Golf Cart Public Hearing

[Hawkwind]

Reading very meeting agenda from the April 12 Sumter County Commissioners meeting I see that a public hearing is to be held on April 26, 2011 at 5:00 pm at Colony Cottage dealing with golf carts within a defined retirement community. From what I read they want to make some changes in the wording of a few ordnances as they pertain to current laws. The one that I see that may be of interest is naming of roads that are included or not included in the area defined as a self contained retirement community. Maybe they are planning to put in writing just what roadways (Rolling Acers for example) can and cannot have cart traffic.

Go to the Sumter County Commissioners web site http://sumtercountyfl.gov/AgendaModule/AGID161/Agenda.pdf and down load the complete PDF file but just to let you know it is 552 pages long but lets you what is going on in the county. Save it to your hard drive and read it off line as it is faster to get through.

References to the golf cart hearing start on page 83.

Also interesting is the attachments regarding a study on placing a traffic light at the intersection of Buena Vista and Talley Ridge Drive. The findings are that a signal is not warranted at this time. What is really interesting is the detail they went throught in this study. This starts on page 453.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

You're the man, hawk! Thanks for the info -

Bill :wave:

[BOMBERO]

Maybe they are planning to put in writing just what roadways (Rolling Acers for example) can and cannot have cart traffic.





Lake Co. won't let Sumter Co. call the shots on THEIR road. Maybe I'm

wrong and the guys from Ohio are correct. If so... as another famous

person from Ohio would say - " I'm sorry."

[Hawkwind]

You are correct in that Rolling Acres is located in Lake county and it was the first road that came to mind. Maybe I should have used CR-101 as an example.

[BigLew]

Rolling Acres

[Pturner]

Hi Hawkwind,

Excellent information. Thank you so much!

If I understand it correctly, under current Sumter County rules, golf carts may operate only on county roads specifically designated for golf cart usage. The proposed changes would enable the county to give blanket authorization for golf cart traffic on all roads within a "Self Contained Retirement Community" unless certain roads are specifically prohibited.

A retirement community wanting to operate under the proposed new rules would have to petition the county for designation as a "Self Contained Retirement Community".

Do I have this right? If so, I think TVers should welcome the change.

[Hawkwind]

Yes, I think you have it correct. It seems to be as you said they can even blanket an entire area and then just exclude what they want or don't want.

In that same PDF file I found where they also want to allow golf cart traffic in a portion of Wildwood. It includes photos that cover the area.

I was also wondering if this change had anything to do with getting golf cart access to the new service building and library on 466a.

[Boudicca]

Golf cart access to the library on 466a would be a wonderful thing. I only drive a cart :(

[Bill-n-Brillo]

.......In that same PDF file I found where they also want to allow golf cart traffic in a portion of Wildwood. It includes photos that cover the area......

This starts on p. 302 of the pdf.

Bill :)

[aaffmom]

Will be interesting to see how they define self contained community since all the roads are open to the pubic.

[golfnut]

.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

just how do you install a traffic light in a roundabout....gn

A traffic light would defeat the purpose of having the roundabout in the first place! :thumbup:

Bill

[Bogie Shooter]

Golf cart access to the library on 466a would be a wonderful thing. I only drive a cart :(

This is going to happen.....be patient.

[Whalen]

A traffic light would defeat the purpose of having the roundabout in the first place! :thumbup:

Bill



I believe the area in question, Tally Ridge & Buena Vista does not have a roundabout, it is an intersection.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I believe the area in question, Tally Ridge & Buena Vista does not have a roundabout, it is an intersection.

Please double check my post - it was simply an additional post to what was quoted there from golfnut. Sorry - - -

Bill :)

[spk7951]

Sumter County commissioners rejected a request to allow golf carts to be able to use Sumter County roads.
http://www.dailycommercial.com/localnews/story/041411golfcarts

[Pturner]

Sumter County commissioners rejected a request to allow golf carts to be able to use Sumter County roads.
http://www.dailycommercial.com/localnews/story/041411golfcarts

Thanks Spk,

This is another interesting article that could affect TV, although in ways that might not be all positive.

The article quotes Wildwood City Manager Robert Smith as saying he wants Wildwood to become a golf cart-friendly community-- which is fine-- but that, "interconnection with The Villages is key". This raises several questions in my mind:


Would his vision provide easy public access to TV-owned and TV-maintained cart paths? Only TV property owners pay for the building and maintenance of these cart paths. If outside use of these cart paths increased substantially, so would maintenance costs, which TVers (and TVers only) pay for via an annual non-tax fee on our property tax bills.
If the City Manager's plans would open public access to TV-owned cart paths, would (more) unauthorized use of our pools and other recreational facilities follow? Yes, I am aware that auto access is already available.
Would it affect TV's ability to be a "Self Contained Retirement Community"?

Note: I'm not saying these things would happen. I'm asking. On the plus side, it could help commercial interests within TV. I just hope it wouldn't do so at the expense of TV residential property owners.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Excellent points, P.

Bill