Posts by Deborah Quam
What’s Next for Oakmont? A Year of LRPC Planning, Proposals, and Community Feedback
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Oakmont Observer plans to follow the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC), with a goal of keeping the Oakmont community informed about the activities of this important committee, which is responsible for providing the OVA Board with information and advice. This first article is a review of the activities of the past year,…
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Community Matters by Deborah
Making Candidates Night Work for the Community
Mark Twain said, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” And here in Oakmont, the rhyme goes like this: keep things controlled, keep things contained, and keep the community at arm’s length. A well-run Candidates Night isn’t just a formality – it’s a critical tool for voter education and accountability. To be effective,…
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Community Matters by Deborah
Still Waiting: Mystery of the Central Area Costs
If the OVA Board is unable to effectively analyze and interpret the ArchiLOGIX Cost Modeling Report in a timely manner, then the simple and logical solution is to hire someone who can. Relying on professional expertise to explain how the cost models translate into real-world estimates is not an admission of weakness—it is a demonstration…
Read MoreOPINION: The Central Area Project — What Will It Cost?
Insights Into the Central Area Project Preliminary Cost Modeling Estimates, What Members Might Expect to See [Editor’s Note: Ordinarily The Oakmont Observer will not reprint articles that have first appeared as posts on Nextdoor. We are making an exception in this case, because of the importance and timeliness of the topic and the failure of…
Read MoreOPINION: Building Better Communication: Solutions for a More Engaged and Responsive OVA Community
When OVA leadership fails to communicate effectively with residents, it creates a rift that undermines trust and fosters frustration throughout the community. One of the biggest issues occurs when multi-million-dollar project planning is launched without fully understanding or considering residents’ preferences. An objective survey of all homeowners should have been the priority before initiating any…
Read MoreOPINION: Master Plan or Misstep? Oakmont’s Path Forward in an Established Community
Oakmont Village, like many established communities, is facing a crossroad. With the Central Area Complex projects sparking debates and the long-range planning efforts underway, the concept of a Master Plan has become a focal point. As our General Manager, Christel Antone, said recently, “Developing a Master Plan is hard.” But what does that really mean…
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