FAQ's
We understand that a project of this scale brings important questions.
This page is here to provide clarity on the vision, timeline, funding, design, and decision-making process behind the new community pool. From why this project is needed to how it benefits all residents, our goal is to ensure transparency, build trust, and keep the community fully informed every step of the way.
If you don’t see your question answered here, we welcome you to reach out directly, your feedback matters.
The new facility will provide membership with a new and expanded fitness room, modernized; handicap accessible locker rooms, 2 family changing rooms, a community courtyard, a larger pool; hot tub, an attached toddler friendly wading pool, and a handicap lift for access to both the hot tub and pool.
The modern design of the structure’s walls and roof are tailored specifically for indoor pools to prevent the failures seen with the old structure. Efficiencies gained in the ventilation, water filtration, and water heating will be a cost savings in the day-to-day maintenance. The design of the utility room on the outer perimeter of the pool structure allows for access to mechanicals without having to come through the building with supplies and chemicals.
What improvements are we getting with this project?
In March of 2024 R.S. Scott was hired to perform an evaluation of the structural integrity of the current pool building as there was noticeable sagging of the roof structure. The inspection lead to the closure of the pool in the spring of 2024 after the structural inspection until a contractor was able to install bracing as designed by RS Scott. Prior to this, the BOD had formed a Pool Committee to being researching pool designs and soliciting input from the membership as to what the membership would want in a new pool as the existing pool was reaching 50 years old and well beyond its useful life. There were question and answer sessions on the new pool that occurred last year on July 9 and August 15. In late 2024, the pool required repair after repair to its filter and heating systems and continued to lose water to the effect of 3 to 4 inches every couple days. Having to constantly add new water increased the difficulty in maintaining proper pool chemistry. Post the Ice Storm of 2025, RS Scott evaluated the roof structure due to the heavy snowfall the past winter. Mark Straley of RS Scott provided the Board an unofficial report, however it was noted that additional work would be necessary due to continued decay of the roof structure.
Why now?
Michigan regulations for commercial pools state: Pools 5 feet or less in depth, the maximum capacity is 7 people per 100 square feet. Pools over 5 feet in depth, the capacity is 4 people per 100 square feet. The new proposed PIHA pool will be ~1800 square feet would be 126 people. This is significantly higher than the previous capacity.
What will the new pool capacity be?
The new pool will have a depth range of 3 foot on each end and 5 foot in the middle. This will allow the entire area of the pool to be utilized, allowing for more members to use the pool at the same time. Newer commercial pool designs avoid diving boards and deep ends due to liability issues, as well as to maximize the number of swimmers. The shallower pool will be much more efficient to heat and filter.
What are the depths of the new pool?
The pool committee strove to include the desires of all the varied needs of membership, including young and old. The pool itself has a shallow safe area for toddlers to play. The newly designed locker rooms have private family
changing rooms with changing tables.
How does the pool design benefit young families?
The survey responses of membership were emphatic in their desire to have better handicap access to the pool. As such, a lift was strategically placed in the design to service both the pool and the hot tub. Also, by replacing the outdated locker rooms, two family changing rooms have been added to accommodate families with small children (e.g. fathers/grandfathers with young daughters/granddaughters or mothers/grandmothers with young sons/grandsons, or couples in which one partner requires assistance).
What about handicap access?
In our surveys of membership, one of the “must- haves” was a hot tub. The new hot tub will be slightly larger than the existing, at 10' x 12' and will have handicap access via a lift.
Will we lose the hot tub?
Lap swimming was another “must have” in our survey responses from membership. To accommodate lap swimmers, the new pool length was extended from 50 feet to 60 feet. The width was increased from 23 feet to 30 feet to allow for more lanes of swimmers. Also, the entry steps have been placed into one corner, so as not to be an obstacle for lap swimmers.
Will lap swimming be allowed?
Will the hot tub capacity change? The new hot tub is slightly larger than the old hot tub and therefore membership can anticipate similar rules regarding capacity.
Will the hot tub capacity change?
The new fitness center will never have the equipment, trainers, or classes that are available at the APlex Fitness Center or Bay Athletic Club, but it will have the necessary equipment for the vast majority of people. Remember that membership cost at those facilities run from $350 to $590 annually. Most importantly we all know the further away a gym is, the easier it is to find excuses not to go to the gym
How will the new Fitness Room compare with an Athletic Club in Alpena?
One of the hidden perks of living in PIHA is access to the clubhouse Fitness Room. Although it does provide a wide range of exercises, the current fitness room is very limited in space and does not have the layout of a modern exercise room. Also, since the available space limits equipment, certain core exercises are not included in the available exercise stations.
Why was an expanded Fitness Center included in the project to replace the pool?
An increase in the total number of swimmers at one time is the major anticipated change. The other rules in place should remain the same. Please refer to the website’s “Facility Use Rules” for reference.
What rule changes could we expect?
The old decks will be removed and a ground level concrete or stone pavers patio will replace them.
What will happen to the old exterior wood decks?
There must be a vote by membership approving a special assessment to cover the cost of construction before any contracts are signed to commence construction.
When will construction begin?
The construction is anticipated to take about 1.5 to 2 years from tear-down of the current structure to opening of the new facilities.
How long will the construction take?
A meeting of membership will be scheduled to vote upon the special assessment. Notice of the meeting to membership must be announced at a minimum of 30 days in advance. Members may either vote in person or by proxy. For the Special Assessment to be approved, two thirds of those attending or voting by proxy must vote for it.
How does the special assessment get approved?
The current pool is over 53 years old and has outlived its useful life. The shell of the pool is no longer sound and would require complete removal along with all the buried plumbing. The consensus of contractors and architects is it would be more costly to repair the existing pool and remove and replace all the structures supporting the pool.
Why can’t the current pool be fixed?
Due to newer codes regarding increased setbacks from the walls, a new pool put in the same room would be significantly smaller.
Can the new pool go in the same place as the current pool?
No, due to the inefficiencies of the current pool from leaking, difficulties in getting parts for outdated heating and filtering equipment, sanitation chemical losses, and improper and inadequate ventilation, the newly designed pool will have significant cost savings in day-to-day operations.
Won’t the new pool be more expensive to run?
What improvements are we getting with this project? The new facility will provide membership with a new and expanded fitness room, modernized & handicap accessible locker rooms, 2 family changing rooms, a community courtyard, a larger pool & hot tub, an attached toddler friendly wading pool, and a handicap lift for access to both the hot tub and pool.
The modern design of the structure’s walls and roof are tailored specifically for indoor pools to prevent the failures seen with the old structure. Efficiencies gained in the ventilation, water filtration, and water heating will be a cost savings in the day-to-day maintenance.
The design of the utility room on the outer perimeter of the pool structure allows for access to mechanicals without having to come through the building with supplies and chemicals.
What will the new pool capacity be?
Michigan regulations for commercial pools state: Pools 5 feet or less in depth, the maximum capacity is 7 people per 100 square feet. Pools over 5 feet in depth, the capacity is 4 people per 100 square feet. The new proposed PIHA pool will be ~1800 square feet would be 126 people. This is significantly higher than the previous
capacity.
What are the depths of the new pool? The new pool will have a depth range of 3 foot on each end and 5 foot in the middle. This will allow the entire area of the pool to be utilized, allowing for more members to be using the pool at the same time. Newer commercial pool designs avoid diving boards and deep ends due to liability issues, as well as to maximize the number of swimmers. The shallower pool will be much more efficient to heat and filter.
How does the pool design benefit young families? The pool committee strove to include the desires of all the varied needs of membership, including young and old. The pool itself has a shallow safe area for toddlers to play. The newly designed locker rooms have private family changing rooms with changing tables.
What about handicap access?
The survey responses of membership
were emphatic in their desire to have better handicap access to the pool.
As such, a lift was strategically placed in the design to service both the pool and the hot tub. Also, by replacing the outdated locker rooms, two family changing rooms have been added to accommodate families with small
children (e.g. fathers/grandfathers with young daughters/granddaughters or mothers/grandmothers with young sons/grandsons, or couples in which one partner requires assistance).
Will we lose the hot tub? In our surveys of membership, one of the “must-haves” was a hot tub. The new hot tub will be slightly larger than the existing, at 10' x 12', and will have handicap access via a lift.
Will lap swimming be allowed? Lap swimming was another “must have”
in our survey responses from membership. To accommodate lap swimmers, the new pool length was extended from 50 feet to 60 feet. The width was increased from 23 feet to 30 feet to allow for more lanes of
swimmers. Also, the entry steps have been placed into one corner, so as
not to be an obstacle for lap swimmers.
Will the hot tub capacity change? The new hot tub is slightly larger than the old hot tub and therefore membership can anticipate similar rules regarding capacity.
What rule changes could we expect? An increase in the total number of swimmers at one time is the major anticipated change. The other rules in place should remain the same. Please refer to the website’s “Facility Use
Rules” for reference.
What will happen to the old wood exterior decks? The old decks will be removed and a ground level concrete or stone pavers patio will replace them.
When will construction begin? There must be a vote by membership approving a special assessment to cover the cost of construction before any contracts are signed to commence construction.
How long will the construction take? The construction is anticipated to
take about 1.5 to 2 years from tear-down of the current structure to opening
of the new facilities.
How does the special assessment get approved? A meeting of membership will be scheduled to vote upon the special assessment. Notice of the meeting to membership must be announced at a minimum of 30 days in advance. Members may either vote in person or by proxy. For the Special Assessment to be approved, two thirds of those attending or voting by proxy must vote for it.
How will this new facility be paid for? According to Section 4 of the
Restrictive Covenants, the Association may levy a special assessment in
any given year for capital improvements. Over the last several years, Presque Isle Harbor Association has been setting funds aside in a capital account due to input from the long-term planning committee. For the entire
project, it will be a combination of available funds and funds from a one-
time special assessment. As the funds from the special assessment will come in over time, a construction loan will be needed to have the entire funds available to pay for the construction.
What is the anticipated cost of the project? While firm costs of the
project will not be known until the project is formally bid on by contractors,
the Architects have reviewed the project with a local commercial contractor
in Alpena to estimate construction costs. At this point, the board is highly
confident in the total cost of the project.
How much will the special assessment cost a member for this
project?
Payment Option 1 (Paid in Full): A primary lot one-time assessment of
$900.00 and a secondary lot one-time assessment of $450.00.
Payment Option 2 (3-Year Payment Plan): A primary lot one-time
assessment of $1,000.00 and a secondary lot one-time assessment of
$500.00 payable in equal installments over a three (3) year period.
Is the special assessment a one-time fee, or an annual fee? In
accordance with the Restrictive Covenants, a special assessment is a one- time assessment. It is a separate assessment from the annual
assessment.
If a lot owner sells the lot, who will be expected to pay the special
assessment? The seller and buyer may negotiate who pays the special
assessment at the time of sale, but the non-payment of the special assessment will be considered an outstanding debt to the Association, and member benefits and facility usage will be withheld until the lot owner is a
member in good standing.
Why can’t the current pool be fixed? The current pool is over 53 years old and has outlived its useful life. The shell of the pool is no longer sound and would require complete removal along with all the buried plumbing. The consensus of contractors and architects is it would be more costly to repair the existing pool and remove and replace all the structures supporting the pool.
Can the new pool go in the same place as the current pool? Due to newer codes regarding increased setbacks from the walls, a new pool put in the same room would be significantly smaller.
Won’t the new pool be more expensive to run? No, due to the inefficiencies of the current pool from leaking, difficulties in getting parts for outdated heating and filtering equipment, sanitation chemical losses, and improper and inadequate ventilation, the newly designed pool will have significant cost savings in day-to-day operations.
What will happen to the old fitness room? This will be a separate project from the Pool / Fitness Center project and discussions will be held to decide upon new uses for this space. Possibly a space geared towards the needs of the adolescent age group was one suggestion.
What is the costs of the proposed new Pool and Fitness Center project as compared with other local gym memberships or pool memberships?
* PIHA members also pay annual assessments that grants them unlimited access to both the pool and fitness room, 2 Beach Houses (Grand Lake and Lake Huron), Gymnasium, Parks, Hiking Trails, Campground, Shuffleboard Courts, Playground, Pickleball Courts, and daily/weekly activities at the Clubhouse. Members are allowed to bring guests to accompany them and utilize PIHA facilities. This option is not available at the other locations
Cost Comparisons