[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by jswirs

Hi folks, We have been here for 8 months now, and my comment / question is; The Villages calls themselves a gated community, which technically it is. However, anyone can come through the gates, either by pressing the red button in the residents lane or going through the visitor lane. A true gated community has resident stickers with bar codes on the vehicles which allows access. I understand that when the red button is pressed a picture of the vehicle is taken, don't know if that is really true, but that does not do much to add to security. Please don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem, it just seems to me that the gates, along with the guards, don't make this a true "gated community". Further, I question the need for the gates, guards and guard shacks since they do not seem to be making anything secure. What am I missing here?

Surprised nobody mentioned that the roads in TV are maintained by the county so TV can't tell anybody not to come in, their public roads & streets. The gate guards are their in hopes of if anybody comes in that they could remember things if something happened. Also a lot of younger people from Leesburg & Wildwood come here & some of the gate guards will take notice of that in case something get vandalized or robbed. Yea, it doesn't seem right but public streets mean just that, PUBLIC. I know someone will want to correct me on this, but some people really think our gates aren't worth the trouble. You could just call the front office & they probably could explain it to you in just about 5 mins.

[TerryElzin]

I came from a so called gated community in MD. We had guards, we had stickers on our cars and we still had a lot of problems with people complaining about this same issue. If criminals want to get in they will. They do not have to go thru the gate to get to your home.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by TerryElzin

I came from a so called gated community in MD. We had guards, we had stickers on our cars and we still had a lot of problems with people complaining about this same issue. If criminals want to get in they will. They do not have to go thru the gate to get to your home.

True, but it doesn't have to be easy for them. Consider two houses next to each other. One has a monitored alarm system, cameras, dead bolts, a sign that say this home protected by Smith and Wesson and a large rottweiler inside. The other has unlocked doors and 4 newspapers laying in the driveway. Which one do you think the criminal will target?

[Barborv]

If you go 55places.com , The Villages it is advertised as a gated community. Everything everyone is saying I completely agree with. It would be nice if every residential area had a gate house with someone there. If not for anything, but as a deterrent. That's the only thing I wish TV had. The next best things, folks, is get yourself the blink cameras and ring doorbell and alarm for peace of mind. Yes, I'm a New Yorker! lol

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by waynehal55

If you plan on going to someone's home, the owner MUST either call before the arrival or enter the information into an updated computer system. This applies to all businesses - if not done they will be denied entrance. This also applies to the back gate.

No one needs to call ahead. When we come down from summer house, No one ever asks what we are doing. Our uhaul came in at 2am, pushed the button and opened gate. Since 07 I have never heard of access being denied.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by KLBNJ

You have it all right. Well stated and correct. The gates are not necessary along with the guards. Both serve no purpose.

Next time you cross a road in your golf cart, rethink your quote

[Jdavie1955]

We are a community with gates, NOT a gated community. They do not advertise it as one.

[OlifOlif]

A gated community's purpose is for keeping those inside as inside with outside honors, and those on the outside to stay away to remain where they should be.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Barborv

If you go 55places.com , The Villages it is advertised as a gated community. Everything everyone is saying I completely agree with. It would be nice if every residential area had a gate house with someone there. If not for anything, but as a deterrent. That's the only thing I wish TV had. The next best things, folks, is get yourself the blink cameras and ring doorbell and alarm for peace of mind. Yes, I'm a New Yorker! lol

I went to 55places.com and didn't see where The Villages or any other community was doing any advertising.
The site gives advice and offers a place for reviews.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by asianthree

No one needs to call ahead. When we come down from summer house, No one ever asks what we are doing. Our uhaul came in at 2am, pushed the button and opened gate. Since 07 I have never heard of access being denied.

Waynehal was talking about the Del Webb community on 441 N., not The Villages.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Barborv

If you go 55places.com , The Villages it is advertised as a gated community. Everything everyone is saying I completely agree with. It would be nice if every residential area had a gate house with someone there. If not for anything, but as a deterrent. That's the only thing I wish TV had. The next best things, folks, is get yourself the blink cameras and ring doorbell and alarm for peace of mind. Yes, I'm a New Yorker! lol

We ARE a gated community.we are NOT a secure, gated community.

[Steve Mosher]

We are a gated community, not a secure community. The difference being, since the roads revert to the county for maintenance after 2 years, the roads cannot be secured from the general public but we can monitor anyone coming & going thru the gates with cameras.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by biker1

I have never seen any material from The Villages that claims this is a "gated community". It is a community with gates but the roads are all county roads with the exception of the roads in the CYVs. In a true "gated community", the roads are owned and maintained by the community, not the county. The gates in The Villages are primarily for traffic flow control where the MMPs cross in front of the entrances to the various Villages. Without the gates, golf carts would be in jeopardy.

Originally Posted by biker1

While you might have spoken to someone over the intercom at the gate (which are all pretty much gone now), if the roads were county roads then they cannot deny you access.

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Probably when the roads were still private and before being sold to the county?

Neighbors who have been here for over 15 years, have told me that the original plan was to make each village a truly gated community, but when the infrastructure was sold to the county and thus became public...this was no longer legal.

Which makes sense, because who could imagine a gate on say 466...that you had to be a resident to use?

Originally Posted by wirenail444

Your are correct, it is not a true gated community. The roads are maintained by the county and access can not be denied. However, a picture is taken of every car that goes thru a gate and if there is a problem, the bad guy's car is available to the police. Next best thing and the bad guys know it.

Originally Posted by Tmcbryan

TV is a community with gates, not a gated community. The roads are owned maintained by the county, therefore driving on the roads is a public right.

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Surprised nobody mentioned that the roads in TV are maintained by the county so TV can't tell anybody not to come in, their public roads & streets. The gate guards are their in hopes of if anybody comes in that they could remember things if something happened. Also a lot of younger people from Leesburg & Wildwood come here & some of the gate guards will take notice of that in case something get vandalized or robbed. Yea, it doesn't seem right but public streets mean just that, PUBLIC. I know someone will want to correct me on this, but some people really think our gates aren't worth the trouble. You could just call the front office & they probably could explain it to you in just about 5 mins.

Most times it pays to read the posts...……………………………
There are probably more but I quit after these five.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Most times it pays to read the posts...……………………………
There are probably more but I quit after these five.

Quitter.

[daylilylady]

Been here 24 years. It has never been a gated community. An allusion. Most of the roads are county roads.