Four Community Development Districts on Friday wrestled with the contentious issue of side striping of multi-modal paths ahead of the Sept. 21 meeting of the Multi-Modal Path Discussion Group.
That meeting, to be held at Savannah Center, will reconvene representatives of CDDs 1 through 4, the Project Wide Advisory Committee representing CDDs 5 through 10, and the chair of the Amenity Authority Committee.
“There is a split in the community and there is a split among the boards,” said District Manager Janet Tutt. “It is a huge issue.”
She pointed out that more than 50 elected residents are involved in the discussion and decision process throughout The Villages.
She applauded the work of supervisors on the issue, even though there have been complaints about the process dragging on.
“The fact that you have come together with the Multi-Modal Path Committee is an accolade, a gold star,” she said.
CDD 1
Community Development District 1 supervisors concluded Friday morning they remain in favor of side striping on the multi-modal paths.
“We want better visibility. We want some kind of marking,” said CDD 1 Chairman Ellen Cora.
Villager Joan Testa, sensing some ambivalence among CDD 1 supervisors, pushed for a clear voicing of their position.
Testa said she did not want to see CDD 1 supervisors simply leave it at “let’s do what everybody else does.”
The four supervisors present indicated they favor side striping. CDD 1 Craig Estep, injured in a recent motorcycle accident, was not present at Friday’s meeting.
Bob Eisenhauer of the Village of Tierra del Sol said he was thrilled with CDD 1’s position. He said he substitute teaches at the Villages Charter School and leaves for his teaching responsibilities early in the morning. He said it’s tough to see in the dark.
“I’m excited about this,” he said.
CDD 2
With only three of the five board members present at Friday’s meeting, Community Development District 2 had a hard time coming to an agreement about what to do next on striping.
Chairman John Blum strongly indicated that he believes side striping is not necessary. He called for a motion to that effect.
However, the two board members present, Bryan Lifsey and Marty Rothbard, weren’t ready to make that motion. Absent were Barton Zoellner and Nick Jones.
Rothbard said it’s too early to make such a decision and said he favors looking at putting striping down on the six-inch ribbon curbing that runs along the asphalt.
Lifsey called for supporting side striping as long as it is consistent throughout The Villages.
Ultimately, Blum said CDD 2 will follow along with the decision rendered by the group in September.
CDD 3
CDD 3 has indicated it is not in favor of side striping and on Friday decided it would maintain that position.
Supervisor Gail Lazenby was absent from Friday’s meeting, but sent a memo indicating he remains opposed to side line striping.
Even if other districts stripe, CDD 3 supervisors indicated that would likely not stripe.
CDD 4
CDD 4 had previously indicated that it supports the concept of side striping. CDD 4, the only district that painted center line striping on its section of multi-modal path, is also in the process of seeking a second engineer’s opinion.