[Justus]

Originally Posted by NJblue

A principle argument of those who favor growth in TV is that as it grows, infrastructure grows with it. If that is true, then the number of parking spaces per household should be fairly static.

If it is tour companies/travel agencies who are trying to make a buck by organizing daytrips or longer, I completely agree with you that it is up to them to find a solution. However, if it is a club or group of people within TV that wants to charter a bus for a trip, then we, as Village stakeholders via the CDD should do everything possible to encourage that activity.

Amenity fees are designed to provide amenities. One amenity that is very cheap to offer is a parking spot that in almost all cases is going to be vacant.

I agree 100%. We've gone on neighborhood/club cruises and/or one-day excursions and have been prohibited from leaving our car in our neighborhood recreation center lot. We have, along with other neighbors, in some cases, 80-year-olds, hauled our luggage several blocks from our home to the bus while the recreation center parking lot lies empty in our absence. Many retirement communities offer shuttles from a resident's home to club outing pick-up points. A convenient parking place would be a small and inexpensive alternative, and a means of accommodating an aging resident population.

[Buckeyephan]

The last AAA trip I took picked up at their SS office. No less convenient than the previous spot. If you take a Senior Adventures tour, you park for free at the Recreation Plantation. Frankly the parking at LSL was a nightmare this winter. Can't imagine how much worse it would be if bus loads of people were parked there, too. Those trips are available to non-residents. Do we want them taking up spots? Also, we will soon have thousands more Villagers crowding into what we have now. I'm glad that TPTB are being proactive. Maybe I'll go north for the winter to escape the throngs of incoming.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by janmcn

You do know that Janet Tutt is appointed to her job by the developer and cannot be fired by anyone other than that developer?

Maybe was......not is. Janet Tutt has solid line reporting to the 11 CDD's, the VCCDD, SLCDD, BCDD and the NSCUDD. The VCCDD, SLCDD and BCDD are established through the State of Florida subject to local government approval, like all CDD's. I will ask the question, but I would suspect if the CDD's wanted to change management they could. Since the Districts must comply with Chapter 190 as must the transition by the Developer, I don't see a long term reason for the Developer to play in that arena even if he legally could.

[DianeM]

I think day trips are a lot of fun for a great many people. I myself do them infrequently. I think TV is trying to mandate way too many rules for the way people would like to live their lives. I guess pretty soon we will have to wear ankle monitors so TV knows when we leave the Bubble

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Maybe was......not is. Janet Tutt has solid line reporting to the 11 CDD's, the VCCDD, SLCDD, BCDD and the NSCUDD. The VCCDD, SLCDD and BCDD are established through the State of Florida subject to local government approval, like all CDD's. I will ask the question, but I would suspect if the CDD's wanted to change management they could. Since the Districts must comply with Chapter 190 as must the transition by the Developer, I don't see a long term reason for the Developer to play in that arena even if he legally could.

You are right of course. However, some just like to bash Ms Tutt.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by DianeM

I think day trips are a lot of fun for a great many people. I myself do them infrequently. I think TV is trying to mandate way too many rules for the way people would like to live their lives. I guess pretty soon we will have to wear ankle monitors so TV knows when we leave the Bubble

Diane, you are close but backwards. TV cares where we are in the bubble. They don't care when we leave. Seriously, without all the rules there would be anarchy.

[redwitch]

Not too long ago, I was on my merry rounds and turned onto Viola in Dunedin. Had to sit and wait while a bus was loaded. Golf carts and cars were parked in several driveways. Wondered why this group was not loading at a rec center. Guess now I know why. Think this solution would work for day trips. Not so sure about several carts and cars in driveways overnight or longer.

[l2ridehd]

The main issue is being lost. The issue is not the buses making the pick up and drop off, it's the cars left behind for the duration of the bus trip. Rec center parking lots are over flowing now. Shopping centers don't have enough parking and it is a challenge to find parking at the squares.

If buses were allowed to pick up passengers at these locations, soon there would be 100 buses doing it and that would add 4000 cars taking up space in an already challenged parking situation. Granted during the off season parking is much less an issue, but I don't think you could make a rule for just certain months.

As for Villages transportation being allowed to do it, they don't create a parking problem as they also provide at home pick up and drop off.

So personally I agree with the developer, don't add to the parking issue by allowing outside business a parking solution to their problem. Let them find a solution to solve their business issue. Church lots is a good one, and I am sure there are other near by business that could use the added revenue and have available space.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

The main issue is being lost. The issue is not the buses making the pick up and drop off, it's the cars left behind for the duration of the bus trip. Rec center parking lots are over flowing now. Shopping centers don't have enough parking and it is a challenge to find parking at the squares.

If buses were allowed to pick up passengers at these locations, soon there would be 100 buses doing it and that would add 4000 cars taking up space in an already challenged parking situation. Granted during the off season parking is much less an issue, but I don't think you could make a rule for just certain months.

As for Villages transportation being allowed to do it, they don't create a parking problem as they also provide at home pick up and drop off.

So personally I agree with the developer, don't add to the parking issue by allowing outside business a parking solution to their problem. Let them find a solution to solve their business issue. Church lots is a good one, and I am sure there are other near by business that could use the added revenue and have available space.

This church lot idea sounds like a good one and seems to have been presented by a number of TOTVers.

[iaudit]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Maybe was......not is. Janet Tutt has solid line reporting to the 11 CDD's, the VCCDD, SLCDD, BCDD and the NSCUDD. The VCCDD, SLCDD and BCDD are established through the State of Florida subject to local government approval, like all CDD's. I will ask the question, but I would suspect if the CDD's wanted to change management they could. Since the Districts must comply with Chapter 190 as must the transition by the Developer, I don't see a long term reason for the Developer to play in that arena even if he legally could.

The VCCDD, SLCDD and BCDD may have been established through Chapter 190 BUT they will always be controlled by the developer and Janet Tutt works for them, not the other residential CDD's. She has no real control over residential CDD's, witness the line painting on multi-modal path done by one CDD which she opposed.

[kstew43]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The cost of a day trip on a bus is far greater than driving a car.

Everyone I know has a reliable car here in The Villages and can drive.

I realize that some love bus trips. I am sure the tour bus owners will soon solve this problem. They are the ones that are making money, them and the travel agents.... AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT..

Goodie for you......I know of many people that are not as lucky as you...

In my time spent in the villages I have met many who because of medical reasons can not drive, particularly at night, and many who can not afford to buy a newer car that they will feel safe making a 2 hour trip...

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

The main issue is being lost. The issue is not the buses making the pick up and drop off, it's the cars left behind for the duration of the bus trip. Rec center parking lots are over flowing now. Shopping centers don't have enough parking and it is a challenge to find parking at the squares.

If buses were allowed to pick up passengers at these locations, soon there would be 100 buses doing it and that would add 4000 cars taking up space in an already challenged parking situation. Granted during the off season parking is much less an issue, but I don't think you could make a rule for just certain months.

As for Villages transportation being allowed to do it, they don't create a parking problem as they also provide at home pick up and drop off.

So personally I agree with the developer, don't add to the parking issue by allowing outside business a parking solution to their problem. Let them find a solution to solve their business issue. Church lots is a good one, and I am sure there are other near by business that could use the added revenue and have available space.

I would add to that a liability issue. Once you give that permission to park, people are sure to blame the Villages if something was done to their vehicle.

[Challenger]

Commercial operators need to conractually provide for their operations. If parking were not a problem we would't be having this conversation.
Imagine if there had never been buses coming into the Villages parking areas and there was an announcement that they would now be invited in, the uproar would be heard to Canada.
Bus trips are great- the operators need to take responsibility for the care of their customers.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by Bonny

I would add to that a liability issue. Once you give that permission to park, people are sure to blame the Villages if something was done to their vehicle.

How is that any different than when a villager parks to go into a rec center? Whether a villager is enjoying the amenity of free parking to go into a rec center or free parking to participate in a Villages endorsed club activity, the risks are the same. Why discriminate against those Villagers who want to enjoy themselves outside The Villages?

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

The main issue is being lost. The issue is not the buses making the pick up and drop off, it's the cars left behind for the duration of the bus trip. Rec center parking lots are over flowing now. Shopping centers don't have enough parking and it is a challenge to find parking at the squares.

If buses were allowed to pick up passengers at these locations, soon there would be 100 buses doing it and that would add 4000 cars taking up space in an already challenged parking situation. Granted during the off season parking is much less an issue, but I don't think you could make a rule for just certain months.

As for Villages transportation being allowed to do it, they don't create a parking problem as they also provide at home pick up and drop off.

So personally I agree with the developer, don't add to the parking issue by allowing outside business a parking solution to their problem. Let them find a solution to solve their business issue. Church lots is a good one, and I am sure there are other near by business that could use the added revenue and have available space.

You are conflating two different issues. Most would agree that businesses that organize tours for profit and certainly those that allow non-Villagers to participate should be either banned or charged for the right to use Village property for their benefit. However, when the trip is organized by Villages clubs and it is Village amenity-paying residents who are being denied use of what their amenities are paying for, the situation is completely different.

The Rec center parking lots are designed for peak use. They have to be since there is no alternative parking. All rec centers are not at peak usage at all times. It is possible to determine which centers may be experiencing a peak condition long in advance because the rooms have to be reserved and the purpose noted. It doesn't require a logistical genius to determine which parking lots may have excess capacity at any given time. All one would have to do is set up a permit system where the Village club wanting to sponsor a bus trip could put in a request for a parking permit and the recreation department could assign a rec center parking lot for that event.

What astounds me by this whole discussion is that those who favor the bus ban do so knowing that their friends and neighbors are the ones who are paying the price by having to jump through hoops because an amenity that they are paying for is being denied them. Whatever happened to the concept of "The Florida's Friendliest Home Town"? It seems to be being replaced by the country's most bureaucratic home town.