Article Courtesy of Channel 12 ( WTLV,
Jacksonville )
By Kyle Meenan
Published January 25, 2004
AMELIA ISLAND, FL -- Amelia Island, playground
for the wealthy, and a place of timeless natural beauty and man-made elegance.
But in one quiet condominium development,
a storm of controversy is brewing that could sweep across the entire Sunshine
State.
"After seven years of renting now they
want to pull the rug out from under us. And say, you know, if you can't
afford to live here go somewhere else," said condominium owner Steve Comley.
Judy and Steve Comley bought their oceanfront
condominium in 1996 as their home for nine months of the year.
They rent it out during the summer when
they travel to Maine.
When they bought their unit, the condominium
homeowner's association bylaws had no restrictions on rentals.
But that all changed in 2000
"There was an amendment to our bylaws,
which said that we could no longer rent here," said Comley. "(They)change(d)
the rules in the middle of the game."
For three years since that change, the
Comleys have been on a mission to fight the ruling by making hundreds of
phone calls and writing letter after letter.
"I'd say three thousand (letters) have
gone out," said Comley.
Their hope now is a groundswell of other
condo owners statewide to bring the message to Tallahassee and Senate President
Jim King.
Steve Comley says he recently met with
King, and was encouraged by the response.
"He's looking at the language right now
that we need in order to grandfather property owners established rental
rights," said Comley.
Comley knows full well even if the legislature
creates a law protecting the rights of condo owners, the law might not
help his specific case.
But he says, as an American he's proud
to be involved in a process that will help others.
"So the driving force with us, we want
to make sure what's happened to Judy and I doesn't happen to someone else
down in the future.". |