Ann Fender, a master gardener and gardening award winner, recently put up a sign reading “Garden Club of the Year Award” in front of her Village of Santiago home.
A neighbor’s complaint resulted in a deed restriction citation, forcing Fender to remove the sign.
She brought her case Friday to Community Development District 2 supervisors.
“Why are religious, university and pro sports signs OK but a ‘Garden Club of the Year’ sign is not?” she asked.
Sign regulations in The Villages are complex and can be difficult to understand. Yard signs generally are not allowed, but seasonal signs such as those for Christmas (“Jesus is the reason for the season”) are permitted. Flags on poles are legal as well as sports banners hanging on a house or garage. Sports banners in yards are considered yard signs.
And in CDDs 1 and 4, sign restrictions are not enforced as they are in other districts. That means there may not be limits on political signs this fall in those two districts.
Where sign restrictions are enforced, the effort is entirely complaint-driven.
“If nobody complains, nothing happens,” said CDD 2 Supervisor Bryan Lifsey.
For sale signs are restricted in designer homes to small signs that fit in a window.
Exceptions can’t be made for individual signs like Fender’s regardless of content, said district counsel Valerie Fuchs.
Supervisor Bart Zoellner said he’s surprised there are no other size restrictions.
“I would like to see restrictions on size,” he said. “We need a limit on banners.”
Fender said her sign is more than mere self-promotion. It identifies her as a gardening expert who can assist neighbors and others with effective techniques.
“I think we ought to be commending the lady for what she knows,” Zoellner said.
