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Fontana seeking input on activity center

FONTANA — What would look better at the lakefront: a contemporary building with cool colors and lots of glass or a rustic building with warmer colors and more wood?

Village community development officials want residents to weigh in on the design of the proposed lakefront activity center at a meeting Monday.

The one-story, 5,500-square-foot lakefront activity center, 454 Lake St., would include a multipurpose meeting room with kitchenette and storage facilities, a non-motorized equipment rental operation and a coffee shop. It likely also would include outdoor gathering space, such as a patio.

The Fontana Community Development Authority has selected a design by Milwaukee-based architectural and engineering firm HGA, and the group is hoping residents share thoughts on how the design should be modified, said Bill Turner, chairman of the community development authority.

Officials chose a design that features a gable roof over the large multipurpose meeting room, which has been dubbed the "Lakeview Room" by the architect because of its unobstructed views of the lake, Turner said. They also liked the way that design integrates the nearby beach house and gazebo, he said.

"We liked all of the designs, but we just had a preference for this one," he said. "So now we're looking for some final comments on the design. … I'm sure (residents) will have some things they want to say about it."

The lakefront activity center project is estimated to cost less than $1 million and would be paid with tax incremental finance money, Turner said.

Some residents have questioned the use of TIF funds for this type of building. They say state law prohibits spending on community and recreational buildings.

Village officials believe the proposed lakefront activity center does not fall under that category, Turner said.

"That issue needs to be resolved and clarified by the Department of Revenue," he said. "As far as we are concerned, this is a building that we own and we lease out to a private businessman … and out of that building he is going to run a number of commercial activities … It's his business. It's not a community center operated by the village."