There are things in life that deserve to go by the wayside. Is the gated community one of them? In this economy, are they sustainable and do they discriminate against some members of the development? With the exception of the top one percent, most people are concentrating on basic survival.
At one time, people of all incomes lived peacefully within its gates. But, there is a new attitude lately, one of denial and desperation. Why pretend that the economy has no effect on members, that more rules and regulations and higher fees will keep a community an exclusive development, and that this generation will be able to carry the financial burden?
Maybe the concept of the few making the decisions for the many has run its course. Catering to the top percentile is their only remedy to avoid bankruptcy. More residents are not paying assessments. They are surrendering unimproved lots or forced to relocate. Some communities have chosen to make extensive improvements and renovations requiring special assessments to pacify a select group of property owners.
Rules and regulations are enforced by excessive control and intimidation. The Board makes the rules and regulations without member’s permission. Many of these rules are absurd and intrusive. I have personally been advised that security witnessed me feeding the wildlife.
There are remedies to the survival of the gated community in this economy. But it would require reassessing the concept of everyone co-existing without discrimination. If the affluent are “embarrassed” that the clubhouse needs renovation, change the clubhouse and golf course to a for-profit corporation, separate from residential, allowing golfers this luxury without the entire development paying. This would drastically reduce assessments and maintenance fees.
The Board should not have unlimited control. A community vote should be required if a decision by the Board is unreasonable or discriminatory.
Relax the rules and regulations. It doesn’t matter that there is too much silt in the lakes, that the geese are trespassing, or the deer consumed their annuals.
The new philosophy of the gated community is based on the Golden Rule. “He who has the gold makes the rules”. This will also be its demise.
Connie W. Maros
Brevard
Informing Connestee Falls' current and potential residents of the problems and concerns in their community.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Oblivious
I just returned from the community meeting to vote on the Special Capital Expenditure proposal for improvements to the clubhouse.
For years I was certain that Connestee had a great racket going and the community was oblivious to the control from this non-profit corporation. Today I am convinced that they have us all over a barrel and have to go through the motions just to pamper the residents. Unlike management, the community seems sincere in their efforts to improve Connestee but they are refusing to see the big picture.
The situation has nothing to do with slippery oak floors or whether we should renovate the fireplace. This is exactly what management wants you to argue over. Just don’t obsess about the $200,000 spent since 2010 on bids and fees that has vanished or was confiscated. Now they want the community to accept more architectural fees for just the first phase of five phases and approve an additional $100,000 plus for a project phase that was only going to be 10% of the total costs for the clubhouse.
My son, who worked for an architectural firm for nineteen years, said that those who abuse the process make their money in the negotiation stages prior to construction. This is apparent in the substantial fees for bids and an owner’s on-site representative fee of $15,000. During the meeting, a member asked if the on-site representative fee was fixed and the board was forced to admit that it was not.
The public has been advised that gas could reach over $5.00 per gallon by this summer if Israeli plans an attack on Iran. If the attack is carried out, gas could go as high as $7.00. Prices at the pump will affect the cost of every aspect of construction. The two million dollar clubhouse could now be over four million. But, let’s not talk reality. Pushing this clubhouse project down our throats is their main concern.
My question at the meeting was to find out what would happen to fixed income residents and what special assessments we would be charged for a proposed two million dollar clubhouse improvement along with other improvements for the next decade from the Strategic Planning board. But, it didn’t deserve an answer. How dare I question board decisions? It got their full attention though when one member stated that he owned several homes in Connestee and he endorsed any and all improvements.
Number sixteen of the mailer “Frequently Asked Questions & Answers” asked what would happen if the proposal was voted down. It states that the areas in phase one will be updated now if voted yes or updated sometime in the near future if the proposal was rejected. So, all of this procedural nonsense is just an illusion that you have choices.
We do know that Connestee owns five hundred sixty-one lots that could be sold but it would be counter-productive to liquidate these lots. How would you justify the need for escalated amenity fees and special assessments?
If the meeting was any indication that the board members, who bothered to show up, were informed enough to explain what we should expect regarding the clubhouse, they failed miserably. They weren’t interested in answering the most basic questions and they avoided answering what they didn’t want divulged. This project has always been a done deal and the meeting was just to appease property owners.
My concern is if there is one million dollars in reserve, will the one million go completely toward renovating the clubhouse? And, if the board doesn’t need our approval for each phase of the clubhouse under $350,000, assuming that this is the strategy; will this cover expenses through phase three without having to ask for special assessments? Good luck getting an answer.
It doesn’t matter what improvements you would like to see as a member of CFPOA. After your vote has been counted, Connestee will get its new and improved clubhouse along with all future improvements. They will keep the same board that makes our decisions and can’t ever answer a simple question. Hundreds of people will take the trouble to show up to meetings but never get involved. The property owners will continue to pay for everything but have no control. The economy and soaring amenity fees will only take out the “undesirables” from Connestee. And, as long as we remain oblivious, do what we are told, and question nothing, life can be just like Pleasantville in this gated community.
For years I was certain that Connestee had a great racket going and the community was oblivious to the control from this non-profit corporation. Today I am convinced that they have us all over a barrel and have to go through the motions just to pamper the residents. Unlike management, the community seems sincere in their efforts to improve Connestee but they are refusing to see the big picture.
The situation has nothing to do with slippery oak floors or whether we should renovate the fireplace. This is exactly what management wants you to argue over. Just don’t obsess about the $200,000 spent since 2010 on bids and fees that has vanished or was confiscated. Now they want the community to accept more architectural fees for just the first phase of five phases and approve an additional $100,000 plus for a project phase that was only going to be 10% of the total costs for the clubhouse.
My son, who worked for an architectural firm for nineteen years, said that those who abuse the process make their money in the negotiation stages prior to construction. This is apparent in the substantial fees for bids and an owner’s on-site representative fee of $15,000. During the meeting, a member asked if the on-site representative fee was fixed and the board was forced to admit that it was not.
The public has been advised that gas could reach over $5.00 per gallon by this summer if Israeli plans an attack on Iran. If the attack is carried out, gas could go as high as $7.00. Prices at the pump will affect the cost of every aspect of construction. The two million dollar clubhouse could now be over four million. But, let’s not talk reality. Pushing this clubhouse project down our throats is their main concern.
My question at the meeting was to find out what would happen to fixed income residents and what special assessments we would be charged for a proposed two million dollar clubhouse improvement along with other improvements for the next decade from the Strategic Planning board. But, it didn’t deserve an answer. How dare I question board decisions? It got their full attention though when one member stated that he owned several homes in Connestee and he endorsed any and all improvements.
Number sixteen of the mailer “Frequently Asked Questions & Answers” asked what would happen if the proposal was voted down. It states that the areas in phase one will be updated now if voted yes or updated sometime in the near future if the proposal was rejected. So, all of this procedural nonsense is just an illusion that you have choices.
We do know that Connestee owns five hundred sixty-one lots that could be sold but it would be counter-productive to liquidate these lots. How would you justify the need for escalated amenity fees and special assessments?
If the meeting was any indication that the board members, who bothered to show up, were informed enough to explain what we should expect regarding the clubhouse, they failed miserably. They weren’t interested in answering the most basic questions and they avoided answering what they didn’t want divulged. This project has always been a done deal and the meeting was just to appease property owners.
My concern is if there is one million dollars in reserve, will the one million go completely toward renovating the clubhouse? And, if the board doesn’t need our approval for each phase of the clubhouse under $350,000, assuming that this is the strategy; will this cover expenses through phase three without having to ask for special assessments? Good luck getting an answer.
It doesn’t matter what improvements you would like to see as a member of CFPOA. After your vote has been counted, Connestee will get its new and improved clubhouse along with all future improvements. They will keep the same board that makes our decisions and can’t ever answer a simple question. Hundreds of people will take the trouble to show up to meetings but never get involved. The property owners will continue to pay for everything but have no control. The economy and soaring amenity fees will only take out the “undesirables” from Connestee. And, as long as we remain oblivious, do what we are told, and question nothing, life can be just like Pleasantville in this gated community.
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