Sensible
 

rome wasn't built in a day

The paths and streets are built first but why build retail first if the population would not support it. You have to have customers before any business would want to move their business there.

Where the businesses will be are on the plan and when demand is there they will build them. Look at Brownwood and how long it took to build that out v

Why is maintenance cost of new facilities higher than older?

A presentation was given at each CDD board meeting explaining the reasons for the proposed formation of the PWAC2. Costs were explained. I was initially opposed to splitting the government structure. But, after seeing the presentation, I agreed with it.

On an apples to apples comparison, they are not and in fact may be lower because of newer materials, designs, and construction techniques. The costs of maintaining the older facilities has become lost to many as they have become long established and accepted costs, the newer facilities however as they begin to require maintenance get lots of attention as they are seen as “more money out of my pocket” when in fact these should be no different that existing costs. Do you get upset when you purchase a new car and then get upset when 4 months later you have to spend more money on it just to get an oil change? Facilities maintenance costs are no different, perhaps the biggest difference is the internet and social media, the many keyboard warriors that will raise a stink over every cost item in a budget without consideration of the facts and realities in their unbridled and uninformed rants in a vain attempt to try to raise their own social media status.

It the case of the waking trails and MMPs we are looking at an apples to oranges comparison. While both the curbed and uncurbed paths have the same function, they are constructed and will have to be maintained differently. Initial costs for the uncurbed paths is less as is the cost of replacing any given section on a linear foot basis due to the exclusion of the curbing. The curbed paths will undoubtedly have a longer and more stable useful life because of the curbing with a lower overall maintenance cost, but it comes at a higher initial price. The curbed paths however will have a higher replacement cost if a section need be replaced due to damage or other event.

Both curbed and uncurbed paths meet all state standards. The Villages had previously established a higher “Villages standard” of using a curbed path that under the new design criteria of the areas south of SR44 is obviously no longer economically sustainable and is now defaulting back to the state standards. The “I hate the developer” crowd will say that this is just about greed as they alway do, no, this is about business and the realities of dealing with the costs involved with construction and how the scale of even what seems like small things can have a significant impact. This all comes down to pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later, either way nothing is free and only one entity ever pays for anything, it’s not government or businesses, it is the one who ultimately benefits that must pay, the consumer.

is there a website setup to report model paths that need repair?

Sorry to be a nit-picker, but the engineer inside of me compels me to point out that you are speaking of "CONCRETE", not cement (which is part of concrete). I know, I know . . .

RU sure ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3c9upXVQ0M

Another overlooked problem of the lack of "ribbons" is safety. I recently drove through the area on a early very foggy morning, The "ribbons" act as a guidance to stay on the path. Without the "ribbons" there is no outside guidance. The very least that should be done is apply the white striping on the exterior perimeters of the roadbed.

I think the golf cart paths(and roads, and front yards, etc)south of 44 are dangerously more narrow.

I have not seen any awful looking paths South of 44. Why does it matter to you anyway if you’ve never been? Just another chance to complain I suppose.

Appears that the sister doesn't live there, either...

Understood, the Water Tower designed to last just ten years came with an interesting explaination.

https://www.districtgov.org/PdfUploa...%205.19.22.pdf


I know why residents of more established areas might not want to share in the cost of maintaining/upgrading new paths constructed to minimum standards in the south.

But everyone can use the paths and the beautiful trails down here that attract many from the older legacy areas of the Villages.

This will be more so as the new Lifestyle Center and multiple golf courses area completed.

I'll point out also the older areas of The Villages are benefiting from relatively lower property taxes given the inflation in prices for the newer homes. A new home buyer could be paying more than double the property tax of a similar home purchased more than 10 (maybe 5) years ago - that's life.

Did you ever own a blacktop drive with no edge protection such as concrete curbing or gravel shoulder ? Was that drive narrow enough that your car was parked close to the edge ? End result cracking and crumbling - guaranteed. Looks like - well you know what. Ever try to patch it ? How did that look ? Those MMPs get cart pressure on the edges all day long. They will fail. I have already observed this on those paths. If those paths have not been transferred from the developer to the CDDs contact your rep and insist considering not to accept possession without resolution or a maintenance agreement.