Not a single person was forced to buy here. And not a single person need stay if they don't like the way a CDD is run. Their home can be sold and usually at a profit if it is clean, appropriately priced, not smoked in or peed in a lot by animals. People can live in bigger homes nearby and not have to pay the approximately $150 amenity fee levied for all no matter how big or how small their homes are.

Nope. If a person doesn't like it here then they can choose to live elsewhere. The cost of moving is much less here than in any other part of the country.

Gracie, who has never seen one segment of Game of Thrones and who had lived comfortably in her old neighborhood for more than twenty years with many ethnicities and nationalities attracted by good jobs at Proctor and Gamble...

The old neighborhood had deed restrictions too. It keeps your property values protected. For most of us a home is a huge investment.

Are these crosses religious statements or yard art?

To the person who placed the cross in their yard..............Religious Statement or possibly an act of defiance
To the person who complained...............................Probably seen as Religious Statement which offends their sensibilities
To the Deed Compliance Staff..................................Probably Yard Art which is in violation of deed restrictions

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Very true that people view these crosses and whether they are a problem from different angles. Whatever your feeling about these, the fact remains it is a violation of the deed restrictions everyone agreed to when purchasing your home. As others have said, if the restrictions are too onerous, don’t buy the house.
The deed restrictions are not a violation of your freedom of religion. That freedom is a guarantee that the government cannot establish a national religion over others and restrict your practicing your chosen religion. However, like other “rights” it can be waived by private establishments. An example frequently used is your right to free speech does not allow you to yell “Fire” in a crowded theater. Or your employer can certainly discipline you for what you say to a customer. In this case, you agreed that all lawn ornaments (which these crosses are) cannot be placed in certain positions in the front yard. It has nothing to do with religious tolerance.

For those who feel this is much ado about nothing, to allow these ornaments is a slippery slope that I feel The Villages will not risk. As others have said, allowing these, even by ignoring the violation, could mean that all restrictions on lawn ornaments become unenforceable. There is a provision in law that if an entity shows a pattern of ignoring a rule or such, it becomes moot.

If you want to change the restriction, it would appear it would have to be done CDD by CDD. And perhaps finally by the VCCDD and SLCDD. I would not hold out any hope that could be accomplished. As an example, I brought to the AAC a proposal that active duty service members visiting family in TV have their greens fee/cart fee waived by presenting their service ID and guest pass at the starter shack. TV has always shown support for the military, so I thought it would be a no-brainer. Wrong. It was turned down for the reason that there are many groups such as police, sheriff, fire fighters, etc., who are also deserving of our appreciation and who could justifiably ask why they were not included. The slippery slope.

Please place your cross under the eaves of your home or in the back yard. Then no one can tell you to remove it as it meets the deed restrictions. Problem goes away.

Not sure how we got here
 

But in reply to you.
As I've said many times, your rights end where they intrude on the right of others.

As you read through these debates. It is not like your horn is only heard by your friend. I've seen people simply stop in the middle of the street to gossip. No attention to anyone but themselves on the road.

We will as always have tones of differing opinions on every subject but, why don't you simply pull over?

What are you talking about? You have never given a quick toot on your horn to get someone's attention to just give them a friendly wave? Your bothered by someone doing that but not by the noise of construction, trucks, garbage removal etc? Do you want total silence around you?

BTW...that question was addressed to Gracie.

I agree. Well said.

I can't help but wonder, if those who are so adamant that they be allowed to display a small religious cross in their yards, feel that others should have the same right to display small swastikas, confederate flags, witch symbols, Islamic symbols, etc., etc., etc...in their front yards?

I have this sneaky suspicion, that the answer by the majority would be a resounding...NO!

Therefore, I think the answer as to should everyone be required to follow the deed restrictions...becomes crystal clear. :shrug:

Landscaping in rear of homes
 

Are we allowed to put articles in the landscaping in the rear of our homes.
What if the back of your house faces the street?

Yes, but ONLY the back of each item may be displayed.


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I wish I had said that ! [emoji1303]


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You can own it for $1.


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Not that there still wouldn't be issues, but if the entire Villages all had the same (as in identical) rules for everything, it would simplify many things.

Now that hurt my feelings. (I know, you probably don't care.) We just had our 5 year old home painted, and updated the color of the garage doors. We used a new color from the newly minted center of The Villages, around CR44. Staff of the ARC loved it.

The garage doors are painted Sherman Williams Red Copper!




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Is that for real? Oh my goodness. I would have to move if my home faced the statue. Is that allowed.....even on the historic side?

If I need to sell my house, am I allowed to bury a statue of St. Joseph in my front yard ?


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White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

Yes, but only upside down, facing Bethlehem . And make sure his toes don't show. But most importantly, under your eaves.


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Bethlehem PA ???


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White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

Absolutely. Sorry I missed that detail.


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I haven't seen that but I have seen a full sized cannon in somebody's yard in Santo Domingo and a yard decorated with plastic flowers in Santiago. Do you still wonder why the made the rules tougher as they learned ?

:pray:

Amen !

I for one have a small white cross in support of christianity with several other ornamental items. If strict inforcement says the cross should be removed then I believe all ornaments should be removed so all you see in the front yards is grass and plants. I would miss the variety of front yards.

The enforcement is complaint driven on a house by house basis. If someone files a complaint against your house then you will have to react. Complaints would need to be filed against all non-compliant houses in order to obtain your goal of the removal of all ornaments if you can't have a cross in your yard (because of a complaint against your house).

I am not sure, but I think that all ornamentation without approval from ARC are NOT allowed south of 466. I have always believed that there are fewer deed restrictions north of 466.

South of 466, you may have what can fit under the eaves of the house.

I don't think this has ANYTHING at all to do with religion and I do believe that most people who live here would not be against your faith at all.

A full sized cannon in their front yard?

Spanish fort ???


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I though the little white crosses are for departed pets.
I suggest that you remember when people buy a home in the villages from the original home owner. The new home owners don't sign any rules. After a while you will have no rules that can be inforced by the villages.

Wow, you really need a few lessons in real property law.


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What next?

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So, you're a Jurassic lover too ? Excellent.


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I love to read this forum for the chuckles I have. People here have wonderful senses of humor.

Is it not possible, at this time, to make new rules in the older sections that are so lenient with the clutter on properties? I can see why the newer villages look more pristine than the older section. The developer is building new homes in the historic section where the pre-fab homes stood. Wouldn't the developer want this section to be as pristine as the newer sections?

I would much prefer to see healthy grass and healthy plants and trees only. Nix the other chotskies. Too many on a property and it looks schlocky (is that really a word?) You get the idea.

White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

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That is simply incorrect. Deed Restrictions follow the deed.

Or,

Yiddish Dictionary Online ייִדיש װערטערבוך אַפֿן װעב


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Yep, ad infinitum.


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Not in my old neighborhood, but I used to pass a home in NJ that had a life size buffalo statue on his front lawn. The property had a very large set back from the street but the buffalo was very visible. At Christmastime, the buffalo wore a huge wreath around his neck.