[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by 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.

No, it'd actually increase complaints because now, everyone knows that some are approved and some aren't, and the ones who LIKE making complaints, the ones who seek attention and this is their method of getting it, will make more complaints. "We think this neighbor is violating the rule. Maybe he got permission. But it's YOUR job, community standards, to check it. Get to work."

[Byte1]

Actually, like man caused climate change, there is no proof that any homes have been devalued in the Villages due to someone's little white cross or bird ornament. But, elitists must have it there way, so............

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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.

Or here's a crazy idea. Maybe everyone who AGREED to the deed restrictions simply honor their written promise and not violate the terms. Now wouldn't that be easier?

[Altavia]

https://www.districtgov.org/departme...andardsFAQ.pdf


Q: What is an external deed restriction and who can enforce them?
A: Deed restrictions are declarations between the Declarant (Developer named in your individual Declaration of Restrictions) and the Property Owner. Who can enforce the external deed restrictions?
• Any property owner of any lot may seek to enforce external restrictions against another property owner.
• The Declarant may seek to enforce external and internal restrictions.
• The Village Community Development Districts through adopted Rule may enforce certain EXTERNAL restrictions that have been adopted by each Board to enforce as
authorized by Chapter 190 of Florida Statutes.
• Examples of external deed restriction violations include, but are not limited to, external
modifications made without ARC approval, overgrown or dead grass and weeds, and inoperable vehicles.
Q: What is an internal deed restriction and who can enforce them?
A: Deed restrictions are declarations between the Declarant (Developer named in your individual Declaration of Restrictions) and the Property Owner. Who can enforce the internal deed restrictions?
• Any property owner of any lot may seek to enforce internal restrictions against another property owner.
• The Declarant may seek to enforce internal restrictions.
• Examples of internal deed restriction violations include, but are not limited to,
underage children living in the home or running a business from the home.

Q: Why can’t the Districts enforce internal deed restrictions?
A: The Village Community Development Districts through adopted Rule may enforce certain EXTERNAL restrictions that have been adopted by each Board to enforce as authorized by Chapter 190 of Florida Statutes.
Q: If the District only enforces certain external restrictions, what do I do if I have a complaint about something occurring inside the home?
A: If you have a concern regarding internal deed restrictions such as underage children in the home, business in the home, or the like, contact the Community Standards Department at 352- 751-3912 or email deedcompliance@districtgov.org, and the information will be forwarded to the Developer to address.
Q: How can I submit a concern?
A: You can report potential violations by contacting the Community Standards Department at (352) 751-3912, visiting our office at 984 Old Mill Run, or emailing deedcompliance@districtgov.org.
Q: Do I have to provide my name when submitting a complaint?
A: Each of the District Boards determined that reporting potential violations will be an anonymous complaint system; except for District 5. District 7 only allows one complaint per day from an individual. Please keep in mind that the District is subject to public records law and if you provide an email address, your name, or your home address, staff would be required to disclose that information if requested. The best way to file an anonymous complaint is by telephone.
Q: Once I submit a concern, what happens next?
A: Once Community Standards receives a complaint about an external violation, the Staff verifies the complaint. If the complaint is verified, the Staff works with the property owner in an attempt to bring the property into compliance. If contact is not made with the Owner, Staff begins the process as adopted by each District Board. If a complaint is received for an internal violation, the complaint is provided to the Declarant.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by mikeycereal

"Eeew! Pink flamingos!! Eeeww!!!"

[Altavia]

The adopted rules by District are available here.

VCDD Community Standards

Originally Posted by Altavia

https://www.districtgov.org/departme...andardsFAQ.pdf


Q: What is an external deed restriction and who can enforce them?
A: Deed restrictions are declarations between the Declarant (Developer named in your individual Declaration of Restrictions) and the Property Owner. Who can enforce the external deed restrictions?
• Any property owner of any lot may seek to enforce external restrictions against another property owner.
• The Declarant may seek to enforce external and internal restrictions.
• The Village Community Development Districts through adopted Rule may enforce certain EXTERNAL restrictions that have been adopted by each Board to enforce as
authorized by Chapter 190 of Florida Statutes.
• Examples of external deed restriction violations include, but are not limited to, external
modifications made without ARC approval, overgrown or dead grass and weeds, and inoperable vehicles.
Q: What is an internal deed restriction and who can enforce them?
A: Deed restrictions are declarations between the Declarant (Developer named in your individual Declaration of Restrictions) and the Property Owner. Who can enforce the internal deed restrictions?
• Any property owner of any lot may seek to enforce internal restrictions against another property owner.
• The Declarant may seek to enforce internal restrictions.
• Examples of internal deed restriction violations include, but are not limited to,
underage children living in the home or running a business from the home.

Q: Why can’t the Districts enforce internal deed restrictions?
A: The Village Community Development Districts through adopted Rule may enforce certain EXTERNAL restrictions that have been adopted by each Board to enforce as authorized by Chapter 190 of Florida Statutes.
Q: If the District only enforces certain external restrictions, what do I do if I have a complaint about something occurring inside the home?
A: If you have a concern regarding internal deed restrictions such as underage children in the home, business in the home, or the like, contact the Community Standards Department at 352- 751-3912 or email deedcompliance@districtgov.org, and the information will be forwarded to the Developer to address.
Q: How can I submit a concern?
A: You can report potential violations by contacting the Community Standards Department at (352) 751-3912, visiting our office at 984 Old Mill Run, or emailing deedcompliance@districtgov.org.
Q: Do I have to provide my name when submitting a complaint?
A: Each of the District Boards determined that reporting potential violations will be an anonymous complaint system; except for District 5. District 7 only allows one complaint per day from an individual. Please keep in mind that the District is subject to public records law and if you provide an email address, your name, or your home address, staff would be required to disclose that information if requested. The best way to file an anonymous complaint is by telephone.
Q: Once I submit a concern, what happens next?
A: Once Community Standards receives a complaint about an external violation, the Staff verifies the complaint. If the complaint is verified, the Staff works with the property owner in an attempt to bring the property into compliance. If contact is not made with the Owner, Staff begins the process as adopted by each District Board. If a complaint is received for an internal violation, the complaint is provided to the Declarant.

[roob1]

Can I ask where and for how long you were trained to obtain the ability to state facts indicating why people you don't know behave in certain ways?

Or just an armchair analysis...... Ph.D certificate from eBay?

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.

[Finchs]

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.

[Fastskiguy]

I just don't understand why following the rules is so damn difficult.

Joe

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Fastskiguy

I just don't understand why following the rules is so damn difficult.

Joe

I don't understand why anyone doesn't understand some people won't follow rules :-)

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by roob1

Can I ask where and for how long you were trained to obtain the ability to state facts indicating why people you don't know behave in certain ways?

Or just an armchair analysis...... Ph.D certificate from eBay?

My apology. I should have made it simple and used a disclaimer that my post was my opinion, unlike everyone else's that are based only on fact....

[Byte1]

It's not brain surgery or nuclear science. The rules are quaint, and mostly used as a guide, NOT LAW. Some folks enjoy Freedom and Liberty and think that most rules of this sort are flexible. Rules to allow the authority to rule against big signs, old cars on blocks, unkempt lawns, crazy house colors, etc. I doubt anyone (maybe I'm wrong) thought that this development would be so sterile as to appear that we live on military housing. Isn't it interesting that each district has a different set of deed restrictions? In my district, just about everything goes. It seems that the newer the district, the more restrictive. And yet, no one is having trouble selling their homes due to house values being degraded by someone's disorderly/violation of a property. Go figure.
None of the homes in my neighborhood are offensive to me. And believe me when I say that some of them have some pretty cluttered properties. But, my preference doesn't matter to them and theirs does not matter to me.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Actually, like man caused climate change, there is no proof that any homes have been devalued in the Villages due to someone's little white cross or bird ornament. But, elitists must have it there way, so............

"Devalued" isn't the criteria.

People want what they paid for and they're not getting it, if people are violating the Restrictions.

Whether they're offended by the violations or simply don't want to look at them.

Simple. Very, very simple.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Byte1

It's not brain surgery or nuclear science. The rules are quaint, and mostly used as a guide, NOT LAW. Some folks enjoy Freedom and Liberty and think that most rules of this sort are flexible.
.

They are LAW and part of a Contract between the Developer and all Residents.

Folks who believe the "rules are flexible" are the problem, singularly and collectively.

If you enjoy "freedom and liberty" to do as you please with your property, you need to live somewhere other than The Villages ... & then don't complain about trailer park next door. Even some trailer folk enjoy freedom and liberty.

[oneclickplus]

Possible solution that may keep the complaint driven system going and effectively negate the idea that less complaints is less violations.

Why don't "we" create an unofficial group of 2-3 in a community. These 2-3 people will be willing volunteers and will be the official complainers. I know there are people that would "love" to do this. I personally would be one of them but I am not here year round (or even now). The community can bring these violations to their attention and they will make the official violation complaint. Since it would always be one of these few people submitting, it would be effectively anonymous again. Could easily be setup with facebook groups (or other) to facilitate photo transmission. Digital forms easily created. This group will submit and follow up on all complaints. Anonymity reinstated

Complaint: trampoline in front yard
Who: Gladys Turnip
Address: blah blah blah
Photo attached
Respectfully submitted 12/19/22
Bill Broccoli
CDD5 violation supervisor & troll representative

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.