[Byte1]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Evasive answer. The situation now are NEIGHBORS reporting infractions to the government. No different than the two mythical BIDDIES reporting infractions to the government.

In either case the INFRACTIONS are what count, not the reporters. Nobody gets a correction order based solely on the report of a neighbor or two women in a golf cart.

I ask again: what harm are they doing?

Good question. So, what harm are those that have minor infractions? NONE is the correct answer, because if you suggest that it is lowering the property value, you are wrong. Houses are being rapidly sold in the Villages for much more than they were purchased for. What harm? They are proving how miserable they are by reporting on folks, when they don't have the guts to confront them with their opinion about the subject. All they do is make themselves happy and satisfied by making others miserable. Like those that come on here complaining about daytime noise. Get over it. You all are on your last days in this world and should be making folks happy, not as miserable as yourselves. Kind of like complaining about a TV channel when you can't simply pick up the remote and changing channels. Like complaining about leaves that blow into your yard from your neighbor's tree. Like complaining about your neighbor smoking a cigar on his/her lanai. I have yet to see an old truck suddenly appear after a small cross or a bird lawn ornament was installed on someone's property. Why does someone's flag bother you?
Some folks are just too darned sensitive for their own good. One good result is that most folks that are stressed over simple things, have a short lifespan.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Byte1

I agree with what you said........HOWEVER..........how many on here have never violated the speed limit? Not even to pass someone going five miles an hour under the limit? Rules are not LAWS. There are compromises, flexibility for almost all rules. Just because someone puts one of those little crosses in their yard, that does not mean that tomorrow they plan to put an old rusted truck on blocks in their yard. I bet many of the ones complaining about violations to the rules are also lenient when it comes to what they think of illegal aliens violating our borders. Of course, that is a LAW that is broken, not a rule. That said, there is also the rule of law. However, we are speaking of civil or tort rules, not criminal law.

I agree with the part about "illegal aliens violating our borders". That is a good example of "bending our laws".

[merrymini]

What difference does it make, where people come from? The rules in your district should be adhered to regardless. CDD5 is making a terrible mistake and the builder is not interested. There are deeper issues here that meet the eye. If I hear about the two old ladies riding around in a golf cart with the clipboard again, I will scream. What makes people believe these ridiculous stories?

[I'm Popeye!]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

CDD 5 to end anonymous complaints


So, did you miss this thread with108 posts covering your topic? Or are you just trying to stir the pot back up.
It was beaten to death on that thread and the duplicate posts will continue here.

The OP is entitled to post whatever they want within the rules!
Just move on or skip the post if you don't like it...

[Oldragbagger]

We have lived in two previous deed restricted communities. One (in Venice, FL) was attached to an HOA. The other (in Danville, KY) had no HOA.
In Venice the HOA policed the covenants and restrictions. They were worse than any two biddies in carts could ever be. They were always on patrol and would cite for the most minor of infractions. A violation could be something as minor as a guest who parked their car incorrectly (the only violation we ever had) to an ARC violation, but regardless of how minor there were always multiple notifications and threats for everything from increasingly stiff fines to losing your privileges to the amenities (but you still had to pay your dues). The funny thing is, it didn’t result in perfection in the community as you might think, and it led to a gestapo like presence. HOA’s are run by people and, as with all things that involve people, it boils down to giving a little person a little power and they can use it to make your life miserable.
The deed restricted community in Kentucky had no HOA so the burden of enforcing compliance was completely upon the homeowners and the only way to do so was for the complaining homeowner(s) to take the violators to court to have the restrictions enforced. We were aware of only one time this happened. There were people out of compliance for sure but if everyone liked them and the violation didn’t warrant thousands of $$$ to go to court then everyone turned a blind eye.
Neither of the above situations were ideal. It seems what we have is somewhere in between that. It isn’t a perfect system either but it seems to work better than the other two options. There is a neighbor in our patio villa community that is very out of compliance. They have put up fences for their dog, lawn ornaments galore, and some pretty hideous landscaping. It has been that way for nearly a year. I figure if the people who actually live next to them are bothered by it they will report it and if they are not, it is none of my business. I only have to see it if I choose to drive down that street.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Actually, they have done way worse than that, they have made the whole thing a sham by deciding to selectively enforce deed restriction violations. We’re coming after you if you have the audacity to put a little white cross in your garden, but if you’re disrupting the entire neighborhood by running a revolving door short term AIRBNB operation out of your home we’ll look the other way. What kind of a message does that send? Either enforce all violations or let people do whatever they want.

I worry most about the speeding I see in my Village. I have seen a blue Jeep with big tires and a raised body and loud mufflers doing what I estimate to be 45 to 50 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. I can easily tell what 25 MPH is because MOST drivers do that or maybe 30 MPH. This was at dusk on a gray day recently on a busy road that has MANY couples walking their dogs. I have seen this particular Jeep spending often so the driver likely lives in the Village. I can't tell the age of the driver because, of course, the windows are tinted dark. I don't sit outside TRYING to observe speeding. I just notice it when I am cutting the grass in the front yard. If I can notice a particular car speeding when I am NOT looking for that, I am amazed that the local Police or Community Service can't control this DANGEROUS behavior. I can live with the white crosses and a don't get upset if a dog uses my yard for its toilet. The white crosses do NOT weigh several tons and speed at 50 MPH - so I don't worry that they will KILL any residents. Laws are laws and right IS right - I say to enforce the MOST IMPORTANT situations FIRST - the ones that can threaten human life !

[RiderOnTheStorm]

Originally Posted by Gladys Turnip

There sure seems to be a lot of people who are upset with the ability of neighbors to anonymously report (alleged) violations of our deed restrictions.

I think these people are missing the point.

Starting from the beginning, the purpose of the deed restrictions is to safeguard the long-term value of neighboring properties and the community at large. We all agreed to these restrictions when we chose to buy a house in The Villages.

Sort of like motherhood and apple pie, I don’t see how anybody could be against wanting to uphold the value of their home.

Next let’s look at the parties involved in a deed restriction violation. There are only two:

(1) The homeowner (who may or may not be in violation), and

(2) The CDD/Developer aka The Villages Community Standards Department (CSD), who has the power to compel compliance with and enforce deed restrictions.

A neighbor should not even be involved, but if he is, he has no power to do anything. All he can do is bring a potential alleged violation to the attention of the CSD. The CSD then decides whether or not to VERIFY the complaint (that is, to dismiss it or pursue it).

People worry that a person who files a complaint – a so called Troll – might be reporting in bad faith, and that the report might be frivolous or even vengeful. But so what? If the alleged violation has no merit, the CSD will simply ignore/dismiss it; end of story. On the other hand, if there is an actual deed violation, we should all want the CSD to take the necessary steps to correct the situation in order to protect the value of the homes in our community.

If people want to be angry with someone, perhaps it should not be with the people who report potential violations, but in fact should be with The Villages (the CSD). Why? Because they have completely abdicated their role in monitoring compliance. In most jurisdictions throughout the country, whoever imposes deed restrictions (the Developer/CDD/CSD in our case), is also tasked with monitoring compliance and enforcement. To monitor, most places hire someone to simply drive around the neighborhood, pay attention, and notice if any properties may be in violation.

But oddly, in The Villages, the developer, the CDDs, and the CSD (that is, the people who created the long list of deed restrictions in the first place) have all washed their hands of the entire process of monitoring compliance, leaving it up to residents to bring (even obvious) potential violations to their attention. By their own words in the CDD Community Standards FAQs: “…reporting potential violations will be a complaint-driven process. Potential violations are NOT reported by Community Standards, Community Watch, or any other District department."

This hands-off position is not only unique, but also seems to make no sense given that Community Watch drives around all day anyway. Seems goofy to instruct these employees to turn a blind eye to possible deed violations, even if egregious.

Back to the original point about anonymous reports ….. I don’t see how you can get mad at someone who is merely trying to protect the value of the homes in our community; that is, protecting the value of YOUR home.

A lot of people seem to think that CDD 5 has it all figured out because reports of violations can no longer be anonymous, and thus they now get a lot fewer reports. But of course fewer reports do not mean there are fewer violations. It most likely simply means that CDD 5 will begin looking like a run-down trailer park sooner than other CDDs in The Villages because NO ONE is taking action to protect the aesthetic values that we all agreed to when we purchased our homes.

Okay, thanks for listening. I need to go now to set up the new trampoline in my front yard, right next to the 1979 Ford Pinto up on blocks. I’m sure no one will complain.

Whatever happened to simply talking things out with the neighbor?

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I worry most about the speeding I see in my Village. I have seen a blue Jeep with big tires and a raised body and loud mufflers doing what I estimate to be 45 to 50 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. I can easily tell what 25 MPH is because MOST drivers do that or maybe 30 MPH. This was at dusk on a gray day recently on a busy road that has MANY couples walking their dogs. I have seen this particular Jeep spending often so the driver likely lives in the Village. I can't tell the age of the driver because, of course, the windows are tinted dark. I don't sit outside TRYING to observe speeding. I just notice it when I am cutting the grass in the front yard. If I can notice a particular car speeding when I am NOT looking for that, I am amazed that the local Police or Community Service can't control this DANGEROUS behavior. I can live with the white crosses and a don't get upset if a dog uses my yard for its toilet. The white crosses do NOT weigh several tons and speed at 50 MPH - so I don't worry that they will KILL any residents. Laws are laws and right IS right - I say to enforce the MOST IMPORTANT situations FIRST - the ones that can threaten human life !

This morning at 0650 driving From Seabreeze on Odell to Morse. Speed 32, little over, but being cautious since it a busy time for dog walks. I was passed by a silver suv that had to crossover a double yellow, on a curve. Speeding away, then slammed on their brakes because the gate hesitated it open. By the time I reached roundabout , the car was already breaking at the next light.

It’s 7am folks, that walker and dog will be a life changer for them and you, when you choose to pass at those speeds. But guess that driver is too selfish to worry about someone else.

[Byte1]

I'll worry about deed restrictions when someone else is responsible for the mowing and landscaping. If I am responsible, then I do it my way. Don't like it? Mind your OWN business. My neighborhood has very little restrictions, as it is an older section. We do not see any homes for sale longer than a week or two and they all sell much higher than when purchased. Interesting how every section of the Villages has a different set of restrictions. And some restrictions have been changed by neighborhood consensus using a petition, such as home color or driveway color or adding shutters. One restriction does not fit all areas. No one seems to care about golf carts blowing through STOP signs, because it's no big deal. It's a law that is often overlooked by neighbors, yet a minor little cross is a great offense.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

[JWGifford]

As a prospective resident (ok, most of you can stop reading now, lol) I find the deed restrictions an appealing feature of The Villages. Protecting property values is, of course, important but also just protecting and preserving the visual appeal of the neighborhood is important. I live in a deed restricted community now and I’m constantly amazed by people who buy a home, sign the 2 inch thick stack of papers agreeing to everything, then start complaining about it immediately. If people don’t like the deed restrictions in TV there are plenty of other places they can live without any constraints. I hear that Villagers move 3 times (on average). Maybe one of those moves should be outside the villages if you don't like the rules.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Good question. So, what harm are those that have minor infractions? NONE is the correct answer, because if you suggest that it is lowering the property value, you are wrong. Houses are being rapidly sold in the Villages for much more than they were purchased for. What harm? They are proving how miserable they are by reporting on folks, when they don't have the guts to confront them with their opinion about the subject. All they do is make themselves happy and satisfied by making others miserable. Like those that come on here complaining about daytime noise. Get over it. You all are on your last days in this world and should be making folks happy, not as miserable as yourselves. Kind of like complaining about a TV channel when you can't simply pick up the remote and changing channels. Like complaining about leaves that blow into your yard from your neighbor's tree. Like complaining about your neighbor smoking a cigar on his/her lanai. I have yet to see an old truck suddenly appear after a small cross or a bird lawn ornament was installed on someone's property. Why does someone's flag bother you?
Some folks are just too darned sensitive for their own good. One good result is that most folks that are stressed over simple things, have a short lifespan.

This is exactly what's wrong the world today. Folks think they can pick & choose what rules and regulations that feel they should abide by.

When you buy a home, you sign a contract/deed, that you agree to abide by each and every rule/restriction contained in those documents. You don't then get to decide there are some you don't like.

If someone was running a drug operation in the house next to you, is that ok? Or is that a "rule" you think should be enforced?

If your neighbor decided to decorate his home for Gay Pride Day, is that ok?

What if all the Trump supporters, decided to put up 12" inflatable likenesses of The Donald? Is that acceptable?

Or heaven forbid, the others put up 14' inflatables of Nancy Pelosi's?

You don't get to "pick & choose" the rules you like. You signed up for all the rules and it's everyone's responsibility to adhere to them and report violations.

EVERY single "rule violation" hurts property values. Folks have a RIGHT to expect what they "bought into" will be maintained and any and all deviations detract from the whole.

Those are facts, not an opinion. When you buy a product on Amazon and the color looks different "in person", you send it back. That's because you want what you think you bought, not a facsimile.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

There is a part of this that I don't understand regarding the violators. First of all I don't personally have a problem with the little white crosses or with the metal birds in front lawns. However, I have asked no less than 6 owners having the white crosses in their front yards "why don't you place the cross on your front door or make a planter with a cross both of which are allowed?" Not one offered to do it nor did even one answer the question, the only answer I got was "I'm allowed to profess my faith" which of course is true but they are not allowed to put the ornament in/on their front lawn.

Because it is about defiance. They seem to be confirming that, don't they.

[asianthree]

What many don’t realize the 100 complaints filed, by the same person, only a small percentage has deed compliance issues. The rest are not even in a grey area (20 pink flamingos for a birthday, or a cocktail sign for a driveway party on Friday).

That is where the waste of time. The person who came to our house, about the alleged infraction had a great sense of humor.

Laughed at what was construed as a “white cross”. His thoughts were if the handful of those who file hundreds of complaints had to pay a fee per complaint, with fee returned if it was a true complaint. It would cut his waste of time and grief down by 80%.

Well off to Brownwood for Hanukkah story telling.

[Indydealmaker]

Critical Thinking dictates that an "all or nothing " approach is not sustainable. A moderated approach will work: one (architectural committee) approved lawn ornament per home. A pre-approved image list can expedite things. Overall limitations and unique can be approved by the ARC. Public online record of what has been has been approved will render angst by trolls to a bare minimum.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by asianthree

What many don’t realize the 100 complaints filed, by the same person, only a small percentage has deed compliance issues. The rest are not even in a grey area (20 pink flamingos for a birthday, or a cocktail sign for a driveway party on Friday).

That is where the waste of time. The person who came to our house, about the alleged infraction had a great sense of humor.

Laughed at what was construed as a “white cross”. His thoughts were if the handful of those who file hundreds of complaints had to pay a fee per complaint, with fee returned if it was a true complaint. It would cut his waste of time and grief down by 80%.

Well off to Brownwood for Hanukkah story telling.

Actually - some kind of "nuisance fee" for people who file the complaints isn't a bad idea. Example:

Amos likes complaining, he's a "right-fighter" and feels like it's his duty to point out the inadequacies of everyone else.

He submits 3 complaints in one day, about three different properties in the same neighborhood. Community standards takes the call. Takes the first name, Amos's street *number* (not street name) and the phone number he called from. His assigned account name is now AS17215. This stands for A(mo)S 17(29) (515-777-7)215.

That is how Community standards will know him, and what the record will show if anyone questions the source of the complaint.

Three days later, account AS17215 makes another 5 complaints against 4 properties in a different neighborhood.

Community standards now notes the account as being a potential nuisance account, but does their due diligence and checks the complaints out.

The following week, account AS17215 makes another 4 accounts against 4 properties in his own neighborhood. Well - that's definitely a nuisance account now. He gets billed $1 per complaint, payable by credit card only, with the usual credit card fee because of course everyone in Florida charges extra for credit cards.

If he doesn't pay it, he is charged 29% interest on the full balance including previous credit card fees, compoundable daily, also including any new complaint fees.

If they get to $1000 total, they put a lien on the property.