Quote:
Originally Posted by Goldwingnut
Some compare the building of Morse Blvd and Buena Vista to the upgrades to 468 & 501, this is folly. Morse and Buena Vista did not exist prior to development so the developer was responsible for 100% of the cost to build these roads. The county did not pay for these roads, we did as homeowners through the development bonds on each of our homes, no one else north of CR466 or elsewhere in the county paid a dime for these roads. 501/468 have been county roads, and the county's responsibility for decades, take a look at the historical maps on Google Earth of the area and you will see they have existed for decades. The county is benefiting from The Villages upgrading these roads. The developer already has the manpower and equipment mobilized and can upgrade these roads for the county at a lower cost per mile than the county government can, and they get paid for this work by the county.
If there is an issue with the impact fees it is the county's fault. The fee is discounted 66% for age restricted communities in a county where 90% of the development is age restricted communities? What genius thought that made any sense? Does it benefit the developer? Once again NO, they will just roll any fee into the cost of a new house when it is sold. Does anyone really think that an additional $1500 in the price of a house here in The Villages will stop a sale? It won't, the buying demographic for The Villages is predominantly not price motivated.
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Yes, 468 and 501 have existed for decades and are the county's responsibility. BUT, the only reason they need to be upgraded is because of all the new homes the developer is building. The developer should be paying for those improvements, either directly or through the impact fee. Yes, he will add that cost onto the cost of the homes, so it ends up that the new homeowners are paying for the improved roads. That sounds fair to me.