HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeautification-1991/1998 C • ib blends old,
Tuscawilla Neighbors
continues . I.: ; ,
3 fir ,i tc G:
t' blossom ` ; .e`� ••�1'
By Joe Kilsheimer ' s t ..^ #,,
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF ' ". y
S, � ' y .t y;. 43 ri, ,� r,; ,
Tn
a', 1
INTER SPRINGS — For \ ' fl"
a place that has been
L � / f i�
W around for 20 years, it r Z • sz, y
1 E:
seems a misnomer to call �;.I
Tuscawilla a "new-home develop
ment." But even with 4,000 exist +dse ; ;.,t. , ',oe ,,
ing homes and a healthy resale ,,,�a' ,r A ,� ,, ,' ,, a ,.4I ,'>'
market Tuscawilla remains one of �%r� . "�` s" „ °� K„L ,*,V '" {** ;y�4y , r;'` i+a�Sq:'�'
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Co -al Florida's most prominent ,. ,, / .� (t "."''. -; rosy t j,�
nE ome communities. %Rla' 1 e #1i+ y ','�� >�a,r. ti,o' r. },:4 ..1,�Y' 4v).
The golf and country club devel .,,;orY ,„�- 'r ,� ii'�, tt ,,�, 4t� w ,,h .;
opment, which sprawls over 3,000 ,0, '' " ',,'�+,ty`:;t o�' �'�, � t''� `S� i ' ;v tts 5 ,t
,�� y t. '� i� - lr � {, � r � ( , �\ vet, .h . � � 'lT �'
acres in southeast Seminole Coun- u r 4' r ;x+y., 1 t l h ��t ,; *}.
ty, offers home buyers seven sub- t:,61.41.,,..
divisions with new homes priced Samsonoffs enjoy Tuscawilla's Georgetowne, a 4-year-old neighborhood.
from about $100,000 to more than
$500,000. Among the choices: golf vil- _,,,`. r . r ,
las, low-maintenance patio homes on . T1� ,
W
narrow lots, moderately priced custom l��, ,�, ,l .�� �. 'N__,.. ,� , � �
homes on one-quarter-acre lots and A ,. } ' t � , , ` -° / it.,,,.
,
upscale custom homes on one third
i, 4 h ta. f :',V..
;f:
acre lots fronting Tuscawilla's golf fair- 4 ,, '� , , ,
ways.
The concept of planned communi-
ties was new when developers broke
ground in the early 1970s. Since then, r e 4, ,
Tuscawilla has sold an average of 205 I ,-a0. n4,
B ��i
new homes a year and it shows no 1 g n�� }, f
x
4 a
-is of slowing down. More than 400 , '
.es remain to be developed, giving t? ;F ++
the development at least a six-year
supply of land, said Teresa Ferrarini, „•° ' .k. = --- '�
president of Tuscawilla Realty. f r - `'17'
In Tuscawilla's early days, the coin-
munity appealed to home buyers by , f
Y. ,,-,r..,,,,,, ,,,,:„.,;,, fib.
emphasizing its woodsy setting and
M S Yk,14 f T i P YI'Y .{
horse-riding trails. In the 1990s, the ; ;`. r,; ;1 x,,, ' `,,, , i ,
' x .f�3� � t 1 r
P
strategy has been broadened to in-
Please see NEW, J-6 The Ranchlands represent the seasoned side of Winter Springs.
q, // y
Buyers have
many choices
NEW from J-1
clude Tuscawilla's location, which
has become fairly centralized as
Greater Orlando has grown.
Commuters have quick access
to downtown and the Orlando In-
ternational Airport via the Orlan-
do beltway. The northern exten-
sion of the East-West Expressway
is 21 miles away, off Aloma Ave-
nue. And the beltway is about to
come closer with the additicn of
the Seminole County leg. Con-
struction is scheduled to begin in
January and to be completed in
1993.
Tuscawilla also is about five
miles from the University of Cen-
tral Florida and the high-tech em-
ployers in east Orange County,
such as Westinghouse Electric
Corp., Martin Marietta Corp.'s
Electronics Systems Center and the busi-
nesses at Central Florida Research Park. Ferrarini cited an active homeowners association and a
✓ ✓ ✓
Margie and Walter Samsonoff bought a strong sense of community spirit as two reasons Tuscawilla
home in Tuscawilla's Georgetowne neigh- has enjoyed continued success over the years.
borhood in April 1989. The couple retired
to Central Florida from Richmond, Va. -
Margie Samsonoff said she was attracted to "You could see that there were houses pleted in 1990.
Tuscawilla by its tall pines and oaks and in here that were 10 to 15 years old, and "There are a lot of neighborhoods in
by the fact that it offered easy routes to they were just as well-maintained as the Tuscawilla like Chelsea Woods that have
cultural activities in downtown Orlando. new houses,"she said. a lot of the same appeal as the newer sub-
"I'm an avid bird watcher and I like the ✓ ✓ ✓ divisions," said Sandy Sengel, an associ-
fact that I can go walking in my neigh- The entry-level subdivision in ate at ERA SunFlorida Realty in Oviedo.
borhood and see so many varieties,"Sam- Tuscawilla is Country Club Village,a sub- Real estate professionals in metro Or-
sonoff said. "And then I like the fact that division near the community's 10,000- lando regard Tuscawilla as the grandfa-
when I want to go downtown and go to square-foot clubhouse.The subdivision is ther of planned unit developments,a con-
the symphony or to the art museum, I a joint venture between Texas-based Wel- cept that allows developers to offer con-
can get there in 25 minutes. I have the lington Development Inc. and Demetree sumers a broad menu of housing choices
city and the country right at my doorstep. Builders Inc. of Orlando. Prices range without having to seek governmental ap-
It's the best of both worlds." from $99,990 to $136,000. Living areas proval for each subdivision.
Georgetowne is a collection of single- range from 1,380 to 2,205 square feet. However, there is one difference be-
family homes on 60-foot-wide lots. The At the top end of the price scale for tween Tuscawilla and other such commu-
builder is Nader Construction of Orlando. new homes is Glen Eagle, which offers nities. Tuscawilla was developed before
Prices range from$109,300 to$138,500.Liv- golf course homes that range up to economic imperatives required develop-
ing areas range from 1,411 to 1,975 square $500,000. Homes on interior lots start at ers to squeeze the most premium-priced
feet. The homeowners association is re- $225,000. lots into the land as possible. That's the
sponsible for front-yard maintenance, Buyers considering the resale market reason Tuscawilla's golf fairways have at
which frees the couple to pursue other in- in Tuscawilla can choose from an even least one side lined with trees instead of
terests. longer menu. Bear Creek Estates, devel- both sides lined with houses, as is com-
"We wanted to own a house, but we
didn't want it to own us," Margie Sam-
oped in the 1970s and '80s, for example, mon in more recent golf course commu
offers estate homes on one-acre lots at nities,Tuscawilla Realty's Ferrarini said.
sonoff said. prices as high as $1 million. On the lower Ferrarini cited an active homeowners
Another factor in the couple's decision end of the price scale, prices at Chelsea association and a strong sense of commu-
was the fact that Tuscawilla has a well es Woods start at around $160,000. The sub- nity spirit as two reasons Tuscawilla has
tablished appearance. division of custom-built homes was com- enjoyed continued success over the years.
"There's a lot of community pride in
Tuscawilla, and that's not something you Tuscawilla
manufacture," Ferrarini said. "I think it's
that way because the residents don't re-
gard Tuscawilla as just a place where
they live but as a place where their fam- New-home subdivisions
ilies grow up.And the interesting thing is
that the community is to the point now • Carrington Woods
where young people who grew up in Custom homes,various builders.
Tuscawilla with their parents are now Prices: $170,000 to$240,000.
coming back and purchasing their own Required living area: 1,900 square feet.
homes here."
The newest subdivision in the commu- • Glen Eagle
nity is Davenport Glen, which will offer Custom homes, various builders.
custom homes on one-quarter-acre lots at Prices: $225,000 to$500,000.
prices starting at about$150,000. Lots will Required living area: 2,200 square
be sold to builders at prices starting at feet for interior lots; 2,400 square feet
$30,000, Ferrarini said. A roster of build- for golf course lots.
ers is being compiled and details such as
minimum living areas have not been set- Arbor Glen
•tled,she said. Custom homes by Signature Homes,
"This is where the market is right now. Environmental Homes and TEC Homes.
Buyers still want custom houses, but Prices: $170,000 to$260,000.
prices have to be kept as low as possible, Required living area: 1,900 square feet.
so we're designing our land planning to
meet that need," Ferrarini said.
In planning for Tuscawilla's future • Bentley Club
neighborhoods, Ferrarini said the intent Custom homes,various builders.
is to maintain the same broad mix of Prices: $180,000 to $300,000.
housing options that the community has Required living area: 1,900 square feet.
always had.
"It's a little hard to say what kind of • Bentley Green
neighborhoods we're going to have sever- Single-family homes by Maroon De-
al years from now because we're still velopment Inc.
watching the market and trying to decide Prices: $139,900 to$189,900.
what will sell the best," Ferrarini said. Uving areas: 1,650 to 2,400 square feet.
• Georgetowne
Patio homes by Nader Construction
Co.
Prices: $109,300 to$138,500.
Uving areas: 1,411 to 1,975 square feet.
• Country Club Village
Golf villas by Wellington Develop-
' / ment and Demetree Builders Inc.
q / // 2. Prices: $99,900 to$136,000.
Uving areas: 1,380 to 2,205 square feet.
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Tax in Tuscawilla
would pay for
area's upkeep
By Elaine Bennett
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF
WINTER SPRINGS — A special taxing district is
being discussed in which Tuscawilla residents would
pay for the future maintenance of medians, en-
trances,signs and walls in the community.
Tuscawilla Homeowners Association President
Modi Khemlani has pushed for the taxing district.
He and other residents say the district would gener-
ate funds to pay for upkeep of open areas once the
developer leaves.
City commissioners will discuss the issue June 8 at
the municipal building on State Road 434.
At that meeting,the city will determine who would
be assessed,which taxing method would be most ap-
propriate and whether a referendum should be held.
City officials have told homeowners the city will
take over the upkeep once the community is com-
plete and the developer stops paying those costs. But
the city probably would not have the personnel or
money to maintain the areas in a way residents have
come to expect.
Glenn Marvin, vice president of Gulfstream Hous-
ing Corp. and consultant to Winter Springs Joint
Venture, estimated that the joint venture spends
more than $100,000 a year to maintain the fountains
it owns at the entrances to Tuscawilla and the medi-
ans the city owns along Winter Springs Boulevard.
Little is spent for fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides,
he said.
The city is maintaining parks and other recreation
areas in Tuscawilla, and the city is expected to adopt
an ordinance soon to take over the maintenance of
drainage and retention areas.
During a recent work session, City Manager Dick
Rozansky directed staff to meet with the developer
to determine each area that would be in a taxing dis-
trict and the costs to maintain each area.
Meanwhile, City Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher
said he would ask for an attorney general's opinion
on whether a special taxing district can be created
for residents of Country Club Village in Tuscawilla to
pay for street lighting on private roads in their
neighborhood.
City may tax
Tuscawilla
for upkeep AA'
v°
By Elaine Bennett t-i'
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF
WINTER SPRINGS—State law
Developer pays
will allow the city to charge
Tuscawilla residents for the cost upkeep for now
of maintaining medians, en-
trances, signs and walls in that TUSCAWILLA from 1-1
community.
Winter Springs Attorney Frank
Kruppenbacher told city commis- still has 678 vacant lots, and the
sioners Monday night that he and developer will continue to pay for
other attorneys had reviewed state maintenance until construction is
law and court cases and deter- completed. City planners predict-
mined a maintenance fee was le- it would be at least 10 years be
gal and could be enforced without fore all homes planned are built.
residents ever having a chance to Tuscawilla Homeowners Associ-
vote on the issue. ation President Modi Khemlani and
Kruppenbacher said
commission—other Tuscawilla residents favor the
ers must decide whether they want assessment to generate money to
a referendum to allow Tuscawilla pay for upkeep after the developer
residents to voice their opinions. stops maintaining open areas.
The city has not determined The city has told homeowners it
when it might begin charging the would take over upkeep when the
fee, how it would be collected or development is complete and the
how much property owners would developer stops paying those costs.
pay. Commissioners also must de- But the city probably would not
cide whether its staffers or a spe-
cial committee created through a maintain the areas as residents
referendum would manage the as- have come to expect.
sessment operations. Glenn Marvin, vice president of
Commissioners have not set a Gulfstream Housing Corp. and con-
date for a vote on those issues. sultant to Winter Springs Joint Ven-
The city maintains parks and ture, said the developer spends
other recreational areas in about $100,000 a year on mainte-
Tuscawilla,but the developer pays nance. He said little is spent for fer
about $100,000 a year to maintain tilizer,herbicides or pesticides.
the fountains it owns at the
sprawling community's entrances
and the medians the city owns
along Winter Springs Boulevard.
The community of 3,667 homes
Please see TUSCAWILLA, I-4 Cj 2, b V
Groups look at keeping New arrivals will get
a bill for their services
Tuscawilla beautiful
-14ti
WINTER SPRINGS—Builders must
By Elaine Bennett has pushed for a special taxing now pay a fee on new development not
district in the community to help yet taxed to pay for police and fire
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF pay for the maintenance, has pro- protection and other city services.
posed the creation of a board of In a unanimous vote Monday night,
WINTER SPRINGS — A crowd governors to oversee the collec- city commissioners adopted the fees to
is expected at a workshop Monday tion of the funds and decide how help take the burden off other
night to discuss whether Winter the funds would be spent. taxpayers while generating additional
Springs or Tuscawilla residents Association members have not income for the city.
should pay to maintain common said whether they believe mem- Sometimes a year or two can pass
areas in that community. bers of that board should be ap- before cities collect taxes on the full
City commissioners also will pointed by the association or city value when homes,offices and shops
hear comments on whether commission or elected by the resi- are built.During that time,a new
Tuscawilla residents should be dents. They also have not said homeowner or business requires police
given a chance to vote on the is- whether they believe board mem- and fire protection and adds to the
sue — a n option that the bers should be paid for their ser- need for road maintenance or
Tuscawilla Homeowners Associ- vices from the fees collected. recreational services.
ation has opposed. Some residents oppose payment Called an interim service fee,the
The workshop is scheduled to of any additional funds to main- one-time charge will be collected when
start at 7 p.m. at the municipal tain the common areas, especially a certificate of occupancy for a new
puiilding on State Road 434. members of private homeowners home or business is issued—after all
City officials have told home- associations within the communi- inspections are completed and the
owners that the city would take ty who already pay similar mainte- building is ready to be occupied.
over the upkeep of medians, en- nance fees for their neighbor- Orlando,Ocoee,Clearwater,Miami,
.prances, signs and walls when the hoods. Largo and Oakland Park charge similar
developers stop paying those While they have asked that the fees.
costs. The city has said, however, decision be made by the residents The Winter Springs fee will be
it may not have the personnel or in a referendum, other residents prorated. Earlier in the year,it would
money to maintain the areas as say such a vote wouldn't be fair. be higher than if the certificate of
residents have come to expect. Bill Reischmann, a resident and occupancy were issued later in the
Recently, the city learned that an attorney representing the year.
the developer planned to discon- Tuscawilla Homeowners Associ- Fees for new residential
tinue the maintenance, estimated ation, said Monday night that only development range from$12.88 to
at$153,000 annually,on Oct. 1. property owners who are regis- $154.53,depending on which month
For residents living in the near- tered to vote would have a say. the certificate of occupancy is issued.
ly 4,000 homes in Tuscawilla, that Until a decision is made, City For commercial development,the fee
would mean paying an annual fee Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher is between$17.42 and$209.02 per 1,000
of about $40 each. The fee could said city representatives, builders square feet.That does not include a
go higher if extra landscaping is and representatives from home- charge for recreational services.
included in the maintenance. owners associations would try to
Members of the Tuscawilla come up with an interim plan to
Homeowners Association, which maintain common areas.
9 A o 917
Tuscawilla
residents to
decide on fee
By Elaine Bennett
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF
WINTER SPRINGS —
Tuscawilla property owners will
decide if they want to pay a spe-
cial monthly fee to maintain com-
mon areas in their community.
By mid-February, the city will
mail surveys to about 3,000 prop-
erty owners, asking if they favor
paying about $4 a month to pay
for the estimated $144,000 annual'
maintenance budget for
Tuscawilla.
The first survey includes all
Tuscawilla property owners, ex-
cept those in the Oak Forest
neighborhood. Those property
owners will vote on a similar pro-
posal soon.
The city took over maintenance
of common areas in October after
developers of Tuscawilla stopped
paying those costs. At that time,
the city told residents the mainte-
nance wouldn't compare to what
they had come to expect.
Members of the Tuscawilla
Homeowners Association suggest-
ed that property owners pay the
special fee to pay for those costs.
If the plan is approved, the city
would collect the funds and over-
see the expenditures with the as-
sistance of a committee of two
residents and city staffers.
Some residents object to paying
more money for maintenance, es-
pecially members of private home-
owners associations who already
pay maintenance fees for their
neighborhoods.
g0 / /
Tuscawilla votes for maintenance fees
By Elaine Bennett neighborhoods and they would The city will collect the mainte-
•' not benefit from the additional nance fees and oversee the expen-
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF .2 —of 5-- .t
1 J payment. ditures with the assistance of a
Many of the surveys mailed committee to be appointed by city
W INTER S P R I N G S — were not returned by the Feb. 15 commissioners at a later date. It
Tuscawilla residents have over- deadline,were invalid or could not has not yet been determined
whelmingly voted to pay a special be delivered by the post office. when residents will start paying
monthly fee to maintain common The city took over maintenance the fee.
areas in their communities. of the common areas in October A similar survey will be mailed
Out of 3,195 surveys mailed to after the developers of Tuscawilla to 815 property owners in the Oak
property owners, 1,665 favored stopped paying those costs. At Forest community of Tuscawilla
paying about $4 a month to raise that time, the city told residents in mid-March, asking if they favor
$144,000 a year for the mainte- the maintenance wouldn't com- paying $3 a month to pay for an
nance costs. pare with what they had come to estimated $29,340 for annual
Most of the 311 residents who expect. maintenance improvements in
voted against the maintenance fee Members of the Tuscawilla their neighborhoods. Residents
said they already are paying Homeowners Association suggest- will have about three weeks to
homeowners' association dues ed that property owners pay the complete their surveys and return
that include maintenance in their special fee to pay for those costs. them to the city.
City refuses to pay Rozansky sick leave
By Elaine Bennett City Attorney Frank Kruppen- utes by City Clerk Mary Norton
bacher reminded commissioners failed to turn up such a vote.
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Monday night, however, that pay- Current commissioners said
ment for sick leave is provided in they are unaware of such a corn-
WINTER SPRINGS — City an employee's severance package mitment and that Rozansky won't
commissioners won't pay Dick Ro- only as a bridge to those eligible be paid for accrued sick leave un-
zansky$30,692.31 for sick leave he for retirement. less he can prove that such a vote
claims he accrued during his 14 Because Rozansky was not eligi- ever took place.
years as city manager. ble to retire when he was fired, Meanwhile, commissioners also
They agreed Monday night, Kruppenbacher recommended approved a draft for an advertise-
t h o u g h, to pay R o z a n s k y that commissioners treat him no ment seeking a new city manager.
$11,765.38 for nearly 52 unused va- differently than other employees. To qualify, applicants must
cation days and$4,925.92 in sever- Rozansky claims that a former have a master's degree in public
ance benefits he maintained he is City Commission had voted soon administration and a minimum of
rowed. after he was hired as city manager 10 years'experience as a manager.
Rozansky, who was making to reimburse him for accrued sick The city a' TI desires, but doesn't
$59,111 annually when he was leave upon his termination. Ro- require, tha, the city manager be
fired earlier this month, contends zansky, however, was unable to certified by the International City
he also is owed payment for 135 recall which commission or the Manager's Association and have
days of accrued sick time during year the promise was made.And a experience handling water and
his tenure with the city. cursory check of commission min- sewer utilities.
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Please shed some light
(Submitted to the Voice) 9&- O 9
Attn.Ron LeMore,City Manager[City of Winter Springs) pi.1
I appeared before the Winter Springs City Commission on June
22 and again asked for an explanation of the lighting costs for the Tus-
cawilla Beautification District.This figure is set at$41,000.00 a year
and I have yet to receive an explanation on this item,along with others.
Your silence and that of the Commission was deafening.
On the agenda under your seat,you refer now to the 1Lskawilla
Lighting&Beautification District.When I specifically asked about this,
r only after proddirig by the Mayor,did you attempt a reply. The reply
was as deceptive as the"straw ballot."
Your arrogant,unprofessional and flip response was uncalled for.
You stated you could call it anything you wanted. I beg to differ with
you,sir.However,this is consistent with the information contained in
the"straw ballot."
The residents did not vote for a lighting district.Nowhere in any
of the skimpy information put forth was the term"lighting district'used!
You cannot add items not on the ballot.The current approach taken is
deceptive and dishonest.
I repeat my charge that we should not be made to pay additional
taxes for lighting on public streets!
I realize I am only one voice. Believe me, there are others who•
object to this being shoved down our throats.Hopefully,they will be at
the July 13&27 meetings.
I had every right as a citizen,to come before the commission with
my other concerns and questions answered openly and honestly. Your
deceitful,disrespectful attitude was not worthy of any city official.
Jacqueline Lein
Letters //w,
Wants answers on �F
Tuscawilla beautification
My first response to Winter Springs
Commissioner Robert Miller is that,if he
wishes to verbally attack me,I would ap-
preciate him speaking directly to me,
rather than taking what I consider to be a
cowardly step and hiding behind the letter
he wrote (Oviedo and Winter Springs
Voice,Oct.8).
As a Tuscawilla resident I have asked
questions pertaining to the proposed
Tuscawilla Beautification District and the
assessment which the Commission talks
of imposing. The Commission hosted a
special meeting on Aug.6 for Tuscawilla
residents with concerns involving this pro-
posed assessment.We were told that ques-
tions would be answered at that meeting.
That night,we were told that,due to
time restraints,answers would be provided
at the next Commission meeting.No an-
swerswere offereon Aug.10,during pub-
lic input at that meeting and at future meet-
ings, I dared to inquire`as bitVihen we
would receive responses.A draftcopy was
produced on Sept. 14. We were told to '
destroy it. - -
Mr.Miller calls me a"dissident"be-
cause I dare to speak out at meetings. If
my skepticism makes me too radical for
Mr. Miller,I apologize.I was under the
impresstion that this is a democracy,where
all had the privilege to speak out without
being chastised,insulted and called names!
Our country was formed by so-called"dis-
sidents;"had it not been Fortner;we might
still be under British rule!
Obviously,Mr.Miller has decided that
we cannot question anything that he sup-
.ports.One might suggest that he review
his elementary school history; the First
Amendment of our Constitution affords us
all the freedom of speech! If Mr.Miller
doesn't wish to allow us that right,I won-
der why he would want to serve in a gov-
ernment"of the people,by the people and
for the people."
ELLEN WEISS
Winter Springs