A Village of Gilchrist couple said they recently received a visit from Community Standards, informing them that a white cross in their front yard was out of compliance.
Larry and Rose Kehoe, who have lived in The Villages for 13 years, don’t have a beef with the representative who paid them a visit from Community Standards.The Kehoes said he was courteous and professional.
However, they are more than a little annoyed with the anonymous complaint system that allows an unknown person to target their simple white cross.
The Kehoes, members at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Wildwood, called Community Standards to try to find out more about the complaint.
“We were told the complaint was ‘cross in front yard,’” Rose said. “That’s it.”
She said that if a neighbor came over, rang her doorbell and explained the objection, she would have felt better about the situation.
“I’ve always defended The Villages and the Developer from the usual carping that goes on here, but this policy does seem hair-brained and inherently unfair,” she said.
“I guess I should consider myself fortunate. I made it to 75 without ever before feeling discrimination. If it’s me they’re complaining about, that’s one thing, but if it’s Christ’s cross it’s quite another,” she added.
In The Villages, complaints are received anonymously by Community Standards. Staff then investigates the complaint and determines if a deed compliance violation has taken place. For instance, a resident may have a yard ornament that is in violation, but if there is no complaint, the yard ornament remains in place. The District takes action only if there is a complaint.
Earlier this month, a resident on the Historic Side appealed to the Village Center Community Development District to allow him to keep a brick planter he added to his house four years ago. He had been targeted by an anonymous complaint. You can read more about that case HERE
Last year, a Village of Sunset Pointe woman was so fed up with her “nit-picking neighbors” she appeared before the Community Development District 5 Board of Supervisors to voice her frustration. You can read more about that HERE
To learn more about the white crosses in The Villages, click HERE
