[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by alwann

In general, gates, good. Guest gates side-by-side with Resident gates, not good. Frequent races occur to see who can get through first. There are numerous locations where the Guest gates are obscured and carts crossing can't see whether a car is that Guest lane. Extra caution required.

IMHO, the gate guards on those side by side gates should be, indeed, gate keepers and use the zipper method to allow visitors to pass. Oftentimes I see the gate guard raise the visitor gate at exactly the same time a resident gains card access. “Gee, I wonder who will win this time??”

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

The purpose of the gates is give the impression of a truly gated community which is used as a marketing tool. A speed bump would do a better job if slowing traffic was the reason AND it would be a lot less expensive.

Yeah. That would really improve the ambience of the community not to mention the undercarriage of our vehicles.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by JustSomeGuy

Lake Denham has a gate at Meggison and 470 but no gate at the closest road to Leesburg.... Chandler Rd (but a great entrance sign invites you to the Villages!). Makes no sense.

Also no cart path crossing at that gate on 470 either. Happens much earlier where they force a cross over to the left side of Meggison before Chandler Rd. No guard house or gate there makes no sense but saved them money. You have access to all of The Villages until just before Sawgrass Grove... no license plate camera the entire trip if you enter on Chandler RD and exit Chandler RD. That includes many Rec centers and hundreds of homes open to anyone who decides to visit them.

Hope this is on someone’s radar at the developer’s table. Only consideration would be for roads that were open to the public where a gate would not be appropriate. Rec centers?? Really??

[Dilligas]

Originally Posted by kansasr

The same could be accomplished by having arms that open automatically as you approach, like the exit gates...but that would destroy the illusion of a gated community.

No, then the gate crashes who try to piggyback a gate opening, will bring down more arms. The cards and buttons force separation.

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Totally a personal choice.
If you don't like them, push away.

Walls, gates, card ids, car gate card identification... there is a theme involved somewhere in the logic of The Villages "dream."

I feel a song brewing from Sound of Music. Not sure where that tune got dusted off in my mind filing cabinet... but it goes something like this... "these are a few of my favorite things"... comfort music from the 70's i guess.

(Lol I know what ya'll will be singing for a bit)

[Burnie]

We have lived here for a bit over 20 years. When we first moved here The Villages was indeed a gated community. Then when Sumter County took over the roads in our area, things changed. Even then, Marion county remained "gated". The "historic side" was gated. I don't remember when, but at some point Lady Lake took over on the historic side. I also don't know when the Marion County area opened up. The "little red buttons" initially were used as a call box to request that the gate be opened, and the gate attendants asked where you were going before raising the gate. This all changed over time, making it easier for visitors to come in. Personally, I like the idea of the gates. It's not that inconvenient, and it makes me feel "comfy". So what if it helps sell houses?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by JustSomeGuy

Lake Denham has a gate at Meggison and 470 but no gate at the closest road to Leesburg.... Chandler Rd (but a great entrance sign invites you to the Villages!). Makes no sense.

Also no cart path crossing at that gate on 470 either. Happens much earlier where they force a cross over to the left side of Meggison before Chandler Rd. No guard house or gate there makes no sense but saved them money. You have access to all of The Villages until just before Sawgrass Grove... no license plate camera the entire trip if you enter on Chandler RD and exit Chandler RD. That includes many Rec centers and hundreds of homes open to anyone who decides to visit them.

Is Chandler rd open for traffic yet or is it still a construction zone? Do you not think there will be a gate on Chandler at 470 when the construction is complete?


Yes, until then the unwashed hordes will be able to drive down to 470, across to Chandler, through the construction, then up Meggison to the unguarded Rec centers.

Of course, the unwashed could just push the red button at either end of Meggison….

[JRcorvette]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

Why do we really need Gate Cards when all we need to do is hit the red button for entrance to all the gates? Seems like a waste of money.

A lot of people can not reach the button! How are they wasting money???

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Because some folks have short arms, cards let TV collect data, cards let you place alternative openers on your mirrors keeping your arm dry are a couple.

Don’t need a mirror unit, I just put it up to the window and it works perfectly.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Rodneysblue

Don’t need a mirror unit, I just put it up to the window and it works perfectly.

Not on all vehicles.

[bsloan1960]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The purpose of the gates is to slow traffic down to allow safe crossing of golf carts, nothing more.

... and it is a great idea that works very well. Imagine the carnage without the cars having to stop.

[Dsritchey]

Yours arms must be longer than mine. I am only 5 foot tall

[jump4]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The Chandler entry is different than most because the road from Chadler up to the Enclave is on Leesburg Property, the developer negotiated a limited right-of-way to build the road to the Enclave, but it had to be freely accessible since it was city property.

I thought all roads within the Villages are open to the public, aka "freely accessible".

[jump4]

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut

The purpose of the gates is to slow traffic down to allow safe crossing of golf carts, nothing more.

Yes, but...

1. What is the rationale for having some gates manned and others not? Why am I paying for manned gates when the gates into my village are unmanned?

2. What is the purpose of gate cards, and what is the associated cost?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

The purpose of the gates is give the impression of a truly gated community which is used as a marketing tool. A speed bump would do a better job if slowing traffic was the reason AND it would be a lot less expensive.

Gates STOP traffic. Speed bumps do not. So no, speed bumps wouldn't do a better job of slowing down traffic.