White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

Or those UnIversity of West Virginia flags? Different districts have some minor differences in their restrictions on yard displays. I think it is a slippery slope when you start trying to say what and what not can be displayed.

Hmmm, I say display anything U want too. If I see it when I drive by UR house, & on my way home I can't see it from My house.... Just a Thought. Plus I Sleep Good at night...........

Quite frankly I've grown sick of hearing about these little white crosses or how it even came up. Luckily we live in district 2 and don't have to worry about it.

All of those are OK with me. A Confederate battle flag or a Nazi flag with a swastika would also be acceptable. I can't think of any kind of symbol that would offend me.

Instead of depending on the complaint system just level the playing field by enforcing this across the board. We signed our deed when we bought. Stick to the deal you willingly signed. Do I mind a cross - absolutely not. Do I mind metal birds, etc. Nope. I do mind though the petty bickering and lawn ornament police. Just make it fair and stop pitting neighbor (or non-neighbor) and against neighbor who can't stick to the rules.

:agree:

We never gave Florida a second look initially when searching for a retirement place. Then we focused on taxes and Florida became promising but we were not sold until we visited The Villages and albeit not truly a gated community we liked the demands for rules and deep compliance's that are absent in much of Florida.

Its a truism that as time passes, a community expands and new people move in such rules are gradually weakened. It is also true that relying on common sense and good taste of all people is futile

So it is imperative that residents speak up when they see violations or homes that are becoming run down. My focus with this thread is to maintain The Villages in a pristine state. My wife and I like freshly painted and often power washed properties. We owe that to ourselves and to our neighbors. Its how proprieties maintain their value. One rotten home could ruin it for an entire neighborhood.

Personal Best Regards:

As to acceptable symbols i believe that is a subject matter best left in political talk

There is little upside to the Developer or CDD proactively enforcing the deed restrictions, where they exist, with regard to tchotchkes in the yards. It would take manpower and they would come off as being heavy handed. The current complaint driven system is not ideal but from the Developer and CDD point of view is probably the best. All organizations tend to do what is in their own best interests. I would, however, like to see a requirement that any complaint has a name attached to it.

A resident lodging a complaint should be given anonymity. Why? Because if not, many residents would not speak up because of concern that they would be harassed by the probable offender.

Deep compliance relies exclusively on resident complaints and if they are not provided anonymity would never speak up.

I trust the people working in Deed compliance to respond in an intelligent and tactful manner

Personal Best Regards:

Why single out one school? Am I missing something?

We hopefully did read our restrictions when we bought because at signing we agreed to live by these rules.

Totally Agree
 

I am as religious as the next guy BUT that does not mean I have the right to force my beliefs on others. This a form of advertising regardless of the reasons given by the ones who post the cross. Think how far this can go if it was allowed. Where does it stop and who is the censor? We all signed the restrictions agreement and if we don't like them now then sell and go where it is allowed to advertise your religion. If you want to be a "Mission" then for God's sake there are a lot of countries who could use Missions and please go to them and help them. The Villages, thankfully don't need missions so your work is misplaced. :shrug:

I know there are rules and I try my best to follow them I was turned in for an infraction which proved not to be one. If I was a nasty person the houses to the left and right of me and behind all have a violation. Not my problem. It's not offensive. What I don't understand is why my front yard according to the rules has to be a certain way but someone's back yard facing a street can look like crap.Trees, cactus, planters, birds you name it. JMO. Don't worry I won't turn you in unless it's really nasty. This is paradise sit back and enjoy it !

I think it's crazy that some folks look at this as a "religious" issue...it's not. It's simply a matter of following the rules you agreed to follow when you bought your home. If you don't like the rules, don't buy a home. Seems simple to me.

I note that this thread was started by the mountaineer -- perhaps born in Wild, Wonderful W.V.? I lived there for over 17 years
. A beautiful state. BUT, at least where I lived, there was no zoning rules -- what a shame. Someone would build a lovely home only to have someone next door put up a shack. I'd hate to see what our retirement community would look like if the covenants and restrictions weren't abided by. Just sayin........

I question where freedom of speech ends
 

For me freedom of speech is sacred. For me freedom of speech is most important when you do not agree with what is being said.
I wonder as they remove confederate statues etc in the name of POLITICALLY CORRECT and yet I would strongly object to NAZI FLAGS, KKK FLAGS, ISSIS FLAGS OR BLACK POWER FLAGS BEING FLOWN.

If, I recall, one of the supreme court justices said, pornography is impossible to define but I will know it when I see it. As my dad said, your rights end where the other persons rights begin.

While I am not christian, I have no objection to the small white crosses that some have chosen to put in front of their homes. There is a point where it gets to be too much
For me I don't think we are at that point and I hope we never get there.

There are many things we do not agree on
 

RE: anonymous reports
Under the law of our nation you have the right to face your accuser.
For me, if I had an issue I would directly speak to the person before resorting to the architectural committee etc.

My next door neighbor hired one of the landscape people to do stone work etc. Part of what they did was actually on my property. The neighbor, agreed to have it moved. The worker came over to me and told me I was a ....... etc etc etc etc. I told him directly that I was going to check.
I called the architectural people. First of all the "EXPERT" had not even filed a plan as he needs to. He was in VIOLATION and they forced him to move it. They actually were nice about it.

Some of these things can really get out of hand. Was someone to report you or me you would be offended and you would guess who did it-perhaps incorrectly.

NEIGHBOR REPORTING NEIGHBOR-I HOPE NOT.

I'm curious what are reasons people are putting white crosses in their yard.

I may be mistaken but I believe its a symbol for those who are Right to Lifers.

Frankly I don't care what anyone puts on their lawn as long as its not offensive or goes beyond the "spirit" of the deed restrictions.

What is more annoying are those, some on here, who pontificate about "reading the deed restrictions". I guess those are the same people that routinely obey the speed limit and never ever go one mile above it.

How would you know what the "spirit" of the deed restrictions are unless you actually read them? Regardless, the "spirit" doesn't matter. You signed up for a set of rules and should follow them.

Would "never" speak up? Sorry, not true. There may be less complaints filed. It would also probably reduce trolling. I have lived in a gated community with deed restrictions and where complaints were not anonymous. It worked fine.

And we have some really nasty Villagers around who seem to really enjoy causing as many problems as possible. Once a punk; always a punk.

IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE......264 POSTS.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...=white+crosses
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...=white+crosses
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...=white+crosses

The trouble is, with the exception of trollers, you will probably figure out who did complain or incorrectly assume who complained. The net result may be even more tension. If your name is associated with a complaint, you are probably going to be more certain that there is really an issue and perhaps even try talking directly with your neighbor first. This is all actually moot since a change in the policy is not coming. My personal preference on how people should interact is a pipe dream.

It's quite reasonable to know what the "spirit" is. It's sorta like when you are on your Harley doing 75 in a 65 and the cop doesn't pull you over because you are driving just fine.

I suggest more people start stretching the deed restrictions. Bring a little diversity to TV in appearance.

I used to think it was a marker for a deceased pet but then there got to be so many.

I take that to mean you ALWAYS come to a COMPLETE stop at that red octagonal sign when you are riding????:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

The deed restrictions are black and white. Following up on your analogy, when is says you cannot have an outside mounted clothesline, it doesn't say that the clothesline cannot be longer than 65 feet and perhaps the CDD doesn't enforce the rule until you have a clothesline that is over 75 feet. You cannot have an outside mounted clothesline (unless permitted by some other law), period, and there is no "spirit" or "stretching" of the rule. I am curious as to which deed restrictions you are proposing that people start to stretch (i.e. violate)? I hope you are not suggestion that people start putting abandoned cars up on concrete blocks in their front yard. That would certainly bring a bit more diversity to The Villages ;-)

Probably about as often as you do and you signed up for the same rules as me ;-) And when you are driving, I am sure you also come to a complete stop at every stop sign and have never exceeded the speed limit, or jaywalked, or ... And the discussion was about the deed restrictions, of which I don't violate any. So, what's your point regarding the deed restrictions?

White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

Actually that's a good example (but not in the way you meant it to be). By not stopping you ARE breaking the law and just like the deed restrictions eventually you COULD get caught. Also Like the deed restrictions you may get away with it forever. My golf cart can go 29mph. When I "speed" eventually I'll get caught but it's my choice to take the chance.

When one buys here you (should) know what you are signing up for. These types of DR's exist all over the world.

Also, these aren't the kind of laws that require "the constitutional right to face you accusers". I believe the USSC upheld deed restrictions many years ago.

If one is willing to challenge them, which is their right, they should also be willing to face the consequences if they lose.





Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It is already being done around the Villages by a couple of hamburger joints and one on the "outskirts" of downtown Brownwood, not to mention a few rotten boats swamped in Lake Sumter. But oh yes, that's the Developers "yard' so it is OK.
chilout

I believe the swamped boats are intentional - part of the nautical ambiance of Lake Sumter. I have always wondered where you buy that stuff - "www.decrepitboats.com" ??

I totally agree
 

Off topic or on topic. I recall seeing a BOOK of traffic violations in NY. It was many years ago. I expect it is no longer printed. I recall you could be ticketed for a rock chip in your windshield. Look, you probably have one. The police have the good sense not to enforce this ticket-even in NY. I have a friend who got a ticket for rolling through a stop sign on a bicycle. I don't know about Fla but in NY you can be ticketed for having you car parked in the same spot for 24 hours straight. Parking your car facing the wrong way on the street is also a violation in NY. Probably in Fla as well.

Sometimes it is not a law but COMMON SENSE that should direct your behavior. SADLY hear as in real life some people either cannot see or refuse to see that they are ever WRONG.

For me, I too do the best I can. I do not object to activity by others that I think is ok for me. Re: someone else s yard, I've not seen a single truly bad yard. Truth be told, thanks to all the rain and the fact that I am doing my own fertilizers-my lawn is pretty darn fine. I have no plan on starting my lawn is greener than your lawn.

Now I'm confused.:confused::confused::confused:

Are you saying that deed restrictions should be followed to the exact letter of the sales documents, but traffic laws are optional????

I am sorry you are confused ;-). Please feel free to do whatever makes you happy as I won't report you to the CDD and I have nothing to do with traffic law enforcement so you are free, as far as I am concerned, to violate as many laws as you wish. As far as I am concerned, I follow the deed restrictions but violate traffic laws probably as frequently as the next guy (I admit that I have gone over the speed limit before, I will say my 3 Hail Marys). What's with the tangent to traffic laws?

What you say is no so
 

I used to know a guy that regularly rode a motorcycle with no PLATES, LICENSE OR INSURANCE. The cops chose not to chase him because it would be dangerous for the cop, the rider and everyone else.

Looks like I need to rephrase the question.

You stated "You signed up for a set of rules and should follow them. "


I asked if you felt the same way about stop signs while riding your bike.

Somewhere between the question and answer someone made a wrong turn and got off on a tangent.

then you state "As far as I am concerned, I follow the deed restrictions but violate traffic laws probably as frequently as the next guy."

So I'm still confused. Maybe some people follow the traffic laws but violate the deed restrictions as frequently as the next guy. What does that mean?????

Not sure if you are serious
 

Look on Craiglist, there are always free boats.

Thanks to the abuse of the 2nd, no one is safe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk