[Villages Kahuna]

After doing a little research on the settlement proposed to resolve the class action lawsuit regarding the recreation facilities and programs, maybe an answer to this question was made a little clearer. (There's another thread on that subject elsewhere on TOTV.)

The residential districts will be governed by residents elected by the other residents of each district. That's already happened in all the districts north of CR 466 and will also happen in the newer districts south of 466 a few years in the future. That whole process is governed by Florida state law.

The three commercial districts (Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter and sometime in the future, Brownwood) will be governed by the owner(s) of the commercial property in those areas. Right now that's the developer of TV. He owns all the commercial property both in TV as well as a lot of it on the periphery of the development. He's made no move to sell out to other owners or investors and has said that The Villages is part of his family's history and there is no way they'd leave and permit a new owner to change the lifestyle that they worked for decades to produce. There's certainly no guarantee of a sellout not happening, but the developer's statement provides some comfort, at least. After the last house is built and sold, there will still be a sizeable commercial real estate management business remaining. It sure could be argued that the developer will have a very large and profitable commercial business remaining, even after he finishes building and selling houses.

An elected resident body, the new Amenity Authority Committee, which will be formed as the result of the proposed settlement of the lawsuit, will be most influential in governing our recreational facilities and programs. Will they have the same power as the owner of the facilities? Probably not. But if the proposed settlement is approved by the court, the role of residents in governing recreations facilities and programs will be significnatly increased.