[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by Bobcuse

Several good points on both sides of this issue. Opinions should be respected not condemned and these sensitive issues seem to bring out the worst in some people. I was on the receiving end of a complaint 4 years ago and the Community Watch guy said that someone had driven around several neighborhoods and listed several violations for very small items which in his opinion enhanced the landscaping, but he was simply the messenger. We all know taste is subjective and varies widely. I like the complaint driven system because it allows some decorations yet those who don't like looking at them can have them removed by complaining. I would love to see the rules changed to restrict complaints to residents living on the same street since they are the ones who see the decorations everyday. Most neighbors get along which would eliminate these nuisance vendetta driven purges we are seeing. (This should bring a hailstorm of comments)

I agreed with you until I got to your sentence about getting along. Just reading this thread will prove that is not true. I believe it was on a Twilight Zone episode that the curator of another planet said--as long as there is man, there will be no peace.
What floored me is any person from anywhere can complain. Several of my neighbors have beautiful flower beds with ornamentals scattered beautifully throughout the garden. I would hate for someone who is out looking for something to complain about to squash their enthusiasm and cause them to stop gardening.

[Bonny]

I like the deed restrictions. I don't want to see bronze statues, 7 gnomes, bird baths that haven't been cleaned, arbors with dead vines, etc. I say this because when we lived in Santiago there were no deed restrictions like here. One person had a stop light in their yard. When we were selling our house in Santiago our neighbor's yard was just nasty. We loved them so I certainly wouldn't say anything to them.
We all know the rules when we move somewhere.
The problem is the ones that get carried away, ruin it for the others. What some think is cute is an eyesore to other homeowners.

[kstew43]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Sounds to me like someone who was similarly burned for the same infraction.

Exactly what I was thinking.....

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Many of us were Having an informative discussion when this poster decided he/she would call out three of us for having been burned for the same infraction. I responded I didn't appreciate the accusation. He/she decided to then send nasty gram PMs. It's too bad some have to spoil it for the rest. One bad apple.

Called three of you out "for having been burned for the same infraction."? Accuse you of what? I think there was a comprehension failure there! How do you get to that conclusion? I merely cited 3 opinions and added my fourth!!!!!

Original post: #33

[DruannB]

May yard ornaments be placed in the back yard if they can't be seen from the front? I ask because we haven't bought yet. I'm just thinking of my one iron sculpture of a rescue worker. He is currently saving my dogs from drowning in our pond (figuratively). Should I plan on finding him a good home?

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by DruannB

May yard ornaments be placed in the back yard if they can't be seen from the front? I ask because we haven't bought yet. I'm just thinking of my one iron sculpture of a rescue worker. He is currently saving my dogs from drowning in our pond (figuratively). Should I plan on finding him a good home?

Would probably be best if you read the deed restrictions for the area[s] where you are thinking of purchasing or if you asked directly of someone in the district government office.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by Bobcuse

Several good points on both sides of this issue. Opinions should be respected not condemned and these sensitive issues seem to bring out the worst in some people. I was on the receiving end of a complaint 4 years ago and the Community Watch guy said that someone had driven around several neighborhoods and listed several violations for very small items which in his opinion enhanced the landscaping, but he was simply the messenger. We all know taste is subjective and varies widely. I like the complaint driven system because it allows some decorations yet those who don't like looking at them can have them removed by complaining. I would love to see the rules changed to restrict complaints to residents living on the same street since they are the ones who see the decorations everyday. Most neighbors get along which would eliminate these nuisance vendetta driven purges we are seeing. (This should bring a hailstorm of comments)

I agree. Living in one village and filing complaints in another shouldn't even be on the table. As for the people doing this, I wonder how much time they have on their hands to study all the variances for the different districts and driving all over to record this. Sounds to me like they retired far to early.

[Barefoot]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Most of us find The Villages a beautiful community.
In the newer areas, deed restrictions are a way of maintaining the pristine appearance.
If you need to have statues to be happy, put them in the back yard and hide them from the neighbors' view with shrubs.

[DianeM]

With all the evil in the world, it's rather ridiculous to walk around looking for problems with neighbors. If someone had a junker car on their front lawn or their laundry flapping in the breeze, that would irritate me and I would do something about it . I hardly think a bronze egret is going to make the world come to an end or junk up TV. Some people really need to get a life.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by CFrance

this kind of vengeful power play crap is exactly why the villages needs to step up and enforce their own rules THAT THEY WROTE and then refused to enforce unless somebody complained. they're basically making us the watchdogs' and we have no training. you made the rules, t v. enforce them yourselves!!

I agreed completely until I went for a walk this morning. I paid particular attention to garden objects in my very nice, tasteful (IMO) neighborhood...things I really never noticed before.

I was surprised to note that 9 out of 10 yards has SOMETHING, however minor, that would break the rules.

If TV took on the role of enforcing to the letter of the law, they'd never be done! If my yard is ok today, it may not be tomorrow. Is this really worth the effort,not to mention related costs, to hire an army of people to be enforcers?

Yes, the current complaint-driven system is FAR from perfect, but I think it beats the alternative.

[Wing-nut2]

I'd almost bet someone jumped on them, and their jumping back.

[alemorkam]

Sounds like the person that gets a speeding ticket for going 75 mph and complains that everyone else is doing it. Why not just comply?

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Many of us were Having an informative discussion when this poster decided he/she would call out three of us for having been burned for the same infraction. I responded I didn't appreciate the accusation. He/she decided to then send nasty gram PMs. It's too bad some have to spoil it for the rest. One bad apple.

I took the post you are referring to in an entirely different way. I thought he/she was speculating that the complainant who identified the 95 violations had likely been burned by the same infraction and went on a crusade.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by naneiben

If TV took on the role of enforcing to the letter of the law, they'd never be done! If my yard is ok today, it may not be tomorrow. Is this really worth the effort, not to mention related costs, to hire an army of people to be enforcers? Yes, the current complaint-driven system is FAR from perfect, but I think it beats the alternative.

I think the existing system works.
Usually an infraction has to be really blatant and annoying before someone bothers to complain.
In the OP's case, sadly it's someone with a vendetta, and not a typical occurrence.

[eremite06]

Personal attacks will get this thread closed. I have noticed an abundance of lawn ornaments which do violate the deed restrictions. Rules are rules.