HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 04 08 Correspondence from Edward Martinez, Jr. March 24, 3O2D
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Hon.Charles Lacey, Mayor
Hon.Jean Hovey,Commissioner
Hon. Kevin Cannon,Commissioner
Hon.Ted Johnson, Deputy Mayor, Designee
Hon.TiAnna Hale,Commissioner
Hon.Geoff Kendrick,Commissioner
On February 24,2020 1 attended the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting and Public Hearing.
Much to my chagrin and dismay I had to listen to the Commission lambasting former Commission
members, allaying to the fact that"you did not know where their heads were when they approved the
Town Center Code" Items of interest spelled out in the approved code.
For your information,and since at the time none of you were very much interested and did not appear
before the Commission to state your objections,we worked very hard for a very long time.The
Commission hearings went until 2 AK8 sometimes.VVe had a City Attorney guiding us,vvehad
consultants,and considered what all ofour interested citizens most desired at the time. |t was a
community project.
We did not go off half cocked, and like many other self centered members who implement their ideas
whether the constituency I iked it or not,took it upon ourselves to decide. It was a team effort,and you
have to consider the fact that his was passed approximately 20 years ago when everything was different.
1,as a member of that Commission,would have never approved the ugly set of apartments that the
present Commission approved.THIS IS NOTWINTER SPRINGS;A COMMUNITY OF SELF SUSTAINING
CITIZENS,that prided in their environment and the sense of home ownership.They were citizens who
planted their roots here,went to work, played and raised their families in an ambiance of beauty and a
sense ofsecurity.
Currently,you are considering five story buildings;again inan effort tm destroy the ambiance ofawell
groomed city and without considering the feelings of all of the citizens in this beautiful city. SUCH AN
ENDEAVOR SHOULD BE PUT ON A REFERENDUM FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE, NOT
DECIDED BY5 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ELECTED TO REPRESENT,ADMINISTER AND OPERATE
THE CITY,AND NOT TO D|Cl7Q'E'
These apartments,and I rented one so that would speak from experience,are the settings that
eventually lead to slums.They are catered to by TANSIENTS,who come and go at all times of day and
night. Movers are here constantly and at all hours of the day and early night.THERE IS NO SENSE OF
OWNERSHIP and do not attract the kind of permanent tenancy;the life of Winter Springs.
In the long term and not being able to rent all the units,and in order to make their money(which is
primordial)they start renting to all comers and that is when the trouble begins.
So,when downgrading earlier fellow commissioners for their actions at a given time, look around,take a
look at the mirror and define yourselves,in other words DON'T BE SO HARSH TOWARDS OTHERS WHOM
YOU DO NOT KNOW OR WHOSE WORK ETHICS HAVE BEEN THE BEST OF ANY WINTER SPRINGS
COMMISSION.
As far as I know, most of our residents want our City to remain a small town atmosphere and this does
not include more, huge apartment complexes like YOU ARE ADVOCATING.
Respectfully submitted,
,- N
Edward Martinez Jr.
1830 Spring Pond Point #116
Winter Springs,FI. 32708
Former City Commissioner=-Seat#3
PS: Please provide each Commissioner with a copy;Thank you)