HomeMy WebLinkAboutCypress Club Erosion-1994/1995 Residents complain about Cypress Creek standards •
What's left of Cypress Club in not made repairs,although he has that the builder is aboat'to com-
the Highlands seems about to replaced damagedpatio furniture, plete the project and depart,pos-
wash away, the Winter Springs he said. sibly leaving residents with no
City Commission learned at "New people moving in aren't recourse. This could happen be-
Monday's meeting. Residents evenaware ofahomefloatingdown fore the end of the month,he said,
wonder why permits and Certifi- the creek," he added, not quite and urged a swift investigation.
cates of Occupancy were ever is- joking, "but they look over and Even though Cypress Creek is
sued by the city. say,'Wow,what a great pool,and a private community with a manda-
Charles McGinnis, who has look at all that neat furniture.'" tory homeowner association, the
livedinthecommmnity of75 homes City Manager John Govoruhk city of Winter Springs still has
for several years, said that since had been made aware of the prob- jurisdiction, said City Attorney
the development's conception it lemearlierand said that the public Frank Kmppenbacher. The city
has been through three sets of works, engineering and building staff has to determine that there is
builders.None ofthem,especially departments are all looking into it. indeed a problem before he can
the last one,have met standards. McGinnis told commissioners act.
One resident claimed that he - -- - -
spent$250,000 for three units in
Cypress Club and discovered that
all three had leaky roofs. The
builder eventually caulked the
roofs, a questionable solution in
itself, and now there are only
eleven leaking spots rather than
the eighteen originally reported.
The same speaker also stated
that plumbing, wiring and tele-
phone outlets were all installed
improperly in his units.
According to McGinnis and
others at the meeting, the com-
plex,whichbacks up onto Winter
Springs Golf Club, is built on
graded said When Tropical Storm
Gordon struck several weeks ago,
much of that sand washed away.
McGinnis said whenthe sandy
base eroded,homes and property
were damaged.The builder,who
at this stage of development
should still be responsible, has
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Darrell Johnson/The Oviedo Voice
Charles McGinnis points to erosion creeping toward homes at Cypress Club
Erosion at Cypress Club
fuels safety concerns
By Darrell Johnson Severe erosion occurred following the
storm,creating gullies in the slope. Com-
The Winter Springs City Commission bined with the sharp drop-off itself,it has
was ambushed by Cypress Club residents created a potentially dangerous condition.
Monday night. They want answers, and Since he first broached the subject at
they want them now. the Dec. 12, 1994, commission meeting,
Cypress Club is a community of75homes McGinnis has been prodding City Man-
in the Highlands area.Most of the units are ager John Govoruhk and staff personnel to
finished,but the last few still under con- step up their investigation of the problem.
struction sit atop a ridge about 25 feet Last Monday Govoruhk reported that
above the creek bordering Winter Springs he has not yet received any reports finding
Golf Club. the buildings or the grounds in violation of
Resident Charles McGinnis, who code or law. He did say, however, that
stepped up his campaign against the builder many reports have still not arrived.
of the complex following Tropical Storm In memos to the city,which were passed
Gordon, claimed that the new units are on McGinnis,it was noted that the slope,
being built on graded sand and dirt which while not illegal,could be dangerous.Ero-
is not stable. Continued on Page 5
q�o i�
Page 5
Cypress Club Continued from Page 1
sion could be a threat, and the McGinnis countered that he had
suggestion was made that mea- never criticized any department
sures be taken to stabilize the land. head,and that he thought the let-
At one point the builder had ter to the commissioners, et al,
secured sod to the side of the ridge was confidential. Mayor Bush
with stakes. Both the sod and the pointed out that any letter sent to
stakes washed out. the commission automatically be-
A meeting was scheduled ear- comes public record.
her this month by the city to dis- The city has to deal with hostil-
cuss the issue with the builder. ity and still complete the surveys
McGinnis was notified, but he necessary to reach a fair conclu-
could not attend. sion.
Monday night City Attorney LouieDiMillo,a ClubDrive resi-
Frank Kruppenbacher informed dent who is also on the developer's
McGinnis that the developer had team,told commissioners that the
been told the matter was of grave first he knew about his neighbors'
concern to the commission. If re- concerns was when the city con-
ports indicate violations,he said, tacted him.McGinnis never talked
he would support yanking all per- to him about it,he claimed.
mits for the property. "These are perceived problems
It was revealed that McGinnis from lay people who have no expe-
had, on Jan. 17, sent a letter to rience whatsoever," he said.
Mayor John Bush,all of the com- The buildings are not finished,
missioners and Kruppenbacher.In and the ground is unstable be-
thatletterhequotedsegmentsfrom cause of that, DiMillo added.
a staff response and described When the project is completed the
Govoruhk as"negligent to a point landscaping will be adequate.
of possible cover-up." Commissioner David McLeod,
Govoruhk said,accurately,that who is experienced in development
his staff has been working on the and construction, said he looked
case since it was brought to their at the site and saw people trying to
attention, but all the results are dig sod out of the creek and the
not in yet. side of the bank.