The Villages does not call itself a gated community. Once you get that part straight, the rest of your concern no longer exists - whether a 'true" gated community or otherwise.

May it could be described as a "stop gate" community; you know, like "stop sign" and "stop light".

:1rotfl: exactly!

This is not a gated community, but a community with gates.

No, its a community that uses gates as traffic control devices--can't fathom the reason for having manned gates helter/skelter,IMHO do away with the manned gates--one of the bushiest gates in TV ,St. Charles & Buena Vista is unmanned, the same goes for the gate @ Pinellas Pl & 466a

Yes, I stated a gated community, not a "True" gated community. I omitted the word "True" in my post. Please read again.

Has to do with sales, of course. Gated community permits higher real estate value and enables small discount on home owners insurance. Nothing but a sales tool.

The Villages is not a gated community, it is a deeded community. Gates are there to control traffic.

When I first visited a friend here back in 2005 off of Morse, we had to stop at the gate to her Village give our name which was on a list and wait for the guard to call her to confirm we were allowed to visit before he would open the gate for us to enter. Therefore at least part if not all of TV was a gated community at some point.

OP stated “... The Villages calls themselves a gated community, which technically it is.“ This is not true! The Villages have NEVER called themselves a gated community!

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.

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? :shrug:

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.

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.