Talk of The Villages Florida - Ridiculous, UGLY solar panelling from District 5

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Ridiculous, UGLY solar panelling from District 5

Check out the entranceways to Hialeah Villas and Cherry Hill Villas on Belvedere. This is how The Villages is spending your money...even with a "green" grant, which they may claim, it is UGLY and ridiculous...at the well lit entranceways to these villa streets, they have a solar company come out, and put up a 4-5 foot metal pole and on that pole, put a 5-6 foot long by 2 foot solar panel, sticking out like a sore thumb. When asked why they hoisted it up, the workmen said there was a large battery box to be installed beneath it. Let me tell you folks, this has to be expensive as well as UGLY, and I urge you to come and check it out and call your representative. It is stuff like this that is ridiculous. I am all for green too, but all this to illuminate an already plainly lit visible Cherry Hill Villas entranceway. A bad way to "UGLY it up" and it is not needed.

How about a picture?

Okay you've peaked my interest. Photo please.

I'll drive by there later, 16 and see if I can take a picture and post it.
Golferling, maybe they will disguise it later. In Los Angeles, the cell towers that were put in all over the city were later disguised as palm trees and they looked real. Hopefully they have a plan that they haven't told us about yet. I'm trying to be positive about this.

One was recently installed in front of Chesterfield Villas in Liberty Park and I don't think it looks that bad - maybe because it is surrounded by mature landscape.

What was the District response when you discussed with them?

There also is one in Bonnybrook. I'm sure the plan is for vegetation to at least partially cover it in time. (I hope.)

From www.districtgov.org website.... minutes from district 5 Feb 20th meeting regarding solar lighting at villa entrances. Looks like a done deal to me. You might be able to read back in agendas/minutes from earlier month's meetings to find where this project formulation was discussed and the rationale for it.

This is not always the best organized website but there is a wealth of information on it.

Here ya go....

Acceptance of Selection Committee – RFP #09P-022
Purchase of Villa Entry Solar Lighting Systems.
Eva Rey, Purchasing/Support Services Director, stated Staff issued a Request for Proposal (RFP)
for the purchase of villa entry solar lighting systems for Districts 5, 6 and 7. Ms. Rey advised following
the proposals submitted and presentations made, the Selection Committee is recommending the Board
award RFP #09P-022 to Allsolar Service Company for a cost of $2,779.28, installed without borings, for
a single sign wall entry and $3,395.20, installed without borings, for two (2) sign wall entries. Sam
Wartinbee, District Property Management, stated estimated costs, inclusive of borings for the 24 villa
entries within District 5 that require the installation of solar lighting is $89,000. Staff had budgeted
$72,000 for the project; however, funds are available in the Capital Infrastructure line item that can be
transferred to offset the additional unforeseen costs of the borings.
Vice-Chairman Runyon inquired if landscape material would have to be removed for the project.
Sam Wartinbee stated the landscaping may have to be adjusted and additional plants may have to be

added to hide the solar panels.

The District 5 board did vote unanimously to approve this contract.

Perhaps an expert can correct me....but I didn't think that area was OWNED by THE District (VCCDD)....I believe it is still fully owned by the Developer....

I repeat....I THINK it is....I might be wrong....

It did not seem so ugly to me.

I had not even noticed it the first couple of times I drove past the entrances to these two Villa neighborhoods which are just south of the Belvedere gate.

They are about 2.5 feet off the ground and are on the area just opposite from the main gates for each Villa group. Their purpose is to light up the signs for each entrance.

Ted Kennedy didn't want windmills on Nantucket Sound either! But guess what?

Unfortunately, some of our energy solutions may not be as pleasing to the eye as one might prefer, BUT, we've got to get with the program. Every little bit helps.

Hey, how about all those UGLYYYYYYY solar water heaters on the roofs. It's just a sign of the times!

Speaking of conservation, how about all the water we waste as a community to keep a stupid lawn green? Being from the Northeast we hardly ever watered. Forget the cost for a moment, given the serious water problems here, it drives me nuts to see the huge amounts of water, potable or otherwise being wasted every hour of the day and night. In New England the lawn was green in Spring and Fall, if it was hot and dry in the Summer, so was the lawn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 197430)

What was the District response when you discussed with them?

Very interesting question, seldom asked and even more rarely answered. I'll be awaiting a reply to you with worms on my tongue.

`

Would anyone be willing to post a photo so those of us who do not live in TV can see what these things look like?:shrug:

Dirigo (feeling left out of the loop)

I agree with Tal, they are barely noticeable unless you are looking for them and they were just recently installed. By this time next year they will probably be out of view..............GN

MAYBE WHOVER JOB IT IS TO MONITOR THIS BLOG AT THE VILLAGES WILL FORWARD THE COMPLAINTS TO THE PROPER FOLKS

:jester:

They were installing the one at our rental villa in Lynnhaven while I was there working in the yard. And since we are on the corner where the sign is, I was questioning the workers about what they were installing.
The guys were very excited about telling me what a wonderful thing it would be to have this great solar lighted sign.
But it is ugly to look at, especially from the side yard.
I think it mostly affects the corner units like ours.

I don't think the shrubs will ever grow up to cover it as our shrubs are already mature and TV keeps them clipped to the height they are.
But maybe they will add some taller plants. I hope...

I wish they had left it like it was... :oops:

Donna,,, you have one too...