Villagers spoke out Friday before the Community Development District 8 Board of Supervisors about “nit picky” complaints about their lawn ornaments.
Cecilia Grahn, of the Village of Buttonwood, purchased her “dream home” in 2017. That dream turned into nightmare when an anonymous complaint was lodged against a little American flag in her yard.
“I am an American. I have a little American flag in a planter. Somebody turned me in. I have had it in there for months and months and months,” Grahn said. “It’s an American flag. It’s not a lawn ornament.”
She said the “trolls” appear to be zeroing in on religious items, including a white cross in the yard of Wayne Anderson, of the Village Tamarind Grove.
“If you are religious and have something religious in your yard, you are getting turned in,” she said.
Grahn said the anonymous complaint system has gotten out of hand.
“There has to be some kind of compromise. It’s getting nit picky,” she said.
Bill Berry, also of the Village of Buttonwood, has been in The Villages for 14 years, long enough to remember when deed compliance was enforced by deed compliance officers.
Today, Community Standards uses a complaint-driven process. If a complaint is received, Community Standards verifies the violation and then takes steps to try to bring the homeowner into compliance. If no one objects to a homeowner’s lawn ornament, it can remain in the homeowner’s yard.
Berry said he was sorry to see the change.
“You hired all these people. Paying them big bucks. They are are sitting at desks waiting on phone calls,” Berry said.
He added that it’s difficult to get the Developer involved in the enforcement of internal deed restrictions, including children living in homes in The Villages.
“Why doesn’t the Developer have to comply with the deed restriction when we do? Can you answer me that?” Berry asked.
“Frankly, no,” replied CDD 8 Chairman Duane Johnson.
In addition to mourning the loss of active enforcement by Community Standards, Berry said he is disappointed with the changes he has seen in The Villages.
“I thought this was a friendly place to live. But it’s not that way anymore,” Berry said.
What do you think about the anonymous complaint process? Share your thoughts in a Letter to the Editor at https://www.villages-news.com/submit-letters-editor/
