THE VILLAGES
Supervisors for two of The Villages’ Community Development Districts in Sumter County adopted rules governing the operation of motorized gates at neighborhood entrances.

During meetings for supervisors of the Villages Center Community Development District and the Sumter Landing Community Development District, the districts accepted rules that only will apply to gates within Sumter County.

Earlier this month, the Sumter County Commission agreed to accept 67 miles of roads in The Villages into the system of county roads, making the county responsible for maintenance. During negotiations for the exchange, commissioners found that some Sumter County residents were opposed to the security gates guarding neighborhood entrances, especially the unattended gates or those marked “Residents Only” that directed visitors to alternate entrances. The developer agreed, though commissioners Joey Chandler and Jim Roberts objected on the grounds that some residents of The Villages might wish for their roads to remain private. That was

A resident of The Village of Bonnybrook Gate community swipes her card at the gated entrance Friday. Staff photo by Sara Hopkins

what supervisors for the Center District found out Friday.

According to the new rules, at residential gates where a security guard is present, nothing will change. But at unmanned gates to neighborhoods, motorists trying to enter will no longer have to speak through an intercom to a security attendant.

Other features of the gates will remain intact, including the cameras that record license-plate numbers of vehicles that come and go.

“It’s not because we choose to do this,” Wahl said, “but we have to do it in lieu of The Villages’ residents accepting responsibility. ... We believe the gates serve a deterrent purpose. This will diminish that.”

Some residents who spoke during the public hearings said they intentionally purchased homes in gated communities and were inclined to pay for maintenance rather than see the level of security fall.

“I’d like us to take our roads back and maintain them and make it like we thought we were buying,” said Villages resident Joyce Luttell.

Wahl indicated during the Center District supervisors’ meeting that a rough estimate showed it would cost the average property owner around $48 per year if districts undertook road maintenance. He was unwilling to state a figure during discussion before the Sumter Landing District board.

In other matters:

The Village Community Development District 1 adopted its proposed $983,000 budget, including an increase in residents’ maintenance assessments of just more than a half-percent. Supervisors had considered a 3 percent increase, but rejected the measure Friday after hearing from members of the community who supported the raise.

The Center District adopted its $31,281,730 budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year; Community Development District 5 adopted its $3,275,047 budget; and the Sumter Landing Community Development District adopted its budget of $5,562,386.