Lawn ornament trolls
 

Some time back someone posted if an "offending ornament" was under the eves, it was OK?
Well the troll(s) have struck in my neighbor, so I dug out the deed restrictions, and I could NOT find the exception for items "under the eves", this is in District 9.
If anyone has actually seen this text in their deed restrictions, please let me know which district and if possible what item number in the restrictions.
A BIG thank you for your help.

The exemption does not exist, urban legend.

Out of site, out of mind.

I looked at a few of the deed restriction documents. They all say that lawn ornaments are prohibited except for seasonal displays for 30 days. I guess someone could make a case that the front patio is not part of the lawn, or that something hanging from the eve is not a lawn ornament. I didn't see any definition for a lawn.

All I can say is there are very few homes that are in total compliance with all of the rules. Planting in the in the drainage swails, hedges that have turned into walls,raised corner flower beds to close to the property line, to many dogs, yard & lawn ornaments etc. There is never a problem with this until some one person gets turned in and then out comes the troll.

I always find it slightly humorous when people complain about those who turn in folks for deed restriction violations. That is the reason the violations are available. Personally I don't particularly like my neighborhood looking like something like a 50's animal/nursery rhyme park. If you don't like the deed restrictions why on earth don't you move? Perhaps you only like some of them? Calling people "troll" is childish. Enforcing the rules and regulations are what make living here better than places where they don't enforce them.

But it’s “ok” to have your back yard which is backed up to the street full of Cactus plants!

I have to agree.
I have never called on a neighbor for some of the crazy stuff they put out.
But this insistence that it is the person who complained is the problem is ridiculous.

When you live in Florida in a CDD there are rules.
I lived in Tampa and they had the same rules.

Yep.

Maybe a call to villages watch is in order they’ll contact the neighbor and you’ll be kept Anonymous.

:ohdear: Not Villages Watch...... Community Standards.

VCDD Community Standards :ho:

My opinion
 

I've never before lived in a planed community such as The Villages.

There are all kinds of pluses and minuses. Some are truly amusing and well pathetic.

I recall a business associate who lived in a similar-planed community. After several years someone complained about the location of his tree and voiced an unanimous complaint. I neither particularly liked him or had any interest in his tree.

BUT, the community decided to hire an atty. He too hired an attorney. The issue went on for years. I never said it but first of all he was paying for the communities atty in his common charges. Secondly he was paying his own atty. I will guess that tree cost him as much as a nice car. Not to leave the story without an end. The tree was never resolved. He passed away. The property went to his daughter I assume. Were it me, I would have little concern for the quality of the new owner.


FOR ALL OF YOU-think is it really important? Are YOU as perfect as you THINK YOU ARE? If, you wish to look for problems you will surely be able to find them.

"villages watch" does not handle these issues.

Complaints of this nature are made to Deed Compliance at 352-751-3912

Cactus plants are nature....better than old car parts!:)

I agree with you 100%, what does it matter who reported the infraction, if it's not allowed, it's not allowed.

I agree with this logic completely. And in fact, the person reporting is not declaring that there is an infraction. He / she is asking community standards to determine whether or not there is an infraction.

Is this an actual lawn ornament, or a garden gnome statuette? Do the deed restrictions define "lawn ornament?" If so, what is that definition? Does the offending object fit that description?

I see photos on the Villages homefinder page, that very proudly display all kinds of things "under the eves" of the front of the dwelling. Most of them are crosses, in full view of the sidewalk out front, and not even in an actual garden. They're not, however, "on the lawn." So does that make them "not lawn ornaments?" These are not the old properties where restrictions are less restrictive, either.

Buttonwood, Pinellas, south of 466. Some are patio villas, some courtyard villas, and some ranch and designer homes. So it's not even "oh well "those" types of homes are exempt."

So as I see it, it really depends on the object and whether or not it's actually on a lawn. If it's on a lawn, it's absolutely positively a lawn ornament, by definition.

But if it's not on a lawn - and if it's a garden critter, or a religious symbol (like a cross) or even a 2-foot planter shaped like a golf cart and growing morning glory vines up a miniature wrought-iron trellis - then it's not a lawn ornament.

Kinda. But not exactly. It all makes good sense to those who bought here and signed the deed restrictions. We have had them before for decades. I prefer deed restricted PLANNED communities. I do so like them Sam I am.

Many houses have there entire front yard covered with rocks. But, the dictionary defines a lawn as a grassy area. So, I guess lawn ornaments would be allowed on a rock covered yard?

Wish we had more "Trolls" Don't understand people who voluntarily enter into a contract and then refuse to honor their agreement. Hope the trolls stay diligent .

The covenants are different for every district but for District 9

"Lawn ornaments, or yard art, generally refers to manmade items located anywhere outside the structure or footprint of the home..."

and it goes on and list things like statues, wind chimes and other things as examples of yard art.

So lawn ornaments wouldn't be allowed in the rock covered areas.

Thank you all for the discussion, I was looking for what appears to be an "urban legend". While I was NOT the object of any action, at least 2 neighbors were, and I was doing the research for them. While I generally support the existing system, this recent example appears to be people just cruising around looking for infractions. Items reported were actually appreciated by many neighbors......
This appears to be an abuse of the system, but that is a discussion for another day.
Again thank you for all of the discussion and points of view.

Go right to the source, and ask the horse (Deed Compliance 352-751-3912) about the "urban legend".

So it wasn't even the people IN the neighborhood doing the complaining? Wow. That's pretty pathetic. If their lives are so miserable that they have to create problems where none exist, then they need to just find a nice cave to move into, where nothing can bother them ever again.

I get that rules are rules. I also get that this seems to be a 'if it ain't broke, don't whine about it' situation, where minor infractions are overlooked as long as the neighborhood is okay with it and no one complains. If it gets to be more than a minor infraction, or becomes more prevalent in the neighborhood, someone will complain, and it'll be dealt with then. But there's no reason to go to other parts of The Villages just so you can point out what's wrong with THOSE houses THERE - unless you just really get a sick twisted kind of kick out of minding everyone else's business.

Really don’t see anything wrong with that yard; I pass it every time I come home from work. It’s plants and they look a lot better than some of the lawns along that same street. To each his own....

I like it. It’s different and plants seem well cared for.

:agree:, as I personally don't have a problem with well-maintained cactus instead of the usual landscaping...as long as they don't create a hazard.

Speaking of which, there used to be an Aloe plant that partially hung out into the golf cart lane, between the 8th and 9th holes on Glenview's Stirrup Cup (Talley Ridge Dr.).

Every time I went past it, I could just envision a cart hugging the curb, a passenger not paying attention and those points on the leaves...doing some serious physical damage (think chain saw).

It's since been removed (massively trimmed?) and I'm guessing it was because I was far from the only one...who had the same concern.

Here's a Google pic of before it was removed/trimmed and if you look closely, you can see where it had been partially trimmed at the very bottom...because the leaves were in the cart lane.

I agree. Everyone moved here knowing these restrictions existed. I appreciate that some people think their gaudy lawn ornaments look good, but a lot of people don't feel that way, and the restrictions are actually one of the reasons why I moved here.

I just received my paperwork today, did not have to sign the restriction paperwork, not sure if you have to sign it at the closing. It clearly says lawn ornaments and not yard ornaments which means nothing on the grass. As far as where the bushes and mulch are is not lawn as there is no grass.

Troll is a much too charitable description.

Good luck with your misguided logic!

?? It is just what I read.

Many people turn the focus on the persons who report violations. The violator (not the reporter) creates a potential problem when he violates the rules.

Narcissists blame others, as well as feel a highly increased sense of entitlement, i.e. "I am entitled to put up a lawn ornament, and if I get caught, you are to blame for turning me in".

Violators might want to consider that they are to blame. They agree to follow the rules when they buy. Then they decide to ignore them. So who is really to blame when one "gets caught"? Could it be the one who feels "entitled" to do as he pleases?

We see many beautiful yard decorations everywhere we go. I am not saying that you are right or wrong about this but I think it would be worth a call to Community standards to clarify.

It doesn't sound misguided to me. The Pine Ridge document says lawn ornaments are prohibited, but it doesn't say anything about yard ornaments.

If you can see it and it's not a typical holiday decoration, you've violated the spirit of the rule. The second grade responses on here amaze me.

I think that people just have different opinions. And, the deed restriction document is extremely vague and inadequate regarding "ornaments". It is even more inadequate in addressing noise violations, which are more important to me.

Someone turned me in for leaving a plain orange plastic pumpkin over my lamppost light for months. I thought it was cute and helped identify my house at night.

The Community Standards person came by twice and left a notice of violation, which I ignored. The third time I was home and showed him my deed restriction, which did not specifically prohibit it. He claimed there was a Villages-wide "matrix" that applied to everyone. Sir, you are incorrect.

I had to call Community Standards twice, but victory was ultimately mine. I left the thing up for another year or so until I moved.*


* Out of the historic district.

Isn't noise a county thing?

Was it plain or have a face? A face would be considered a seasonal Halloween decoration. A truly plain one would be a tough call.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0af64b8e24.jpg

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