The government shutdown has prompted the Community Development District 8 Board of Supervisors to grant an extension for a Villages couple fighting to keep their out-of-compliance driveway.
Purple Heart recipient Kevin McCabe and his wife, Jean, have been battling to keep their improperly extended driveway in the Hallandale Villas. McCabe served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 and was seriously injured when he stepped on a land mine. He and other aging and physically challenged residents of the Hallandale Villas ran afoul of Community Standards after they extended their driveways without approval from the Architectural Review Committee. They were ordered to bring their driveways into compliance.
Other homeowners gave up the fight, but the McCabes in November won a 60-day extension as they pursue a discrimination claim through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, based on Kevin McCabe’s disabilities, which are a result of his military service. The board voted 3-2 to allow that extension.
On Friday, the McCabes were back before the CDD 8 board asking for another 60-day extension.
They said their attempt to work with HUD ground to a halt thanks to the government shutdown, which began Dec. 22.
The board unanimously agreed to grant an extension through March 15.
One supervisor noted that there appears to be no end in sight for the government shutdown.
“Based on what we are seeing, I would expect we will be taking this up again in March,” Supervisor Dennis Hayes said.
