AAC member’s change of heart sets stage for re-vote on amenity cap

An Amenity Authority Committee member’s apparent change of heart has set the stage for another vote on a cap on amenity rates paid by residents in the northern section of The Villages.

AAC member Richard “Reb” Benson announced at Wednesday’s meeting that he wanted to revisit the idea of capping amenity fees. In May, the AAC rejected by a 3-2 vote the idea of setting a $140 cap.

Benson said he had voted against the cap in May because he didn’t think $140 would be accepted by the Project Wide Advisory Committee, which oversees amenities south of County Road 466. PWAC, which has a heavy debt load thanks to the recent purchase of amenities in Community Development Districts 12 and 13, has no appetite for an amenity cap.

“I did not want to send something out there that would be dead in the water,” Benson explained.

There is uncertainty and disagreement as to whether the AAC and PWAC must remain in lockstep with regard to an amenity cap.

Benson had joined AAC Chair Donna Kempa and the Developer’s representative Rich Cole in the majority in the previous vote. AAC members Don Deakin and William Williamson supported the cap. AAC member Jim Vaccaro, who represents Community Development District 1, was not present at last month’s meeting. During Wednesday’s meeting, Vaccaro said the feedback he has been getting from residents indicates they are in favor of an amenity cap.

Seeking an opportunity to strike while the iron was hot, Deakin began pushing for an immediate vote when Benson suggested setting a $199 cap, which is the prevailing rate set by the Developer when new and preowned homes are purchased.

However, there was some confusion about whether the amenity cap was an active agenda item. The printed meeting packets provided to the AAC members suggested it was an active agenda item. However, it had not been included in the online version of the packet made available to the public.

Benson indicated he will make a motion for $199 cap at the July meeting to be instituted Oct. 1.

“And we’ll see where that goes with PWAC,” Benson said.

How do you think the AAC should vote on the amenity cap? Share your thoughts at [email protected]