Talk of The Villages Florida - Reading The Declaration Of Restrictions For The Villages Of Sumter Unit No.99

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If you aren’t home, you can’t be robbed. Your house might be burglarized which is a totally different crime.

I personally think these trolls are hired by the developer to find out of compliance households. Why else would someone take the time to do this? They are not even in their own neighborhoods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinSE (Post 2083302)

You are very close to right. But, the law about tv antennas does allow community regulations about where the antenna can be placed. The Antenna can not be "banned" but it can be regulated.

Again, I do think the point is to maintain property values, which is in all our best interest.

The Villages “suggests” that satellite dishes and antennas be on a post in the back yard but I have never (in my almost 20 years of owning here ) heard of anyone having to remove one from their roof. Personally I ditched the dish but that sucker is still on my roof and last time I looked still on a previous house too.

Because the CCD drive around and keep an eye out. They may think something is wrong if you are not seen or something doesn’t look right. They maybe required to call for a wellness check. That is part of their job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laker14 (Post 2083002)

The recent threads about the "clipboard ladies" and deed restrictions got me thinking more about them. I must admit that when we purchased our home in February 2021, I never bothered to read the document.
Having purchases the home as a "resale" I just assumed that it was in compliance, or close enough, and frankly, among all of the other burdensome legal documents to read, the deed restrictions were pretty low on my list of priorities.
So, I downloaded the "AMENDED AND RESTATED" declaration. A couple of items surprised me in their vagueness, and one surprised me that it existed at all. Among the more interesting to me were the following 3 items. Note that the numbering is mine, and not the same numbers that identify the items in the original document.

Although the original document refers often to "The Developer" I am assuming that at some point the authority ceded to "The Developer" in this document conveyed to the CDD. I am in CDD 5, and this document was downloaded from their page on the "districtgov.org" site.

1. "Lawn ornaments are prohibited except seasons displays not exceeding a 30 day duration."
What surprises me here is that I've read a few times that something that may be prohibited in the sodded area is allowed on a porch, or in a garden bed. I see no mention in the document to that effect, nor do I see any mention of the restriction applying only to ornaments of or greater than a certain dimension.

2. "No tree with a trunk 4" or more in diameter shall be removed or effectively removed through excessive injury without first obtaining permission from the Developer."
I was unaware of this restriction. I see palm trees coming down often. I'd be really surprised if the CDD is often advised of these removals. I had been told that only the oak trees were protected.

3.(Here's a personal favorite of mine, of which I was unaware: ) "All owners shall notify the Developer when leaving their property for more than a 7-day period shall simultaneously advise the Developer as tho their tentative return date."

This one got me to thinking about all of the posts I've read stating essentially "Well, if you read your deed restrictions, and follow the rules, you've got nothing to worry about." I have a hard time imagining even these strict rule followers bother to advise the CDD that they are leaving their homes for a week. And I have an even harder time imaging the reaction of whoever it is who is supposed to receive this notice, upon receiving this important information from the loyal rule follower.

I have no issue with the deed restrictions. I think they serve a useful purpose. I have seen my share of front yards in other areas, outside of TV, with more crap in the yard than I'd like to look at in my neighborhood, so I get the value of having deed restrictions, and I appreciate that to a significant degree, what I like about my neighborhood is protected by the deed restrictions.
Having said that, I don't see the value in riding around in remote neighborhoods looking for violations that evidently pass the standards of the immediate neighbors, and I do see a value in allowing a certain degree of artistic expression in the landscaping and adornment of one's property.
It strikes me as a shame that some people can't see their way to letting other people live their lives in peace, as long as they're not bothering their neighbors.

The short version is - none of it is actually able to be enforced aside from the fact that TV 'owns' all the local courts, however in federal court most of these wouldn't stand. Even though they have used the "district" loophole, there still exists enough variance and non enforcement for them to lose any court battle should anyone choose to upset the apple cart. Courts that aren't 'owned' in this state side with the home owner rather than the organization leveling the restrictions.

just speaking from experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2083167)

Having been a 'victim' of this I disagree, our neighborhood had 35 complaints phoned in in one day, now understand many of the items reported were there for YEARS with non of the neighbors complaining.

Just because no one complains doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother anyone.

I see junk and things I consider offensive in people’s yards, but I am afraid of reprisals if I say or do something about it. I personally like the idea of people driving around and looking for violations.

We all signed on to the restrictions and we should honor them.

I live near a corner intersection that has a Stop sign. The law says that one must come to a complete stop before proceeding. It does not say that if one sees that there is no oncoming traffic, they can drive through the intersection without stopping. Observing that stop sign on the corner, I have found that four out of five vehicles drive blatantly through the intersection without stopping. I have also had near misses when someone decided to blow through the intersection without even glancing in my direction, even when I had the right of way. I guess I should sit in my driveway and report every law breaker that coasts through the intersection without stopping. After all, it IS the law. AND everyone must be reported if they break the law. Sorry, but I have better things to do and if those violators blow through the intersection and end up in the hospital, that's their business. I am not my brother's keeper.
In my neighborhood, folks have all sorts of lawn ornaments. For those that say it devalues their property, I guess it depends on where you live. We have homes that sell the day they are listed. These are designer homes getting top dollar sales. One of the homes on our street has sold for almost $600K. Hey, maybe they could get more if neighbors were more considerate and hid their lawn ornaments, right? Maybe, like the rest of us on this street, we enjoy the diversity of personalized home properties.
Sorry folks, but we have had no derelict trucks or cars up on blocks in our neighborhood. I have seen an occasional flamingo, though. If you wish to spend all your time worrying about property values this late in your life, then go for it. It leaves more time for those that wish decent "T" times and less crowd at the pickleball courts. If you wish to spend your last few years on earth complaining about other folks, have at it. Hopefully, when I leave this life it will be with a smile on my face, not an angry frown. Some folks are not content until they make others unhappy. Some folks are happy when they can make a positive difference in other folk's lives.

I read my deed restrictions when I moved here

Quote:

Originally Posted by midiwiz (Post 2083371)

That's interesting.

And more people that hate The Villages chime in. Wonder why they are still here.

I think I know you
You sound like a Teamster
I started working for James P Hoffa in 2012 and you

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowlingal (Post 2083348)

I personally think these trolls are hired by the developer to find out of compliance households. Why else would someone take the time to do this? They are not even in their own neighborhoods.

Really?

The rules are there for a reason, to protect the community. I doubt there are people trolling for this stuff. I see enough of that junk on peoples yards to suspect that it is a myth, otherwise why would all this stupid trash, spinning flowers included, still be out? If you want to live in a neighborhood with trash cans left out, along with the occasional sofa and a car up on blocks, I am certain you can find a neighborhood not too far from here where you can get it. Arrivederci.

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2083167)

it's true, i've seen the 2 of them down here near fenney looking for 'problems.'

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowlingal (Post 2083348)

I personally think these trolls are hired by the developer to find out of compliance households. Why else would someone take the time to do this? They are not even in their own neighborhoods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by midiwiz (Post 2083371)

The short version is - none of it is actually able to be enforced aside from the fact that TV 'owns' all the local courts, however in federal court most of these wouldn't stand. Even though they have used the "district" loophole, there still exists enough variance and non enforcement for them to lose any court battle should anyone choose to upset the apple cart. Courts that aren't 'owned' in this state side with the home owner rather than the organization leveling the restrictions.

just speaking from experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinSE (Post 2083392)

And more people that hate The Villages chime in. Wonder why they are still here.

They seem to always show up.......