Yes, things change. That's what made it such an egregious lie, every time things changed. They knew after the first time they said it, and it "changed" into a lie that they shouldn't have kept on repeating the lie for years. Since things "change", and all.

He who has not tasted the water, should not comment on its taste..............................

At one point, could be it was going to be completed....BUT more land became available and why should an opportunity be missed. If it is STILL being parroted then it should stop. People managed to have a career, trade, run a business and made it this far....they should know that what was/might be still said, isn’t necessarily how it will be.

Personally, I prefer the developer continue on...you might not, others might not, but I do.

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.

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:

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.

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:D

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.

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

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:

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:

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.

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 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.

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:

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."

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.

Twoplanekid, just a short clarification on your nearly correct statement, four of the current Supervisors in District 10 were elected by qualified electors (or ran unopposed) and the fifth, Mr. Rebecky, while being landowner elected is also a resident of CDD10. So yes, you do get a vote and three of the Supervisor seats are up for election/re-election in 2018.

The board of supervisors you speak of are all associates of the Developer.

I had written more to say below about a private conversation I had with a reliable source that ,if true, would blunt much of what you share. but to what avail.

You can never prove a negative and in that people who speak up are at a distinct disadvantage.

Personal Best Regards:

Thanks for the clarification of the information I found on the Districtgov web site. To help those that might be inclined to run for a seat on the board of Supervisors, what factor determines the one year of current residency? Are Supervisor elections held in November or May?

I have since learned that a Supervisor must be residents of the State of Florida and a citizen of the United States with no (one year) time requirements. Elections of Supervisors are held in November.

Rubicon, actually in this case you are wrong. I can tell you from first hand knowledge that ALL of the supervisors are NOT associates of the Developer. I can say this in 100% confidence as I am one of the CDD-10 Supervisors. I can tell you that as of this minute I have never met, spoke to, exchanged emails or text messages with, or to the best of my knowledge even been in the same room as any member of the Morse family or any officer of the development company. Your passive aggressive comments do a great disservice to the many men and wonen of this community that expend a great deal of their time and energy in being CDD Supervisors serving and looking out for the best interest of all the residents of The Villages.

Since moving to The Villages I have heard and read a great deal of castigation and rebuke of District Supervisors with a strong inference that many or all are little more than stooges for the development company. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While I have not spoke to or met all of the supervisors in all the CDDs, the ones I have met have all been individuals who dedicated to making The Villages the best possible place they can to live in retirement, for all the residents. Are any of these people associates or friends of "the developer", I cannot say and would not speculate in any case. What I can say is that all are intelligent people who try to make informed and unbiased decisions that they believe are in the best interests of their respective districts regardless of any perceived desires or influence of "the developer".

Is the CCD form of government the best choice for The Villages? I can't say for sure, but it seems to be working well for now. Odds are that it may some day change to a different form of government but it will be a very difficult transition as the community extends across three counties and a large number of inter-local government agreements exist that would have to be taken into account. One nice thing to consider with our current structure is there is very little of the bloat, bureaucracy, and political infighting that most governments have which keeps the taxes and costs to a low level by comparison.

Don Wiley
CDD-10 Supervisor

Sumter one was started because the good old boy's did not like the folks in The Villages but loved their money. They had all the good old boys on the payroll. Taxes kept going up without controls.

I think we can all agree that The Villages is no longer "quaint". But apparently we can't agree on much else. :evil6:

Based on the following:

Quaint | Definition of Quaint by Merriam-Webster

TV can continue to be called quaint.

I would not agree that "...we can agree TV is no longer quaint..."

Tis all in the eye of the beholder....eh?

First lifestyle preview was May, 2008. Quaint did not come into mind. What I saw was a Disneyland for adults. Spanish Springs with a feel of Seville Spain and Lake Sumter Landing looking like a Florida Key. The preview included meals, golf, tennis, bowling, a golf cart, and an LSL cottage. Even two bicycles. Walked to the Square where there was a Mustang show and live entertainment. Definitely cool but not quaint.





Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

I do not mean to pick your post apart, however, I see many cliff hangers.
Of course private business can achieve what the government cannot.
When one person can own a business versus a Congress, Senate, or what have you, it is no big surprise a business owner can do what he wants, when he wants to do it, etc., and be successful in a short amount of time.

What does TV's Charter School offer that most Florida schools do not?

Yes, there are some new businesses that have opened here, however no Costco (that is a definite barometer regarding demographics).
In addition, using Brownwood as an example, after about five years, many storefronts are still empty,
A huge amount of empty land is sitting there, waiting for the growth to which you refer that isn't here.

The quality of the houses in TV is average and nothing terrific. There are other builders in the area who frankly, build a better quality constructed home.
However, what we have here will certainly last long enough to go on to service other generations.

The problem with the regulations we currently have is that there are too many different ones.
Regulations throughout all of TV would make much more sense if everyone had to abide by the same ones and not by all the different districts or those north of this or south of that, etc.

I think there is plenty of room for a non-age restricted community that has their own recreational benefits. It would be nice to see something other than the thousands of Q-Tip heads that we have here!

I did not see a unemployment map that you said you posted, but Sumter County does not have the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
Wildwood still remains high in unemployment and many live in poverty.
Furthermore, before the Morse family came here, Sumter County had one of the highest amount of unemployed, not the lowest which you indicated.

Quaint? Not Under Any circumstances.
 

Au contraire I do not disparage anyone . And I consider my approach to be assertive and not aggressive and certainly not passive aggressive.

Mt importantly, we are talking about two different Board of Supervisors. I was addressing the Board of Supervisors ( 5 in all) that originally had control of the bond issue,etc , many of whom wield power and influence in this community today and actually continue to set future plans for The Villages.

You are addressing supervisors who have CDD responsibilities and their effect on CDD separately which is a completely different matter entirely.
and so what happens in Vegas (CDD10) stays in Vegas (CDD10).

Once again my only reason for starting this thread was to point out the sensibility of pausing to consider what future building will have on this community.

But we have some posters with circular thinking and it always ends up with them defending the Developer and The Villages, both of which have a large annual marketing and promotional budget to effect a positive image and as such both entities do well on their own.

This circular thinking prevents real discussion as to effective communication county commissioners, local state representatives etc as to concern for the impact of rapid growth, Essentially, I am talking about concerns for the preservation of the quality of living here.

I moved from an idyllic city rated the number one city to live in the nations for better than six consecutive years .
it was and is a great and beautiful place to live but I don't recall residents getting defensive when concerns were addressed rather they joined in to ensure the planning commission mayor, etc understood residents position

It seems we can never have any relevant discuss concerning this community because it always defaults to a defensive position vis a vis corroboration

Personal Best Regards:

You might want to read the examples this definition cites as examples were quaint is applied. My meaning a small unique college town .

I agree that its all in the eye of the beholder .

I will never understand why people get so stirred up and take personal umbrage when the issue of The Villages ?

Personal Best Regards:

As my teenage son used to say way back when, "Mom. Acknowledge and move on." (Of course, that was usually related to something he was in the doghouse for...)

Smart son.
We all should take that advice, present company included!

BTW -- is he still saying that to you??? :a040:

Is that like defaulting to "never mind":D

They both are!

Yep!:wave: