform work at your expense, levy enforcement assessments as liens on your property — potentially resulting in foreclosure — suspend your voting rights, and charge you their attorney fees.

1984 Art. I, §F.5, pp. 13–14 → Draft 9 Art. XII, §§1–4, pp. 44–46 (largely unchanged; voting-rights suspension now expressly cannot block voting in Director elections or on bylaw amendments)

Minimum Home Size Eliminated

The 1984 covenants require 2,200–2,400 sq. ft. depending on home type, with four specific building designs defined (one-story, two-story, split level, cape cod). Draft 9 — like Draft 6 — contains no minimum home size and no building-type specifications at all. New construction and alterations are governed solely by Board/ARB architectural review. (Corrects our earlier Draft 6 card, which reported a 1,800 sq. ft. minimum; re-verification of the full text found no square-footage minimum in either draft.)

1984 Art. I, §A.1–A.2, pp. 2–3 → Draft 9: no comparable provision (see Art. IV, §2 and Art. V)

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Conflicts with Recorded Covenants

The 1984 Restrictions and Covenants were recorded with Summit County as covenants running with the land — meaning they are permanently attached to every property deed in the subdivision. We've identified 12 areas where the proposed 2026 changes directly conflict with these recorded protections. All twelve remain in Draft 9; two (assessments and home offices) were partially softened, and each card notes any Draft 9 change.

The 2026 Draft acknowledges these conflicts. Draft 9, Article XIV, §3 (p. 49) says the original 1984 restrictions "survive and shall remain fully enforceable" — but then adds that wherever the 1984 document conflicts with the 2026 version, the 2026 version "shall prevail." In other words, the 2026 Draft claims the right to override your recorded deed covenants. This framework is unchanged from Draft 6.

Nuisance Definition (Expanded)

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1984 Recorded Covenant One line: "Nuisances and noxious or offensive activities of any kind" are prohibited. This is an objective standard focused on genuinely harmful conduct — the kind of language found in most HOA documents.

2026 Proposed Change Expanded into an entire paragraph. Now bans anything that "causes or tends to cause embarrassment, discomfort, annoyance, or nuisance" to the Association, its employees, agents, contractors, any Owner, Occupant, or any other Person using any part of the Property.

Why this matters in plain English: The phrase "tends to cause" is notably broad — the activity doesn't even have to actually bother someone, it just has to have the potential to. Consider what might fall under "embarrassment," "discomfort," or "annoyance" in everyday neighborhood life. A yard sign expressing an opinion? That could be seen as causing "embarrassment." Children playing loudly in the yard? A visitor to the neighborhood might find that "annoying." A neighbor's holiday decorations, a dog barking during a backyard gathering, emails questioning a community decision, or even organizing neighbors around a shared concern — any of these could arguably "tend to cause discomfort" to someone. The concern is that the language is subjective and provides no objective standard for what crosses the line. Under the 2026 Draft's expanded enforcement powers (Article XII), violations can be acted on without going to court, and can result in fines, liens on your property, and potentially foreclosure.

📄 1984 Art. I, §C.8, p. 6 | Draft 9, Art. IV, §3(o), p. 17

Attached Garage Requirements

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1984 Recorded Covenant All garages must be attached to the main building, minimum 23 ft × 23 ft inside dimension (529 sq. ft., a two-car standard).

2026 Proposed Change No specific garage size minimum. Garages addressed only through general architectural control provisions.

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. I, §A.3, p. 4 | Draft 9, Art. V, pp. 25–27; Art. IV, §3(w), p. 20

Assessment Cap & Owner Vote Requirement

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1984 Recorded Covenant $50/year minimum assessment. Modifications to assessment scope require member approval per the Bylaws.

2026 Proposed Change Board sets assessment amounts; special assessments, enforcement assessments, and collection costs all become liens on your property that can lead to foreclosure. Draft 9 change: members regain a check absent from Draft 6 — a member majority may raise or lower the annual assessment, and Board increases above 20% per year now require member approval. However, special assessments may now be levied against specific lots ("specifically by some or all of the Owners"), and no member vote is required for increases at or below 20%.

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. II, §B, pp. 15–16 | Draft 9, Art. VIII, §§1–3, pp. 32–34

Amendment Process

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1984 Recorded Covenant Changes require "an appropriate instrument signed by the majority of the then owners" — actual signed documents from a majority of all owners.

2026 Proposed Change Regular amendments by meeting vote or proxy. Plus "Board of Directors Amendments" allow the Board to amend alone for 7 broad categories without any owner vote.

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. I, §F.1, p. 12 | Draft 9, Art. XI, §§1–2, pp. 42–43

Board Silence Now Equals Automatic Denial (New)

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1984 Recorded Covenant If the Board doesn't respond to your plans within 30 days, your plans are automatically approved. Silence = approved.

2026 Proposed Change If the Board doesn't respond within 30 days, your plans are automatically denied. Silence = denied. A 180-degree reversal.

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. I, §E, pp. 11–12 | Draft 9, Art. V, §2, p. 25

Fence Restrictions

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1984 Recorded Covenant "Wire mesh type fences are strictly prohibited in all instances." No exceptions.

2026 Proposed Change "Decorative wire mesh fence" now allowed with Board approval. The 2026 Draft itself acknowledges this overrides the 1984 prohibition.

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. I, §C.11, p. 7 | Draft 9, Art. IV, §3(d), p. 11

Occupancy Limitations (New)

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1984 Recorded Covenant No occupancy limitation exists. Homes restricted to single-family residential use, but no cap on household size.

2026 Proposed Change Occupancy limited to 2 persons per bedroom. Children under 36 months excluded from count. May raise Fair Housing Act concerns regarding familial status.

📄 1984: No comparable provision | Draft 9, Art. IV, §3(p), p. 18

Rental & Leasing Restrictions (New)

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1984 Recorded Covenant No rental restrictions. Owners have unrestricted rights to lease their property.

2026 Proposed Change 13 new sub-sections of rental rules: minimum 12-month terms, no subletting, lease copy to Board, Board can collect rent directly if owner is delinquent, Association can initiate eviction.

📄 1984: No comparable provision | Draft 9, Art. IV, §3(k)(1)–(13), pp. 13–15

Enforcement Powers (Expanded)

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1984 Recorded Covenant Enforcement through court proceedings only. No fines, no liens on property beyond assessments, no right of entry for enforcement.

2026 Proposed Change Board can enter lots to cure violations at owner expense, levy enforcement assessments as liens on your property — potentially resulting in foreclosure — suspend voting rights, fine owners, and charge attorney fees — all without going to court.

📄 1984 Art. I, §F.5, pp. 13–14 | Draft 9, Art. XII, §§1–4, pp. 44–46; Art. X, §6, p. 41

Home Office Rules (New)

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1984 Recorded Covenant Single-family residential use only. No specific home office regulations. Industrial and commercial uses prohibited.

2026 Proposed Change Home office allowed subject to 7 conditions (Draft 6 had 8 — Draft 9 drops the requirement that the use be undetectable by "sight, sound, or smell"). Draft 9 change: the "school" prohibition now expressly does not apply to home-schooling an owner's or occupant's children — resolving the ORC 3321.04 concern we flagged for Draft 6. "Care or rehabilitation facility" is added to the prohibited-use list.

📄 1984 Art. I, §C.1–2, p. 5 | Draft 9, Art. IV, §3(r)(1)–(7), pp. 17–18

Water Management (Expanded)

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1984 Recorded Covenant Two short paragraphs covering water features: no structures on lake, preserve natural drainage, no swimming or boating. Association responsible for lake maintenance. Budgeted $3,000/yr (71% of total budget) for sediment removal, landscape repair, and water treatment on an 8-year dredging cycle.

2026 Proposed Change Creates a formal "Water Lot" category with 10 numbered obligations (up from 2 paragraphs). Individual owners must still maintain, repair, and replace all storm water drainage infrastructure on their lot — even if it serves multiple lots. Failure to comply can result in the Board performing work at owner expense and placing a lien on the property, potentially resulting in foreclosure. The Board gets final say in all water maintenance disputes. Dredging remains discretionary (and Draft 9 removes Draft 6's reference to water treatment). Recreation ban still covers swimming, ice skating, canoes, kayaks, and other watercraft — but Draft 9 removes fishing from the banned list and adds a new prohibition on stocking fish or waterfowl.

📄 1984 Art. I, §D.5–D.6, pp. 9–10; Exhibit "A", p. 18 | Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(h)(1)–(10), pp. 11–13; Art. VI, §§2–4, pp. 27–28; Art. VII, §1, pp. 29–30

Building Type & Size Specifications

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1984 Recorded Covenant Four specific building types defined (one-story, two-story, split-level, cape cod) with minimums of 2,200–2,400 sq. ft. by type. Detailed definitions for each type.

2026 Proposed Change All building-type specifications removed, and no minimum home size at all — Draft 9 (like Draft 6) contains no square-footage requirement. Construction and alterations are governed solely by Board/ARB architectural review. (Corrects our earlier report of a 1,800 sq. ft. minimum in Draft 6 — re-verification found no square-footage minimum in either draft.)

📄 1984 Declaration, Art. I, §A.1–A.2, pp. 2–3 | Draft 9: no comparable provision (see Art. IV, §2; Art. V)

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Water Management

Lake of the Woods was built around a 1.5-acre storm water retention lake. Water management accounts for 71% of the original HOA budget. The 2026 Draft significantly expands the rules governing water features, drainage, and homeowner responsibilities.

Why this matters: The 1984 Exhibit "A" budgeted $3,000 of the $4,200 total annual budget for water-related maintenance — sediment removal, landscape repair, and water treatment. Water has always been the neighborhood's largest financial obligation.

New "Water Lot" Rules

The 2026 Draft creates a formal "Water Lot" category for properties adjacent to water features. These lots face 10 specific numbered obligations — up from 2 short paragraphs in 1984. Several are entirely new: no water removal, no depositing materials, no chemicals without consent, mandatory bridge maintenance — and Draft 9 adds a ban on stocking fish or waterfowl.

1984 Art. I, §D.5–D.6, pp. 9–10 → Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(h)(1)–(10), pp. 11–13

Adjacent Lots Also Bound

Under 2026, the Water Lot restrictions extend beyond direct waterfront owners. If your lot is adjacent to a Water Lot, you are also prohibited from engaging in any of the proscribed conduct — even if your property doesn't directly touch the water.

Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(h), p. 13

Drainage Infrastructure on You

The 2026 Draft requires individual owners to maintain, repair, and replace all storm water drainage ways, ducts, pipes, and conduits on their lot — even if those facilities serve multiple lots. This is a new financial burden not present in the 1984 documents.

Draft 9 Art. VII, §1, pp. 29–30

Board Gets Final Say

When there's a dispute about whether the Association or an individual owner is responsible for water maintenance, the Board's good-faith determination is final — and Draft 9 adds that the Board may also apportion responsibility between the Association and owners. The 1984 documents have no comparable provision — disputes would go to court. Draft 9 also makes the Board's lake-use rulemaking discretionary ("may adopt rules") rather than mandatory.

Draft 9 Art. VI, §4, p. 28; Art. IV, §3(h), p. 11

Recreation Ban (Revised in Draft 9)

The 1984 documents prohibited swimming and boating. The 2026 Draft expands this to explicitly ban ice skating and specific watercraft including canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats, windsurfers, and sailboats. Draft 9 change: fishing — which Draft 6 would have banned — is removed from the prohibited list.

1984 Art. I, §C.15, pp. 7–8 → Draft 9 Art. IV, §3(h)(5)–(6), p. 12

Dredging Now Discretionary

The 1984 Exhibit "A" budgeted for sediment dredging on 8-year cycles (3,000 CY at $3/yd). The 2026 Draft makes dredging discretionary — "as the Board may determine to be reasonably necessary" — removing the predictable schedule. Draft 9 additionally deletes Draft 6's reference to water treatment as part of the dredging obligation.

1984 Exhibit "A", p. 18 → Draft 9 Art. VI, §2(b), p. 28

Download the full analysis: The Water Management Analysis PDF provides a complete side-by-side comparison with all 10 Water Lot obligations, financial impact details, and every claim cross-referenced to specific source document pages.

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Documents

All documents are available for download below. We encourage every homeowner to read the source documents and verify the analysis for themselves.

Document	Type	Description	Download
Articles of Incorporation (1984)	Founding	Ohio Secretary of State filing establishing the HOA as a domestic nonprofit corporation (6 pages)	⬇ PDF
1984 Restrictions & Covenants	Founding	The recorded Declaration — the covenants running with the land (19 pages)	⬇ PDF
1984 Bylaws	Founding	The original Association Bylaws (15 pages)	⬇ PDF
OH Secretary of State — Business Details (2026)	Public Record	Current corporate status, filing history, and statutory agent details from the Ohio Secretary of State (2 pages)	⬇ PDF
Affidavit of Lost Document (2020)	Public Record	Recorded affidavit regarding the lost original Code of Regulations, with attached copy — Doc #56555549 (18 pages)	⬇ PDF
Notice of Intent — Marketable Title Act (2021)	Public Record	Recorded notice preserving the Association's interest in land under Ohio's Marketable Title Act — Doc #56644425 (14 pages)	⬇ PDF
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5312 — Planned Community Act	Public Record	Full text of Ohio's Planned Unit Community Act (ORC Chapter 5312), the state statute governing planned communities like Lake of the Woods (16 sections)	⬇ PDF
2026 Draft 6 — Declaration (superseded by Draft 9)	Proposed	Proposed Amended and Restated Declaration (51 pages)	⬇ PDF
2026 Draft 6 — Bylaws (superseded by Draft 9)	Proposed	Proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws (34 pages)	⬇ PDF
2026 Draft 9 — Declaration (FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL)	Proposed	The final proposed Amended and Restated Declaration that owners will vote on — dated June 10, 2026 (55 pages)	⬇ PDF
2026 Draft 9 — Bylaws (FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL)	Proposed	The final proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws that owners will vote on — dated June 9, 2026 (47 pages)	⬇ PDF
Draft 9 Declaration — Red-line vs. Draft 6	Proposed	Board-prepared red-lined comparison ("DRAFT 9C") showing every change from Draft 6 to Draft 9 in the Declaration (56 pages)	⬇ PDF
Draft 9 Bylaws — Red-line vs. Draft 6	Proposed	Board-prepared red-lined comparison ("DRAFT 9B") showing every change from Draft 6 to Draft 9 in the Bylaws (45 pages)	⬇ PDF
Legal Comparison Report (Draft 9 edition)	Analysis	Side-by-side 1984 vs. Draft 9 legal framework comparison with Ohio law assessment — updated July 2026	⬇ PDF
Home Office Rules Breakdown (Draft 9 edition)	Analysis	Detailed analysis of the 7 home-office conditions (Draft 9 dropped one) + home-schooling protection	⬇ PDF
Cross-Reference Guide (Draft 9 edition)	Analysis	Maps every claim to verified sections and page numbers in the final Draft 9 documents; includes corrections log	⬇ PDF
Water Management Analysis (Draft 9 edition)	Analysis	How the 1984 and Draft 9 documents handle water, drainage, and lake maintenance	⬇ PDF
What You Lose / What You Gain — Plain Table (Draft 9)	Analysis	If Draft 9 passes: a homeowner's plain table of losses, trade-offs, and gains vs. today's rules — every row cited	⬇ PDF

How to use these documents: The Founding documents are the original 1984 instruments that created the Association and established the community's governing framework. The Public Record documents are subsequent official filings that document the Association's legal history and ongoing status — including the Affidavit of Lost Document (which contains the Code of Regulations) and the Marketable Title Act preservation notice. Start with the Legal Comparison Report for the big picture on the proposed changes. Use the Cross-Reference Guide to verify any specific claim against the source documents. The Home Office Rules Breakdown is useful if you work from home or homeschool. The Water Management Analysis covers the lake, drainage, and storm water rules in detail.

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Town Hall Recording

Watch the recording of the neighborhood Zoom town hall to hear the discussion directly.

⬇ Download Video

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Meeting Minutes & Transcripts

Meeting minutes, treasurer's reports, newsletters, and transcripts from HOA meetings are posted below as they become available.

CURRENT 2026

EMAILBallot Details & Final Documents — Announced by Email (July 10, 2026)

The voting process was announced to owners in an email from the board president (with the four final Draft 9 documents attached) — not in a formal notice. This is a personal/board advocacy message ("The Board of Trustees urges you to vote FOR each of the proposed instruments") — it is not the official ballot instructions (it says so itself) and not a formal recorded notice. It discloses the voting mechanics: official ballots delivered "by way of a plastic bag that will be hung on your mailbox within a week"; completed ballots "returned by mail to my home for safekeeping until the results are known"; "there is no deadline for returning completed ballots" and "balloting will remain open until a result is determined, one way or the other, on each instrument." Paper copies of the documents available on request. The message also states the current documents are "noncompliant" and the Association "must correct this defect" — this claim is examined against the statute's text in the Q&A claim check (short version: Chapter 5312 applies automatically and contains no duty to restate; ORC 5312.02(C), 5312.15).

⬇ Read the Email (PDF)

Special Meeting — 27 July 2026 — Initiative Defeated

A Special Meeting was held on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at the Northwest Akron Family Recreation Center, 1730 Shatto Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44313. The meeting was requested by twelve member households on May 28, 2026, to consider a Member Initiative to re-expand the HOA Board of Trustees from three (3) to seven (7) members. Result: The initiative was defeated, with 24 votes against and 21.5 votes for the motion. The Board held 13 proxies that were voted "no." The meeting saw robust conversation and good turnout.

⬇ Download Notice (PDF)

Proposed Budget — 2026

Dated 4 May 2026. Proposed operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Projects total income of $18,500 ($16,800 in property assessments and $1,700 in KeyBank interest) and itemises anticipated expenses across all categories.

⬇ Download Budget (PDF)

June 2026 Newsletter — Part 6 of 6: Consequences of Disapproval

Dated 22 June 2026. Final installment in the six-part series. Focuses on what happens if either or both proposed documents are voted down. Notes that Draft 9 (clean and redlined versions) will be distributed to members by end of the week of June 22, along with a separate personal message from Board President Gary Himmel. (In practice, the documents were released to owners on July 10, 2026.) On the Declaration: argues that disapproval would not eliminate the need for state-law-mandated changes — a future board or court would eventually be forced to act — and that the member protections built into the proposed Declaration would be lost, reverting to more onerous state law defaults or Developer-era powers. On the Bylaws: notes few negative comments have been received; argues that the 1984 Code of Regulations was drafted by the Developer without regard for post-transition governance realities. Covers split-outcome scenarios if one document passes and the other fails. Specifies vote thresholds: Declaration requires 42 of 83 household votes (simple majority, one vote per household, no fractional voting); Bylaws require 56 of 84 votes (two-thirds supermajority, fractional voting permitted for joint owners). Concludes with a final plea to vote FOR both documents, signed by the Board of Trustees.

⬇ Download Newsletter

June 2026 Newsletter — Part 5 of 6: Benefits of the Proposed Amendments

Dated 2 June 2026. Fifth installment in the six-part series. Makes the affirmative case for approving both proposed documents. On the Bylaws: explains that the amended version removes all Developer-era language, tailors governance to LOW's specific needs rather than Ohio statutory defaults, caps fee increases, and adds member-friendly checks on board power — including the right to veto board action by calling a special meeting, remove directors, and address budget issues directly. Clarifies that the Bylaws and Declaration are independent instruments; each can be adopted or rejected separately. On the Declaration: argues that the proposed rules eliminate the gaps and ambiguities of the 1984 version, provide clear guidance for homeowners and prospective buyers, allow electronic communication for notices (replacing costly mailings or hand-delivery), and establish a transparent amendment process requiring only a simple majority. Concludes with a call to vote FOR both documents, signed by the Board of Trustees.

⬇ Download Newsletter

May 2026 Newsletter — Part 4 of 6: Compliance and Enforcement Issues

Dated 3 May 2026. Fourth installment in the six-part series. Focuses on the compliance and enforcement provisions in the proposed Amended and Restated Declaration. Explains that the Board chose a "transparency" approach — codifying in full the enforcement mechanisms already permitted under Ohio Chapter 5312 rather than leaving them unstated. Covers due process protections built into the proposed amendments, walks through enforcement provisions in Articles VII, VIII, X, and XII, and addresses concerns about foreclosure (noting it would be an extremely rare, costly last resort). Argues that approving the amendments gives members more say over enforcement rules than leaving future boards to act unilaterally under state law.

⬇ Download Newsletter

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 6 April 2026 (As Approved)

Approved 28 April 2026. All three trustees present (Himmel by telephone). Association's attorney Nick Meinert attended by video conference. The Board amended the March 7 minutes to separate executive session content per counsel's guidance, and approved the March 21 minutes as presented. Counsel briefed the Board on the balloting process for the proposed Amended and Restated Declaration and Bylaws: no secret ballot required, no deadline to be set, ballots to be returned to the Secretary. The Board authorized the official notice of the May 7, 2026 annual meeting. Himmel reported on insurance and fidelity bond renewal progress. Freygang reported all but one member has paid 2026 assessments. Worhatch outlined a planned six-part newsletter series to inform members ahead of the vote.

⬇ Download Minutes (PDF)

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 21 March 2026 (As Approved)

Approved 28 April 2026. All three trustees present (Himmel by telephone). The Board reviewed and reached consensus on the latest versions of the Amended and Restated Declaration and Bylaws ahead of the March 26 Town Hall video conference. Worhatch authorized to share clean copies with members by email and red-lined versions with counsel. Also ratified Freygang's emergency engagement of C&S Lawn Service to clean up entranceway storm damage at $70.00 per hour.

⬇ Download Minutes (PDF)

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 7 March 2026 (Draft 2)

Draft 2 approved 28 April 2026. All three trustees present. Approved February 26 minutes. Extended review of counsel's comments on the proposed Declaration and Bylaws drafts; Board reached consensus on revisions to be incorporated by counsel. Voted to set May 7, 2026 as the date of the annual meeting at Northwest Akron Family Recreation Center. Following executive session, approved C&S Lawn Service contracts: $6,414.54 for annual landscaping and lawn maintenance and $65.00/hour for bed maintenance (both unanimous); $3,102.00 for mulching (2–1 vote). Unanimously approved AquaDOC MuckBiotic Pellets lake treatment at $1,020.00 for 2026.

⬇ Download Minutes (PDF)

Notice of Annual Meeting — 7 May 2026

Distributed 21 April 2026. Official notice of the Annual Meeting held Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Northwest Akron Family Recreation Center, 1730 Shatto Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44313. Quorum required 17 lots in attendance or by proxy. Agenda included election of a trustee for the seat held by Secretary S. David Worhatch, whose term expired at this meeting.

⬇ Download Notice (PDF) ⚠ May 7th Meeting — Minutes Pending 🗳️ Election Results — Released May 18, 2026

Proxy Form — Annual Meeting, 7 May 2026

Official proxy designation form distributed in advance of the May 7, 2026 Annual Meeting. Allowed lot owners unable to attend in person to designate a proxy holder to vote on their behalf. Included guidance that proxy holders designated as a board member or "the Board of Trustees" would vote at their own discretion, without direction from the designating owner.

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April 2026 Newsletter — Part 3 of 6: A Focus on the Proposed Amended and Restated Declaration

Dated April 23, 2026. Third installment in the six-part newsletter series. Focuses on the proposed rewrite of the Association Restrictions and Covenants (now titled the "Amended and Restated Declaration"). Explains why the document is "amended and restated" rather than simply amended, how it relates to Ohio's Planned Unit Community Act (Chapter 5312), and how the trustees have worked with counsel to narrow Chapter 5312's broader provisions to fit the community's needs. Notes that assessments, liens, and enforcement topics will be addressed separately in Part 4.

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April 2026 Newsletter — Part 2 of 6: A Focus on the Bylaws Changes

Dated April 15, 2026. Explains the proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws: why the rewrite is titled "Amended and Restated," how the documents align with Ohio Chapters 1702 and 5312, what changes in practice (Board of Trustees → Board of Directors), new flexibility for amending bylaws by member consent resolution, and the addition of virtual meeting and remote voting rights.

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April 2026 Newsletter — Part 1 of 6: Developments and Overall Status

Dated April 10, 2026. First installment in a six-part newsletter series covering recent developments and the overall status of the HOA.

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Town Hall Meeting — March 26, 2026

Transcript and notes from the neighborhood Zoom town hall discussing proposed changes to the bylaws.

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Newsletter — March 2026

Dated 5 March 2026. Announces election of Gary Himmel as President, recaps the February Board meetings, and provides details on the scheduled Town Hall virtual conference to discuss the proposed Declaration and Bylaw revisions.

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Newsletter — February 2026

HOA community newsletter for February 2026. Covers the appointment of new Board member Gary Himmel, status of the Declaration and Bylaw revision process, and the Treasurer's update on annual assessment collections.

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Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 26 February 2026 (As Published)

Dated 26 February 2026. Gary Himmel elected President by unanimous acclamation; Treasurer's update on 2026 assessment collections and fund transfers; discussion of entranceway lighting and landscaping bids.

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Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 20 February 2026 (As Approved)

Dated 20 February 2026. Discussion of upcoming Town Hall and Declaration/Bylaw revision process; Treasurer's update on assessment collections and transfer of $10,000 to money market account.

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Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes — 3 February 2026

Dated 3 February 2026. Finalization of proposed revisions to the Declaration and Bylaws; Treasurer's report showing $52,396.74 on hand; lake chemical treatment discussed as a cost-effective maintenance strategy.

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2025

Treasurer's Report — 2025

Full financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2025. Opening balance of $39,292.47 across KeyBank checking, money market, and two CDs. Covers all HOA assessments collected, operating expenses, and year-end balances.

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Year-End Expense Report — 2025

Itemised month-by-month expense report for the full 2025 fiscal year. Covers all operating categories including landscaping, insurance, legal fees, lake maintenance, utilities, and administrative costs.

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Annual Meeting Summary — 26 August 2025

Summary of the 26 August 2025 annual membership meeting. Covers quorum satisfaction (54 households in person or by proxy), Board size reduction approved by members, election of Mike Valco to a full three-year term, and a draft of the meeting minutes.

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Newsletter — September 2025

HOA community newsletter for September 2025. Introduces new Board President Mike Valco and new Board member David Worhatch following the August 26 annual meeting.

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Newsletter — October 2025

Dated 19 October 2025. Community updates including Halloween arrangements, snow removal reminders for the holiday season, and announcement of Mike Valco's resignation from the Board.

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Newsletter — November 2025

HOA community newsletter for November 2025. Announces appointment of Gary Himmel to fill the vacancy left by Mike Valco's resignation; Dale Freygang named Acting President pending a Board meeting to fill the role.

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2024

Treasurer's Report — 2024

Full financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2024. Opening balance of $36,005.30, covering HOA assessments collected, operating expenses, and investment account balances.

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2023

Treasurer's Report — 2023

Full financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2023. Opening balance of $35,225.60, covering HOA assessments, money market interest, CD interest, and all operating expenses for the year.

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Year-End Expense Report — 2023

Itemized month-by-month expense report for the 2023 fiscal year, covering landscaping, electric, insurance, legal, entranceway lighting repair, and administrative costs.

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2022

Annual Meeting Minutes — 24 May 2022 (Official)

Official minutes of the 2022 HOA annual meeting, held 24 May 2022 at the City of Akron Northwest Family Recreation Center. Called to order at 6:40 PM by Sharon Shapiro; 32 people attended representing 31½ properties, including 8 proxies.

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Annual Meeting Minutes — 2022 (Working Copy)

Working copy of the minutes from the 2022 Lake of the Woods HOA annual meeting — 24 May 2022.

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Straw Poll — Proposed Bylaw Changes Regarding the Lake — 2022

Community straw poll distributed following the October 2021 annual meeting to gauge homeowner interest in expanding HOA responsibilities for lake water quality and maintenance. One response per property requested.

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Year-End Expense Report — 2022

Itemized month-by-month expense report for the 2022 fiscal year, covering landscaping, electric, insurance, legal and formation rewrite costs (Kaman & Cusimano), and administrative expenses.

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Annual Meeting Agenda — 24 May 2022

Agenda for the 24 May 2022 annual meeting at the Northwest Akron Community Center, 1730 Shatto Ave, 6:30 PM. Includes approval of 2021 minutes, Treasurer's year-end report, President's report, and election of new Board member Jeff Mitchell.

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Newsletter — February 2022

Announces the 2022 annual meeting delay due to COVID conditions; welcomes new homeowners (Worhatch, Dalton, Reyes); updates on the governing document rewrite with Kaman & Cusimano; financial update on 2022 assessments; C&S Landscaping contracted for front entrance; and notice of an open Board seat up for election.

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2021

Annual Meeting Minutes — 27 October 2021

Called to order at 7:07 PM by Sharon Shapiro at Fairlawn Lutheran Church. 45 homeowners attended representing 32 properties, including 2 proxies. Features presentations by HOA attorneys Nick Meinert, J.D. (Kaman & Cusimano) on the LOW pond and the state of the governing documents.

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Annual Meeting Agenda — 27 October 2021

Agenda for the 27 October 2021 annual meeting at Fairlawn Lutheran Church (Fellowship Hall). Includes guest presentation by Nick Meinert, Esq. of Kaman & Cusimano on the LOW pond and governing documents; one Board seat open for election.

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Year-End Treasurer's Report — 2021

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2021. Opening balance of $28,254.77; HOA collections of $16,800 with 100% dues compliance achieved within two months of billing. Expenses include electric, insurance, and formation document rewrite costs (Kaman & Cusimano).

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Newsletter — Spring 2021

Welcomes several new homeowners to the neighborhood; provides an update on the formation document rewrite process (the 1984 documents had not been reviewed in 38 years); and notes that the 2021 Annual Meeting was delayed due to COVID-related Ohio restrictions.

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2020

Annual Meeting Minutes — 3 February 2020

Called to order at 7:05 PM at Fairlawn Lutheran Church by Sharon Shapiro. 26 lots represented (quorum satisfied). Includes a contested approval of the 2019 minutes — resolved by amendment — and officer reports from President Shapiro and Treasurer Kathy Negrelli.

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Treasurer's Report — 2020

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2020. Opening balance of $25,917.12; HOA collections of $16,700 plus money market interest. Expenses include electric, new island light installation, insurance, and landscaping fees.

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Newsletter — Summer 2020

Introduces the Board officers elected at the last annual meeting; highlights the newly completed front entryway landscaping featuring new shrubbery, complementary boulders, and improved lighting; and provides general HOA updates.

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2019

Mid-Year Report — 2019 Year in Review

Board report covering the first six months of the 2019 term (Brown, Freygang, Negrelli, Shapiro, Stetz). Topics include covenant enforcement obligations, lake ownership and dredging assessment (expert consensus: dredging not currently needed), legal guidance from Kaman & Cusimano on the Planned Community Act, Architectural Review Board requirements, and plans for front entryway island landscaping improvements.

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Annual Meeting Minutes — 18 June 2019

Minutes of the 18 June 2019 meeting at Fairlawn Lutheran Church (6:30–8:07 PM). Well-attended at 49 homeowners. Covered review of 2018 minutes, lake dredging committee formation and competing assessments, officer elections, and general neighborhood matters.

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Treasurer's Report — 2019

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2019. Opening balance of $40,034.50; HOA collections of $8,700 plus $319.75 in money market interest. Expenses include electric, light repair, insurance, and landscaping.

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Newsletter — August 2019

Covers transition of KeyBank account signatories to Kathy Negrelli and Dale Freygang; front entry brick wall repair bids; engagement of C.S. Triola Landscaping for routine maintenance; and an update on the lake dredging and algae investigations following the annual meeting.

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2018

Treasurer's Report — 2018

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2018. Opening balance of $36,937.23; HOA maintenance fee collections of $8,617. Expenses cover electric, insurance, landscaping, and general operating costs.

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2017

Annual Meeting Notes — 26 May 2017

Notes from the 26 May 2017 meeting held at the home of President Mary Ann Kovach. 14 homeowners attended. Covered trash bin storage rules, the 25 MPH speed limit, pet responsibilities, interest in forming a neighborhood watch program, and election of officers: Mary Ann Kovach (President), Phil Danford (VP), Sharon Shapiro (Secretary), and Erik Reynolds (Alternate).

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Treasurer's Report — 2017

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2017. Beginning balance of $35,779.37 across checking ($14,047.03) and investment ($21,732.34) accounts. Total income of $7,974.00 primarily from maintenance fees ($7,963.00). Expenses of $6,816.14 include landscaping ($5,467.21), electric ($689.67), insurance ($572.00), postage and stationery ($62.26), and a $25.00 City of Akron lease agreement fee. Net gain of $1,157.86. The investment account was closed May 2, 2017 and $21,741.49 transferred to checking. Ending balance: $36,937.23 (all in checking).

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2016

Annual Meeting Minutes — 18 May 2016

Called to order at 7:15 PM by President MaryAnn Kovach. Covered the 2015 Treasurer's report ($33,709 in funds), road repaving petition update, garage bin and barking dog reminders, the city's ash tree replacement program, and plans to convert remaining entrance lights to LED fixtures.

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Treasurer's Report — 2016

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2016. Opening balance of $33,709.47; maintenance fees of $8,550 plus investment and checking interest. Expenses of $6,504.95 cover electric, lights, insurance, landscaping (C.S. Triola), and administrative costs. Net gain of $2,069.90; ending balance $35,779.37.

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2015

Annual Meeting Minutes — 19 May 2015

Held at the home of President Mary Ann Kovach. Reviewed 2014 financials ($8,457 revenue, $8,091 expenses, $34,549 ending balance); noted that the road resurfacing petition fell short at 25 of 45 signatures needed; addressed city services, architectural review requirements, and tree and dog warden reminders. Officers re-elected for the coming year.

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Treasurer's Report — 2015

Financial summary for January 1 – December 31, 2015. Opening balance of $34,548.54; maintenance fees of $7,900 plus investment interest. Expenses of $8,746.16 include new LED entrance light fixtures ($3,224.80), lawn service, insurance, and electric. Net loss of $839.07; ending balance $33,709.47.

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🗺️

LOW Original Plat and Easement Documents

Original subdivision plat maps and easement documents for Lake of the Woods, recorded in Summit County, Ohio. These blueprint-style documents date from February 1984 and show lot layouts, street plans, drainage easements, building lines, and the original Easements & Restrictions language signed by Anthony A. Petrarca (Trustee) and notarized March 12, 1984.

Sheet 1 — Cover Sheet and Easements Text

Sheet 1 — Cover Sheet & Easements

Cover sheet with the original Easements & Restrictions text, legal descriptions, and notarization (March 12, 1984).

Easement Text — Close-Up

Close-up photograph of the original Easements & Restrictions language from Sheet 1, including drainage easement provisions and building setback lines.

Sheet 2 — Subdivision Layout

Overall subdivision plan showing lot numbering, street layout, and drainage easements.

Sheet 3 — Lot Details

Detailed lot dimensions, building lines, and property boundaries for a portion of the subdivision.

Sheet 4 — Lot Details (Continued)

Additional lot dimensions, acreage figures, and easement markings.

Sheet 5 — Lot Details (Continued)

Further lot dimensions and property boundaries for remaining sections of the subdivision.

Sheet 6 — Drainage & Utilities

Storm sewer easements, drainage patterns, creek locations, and utility infrastructure details.

Sheet 7 — Additional Details

Final plat sheet with remaining survey details, coordinates, and flood level notations.

Click any image to view full size. These are photographs of the original blueprint-style plat maps recorded with the Summit County Recorder's office.

📅

Timeline

Key dates and events related to the proposed document changes.

February 23, 1984

Original Documents Recorded

Restrictions and Covenants recorded with the Summit County Recorder as covenants running with the land. Signed by Anthony A. Petrarca, Trustee.

March 22, 2026

Draft 6 Released

Board releases Draft 6 of the proposed Amended and Restated Declaration and Bylaws.

March 26, 2026

Zoom Town Hall

Neighborhood town hall held via Zoom to discuss the proposed changes.

June 9–10, 2026

Draft 9 Finalized

Board finalizes Draft 9 of the Bylaws (June 9) and Declaration (June 10), labeled "FINAL FOR MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL," with red-lined versions comparing Draft 6.

July 10, 2026

Final Documents Released to Owners

Clean and red-lined versions delivered to owners by email (or hard copy where no email is on file). The June 2026 newsletter had projected delivery by the week of June 22; the documents were released July 10.

July 10, 2026

Ballot Process Announced (by Email)

Owners are told — via an email from the board president — that official ballots will arrive by mailbox bag within a week; ballots return by mail to the president's home; no return deadline; balloting stays open "until a result is determined" on each instrument.

July 27, 2026

Special Meeting — Board Size Initiative — Defeated

Member-requested special meeting (8:00 p.m., Northwest Akron Family Recreation Center) on an initiative to expand the Board of Trustees from 3 to 7 members. Result: Initiative defeated, 24 votes against vs. 21.5 votes for the motion. The Board held 13 proxies that were voted "no." Robust conversation and good turnout.

Your Action

Read, Understand, Decide

Review the documents, ask questions, attend meetings, and make your voice heard.

Underway

Owner Vote — Balloting Open

Mail balloting on the Draft 9 Declaration and Bylaws, conducted per the President's email: no announced deadline; balloting remains open until a result is determined on each instrument. Each document is voted on separately.