[spring_chicken]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

in my humble opinion, unless you moved here to Orange Blossom Hills and purchased your mobile home directly from Mr. Morse, you have no authority to claim The Villages have gotten too large. After all, you would be considered part of that problem from the original Villagers' perspective. Perhaps they wanted the door closed before you arrived?

Not necessarily. If you bought pre-owned, then you aren't a part of the problem by creating a demand for new homes.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

In all due respect, what other businesses allow you to vote on their plans?

In all due respect, first we are not talking about a business we are talking about county/community issues. but, perhaps that is the problem because we have a business that also doubles as government; albeit they do so arms length to avoid notice or accusations of conflicts.

Secondly, in many states one is allowed to vote on the school budget and to introduce referendums or attend (real not staged) town hall meetings to discuss issues of truly relevant importance to residents such as continued building, etc.

However, the bigger issue is that the big and only player here is the Developer (this business as you term it) and has the attention, etc of of state and local politicians.

How do you think an ostensible private school could get charter status without the working/personal/business/political relationship between Jeb Bush and the Morse family. A school that is supported by taxes paid exclusively by RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGES THAT LIVE IN SUMTER COUNTY and where student enrollment last time I checked was 75% outside the county.

It is a puzzlement that so many residents view the Developer as some sort of benevolent benefactor when in actuality its a very aggressive corporation that has decimated many competitors in allied lines who attempt to make a living.

I am not making judgment here I understand capitalism. However I don't condone crony capitalism

Personal Best Regards:

[billethkid]

If TV never crossed 466 headed for 466A there would not have been the recognition by national retailers that TV was worthy of their establishment(s).

As TV critical mass continued to grow all the more of these national establishments have chosen to open a business here.

When all gets said and done there is more traffic. A reality at any location/establishment/venue worth while or of interest to the masses.
The rest of TV is pretty a fairly distributed entity....new pools, golf courses, rec centers, common grounds, etc are put in to accommodate the increasing number of villages and residents..

As a result most of us conduct our lives in a rather tight
geographical diameter.
We get to meet more of each other when we go to areas like rolling acres shopping area, Sams Club or favorite restaurants.

If we did not have the attractive size/population there would not have been the shopping we have today. And many of us...about half of us....decided to buy into the lifestyle BEFORE many of what we have today were not even a rumor yet.

In my opinion as long as the developer continues with the plan and logistics of evolution to date....it will continue to get better and better.

The number of being over 100,000 is not really comparable to other "cities" because that is not what we are....THANK GOD.

I believe the majority who decided to locate here for the reasons they, did are still happy and content with the lifestyle. We are. And we have been here long enough to experience what was before and what has come along since quadrupling in size.

Definitely, overall..... continuous improvement.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I personally like that a private business can achieve what big government cannot. I personally like that a charter school can offer what most school systems in Florida cannot. I have noted that the builder continues to add rec centers and golf courses as they build. And new businesses are attracted to this area now more than they were before because we are bigger and demographers are finally noticing that we are here. The tax payers will become a bigger bunch too and will share the burden of any repairs and additions. Making a profit is how business works and it also allows business to employ people which to me is a very good thing.

SOMEONE is going to build here. I would prefer it is of the quality and have the regulations we now enjoy and that it continues to be an age restricted area.

Check again the map I posted that shows we have the lowest unemployment of any county in the state. Before the Morses came, Sumter was one of the poorest counties with the lowest employment.

A rising tide lifts all ships.

GG: do you believe this private business is building rec centers, etc out of the goodness of its heart? Have you checked to see what 5 of profit this private business makes when it sells said facility to the District?

I like that rising tide lift all ships too. However I do not like when too many built ships begin colliding with one another

I am not pro or anti-developer. I am concerned with the affect this private business running as my government has on my quality of life and I have a right as a taxpayer amenity payer to speak up

Personal Best Regards:

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rubicon

GG: do you believe this private business is building rec centers, etc out of the goodness of its heart? Have you checked to see what 5 of profit this private business makes when it sells said facility to the District?

I like that rising tide lift all ships too. However I do not like when too many built ships begin colliding with one another

I am not pro or anti-developer. I am concerned with the affect this private business running as my government has on my quality of life and I have a right as a taxpayer amenity payer to speak up

Personal Best Regards:

No. I do not. I understand margins and profit and loss.

I understand that you would still be in the far North if you were choosing what would make you happy but your wife likes it here..

I don't know whether Mark Morse is Mother Teresa or Atilla the Hun, but I do know that the organization has fulfilled what I personally expected for the last ten years and then some.

You don't have to love them to see that they are doing a good job.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by pooh

Remember this, none of us here have been forced to live here....choices were made and those choices brought people here. Country bumpkins? Well, some might just find that phrase insulting, implying the person saying it, is an elitist. As individuals, we are no better than another and another is no better than we are. No one here is a tree, they can pick up and move. Whether we like it or not, life moves forward, more want what many of us here enjoy. Communities are going to grow. As they grow, more and more becomes available....shops, restaurants, educational opportunities, entertainment.

I chose to live here, I love it. Moved from southern CA where many of what you imply is missing here, was plentiful. Funny, I don’t feel deprived...lots of the same things available nearby.

There were areas here where people paid $10,000+ for a so call view and a few years later up comes a building etc blocking that view.

many people bought with the understanding that build out was on the horizon. would you suggest that they do not have a right to express an opinion. We all adjust

There isn't a right or wrong here. We are individuals with different points of views and expectations. One may disagree without being disagreeable.

Personal Best Regards:





To my way of thinking telling someone "don't like it move' is like calling a person a racist, etc as a method of shutting down conversation

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by TheWarriors

in my humble opinion, unless you moved here to Orange Blossom Hills and purchased your mobile home directly from Mr. Morse, you have no authority to claim The Villages have gotten too large. After all, you would be considered part of that problem from the original Villagers' perspective. Perhaps they wanted the door closed before you arrived?

Well we could take that discussion back to if the Pilgrims didn't cross the big pond......

For every stage of development of TV you will find a legitimate concern about growth. and of course it comes down to expectations

Personal Best Regards:

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

No. I do not. I understand margins and profit and loss.

I understand that you would still be in the far North if you were choosing what would make you happy but your wife likes it here..

I don't know whether Mark Morse is Mother Teresa or Atilla the Hun, but I do know that the organization has fulfilled what I personally expected for the last ten years and then some.

You don't have to love them to see that they are doing a good job.

GG:

you can bet that the Morse family is really good at margins, profit and loss.

And I view and have always stated that I viewed the Morse family as I would any other enterprise because its business and not personal . As such what they do or do not do has an affect on my lifestyle.

while I knew TV was going to continue building I did not envision it approaching this sort of congestion, congestion that is exacerbated by expansion in the surrounding towns.

the issue of taxes was my prime motivator and thus far based on other locations that interested me that consideration still holds tight.

some posters seem to equate raising issues such as this as if its needless complaining. Yet concerned citizens are actually the watchdogs for a community. Name one outlet that really has residents interest to heart.

don't mean to ruffle feathers or to hurt feelings but I was struck by the sensible move by Osceola County

I remain a good neighbor

Personal Best Regards:

[dotti105]

Gosh, so much disagreement about growth in The Villages. There seems to be a lot of the "I'm here now, so close the gates" mentality.

If you were here when Schwartz had his mobile home park and a few holes of golf, then I guess your complaints would be better understood by me. But those of us who came "after" came because of the amenities, the lifestyle, the cleanliness, the entertainment, the clubs, the golf, etc.

The fact that The Villages continues to grow does not concern me one iota. The growth is spread out, well designed and will only draw more diverse restaurants, shopping etc.

Each land acquisition is "the last Village". If it upsets you, living near Spanish Springs", that they are building south of 44, you need a hobby. It is a 30 minute drive, in a car, from you. Why is that a concern? The are building, new softball fields, Executive and Championship Golf course, new Rec centers, pools, etc, etc, etc. those future Villagers will have not need to crowd "your roads" or your amenities.

The planning here has been amazing! Convenience and ambiance is everywhere. The Morse family, for 3 generations now have provided a fabulous place to retire that most of us realize is very special and unique. Their vision and talent is very special. Name any other place that can compare......Now what are you complaining about? If you don't like it, put your home on the market and in 60 days you can be on your way.

We are just thankful that we found this great place and were fortunate enough to grab a place here. This conversation makes "Friendliest Home Town" sound like it belongs as the theme somewhere other than here.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by rubicon

In all due respect, that was a given. Some of us moved away in part because we wanted to get way from big city living, crowds, traffic, etc. It seems however big city living is being foisted upon us and we don't even get to vote on it.

Cést' la vie

Of course, you get to vote on it. You can vote by moving out to the countryside. I see plenty of places around The Villages where the neighbors are a mile apart.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by dotti105

Gosh, so much disagreement about growth in The Villages. There seems to be a lot of the "I'm here now, so close the gates" mentality.

If you were here when Schwartz had his mobile home park and a few holes of golf, then I guess your complaints would be better understood by me. But those of us who came "after" came because of the amenities, the lifestyle, the cleanliness, the entertainment, the clubs, the golf, etc.

The fact that The Villages continues to grow does not concern me one iota. The growth is spread out, well designed and will only draw more diverse restaurants, shopping etc.

Each land acquisition is "the last Village". If it upsets you, living near Spanish Springs", that they are building south of 44, you need a hobby. It is a 30 minute drive, in a car, from you. Why is that a concern? The are building, new softball fields, Executive and Championship Golf course, new Rec centers, pools, etc, etc, etc. those future Villagers will have not need to crowd "your roads" or your amenities.

The planning here has been amazing! Convenience and ambiance is everywhere. The Morse family, for 3 generations now have provided a fabulous place to retire that most of us realize is very special and unique. Their vision and talent is very special. Name any other place that can compare......Now what are you complaining about? If you don't like it, put your home on the market and in 60 days you can be on your way.

We are just thankful that we found this great place and were fortunate enough to grab a place here. This conversation makes "Friendliest Home Town" sound like it belongs as the theme somewhere other than here.

My feelings exactly. And as far this being like a big city, I've lived in many cities, large and small and this is nothing like city life.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Of course, you get to vote on it. You can vote by moving out to the countryside. I see plenty of places around The Villages where the neighbors are a mile apart.

My friend ,your rejoinder of "if you don't like it move" is an emotional and unfair response and a short sighted one. And it would suggest that a resident has no right to speak up.

This is not a debate of" I got mine and you can't have yours." Its about sensible planning and sensible growth
My initial post was to point out the sensibility of a moratorium to ascertain what effect rapid growth was having on the community. I should have known that this was going to turn into a pro -anti developer one I care not to rehash again and frankly have never understood.

Osceola county made clear that additional road building will be necessary and many of the roads will be toll roads.

My prediction is that unchecked village residents gate passes will become SUNPASS

My prediction is that the tax burden will grow exponentially as population growth ceases and infrastructure maintenance cost rise. Amenity fees continue to rise not only because they are tied to the consumer Index but because of the pressures placed on facilities will demand that they be increased to meet new obligations. and as amenity fees are growing the availability of suitable amenities times ,etc is quickly fading.

Rising cost vis a vis fixed incomes is a problem for retirees. And a resident does not have the right to say I am not using any of the amenities so I want to opt out

This fixed retirement income is also why your" if you don't like it move option "is seldom the answer. I don't make my investment/financial decisions based on emotion. However I did mistakenly believe that speaking rationally about the growth in the community could be productive.

I'm not speaking against anything or anyone but I do believe residents ought to have a vote on how they will spend the remainder of their lives especially since they paid a high premium for their investment. I also believe that a discussion should result in reasonable compromises. However today, people simply do not discuss they rant.

Personal Best Regards:

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by rubicon

I'm not speaking against anything or anyone but I do believe residents ought to have a vote on how they will spend the remainder of their lives especially since they paid a high premium for their investment. I also believe that a discussion should result in reasonable compromises. However today, people simply do not discuss they rant.

Personal Best Regards:

My post is simply a fact and is not meant to offend

You have no right to a vote - you, like the rest of us, purchased a home on a piece of land. That did not give you the right to vote on anything pertaining to TV. It gave you the right to live in your home on your piece of land until such time as you chose not to do so. As far as I know, The Villages is privately owned and is not resident owned which gives us no vote on anything.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

My post is simply a fact and is not meant to offend

You have no right to a vote - you, like the rest of us, purchased a home on a piece of land. That did not give you the right to vote on anything pertaining to TV. It gave you the right to live in your home on your piece of land until such time as you chose not to do so. As far as I know, The Villages is privately owned and is not resident owned which gives us no vote on anything.

As I live In Community Development District 10, I believe we do get to vote as stated on The Villages web site and I quote:“ The Board of Supervisors is currently comprised of three landowner seats and two qualified seats, which means that three supervisors were elected by landowner votes (one vote per acre or part thereof). In 2016, two landowner seats will transition to qualified, and in 2018 the final land owner seat will transition to qualified. From that point forward, all supervisors in District No. 10 will be elected by 'qualified electors' (registered voters) residing in the District. They are elected on a non-partisan basis on the general election ballot.

As a governmental entity in the State of Florida, Village Community Development District No. 10 is held to the same high standards as cities and counties as it pertains to Sunshine Law, Public Records Law, Financial Reporting and Financial Disclosure Laws. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors adheres to Florida Statute Chapter 112, Part III- Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees."

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rubicon

My friend ,your rejoinder of "if you don't like it move" is an emotional and unfair response and a short sighted one. And it would suggest that a resident has no right to speak up.

This is not a debate of" I got mine and you can't have yours." Its about sensible planning and sensible growth
My initial post was to point out the sensibility of a moratorium to ascertain what effect rapid growth was having on the community. I should have known that this was going to turn into a pro -anti developer one I care not to rehash again and frankly have never understood.

Osceola county made clear that additional road building will be necessary and many of the roads will be toll roads.

My prediction is that unchecked village residents gate passes will become SUNPASS

My prediction is that the tax burden will grow exponentially as population growth ceases and infrastructure maintenance cost rise. Amenity fees continue to rise not only because they are tied to the consumer Index but because of the pressures placed on facilities will demand that they be increased to meet new obligations. and as amenity fees are growing the availability of suitable amenities times ,etc is quickly fading.

Rising cost vis a vis fixed incomes is a problem for retirees. And a resident does not have the right to say I am not using any of the amenities so I want to opt out

This fixed retirement income is also why your" if you don't like it move option "is seldom the answer. I don't make my investment/financial decisions based on emotion. However I did mistakenly believe that speaking rationally about the growth in the community could be productive.

I'm not speaking against anything or anyone but I do believe residents ought to have a vote on how they will spend the remainder of their lives especially since they paid a high premium for their investment. I also believe that a discussion should result in reasonable compromises. However today, people simply do not discuss they rant.

Personal Best Regards:

I cringe at the residents "getting to vote" on every small issue when so many half truths, rumors and misinformation is passed in this place. So much is offered as gospel and it is just garbage on this forum and in many printed venues as well. There are so many agendas, so many people who would like The Villages to fail because of jealousy, competition and plain mean spiritedness.

There are many who are gullible to tales told out of school and in today's climate of public opinion being passed around as fact it is very hard to find the truth.