[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

That sounds ugly. "in their pocket". I am so tired of this disdain toward the Morse family for no good reason.

Agree ... people need to get past the simplistic good/evil caricatures. I am SO tired of that as well.

It is compellingly obvious ... had the 'evil' bad guy etc Gary Morse not done his capitalistic, free market thing, none of us would be living here, because TV would never have gotten off the ground. Nor, for that matter, would TOTV even exist.

[buzzy]

Mystic Ice Cream is already expanding. Do they know something?

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by NJblue

This is not just "same old, same old". The Villages is a master planned community. When all that property was purchased years ago, they had the ability to develop a master plan for the entire concept. This included traffic engineering, water/sewer planning, golf course and other amenity planning. As long as the project was constrained by the original size and scope, the only thing necessary, if the original planning was done well (and it seems to have been), is minor tweeks to the plan. This is the advantage that master planned communities have over normal communities and their suburban sprawl.

Now, however, they have been deviating from the original plan. First by additions to rooftops (as houses are referred to by the CDD) in lands previously designated as commercial as well as relatively minor new land acquisitions and now by a major land acquisition. Since these additions were not part of the original plan, it's anyone's guess as to how well they will be integrated into the existing plan, but clearly those who laid out the original plan many years ago, did not include all these new houses in their overall plan. Will it look well planned 10 years from now? Or, will it resemble suburban sprawl?

Will it really matter 10 years from now? As long as the amenities that made you / us buy here still exist who cares how big it is. There are millions of "boomers " who may want to live here and it seems wise to plan for them.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by DianeM

Will it really matter 10 years from now? As long as the amenities that made you / us buy here still exist who cares how big it is. There are millions of "boomers " who may want to live here and it seems wise to plan for them.

Well, I certainly hope to be here 10 years from now and would not look forward to deterioration every year from now until then.

As to the amenities, that is one of my concerns. The master plan called for amenities sized according to the TV footprint and its corresponding population that was in existence many years ago when the land was purchased. That maximum population is now changing. Unless all amenities are increased accordingly, their availability will be continually decreasing.

When you say it is wise to plan for the millions of boomers, you certainly don't think that TV needs to accomodate all of them. At some point, any community, no matter how great it may be when it was originally planned will be negatively impacted by a population that exceeds it original planning. I have been here 5 years and in those 5 years I have seen the impact of the growth in terms of traffic congestion and other infrastructure impacts during the snowbird season. Yet, this is all within the current planning; add even more residents to this with additional property acquisition and things will only get worse.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by NJblue

Well, I certainly hope to be here 10 years from now and would not look forward to deterioration every year from now until then.

As to the amenities, that is one of my concerns. The master plan called for amenities sized according to the TV footprint and its corresponding population that was in existence many years ago when the land was purchased. That maximum population is now changing. Unless all amenities are increased accordingly, their availability will be continually decreasing.

When you say it is wise to plan for the millions of boomers, you certainly don't think that TV needs to accomodate all of them. At some point, any community, no matter how great it may be when it was originally planned will be negatively impacted by a population that exceeds it original planning. I have been here 5 years and in those 5 years I have seen the impact of the growth in terms of traffic congestion and other infrastructure impacts during the snowbird season. Yet, this is all within the current planning; add even more residents to this with additional property acquisition and things will only get worse.

Have you seen the master plan?

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

Have you seen the master plan?

Yes I have. It's basically what you see being developed now in terms of golf courses and rec centers. Since it was developed they have acquired more land around Lake Deaton, converted land formerly designated as commercial to create additional residential communities and are now talking about yet another large land purchase.

[DianeM]

Of course not all boomers will come here but it would be short sighted not to plan. Growth is progress.

[gomoho]

IMHO - they may need to think about converting some championship courses to executive 'cause tee times will be just to difficult to get at build out. I know lots of folks say they don't have a problem during high season, but we sure have and I'm only looking at playing 2-3 times a week.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by DianeM

Of course not all boomers will come here but it would be short sighted not to plan. Growth is progress.

They did plan. That plan was developed years ago. Now they are trying to make modifications to that plan on the go. My point is that to say that additions of large tracks of land will not have an impact is very myopic.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by gomoho

So do you think Fruitland Park will be thought of as part of TV or always thought of as "that other community"? Just seems like it will be so separate from the rest of us it won't have the same continuous flow most neighborhoods enjoy.

It won't seen detached when completed. It appears to me that Hilsborough Trail will extend eastward into the southwest portion, and Farner Place (at TV Health, Colony Care Center) will extend eastward into the northwest portion. Plus one entrance from 466A into the northeast portion.

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by NJblue

They did plan. That plan was developed years ago. Now they are trying to make modifications to that plan on the go. My point is that to say that additions of large tracks of land will not have an impact is very myopic.

I'm sorry but change is part of living. Nothing is ever set in stone. "Years ago " was a different viewpoint. Times change.

[justjim]

There are always some opposed to economic development. Two lane roads (maybe even gravel) and cows grazing is their thing----around this area we are way passed that concept. This (as I posted on another thread) is a big win for Fruitland Park and Lake County. No increase population for their schools, $$$$$ from taxes and Jobs.

And, I might add, 4,000 more Villagers to buy Cars, Golf carts, and ice cream. Such a deal.

I must admit that I don't know the "political climate" for the area but I find it hard to believe that they would turn down this proposed project by the Village's Developer. Other cities would give "their eye teeth" for a chance at economic development like what is proposed by the TV Developer.

I only see minimum impact, if any, on current residents. Perhaps this will help bring a Macy's or Dillard's ---maybe even another Publix to TV. Oh, what am I saying!

[Bogie Shooter]

Trouble, oh we got trouble,
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool,
That stands for pool.
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City,
Right here!
Gotta figure out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.....................................:clap2 :

Read more: Music Man - Ya Got Trouble Lyrics | MetroLyrics

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by justjim

There are always some opposed to economic development. Two lane roads (maybe even gravel) and cows grazing is their thing----around this area we are way passed that concept. This (as I posted on another thread) is a big win for Fruitland Park and Lake County. No increase population for their schools, $$$$$ from taxes and Jobs.

And, I might add, 4,000 more Villagers to buy Cars, Golf carts, and ice cream. Such a deal.

I must admit that I don't know the "political climate" for the area but I find it hard to believe that they would turn down this proposed project by the Village's Developer. Other cities would give "their eye teeth" for a chance at economic development like what is proposed by the TV Developer.

I only see minimum impact, if any, on current residents. Perhaps this will help bring a Macy's or Dillard's ---maybe even another Publix to TV. Oh, what am I saying!

I can't see anything bad but then again I like new stuff.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by DianeM

I can't see anything bad but then again I like new stuff.

Other than more houses, more traffic and more people contending for the same things like sports pools, workout equipment, tee times, seats in the theaters or Savannah Center and water from the aquifer what would be new? One of the reasons we moved away from the Northeast was that we were tired of that lifestyle. I'd hate for it to follow us down here.