[thelegges]

If my home once had a view of the clubhouse that was torn down, And now get to look at a multi story apartments. I would not be happy, and would hope the voices of the residents that is affected at least can be heard. We backed out a sale of a home due to the change of view on this golf course.

I also understand those who aren’t being affected, don’t have a problem with the new build, after all it’s not their back yard.
But 5 years from now The golf course failed, You live on, and commercial or apartments were built in your back yard. You might feel different.

Those who bought on undeveloped property knew the risk of anything could be built there, and that has happened more than once. Warnings have always been don’t buy the house that backs up to the cow pasture, tomorrow it could be a target.

But no one ever warned you hey the back of Glenview is absolutely beautiful, but years from now it could be apartments

[kcrazorbackfan]

Their circus; their monkeys. Their doing what makes their future generations money; do not tell us you wouldn’t do the same thing for yourself and your future generations.

[wireguy]

when the high rollers don't give a crap for anyone but themselves.
these are the cards dealt.

[Ladygolfer93]

p

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Good post, I agree with much of what is said. Although I am very strongly against the apartment complex at Hacienda Hills, I am not against the apartments in the town squares (except for the fact that they will put further strain on already overused amenities). I had the same thought about both the location and timing of the upcoming meeting next Monday. Hold it far away from the effected Spanish Springs/LSL area and be sure to get the meeting in while still holding the strings of their puppets.

And don't worry about being falsely labeled as a complainer. You are simply stating relevant facts along with some of your opinions. You are not complaining! The real complainers are the predictable few that will COMPLAIN like clockwork about Villagers who take the time and effort to share both facts and opinions with fellow Villagers.

P.S. Stay tuned, we still have not heard from the CHIEF COMPLAINER in the history of TOV, but we will : (

Amen ! And, have you noticed the national trend that if you observe, think, analyze, and question (the things that used to be taught as BASIC skills to prevent emotional reactions), you are now automatically labeled a "complainer", not intelligent, or prudent, or a rational man, but a "complainer" who must be vanquished, erased, for pointing out the way the emperor is beginning to parade around naked is not a good sign. Erased, out of here, is NOT the answer. Since I am not a daily visitor to TOTV, I don't know exactly who is referenced as the predictable one(s), but with the weather we've experienced this summer, I have logged on much more often, and yes, I am beginning to pick up that it is the same people/person (among what, 120K or so ?) who seems to read everything on here, yet, does not seem to do it for information to broaden the perspective and keep the mind expanded. Some (one or a few ?) seem to resent anyone who points out the emperor is wearing less and less these day, not properly at all. My opinion is, there are many who simply do not want to face reality in their declining years, I can understand that ! Others, I believe, simply do not want anything "out there" that might get impact property values; I can understand that ! Some just settled here recently, they lack a historical perspective, I can understand that, it's certainly not their "fault" or lack of understanding. I just don't agree that peace will come into your life by closing your eyes and ears to what is happening around you, be it TV, papers, or TOTV's is the answer. Those who turn off the TV because they simply do not want to hear one more warning about a hurricane that may never materialize, do not actually prevent that hurricane from occurring. When people go to the trouble to carefully research an issue, like the person above on here has, and and then publishes it on here with absolutely NO emotionally laden words, it is a breath of fresh air, not "complaining". If a mayor of a community was using city employees on city time, to make improvements to his or her personal residence, would the citizen who pointed this out in a letter to the editor be labeled a "complainer" and be told "you should just move" ? Apartments in Spanish Springs ? Sure, definitely would appeal to some. Older folks who don't want to, or can't, drive at all could benefit, for sure ! The flip side ? Amenities dwindling, yet access to what does exist are expanded more and more ? It's worth thinking about at least.

[oldtimes]

I don’t understand the attitude that The Villages is some kind of Utopia where everything is always supposed to be perfect and the developer is only supposed to do things that make people happy. The Villages is a business and their primary goal is to remain profitable. There are no guarantees wherever you go. Remember that this was all farmland at one time and some must have been upset to see that change. It’s called progress.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Ladygolfer93

Yes, you are right, when we post it is perfectly logical to expect others will have differing or opposite opinions. For me personally, I am "undecided", not sad or unhappy person at all, but I do think I am more attacked to Florida than specifically The Villages. I do think there are many answers to your question of why people who are unhappy, or let's say "somewhat" unhappy, don't just pick up and leave. My personal experience with people I actually KNOW is; one case where it's just age and medical issues that make facing listing, open houses, moving arrangements, closings, etc. etc. (that they have faced many times during their career) now pose a major (if only mental) barrier. Others have sunk everything they have into this and simply can not afford to move. They "thought" they were moving to a rather laid back, somewhat "rural", and certainly not an apartment/high rise type community, and yes, things change. Some, like myself, don't like the trend they are seeing, but are just gathering contingencies, not so dissatisfied they want to just "pack up and leave", but uneasy about what is so obviously pretty drastic changes. Probably you can understand what I am saying ? As an example, it would be like someone being tired of their.... cabinets, counter tops, appliances, but.... they have to weight things. Perhaps they just can't tolerate the inevitable upsets, messes, delays of remodeling, perhaps the health of others is not up to the inevitable dust and dirt, and maybe others the just don't have the MONEY ? There are many legitimate reasons a person is uneasy with trends they see around them that do not increase a community's quality of life, environment, general satisfaction, and yet that does not mean they want to turn and run so to speak. Just saying.... many reasons and "get out if you don't like it" does not always fit. Folks here are 50 to 100 and more years of age, and all have very different circumstances. You are very happy, I am fairly happy, the writer of the original post is probably relatively happy, but NOT brain dead. He, or she is probably trying to keep people alive and thinking and actively involved... that does not mean he/she (?) should "pack up and leave", it's really not as much a mystery as you might think.

Great posts today. Refreshing to hear personal opinion supported by a facts. I guess what I'm trying to say is "a prediction" that has a factual base. Some posters like to revert to "site me your source" when it doesn't fit their point of view rather than constructive debate. Of what value is that tactic ? Ego ? Thankfully not all of us are so shallow minded as to have chapter and verse proof of an "opinion" or the world would still be flat.

[billethkid]

I try to think back when we had our home built Buena Vista only went to the circle where Arnold Palmers CC is (which was not there yet). 466 was just completed to 4 lanes.
No Lake Sumter Landing and town square.
There was NOTHING South of Arnold Palmer circle.
Population was 35,000.
Some how TV doubled and doubled again during the last 16 years.
Yes some things are different.....most for the better.
And there were complaints/opinions/forecasts/wild a$$ guesses what the "developer" was doing/did/planned.
A profitable venture to our benefit.
For most of us the life style we bought into 16 years ago is better today. Most of the national chains as well as many other businesses would not be here if TV was not of a certain size population. And for the same reason (growth) there is more to come.

Some of the recent future resident warnings are a bit over the top.....in my humble opinion.

To each his own.

[Northwoods]

Where and what time is the meeting on the 21st?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

Where and what time is the meeting on the 21st?

Everglades Recreation Center in Fenney at 6 PM. Not sure why a public Sumter County Planning/Zoning meeting is being held at a Villages Recreation Center, but it is?

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

I continue to be amazed that some obviously very unhappy folks continue to live here. If I felt as they do, I'd be looking for someplace else to live. But we are very happy here and cognizant that to stay relevant, some things will change and change can be good.

High density living brings more traffic. More traffic can't be good. Sorry to disagree.

[Rsenholzi]

You obviously have not been attending meetings related to these issues. This is not a few complainers. There are thousands of people attending these meetings in opposition. They had to put loud speakers outside the building to handle the Overflow this week when the “developers” approached lake county to put in apartments in Spanish Springs. This was not Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse’s dream. This is fueled by the greed of the grandchildren who are The only ones that stand to benefit from this move. ARC was forced by the developers to give rights to amenities by threatening them. They were told if they didn’t give them the rights they would build a parking garage there! The people spoke out and they didn’t listen and are now trying to push the apartments through in La Hacienda, Lake Sumter and Brownwood. There are multiple reasons for not doing this , one of which is the parking situation. They will have to put in parking garages in each area in order to handle the overflow crowd these apartments bring in. This will change the whole flavor of the squares. However, knowing what the family has been doing this may not happen and who is going to lose out- The people who have bought their homes Hoping for the lifestyle the was promised to them by Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse. In addition , your taxes will need to go up because there is going to be many more problems - more police will need to be hired due to the number of problems this will bring in. Things like burglaries will increase since you will no longer know who is going in and out of buildings, complaints from the noise to the Smells from the restaurant . There will be an increase in visible trash From the apartments. More equipment will be needed for the fire departments because different equipment is used for residential on the second floor than was needed for just offices. There is a host of difficulties from this and the benefit will not be to the people living here!

[tsmall22204]

Very well said.

[Travelhunter]

Originally Posted by npwalters

New owners and potential new owners need to pay attention to what is happening in The Villages now. If you want to get an idea of what your lifestyle is going to be in several years take a look at the Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing area this month.

The developer has petitioned both Lake and Sumter County to change the existing zoning restrictions to allow multi-family housing (apartments) in Spanish Springs town square, Sumter Landing town square, Brownwood town square, and in the former location of Hacienda Hills Country Club (HHCC). The current residents are vehemently opposed to this – especially the HHCC – and have let the developer know. The developer, so far, has basically said so what, we will do what we can get away with. County Commissioner meetings are being held on 21 SEP (Monday) and in mid October. This does not affect residents in Brownwood and south but IT COULD IN several YEARS. If they choose to do it here they can choose to do it elsewhere.

You can quit reading here if you like but the remainder gets into the details you need to be well informed.

FACT: The developer plans to build a multi-story apartment complex in area that was Hacienda Hill Country Club. This complex will completely change the character of the neighborhood. It puts up to 280 apartments and about 500 new residents into plat that was a single story country club surrounded by single family homes. It will add about 500 new people to the already stressed amenities. The Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) was pressured by the developer to give about 280 amenities to the developer to make this possible. There was a hearing and the residents were firmly opposed. The AAC ignored the residents and voted to give the amenities to the developer.

OPINION: The AAC was played, rolled over like a puppy dog, and gave TV what it wanted. The affected residents are furious. You can read much more on TOTV and in the Property Owners Association (POA) newspaper.

FACT: There will be a meeting with the Sumter County special master for planning and zoning on 21 September. There are 2 meetings scheduled with the Sumter County commission in October. They will consider rezoning HHCC and 4 Sumter Landing Square locations to allow multifamily housing.

OPINION: The meeting venue with the zoning master is Everglades Recreation Center. Far from Sumter Landing and HHCC and not golf cart accessible to most. You can guess why. The developer has paired apartments in Sumter Landing and Brownwood and apartments at HHCC as an issue. This is because apartments in Sumter Landing is less egregious (although still with significant issues). They hope to muddy the water on the HHCC issue by considering them together.
The County Commissioner meeting is scheduled in October because the current commissioners change soon after that. The current commissioners are widely believed to be the developers’ lapdogs. Three incumbents were soundly voted out for that reason but will not change until after this decision.

OPINION: The developer is taking steps to change the character of the lifestyle in The Villages. They are doing this to generate additional income streams in a long developed area. The residents are firmly opposed and feel betrayed by “the family”. We love it here in our village inspired lifestyle. We want to see it stay that way. We do NOT want high density/city style life. We want the developer to recognize our concerns and forego a few bucks now to continue the long term quality lifestyle they advertise. These could well be your concerns in a few years. It is something you need to consider before you buy here.

NOTE: There will be several here that will call me a complainer – say I don’t speak for most- say some hotshot does this every few years- say the new apartment are going to be beautiful (as long as they aren’t in my neighborhood), etc. I can almost name them ahead of time. Just goes with the territory on this blog. You have to have thick skin to post here. I say go to the meetings and listen to the people speak. I have yet hear one dissenting voice other than the developers’ men.

Well written and well said

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

I continue to be amazed that some obviously very unhappy folks continue to live here. If I felt as they do, I'd be looking for someplace else to live. But we are very happy here and cognizant that to stay relevant, some things will change and change can be good.

It’s a little like people who say “America, Love It or Leave It,” then hate half the people in it, or say millions should leave it, or say that if the vote does t go their way, they are going to take their ball and go home. (Laughing, and meant in a good way.) Imagine what would happen here if we didn’t have all these government regulations, such as rules giving us an opportunity it’s to complain if we don’t like something.

[Astron]

“... the common areas of The Villages are maintained extremely well...the place looks like a well kept park...the pools are well kept and clean, the tennis and pickleball courts are well kept as are the bocce courts and the softball fields...”
I am new here, but I thought all of these functions are done by the CDD’s and are paid for by our amenities fees, not the developer. Am I misinformed?