A brick planter that has been the subject of some neighborhood controversy on Paradise Drive on the Historic Side of The Villages has been granted a little bit of leeway.
The Village Center Community Development District, following the lead of the individual Community Development Districts in The Villages, has approved changes to the Architectural Review Committee manual with regard to easements.
Prior to the districts taking over the architectural review process, homeowners were permitted to install landscape walls, curbing and edging in easement areas up to two feet from the property lines and rock was an acceptable alternative to sod in courtyard villas throughout and in limited use in patio villas. The manual revisions would permit owners to install landscaping structures in easement areas up to three feet from the property lines and allow courtyard villas to utilize rock as a sod replacement provided the front yard area includes plant material for aesthetic purposes.
This gives a little bit of breathing room for a brick planter constructed four years ago at 1165 Paradise Drive.
Doug Ollila appeared before the VCCDD in January with regard to the planter that he erected at the home he shared with his mother. Ollila has since died and his elderly mother, in frail health, has gone to stay with family up north.
The problem with the planter, which was constructed right up to the property line, came to light after an anonymous complaint.
In light of the changes to the ARC manual approved Wednesday by the VCCDD board, some of the planter at the Ollila home will have to come down, but not all of it.