Residents of the Hallandale Villas upset about limitations on the size of their driveways packed Friday’s Community Development District 8 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Resident Barbara McManus cast it as a safety issue, particularly for the handicapped and elderly.
“The driveway is not wide enough to park and safely exit a vehicle to a wheelchair or walker. With many older residents it is only going to be more necessary with time,” McManus said.
During a time in which the villas, located in the Village of St. Charles, were under the Developer’s control, several residents widened their driveways. Then the deed compliance oversight was transferred to CDD 8.
McManus said of the 88 homes in the Hallandale Villas, 15 homes have driveway expansions on both sides of the driveway. In addition, there are five homes with only one side enlarged.
About 80 residents signed a petition calling on the CDD 8 Board to loosen the restrictions on driveways.
“We take pride in our homes and care for one another. We stand by those wishing to enlarge their driveways with permission of their neighbor next to them,” McManus said.
She said a parking problem in the villas is exacerbated by the fact there is no guest parking. Parking in the street, particularly in snowbird season, is dangerous because it could block access for emergency vehicles.
Hallandale Villas resident Betty Gibson, who has multiple sclerosis, used a walker to make her way to the podium to address the board. She pleaded for leniency from the board.
But District Counsel Valerie Fuchs pointed out that the homeowners had agreed to these limits when they purchased their homes.
“It’s a deed restricted community,” she said.
She also provided a bit of history. The Developer found that in patio villas, too much rock and concrete began to create drainage problems. Therefore, it was advised that patio villas have more grass and sod to soak up water when heavy rains hit.
CDD 8 Chairman Phil Walker noted that because in the early days some driveway extensions had been permitted, it created some confusion.
“It is confusing. You would have to admit,” Walker said.