Multi-Modal Paths - VHA

[Happy Villager 1]

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:

[Bogie Shooter]

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:

How would anyone know if a biker or a walker was not a Villgage resident or guest??

[buggyone]

How would anyone know if a biker or a walker was not a Villgage resident or guest??

Well, you remember when you got your Villages ID card and they implanted the microchip in your neck, don't you? Perhaps they could have a chip reader posted at different parts of the Multi-Modal trails and if it did not detect your implanted micro-chip, an alarm would sound for the Trail Guards to either arrest you or just beat you with their clubs.

[Penguin]

Well, you remember when you got your Villages ID card and they implanted the microchip in your neck, don't you? Perhaps they could have a chip reader posted at different parts of the Multi-Modal trails and if it did not detect your implanted micro-chip, an alarm would sound for the Trail Guards to either arrest you or just beat you with their clubs.

:BigApplause:

[Mikeod]

I think the wording of the response was unfortunate. I think the intent was, as Bogie stated, that it is not possible to screen all people using the multi-modal paths, and certainly not cost effective to try.

But duped, really???

[BarryRX]

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:
Perhaps the answer is as simple as this....when I go to visit friends in New York, we often will go to a local park. Their tax dollars pay for that park yet I get to enjoy it. I walk on their sidewalks and drive on their local roads without paying for any of the upkeep. It sounds like that is the same thing that happens here, but in reverse. Also, it has been my personal observation that passage on the intermodals has never been hindered by too many walkers or bikers. Perhaps others who travel the intermodals at different times of the day may have a different observation.

[NotGolfer]

Perhaps the answer is as simple as this....when I go to visit friends in New York, we often will go to a local park. Their tax dollars pay for that park yet I get to enjoy it. I walk on their sidewalks and drive on their local roads without paying for any of the upkeep. It sounds like that is the same thing that happens here, but in reverse. Also, it has been my personal observation that passage on the intermodals has never been hindered by too many walkers or bikers. Perhaps others who travel the intermodals at different times of the day may have a different observation.

What about the roads that traverse through our states and communities. Somebody pays taxes on those but they're open to others w/o recompense. I think there is noone being duped! :shrug:

[Indydealmaker]

I wonder if this is the result of a common communication gap. Maybe the person who answered was thinking in terms of the cart lane on the street.

The "public" streets are maintained by the county, but the "public" multi-modal paths are maintained by the homeowners. Curious. Maybe this was a concession granted by the developer somewhere along the way. At any rate, homeowners, who are taxpayers, are still paying one way or the other. However, this really should be more clearly explained to prospective home buyers as part of a complete orientation.

[Happy Villager 1]

I was looking at it more in the context of outsiders using the paths with their golf carts and not just the walkers or bikers. It appears things are slowly being changed that used to be thought of as a benefit to being a village resident. If anyone can use the multimodel paths with their golf cart how is that an advantage to being a villager? Has anybody noticed how the tickets sold for shows at the Savannah Center used to be on sale first for villagers and then opened up to the general public. Not anymore....first come first served. There was a play that was going to be put on at Mulberry that was advertised as being open to nonresidents. Neighborhood Watch "use to" do a good job at writing up homes that weren't in compliance with community standards. Do they even do that anymore? How many people moved here thinking it was a truly gated community? I must give credit to the salesperson we had because she was honest with us about that but I have met many people that didn't know. We honestly fell for the claim we were moving to a retirement community and it has turned out to be a tourist city. At least in Stone Crest they have a rule where homes cannot be rented for less than three months at a time.

Yes I feel the word duped fits.

[Whalen]

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:

OK, Now I am confused...if the multi modal paths are public, as stated, how come they can not be policed for traffic infringements, like speeding, passing???
Where I come from you can't have it both ways...

[Mikeod]

OK, Now I am confused...if the multi modal paths are public, as stated, how come they can not be policed for traffic infringements, like speeding, passing???
Where I come from you can't have it both ways...
That's why I think the wording was unfortunate. The paths aren't public as the streets are. But they are available to public use because it is not worth the trouble to either make them gated or police them to check for Villages IDs.

[ijusluvit]

That's why I think the wording was unfortunate. The paths aren't public as the streets are. But they are available to public use because it is not worth the trouble to either make them gated or police them to check for Villages IDs.

Not to beat a dead horse, but there is a consistency issue here. The multi-modal paths are not public. Neither are the executive golf courses. A year or two ago, supervision was added in the late hours of the day on exec courses because non-residents were using the courses in those hours. ID checks at rec centers and pools are more common than they were some years ago. So, regardless of how much enforcement is provided at present, should the use of multi-modal paths by non residents be addressed or not? In recent years, entrances to the paths, in Chatham and adjacent to the Belmont exec. course for example, have been added, giving non-residents easy access. When the path next to Lowes is paved, Stonecrest residents will have direct cart access to The Villages. Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it does.

For those who think the paths cannot be controlled, I think a study would show there are relatively few places a cart can enter from outside TV. Those points could be gated, opened only with a resident card. Non-residents would have no legitimate argument about the path gates, as they do about those on public roadways.

[GaryW]

Perhaps the answer is as simple as this....when I go to visit friends in New York, we often will go to a local park. Their tax dollars pay for that park yet I get to enjoy it. I walk on their sidewalks and drive on their local roads without paying for any of the upkeep. It sounds like that is the same thing that happens here, but in reverse. Also, it has been my personal observation that passage on the intermodals has never been hindered by too many walkers or bikers. Perhaps others who travel the intermodals at different times of the day may have a different observation.

:agree: :bowdown: :beer3:

[GaryW]

OK, Now I am confused...if the multi modal paths are public, as stated, how come they can not be policed for traffic infringements, like speeding, passing???
Where I come from you can't have it both ways...

I was thinking the same,, SCSO will tell you they are private property. They can not enforce violations on them because of that. But I do not see a sign anywhere where it states you are entering private property and so on..........

[Golfer in Sanibel]

I was looking at it more in the context of outsiders using the paths with their golf carts and not just the walkers or bikers. It appears things are slowly being changed that used to be thought of as a benefit to being a village resident. If anyone can use the multimodel paths with their golf cart how is that an advantage to being a villager? Has anybody noticed how the tickets sold for shows at the Savannah Center used to be on sale first for villagers and then opened up to the general public. Not anymore....first come first served. There was a play that was going to be put on at Mulberry that was advertised as being open to nonresidents. Neighborhood Watch "use to" do a good job at writing up homes that weren't in compliance with community standards. Do they even do that anymore? How many people moved here thinking it was a truly gated community? I must give credit to the salesperson we had because she was honest with us about that but I have met many people that didn't know. We honestly fell for the claim we were moving to a retirement community and it has turned out to be a tourist city. At least in Stone Crest they have a rule where homes cannot be rented for less than three months at a time.

Yes I feel the word duped fits.

I'm sorry to disagree. I think you are blowing this way out of proportion. With 89,000 Villagers, where do you think the vast majority of multi-modal path users live? And where do you think the golf carts come from that are not used by Villagers on the paths. Please rethink your concerns and if you still think this is a problem worth stressing over then maybe sign up for some dance lessons. There is so much to do here without stressing over imaginary issues.:spoken: Be Happy, Happy.

[EdV]

Well said Golfer

Before jumping to conclusions about Stonecrest, keep this in mind. From Stonecrest in a standard golf cart, one can access nearly all of the hundreds of stores, restaurants and medical facilities on both sides of 441, as well as three championship golf courses without ever traveling on a multi-modal path. So I find this claim of hordes of Stonecrest residents tearing up the MM paths rather amusing.

On the other hand, TV residents can get to Stonecrest in their golf carts and travel on our private roads to get to our golf course. We just don�t complain about it because it�s not that important.

[Happy Villager 1]

Not to beat a dead horse, but there is a consistency issue here. The multi-modal paths are not public. Neither are the executive golf courses. A year or two ago, supervision was added in the late hours of the day on exec courses because non-residents were using the courses in those hours. ID checks at rec centers and pools are more common than they were some years ago. So, regardless of how much enforcement is provided at present, should the use of multi-modal paths by non residents be addressed or not? In recent years, entrances to the paths, in Chatham and adjacent to the Belmont exec. course for example, have been added, giving non-residents easy access. When the path next to Lowes is paved, Stonecrest residents will have direct cart access to The Villages. Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it does.

For those who think the paths cannot be controlled, I think a study would show there are relatively few places a cart can enter from outside TV. Those points could be gated, opened only with a resident card. Non-residents would have no legitimate argument about the path gates, as they do about those on public roadways.

ijusluvit you are a voice of reason and there are many many people that have voiced the same opinion that gates should be installed to deter non-amenity fee paying individuals the use of the multi-modal paths. A couple of years ago I wrote an e-mail to Janet Tutt expressing my opinion on the open area in the Historic Section off Paradise Drive where non-resident golf carts enter. I did receive a response telling me the developer was in talks with the property owners concerning that access point. Now we are left to wonder just what those talks entailed. The recent development with information posted on the questioned property with a note of thanks which included the owners of The Villages for agreeing to work with Mr. Brown to provide legal access to Mr. Brown's property.

Another point is why were the gates installed by Promise Health Care? If the gates aren't going to be used why spend the money on them?

[graciegirl]

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:

Who duped you? No one ever said to me. "Gracie. Your money is funding those paths. We are gonna let outsiders walk on them. AND ride their golf carts AND ride their bicyles TOO". No one ever. And if they did, I would say.......................


Wait for it.

"O.K."

Sorry. I just felt like saying it that way.

Now that was snotty, and you never make a point by being snotty. But the thing that hurts my heart that I so frequently read on here is that some people seem to think that there is a conspiracy afoot to take their money or that the developers don't deserve their success.

I think that the Morse family took the huge financial risk and have run their business in such a way to be hugely successful. There is nothing wrong with people making a lot of money. It is something that happens to a lot of people in this country if they work hard and think things though and build a better mousetrap. They may all be nasty as hell and kick their dogs, I don't know a single one of them but I just don't have any problem with how things are done here and do not suspect them of trying to pull one over on us.

This isn't about the multi modal paths. This is about being "duped".

That was snotty.

I think I should have said that you expected one thing when actually another thing happened and you want to change it which will cause a lot of expense and bother for something that in my snotty view isn't that important.

[DDoug]

Careful what you wish for. My only complaint is the street legal carts on the path and then passing regular carts and causing accidents. Can I drive my street legal car on the path no.

[Happy Villager 1]

Well said Golfer

Before jumping to conclusions about Stonecrest, keep this in mind. From Stonecrest in a standard golf cart, one can access nearly all of the hundreds of stores, restaurants and medical facilities on both sides of 441, as well as three championship golf courses without ever traveling on a multi-modal path. So I find this claim of hordes of Stonecrest residents tearing up the MM paths rather amusing.

On the other hand, TV residents can get to Stonecrest in their golf carts and travel on our private roads to get to our golf course. We just don�t complain about it because it�s not that important.

EdVinMass, our issue is not Stonecrest residents as much as it is about what we perceived to be privilages of living in The Villages. We have lived here over seven years and the rose colored glasses have come off. We do enjoy the variety of amenities here but the majority of our activites....golf, pickleball, biking, in-line skating and the pools can also be enjoyed in Stonecrest. As a matter of fact we have been visiting your community recently and are working with a realtor to decide if we want to move there.
Having legal golf cart accessiblity might be the deciding factor.

[Happy Villager 1]

Who duped you? No one ever said to me. "Gracie. Your money is funding those paths. We are gonna let outsiders walk on them. AND ride their golf carts AND ride their bicyles TOO". No one ever. And if they did, I would say.......................


Wait for it.

"O.K."

Sorry. I just felt like saying it that way.

Now that was snotty, and you never make a point by being snotty. But the thing that hurts my heart that I so frequently read on here is that some people seem to think that there is a conspiracy afoot to take their money or that the developers don't deserve their success.

I think that the Morse family took the huge financial risk and have run their business in such a way to be hugely successful. There is nothing wrong with people making a lot of money. It is something that happens to a lot of people in this country if they work hard and think things though and build a better mousetrap. They may all be nasty as hell and kick their dogs, I don't know a single one of them but I just don't have any problem with how things are done here and do not suspect them of trying to pull one over on us.

This isn't about the multi modal paths. This is about being "duped".

That was snotty.

I think I should have said that you expected one thing when actually another thing happened and you want to change it which will cause a lot of expense and bother for something that in my snotty view isn't that important.

Ummmm! Gracie who the heck is talking about money here? I highly respect anyone that has the brains and work ethic to acquire their hard earned acquisitions. How do you think we could afford to live here.....it wasn't handed to either myself or my husband. We raised three wonderful sons and watched our pennies and now live this wonderful lifestyle without a mortgage or any debt. Please speak to the issue at hand. Do you have any thoughts on the changes here in The Villages or aren't you aware of them?

[looneycat]

Perhaps the answer is as simple as this....when I go to visit friends in New York, we often will go to a local park. Their tax dollars pay for that park yet I get to enjoy it. I walk on their sidewalks and drive on their local roads without paying for any of the upkeep. It sounds like that is the same thing that happens here, but in reverse. Also, it has been my personal observation that passage on the intermodals has never been hindered by too many walkers or bikers. Perhaps others who travel the intermodals at different times of the day may have a different observation.

um, Barry, this is New York, we've been meaning to talk to you about those park visits...

:pepper2:

[graciegirl]

um, Barry, this is New York, we've been meaning to talk to you about those park visits...

:pepper2:

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

That was funny Looney.

[graciegirl]

Ummmm! Gracie who the heck is talking about money here? I highly respect anyone that has the brains and work ethic to acquire their hard earned acquisitions. How do you think we could afford to live here.....it wasn't handed to either myself or my husband. We raised three wonderful sons and watched our pennies and now live this wonderful lifestyle without a mortgage or any debt. Please speak to the issue at hand. Do you have any thoughts on the changes here in The Villages or aren't you aware of them?

I did misread duped. I am sorry, that is MY button. People who seem to think that the developers are taking them for a ride or are misreprsenting things..

I am not aware of the changes in the villages.

[skyguy79]

Ummmm! Gracie who the heck is talking about money here? I highly respect anyone that has the brains and work ethic to acquire their hard earned acquisitions. How do you think we could afford to live here.....it wasn't handed to either myself or my husband. We raised three wonderful sons and watched our pennies and now live this wonderful lifestyle without a mortgage or any debt. Please speak to the issue at hand. Do you have any thoughts on the changes here in The Villages or aren't you aware of them?
:confused:

The quoted OP below shows clearly who was talking about money.

It sure seems like Gracie was definitely addressing the "issue at hand!" She wasn't talking about work ethic, she wasn't talking about wonderful children nor was she talking about watching pennies. Furthermore, I don't see any of those thoughts brought up in the original post.

:ohdear:

The May 2012 issue of "The Villages Voice", the VHA paper was delivered in todays Daily Sun. On Page 3 is the section where issues and questions from the residents to their VHA representatives are discussed with The Villages and District Government Officials quarterly in a Town Hall Meeting format. One of the questions was "What can be done to prevent bikers and walkers who are not Village residents from using the multi-modal paths?" The response is "Multi modal paths are public paths just like the roads in The Villages. Public access can not be denied."
What's up with that? If they are public paths then why are our amenities fees the only funding source? We love the lifestyle here but sure resent having been duped. :cus:

[skyguy79]

I did misread duped. I am sorry, that is MY button. People who seem to think that the developers are taking them for a ride or are misreprsenting things..

I am not aware of the changes in the villages.Gracie, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn't misread duped. It was clearly entered at the end of the OP where it was clearly stated "sure resent having been duped.!

[Augie]

I was looking at it more in the context of outsiders using the paths with their golf carts and not just the walkers or bikers. It appears things are slowly being changed that used to be thought of as a benefit to being a village resident. If anyone can use the multimodel paths with their golf cart how is that an advantage to being a villager? Has anybody noticed how the tickets sold for shows at the Savannah Center used to be on sale first for villagers and then opened up to the general public. Not anymore....first come first served. There was a play that was going to be put on at Mulberry that was advertised as being open to nonresidents. Neighborhood Watch "use to" do a good job at writing up homes that weren't in compliance with community standards. Do they even do that anymore? How many people moved here thinking it was a truly gated community? I must give credit to the salesperson we had because she was honest with us about that but I have met many people that didn't know. We honestly fell for the claim we were moving to a retirement community and it has turned out to be a tourist city. At least in Stone Crest they have a rule where homes cannot be rented for less than three months at a time.

Yes I feel the word duped fits.

Duh, your options are clear. Write when you get there.

[Skybo]

I doubt that there are very many non-villagers using the multi-modal paths. And has been already pointed out...how would you know? It really doesn�t matter to me one way or the other.

But I am confused about the VHA�s comment that the multi-modal paths are public paths. Is it possible that they are just wrong about that? Or perhaps as Mikeod and IndyDealMaker alluded to earlier in the thread that they were speaking of the �diamond lanes�? We�ve had numerous threads in the past purporting that the police don�t (or can�t?) write tickets on the multi-modal paths because they are private. So are they truly public paths?

[Mikeod]

I doubt that there are very many non-villagers using the multi-modal paths. And has been already pointed out...how would you know? It really doesn�t matter to me one way or the other.

But I am confused about the VHA�s comment that the multi-modal paths are public paths. Is it possible that they are just wrong about that? Or perhaps as Mikeod and IndyDealMaker alluded to earlier in the thread that they were speaking of the �diamond lanes�? We�ve had numerous threads in the past purporting that the police don�t (or can�t?) write tickets on the multi-modal paths because they are private. So are they truly public paths?
I may be wrong, but I think there is a distinction between the diamond lanes and multimodal paths. To me, the multimodal paths are those off the streets, such as those along Buena Vista and Morse (below 466). The paths on the surface streets are what some call the diamond lanes, although they can also be used by bikes, walkers, etc. so they are also called multimodal, but I think that makes it confusing.

So, I agree that the speaker may have been speaking of the "diamond lanes" but using the word multimodal.

[Bogie Shooter]

EdVinMass, our issue is not Stonecrest residents as much as it is about what we perceived to be privilages of living in The Villages. We have lived here over seven years and the rose colored glasses have come off. We do enjoy the variety of amenities here but the majority of our activites....golf, pickleball, biking, in-line skating and the pools can also be enjoyed in Stonecrest. As a matter of fact we have been visiting your community recently and are working with a realtor to decide if we want to move there.
Having legal golf cart accessiblity might be the deciding factor.

This should solve your problem...going from Happy Villager 1 to Unhappy Villager 2. Suggest you do your homework very thoroghly before you buy your next house.

[EdV]

...So, I agree that the speaker may have been speaking of the "diamond lanes" but using the word multimodal.

You are correct.

[EdV]

Resentment about the use and maintenance funding of the MM paths is not limited to non-residents. You see, quite a few years ago there was considerable bickering about this between various TV districts and the special developer controlled district.

About five years ago it became apparent that not only were the paths north of 466 four feet narrower than the newer ones south of 466 but they were starting to deteriorate noticeably.

The developer controlled VCCDD district said that the paths should be maintained by the individual districts through which they ran, and not the amenity funds. Not surprising since that district has no paths in it. Some of the numbered districts cried foul because they had more paths to maintain than others.

And so it went (like hyenas over a kill discussing meal apportionment), until a class action settlement in short provided developer funds for the project and settled the matter. That is why these paths are private because otherwise the counties would have funded the project. The diamond lanes in the streets are public because they are maintained and policed by the counties.

As for the cart access path into and out of the historic section, it was once gated a long time ago. But it was disassembled when it became apparent that you cannot legally discriminate about access to or from public roads. It�s all or none. And the recent petition about it was to prevent a minority of TV residents who wanted it blocked completely from getting their way.

[batman911]

If I'm the developer (I'm not), I would keep the paths open to allow more visitors from other areas to enter TV. This would increase sales for the local businesses that pay me a percentage. It is also a good way to advertise the lifestyle provided in TV that may increase sales of new homes.

Just a thought.

[quirky3]

Lesson learned..... do not, DO NOT use "Happy" or "Happi" as part of your TOTV login name. People will bully you mercilessly until you are "not"!! Kind of ironic.

[janmcn]

Well said Golfer

Before jumping to conclusions about Stonecrest, keep this in mind. From Stonecrest in a standard golf cart, one can access nearly all of the hundreds of stores, restaurants and medical facilities on both sides of 441, as well as three championship golf courses without ever traveling on a multi-modal path. So I find this claim of hordes of Stonecrest residents tearing up the MM paths rather amusing.

On the other hand, TV residents can get to Stonecrest in their golf carts and travel on our private roads to get to our golf course. We just don�t complain about it because it�s not that important.

I'm just curious how you get across 441 in a golf cart?

[Skybo]

I'm just curious how you get across 441 in a golf cart?

There is a golf cart bridge that goes over 441 by Spanish Springs.

[Skybo]

So, I agree that the speaker may have been speaking of the "diamond lanes" but using the word multimodal.

Thanks Mike.

[Bogie Shooter]

I'm just curious how you get across 441 in a golf cart?

Live in TV? Visited TV?

[janmcn]

I've been here since 2000, but the way the poster wrote it sounded like he could access all the shops, etc without traversing through TV or using the multi-modal paths. I thought maybe Stonecrest had built some secret tunnel. I consider the bridge a multi-modal path.

[rubicon]

I am convinced that there are some residents here so deeply immersed in euphoria that it would take a tornado hitting their house to get a negative response

If my memory serves me correctly the marketing pitch was that while you would be paying substantially more for your house, monthly amenitity fees, maintenance fees, higher taxes, especially school taxes in Sumter County, etc etc it was all about buying the "Village Lifestyle" that others were losing by buying elsewhere. And it was not too long ago that a gent from "Oxford" who could not drive his car because of vision problems decided to drive a golf cart on TV pathways and in doing so had a serious accident.

I have had residents from Spruce Creek,. Stone Crest, etc laugh in my face because they were enjoying the "Village Lifestyle" at my expense.

So I am confused as to why residents who have heavily invested here take this information so lightly.

A gent says it is the same as people from out of state visting city parks. No it isn't . The Villages sold exclusivity stated and/or implied . The streets may be public access but to suggest that the golf cart paths are also is wrong and if they arfe then we should not be paying amenities fees, etc as they sould be taxed by the countrty asme as any other road

If this situation continues The Villages will be no more special than Wildwood and if it comes to that then I am going to protest my fees and taxes.

Far too many people are too complacent about what is going on here and we all stand to lose a lot if they don't start speaking up. The Villages made some remarkable and serious claims about the extraordinary lifestyle and now we find that you can live in Stone Crest and secure them all. I don't know what you call it but I call being "duped"

[quirky3]

The Villages made some remarkable and serious claims about the extraordinary lifestyle and now we find that you can live in Stone Crest and secure them all.

How many musical performing groups are there in Stonecrest? Resident Lifestyle groups?

[EdV]

Rubicon, you’re all over the map on this one. Have you had your paint checked for lead lately?

Nowhere here or anywhere else on this forum have I claimed to have any access to the amenities of TV. Nor have I ever laughed in anyones face for their choice of living in TV. The problem is that a minority of TV residents insist on attempting to extend the reach of the amenities to include the roads and public facilities surrounding TV. I have in fact seen some TOTV members refer to them in posts as “our stores, our restaurants, our theaters”, etc. How myopic is that?

What amazes me is how some people are either too lazy to read and understand, or too cheap to hire a lawyer to explain the details of a contract they are about to sign that is the most important financial decision you can make. That’s not being duped. There’s another word for it. But the worst ones are those that understand the rules but think they can get it changed later if they whine load enough.

The golf cart bridge is maintained by the developer and his business tenants and I doubt there is even one of them that would favor excluding Stonecrest residents from using it. But even if you put gates on all the MM paths, it would not affect cart access to the myriad stores and restaurants in the 441 corridor because there are no paths there.

As I’ve stated before I don’t use the GC bridge because I pay around ~$500/yr. to register my street legal cart for the privilege of crossing 441 onto Buenos Aries Blvd. and across Rolling Acres Rd. and all over TV. Why? Because the law says that I can.

And let's not turn this into a my community is better than yours argument which no one will win anyway.

[Happy Villager 1]

Lesson learned..... do not, DO NOT use "Happy" or "Happi" as part of your TOTV login name. People will bully you mercilessly until you are "not"!! Kind of ironic.

Thanks for your concern but people are entitled to their opinions and I don't take it as being bullied. As adults we should be able to disagree but it is much more pleasant when we can all have a conversation to get everyones opinion or take on a situation.

[Augie]

I am convinced that there are some residents here so deeply immersed in euphoria that it would take a tornado hitting their house to get a negative response

If my memory serves me correctly the marketing pitch was that while you would be paying substantially more for your house, monthly amenitity fees, maintenance fees, higher taxes, especially school taxes in Sumter County, etc etc it was all about buying the "Village Lifestyle" that others were losing by buying elsewhere. And it was not too long ago that a gent from "Oxford" who could not drive his car because of vision problems decided to drive a golf cart on TV pathways and in doing so had a serious accident.

I have had residents from Spruce Creek,. Stone Crest, etc laugh in my face because they were enjoying the "Village Lifestyle" at my expense.

So I am confused as to why residents who have heavily invested here take this information so lightly.

A gent says it is the same as people from out of state visting city parks. No it isn't . The Villages sold exclusivity stated and/or implied . The streets may be public access but to suggest that the golf cart paths are also is wrong and if they arfe then we should not be paying amenities fees, etc as they sould be taxed by the countrty asme as any other road

If this situation continues The Villages will be no more special than Wildwood and if it comes to that then I am going to protest my fees and taxes.

Far too many people are too complacent about what is going on here and we all stand to lose a lot if they don't start speaking up. The Villages made some remarkable and serious claims about the extraordinary lifestyle and now we find that you can live in Stone Crest and secure them all. I don't know what you call it but I call being "duped"

You've played that old broken record so many times. Get over your disappointment and find a place you'll be happy - if possible.

What was the name of the guy in Lil Abner that had the black cloud over his head?

[BarryRX]

um, Barry, this is New York, we've been meaning to talk to you about those park visits...

:pepper2:

Sorry New York.....the check is in the mail!

[paulandjean]

Sure I would win, Our community of the villages is better than yours.Enough said.

[EdV]

Well I guess that settles it then, so have another glass of Morse�s Magic Elixir on me.