Like neighborhood watch. Just making sure people are following the rules when there is a complaint made.

We have lived in a deed restricted community before The Villages. Compliance was a combination of anonymous complaints (something I never agreed with, you should put your name on the complaint) and a resident manager inspecting the community weekly. The HOA actually took someone to court over a violation, and won. There were some violations they never enforced because they felt too much time had gone by without enforcement and that was an implicit acceptance of the violation. The lesson learned was that timely enforcement is a good idea.

What is done in The Villages is the easy way out: let the residents report non-compliance. I have never agreed with that approach. I can understand that people are hesitant to report neighbors, those who enjoy reporting violations notwithstanding. Given that The Villages (actually the CDDs??) doesn't want to do the dirty work, we must realize that it is up to us to take the steps to maintain the look and feel that we want for our neighborhoods. I personally don't like seeing a yard full of tchotchkes. Fortunately, all of my neighbors apparently feel the same way.

Gap - Not sure that "Lenny" would be too appreciative of casting his mom in such a light! :)

Sorry, Bonny. Not being a jerk here, but I kind of knew that much of it. I was looking for specific answers from those who might know to the other questions. Cheers! :)

When I saw that you asked "what is a compliance officer ?" I assumed you didn't know. Answers to the rest of your questions, I couldn't tell you.

Yeah, that was my fault the way I worded it. What I was getting at was, what's their Job Description? What are the requirements to be hired for that job? Do they get any training? Seems like it could be a power trip for the wrong person in that job.

I don't think the compliance guys themselves are on power trips. Our neighbor (snowbird) received a complaint about weeds in the yard, and the compliance person was very apologetic and handled it very nicely.

It's the people who drive around looking for rule benders and then turn 97 of them in who seem to be on power trips. You would think common sense would say to the compliance department that if they get 97complaints from the same person, he's probably a nut case. But I guess they are duty bound to investigate.

Not to be contrary, but if you read the last section of the restrictions you signed for, it states that you DO have an obligation to report infractions, and pursue mitigation up to and including litigation.

Surely that doesn't mean that we have an obligation to take on the cost of suing someone over lack of compliance. What are they smoking?

Consequences
 

We all agreed to Deed Restrictions when we bought. They are simple and in most cases reasonable. In a lot of cases Residents break the rules but don't want to accept the consequences for doing so, (e.g. removing the alleged violation). Our community is great and we are proud when visitors come and agree and in some cases buy. Lets not screw it up with a lot of junk in the
yards, etc. One mans treasurer is another mans junk.:bowdown:

If you want to know what Community Standards does and the procedures that are taken Please go to Village Community Development Districts, Hover your mouse over Departments on the blue bar, Click on Community Standards. This will bring you to they're home page. Scroll down and find your district. These will be on the main page with a red line. Click on it. There will be an overview with definitions and basic deed restriction guidelines. Not all Districts have the same restrictions, The individual district boards have the right to enforce or not enforce certain restrictions. They cannot change the restrictions though. When you bought your home you signed and agreed to abide by the deed restrictions set forth by the developer. That is a binding contract and the boards can not change that but they can choose to enforce or not enforce certain parts of the document. If you would like something changed bring it up to your board at an open meeting.

What is the next step once a person gets a complaint? Are they given a certain amount of time to correct the situation? If so, does the compliance department come back for a second inspection and sign off on the complaint?

I wonder how many of these 97 residents want to plead not guilty and if there is such a remedy?

Maybe the complainer is having trouble selling their home and feels that the neighborhoods are looking a little junked up.

Guess I didn't word it right. These are District rules we shouldn't have to nor do I intend to turn someone in for breaking a district rule. Period unless it's a safety or health issue. The District should enforce their own rules without a tattletale enforcement.

OP, not sure why you've taken this on as your problem. If some wha cko wants to file what is now "hundreds of complaints," despite your intentions, it is not your problem. The Villages compliance folks are the professionals in this arena and have probably dealt successfully with these issues before. Best not to stress over it.

Not just a nut case but more like :loco::loco::loco::loco:. On 2nd thought, they must really lead miserable lives with no friends and nothing to do to feel the need to travel around neighborhoods and write all of these so-called "infractions" down. I know I get fired up about divots on greens and tee boxes but it's hard to call someone out when everyone you play with fixes them.

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Whats really funny is the person missed some homes, but according to some posters we should turn them now!

I've waited until now to chime in - wondering when someone would bring up the obvious - that's why we live here. I really don't want yard ornaments in my neighbors' yards or I'd have chosen a home in the northern district where they have no rules. You can slather on all the ornaments you want on your lawn without infraction.
As to the 90+ complaints, it certainly is sour grapes, yet are there that many people in the area that are out of compliance with the rules they said they would uphold? I'm glad I live in a neighborhood that lives in compliance.... phew... they are also the neighbors who let us walk our dogs and don't worry about the d-mail scents left behind.

I guess I'm unfamiliar with the different areas. What is the "northern district" where there are no rules?

The area of TV that is in Marion County is very restricted due to County rules.

"My duty to report someone out of compliance". ??? Are you kidding me? That's so uncivilized it's pathetic. You can bang your covenants papers to your hearts desire but the majority of the world believes "live and let live". I truly believe the great majority scan those documents at closing and say yeah yeah. Hell will freeze before I report anyone for a lawn ornament.

My God, people! Have you never heard of the falling domino theory. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainly that it will fall over very quickly.

This needs to be nipped in the bud. Lawn ornament victory in one village can quickly lead to a chain reaction of lawn ornament takeovers in neighboring villages. *Deed restrictions might then be re-wrote where if you own a house in The Villages it must have a lawn ornament in the front yard. This could lead to a major rise in the price of lawn ornaments. Then we would have to start having them made in China. This could not only end life in The Villages as we know it, but could be the destruction of our whole economic system.

If you head over to Rio Grande into the Mira Mesa area near Spanish Springs you will see every version of lawn decor on the planet. No deed restrictions. I'm guessing here (certainly not a legal expert), but that area is in Lake County.

If your saying the majority wants to ignore deed restrictions, I strongly dispute your claim.

Hear hear!!! This thread and this "issue" are such a waste of time. If you moved to the Villages so you could become part of the "Gnome Police".....well you will be very lonely... no one wants to hear your whining.

I certainly don't report my neighbors but I did move to TV because there are restrictions and I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A GNOME VILLAGE. People should comply with the covenants. If you comply you will not get a letter..simple as that.

Agree. Pretty simple.

wish I had a gnome to put on my lawn. Might have to go shopping.

Stay tasteful

http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/outdoor...Birdie-574.jpg

Good one

Zombie Gnome's! Too funny! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

...and if you get a letter, put the gnomes away! Simple as that. Why so much drama over nothing?

"Good fences make good neighbors"
From the Mending Wall by Robert Frost

It would be good for posters to read (google) this wonderful poem written many years ago by one of America's greatest philosophers/poets.It refers to neighbors agreeing to rebuild and keep in good repair a fence (rule of use).

Good rules (fences) also make good neighbors, provided that everyone abides by the covenants that they have previouly agreed to.

No one is required to be a "snitch". Some feel that they should utilize their contractural right to report infractions (rebuild and repair) the wall. In the final analysis the reporters are helpping to preserve the values of all, even those who protest so loudly.

LOL, good fences make ...... fences!

I love the metal birds in the yards by houses, but have to admit in our old neighbor hood, the house down the street had more garden decorations in the front yard than Walmart. Yes I know they loved it but not following the rules is not right. Nope no one has turned them in but...

Excellent post Challenger and very reasonable point made.

One of the reasons that this place is so beautiful is because of the deed restrictions.

They aren't a minus, they are a plus. Deed restrictions are not new to many of us. We chose to build our last five homes in deed restricted areas, because the restrictions protected our investment and because we liked the way it looked.

The deed restrictions became more tight as The Villages grew. There are not as many in the historical parts and in the areas off of Morse north of 466 as there are in the newer areas north of 466 of Buena Vista and all areas south of 466.

They used to be overseen by Villages Watch but now they are enforced when someone reports them. If you call Standards, there will be NO public record. I was surprised to read about the emails being public...which makes me muse...........Whoops.

I did not move here to look at bend over ladies and multiple pots and gee gaws and frou frous and plastic flowers. I didn't even move here to look at expensive bronze ornaments....but there are some that can get approval from ARC if requested, so ask them before you place something beautiful and find out it is against deed restrictions.

I think it odd that someone turned in myriads of reports, but if a bend over lady comes into my line of vision near my home...well..you guessed it.

And if I get all out of wack and silly as I grow older and buy a bronze statue of Brad Pitt and place it in my front flower bed, well please feel free to report me. I know that if I don't comply, I will get fined and a lien placed on my home. Rules and restrictions were there when I bought and I signed the papers.

Let's keep The Villages beautiful.

So let me understand I break the law (or violate my deed restrictions) but my friends say it's ok.
It's not the number of violations that's the problem even one is too many.

Let me try and bring this back to the original issue. One item is a violation. Anyone can file a compliant. No one can defend by stating the value, the beauty or the number. The posters are correct, the deed states no lawn ornaments. Now drive around, of course you see them. My issues is with a person on a personal mission, turning in hundreds of people. The person does not live in my village. Yes they have the right, but wow, what a power trip. Heck the person does not even need to live in the villages. The other issue in the compliance people are telling different people different rules. The other funny issue is that as they are talking to reported home owners, they do no address homeowners who have ornaments but no one reported them. The system is not working!

Right. Sounds like this has really upset you. Whether it's 1, 97 or "hundreds," makes no difference.

While the system is not perfect, it does work. Obviously, TV and many posters agree. Sometimes one just needs to accept what one cannot change. Don't hold a grudge against this person despite the fact that you don't like what they did. Sounds like this is eating you up inside. Not worth it. Namaste.

Only a few get caught for traffic violations. Should we stop enforcement?