The News of February 2011 - ISSUE #31
...an official publication of the Community Association
February Dates to Put on Your Calendar
Check out the CA website: suncitycenter.org
SPB/301 Issue Packs the House ---
CA Board Meeting
9th
9 a.m. Rollins Theater Watch videos of the Board meetings on your computer. Go to suncitycenter.org, click on Association, then on Meeting Videos.
Most at Public Meeting Oppose Pebble Beach/301 Link ---
Crime, Congestion Concerns Trump Convenience By Ed Brown If the January 20 Town Hall Meeting at a jam-packed Community Hall was a valid sampling of public opinion here, Sun Cit y C enter residents are emphatically against opening South Pebble
Board of Directors and presented to the County Board of Commissioners as the community’s official position. “This issue impacts everyone here. In Sun City Center there is only one class of member and everyone
14th
Valentine’s Day
21st
Presidents Day
22nd & 23rd
301 Access Referendum Absentee Ballots are on Page 15 and at the CA Office On the Inside CA Schedule................. 2 CARE......................... 22 Club Happenings... 10-14 Consumer Affairs........ 22 Crossword.................. 17 CryptoQuote............... 19 Deputy Chris................. 9 Entertainment Corner... 3 Expand Horizons.......... 6 Golf............................. 24 Military Affairs............. 20 Minto............................. 8 Movies........................ 27 Newcomers................ 27 President’s Report........ 2 Sports.................... 23-26 Sudoku....................... 21 We Want to Know....... 27
Beach Blvd. (SPB) to through traffic by connecting it to US Hwy 301. Most residents speaking at the meeting seemed convinced by longstanding warnings from the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office that throughtraffic vehicles using SPB between 301 and SR 674 would bring more noise, congestion, trash, danger to golf cart occupants and more crimes of opportunity. As one assenting resident put it, “they’ll drive through to see what you’ve got and then come back to try to take it.” The opposition to the link expressed at the meeting may be indicative of community-wide sentiment since it reflects a straw poll conducted by the CA in 2006 that found more than seven out of ten residents wanted Pebble Beach Blvd to remain a dead end or, as described by Paul Courter, a supporter of the link: “a giant cul-de-sac.” The question of preserving the option to seek construction of a link to 301 or to maintain a permanent, locked gate to be opened only in times of public emergency will be decided in a referendum among all CA members, February 22 and 23. CA Board President Ed Barnes, who has remained neutral during the debate, told the attendees that the referendum’s results will be honored by the CA
Photos by Judy Stimson.
who pays CA dues is eligible to vote.” If the members vote against unrestricted public access, they will actually be voting to change what’s called the General Development Site Plan, a series of conceptual drawings of the community that, for more than 20 years, have depicted a link to 301. A petition for change would have to be submitted to the County Board of Commissioners w hos e endors ement of the community’s wishes is considered likely. With the link option closed, the existing construction gate near the foot of Pebble Beach Blvd. would remain in place on property owned by ClubLink under a fiveyear agreement with Minto, the developer successor to WCI. When that agreement e x p i r e s , M i nt o w o u l d c ons t r u c t on a dj a c e nt property it now owns a permanent emergency gate to be opened only in the event of a declared emergency. If the members vote for unrestricted access, they will actually be voting to keep the Site Plan unchanged as a document of intent by the original developer, and a link to 301 would remain an option. Nothing would happen automatically. Acting on the option to develop a See US 301 on Page 7
The Future Is Now…And We Need to Look at It!
By Chuck Collett If you haven’t noticed, we’re getting old around here. Yes, that was the objective, of course, but we are becoming an aging community. In 2004, 63 percent of SCC residents were over 70. By 2010, 67 percent were over 70. The average resident, as we go into 2011, is 74.5 years old. Our lifestyle and medical advances are allowing us to live longer. And that has meant we are experiencing a decline in volunteerism and less usage of our golf courses and other facilities. Not so much because they want to stop, but because of advancing age, many can’t participate any more. The bright spot in our immediate future may be that Minto Communities is building new houses and promoting Sun City Center to younger folks as the babyboomers start to retire. But in a few short years, Minto will have built out the 800 or so properties left in SCC and Kings Point and will be gone. Thus, we need to become active to reverse these trends and attract younger seniors to Sun City Center. We need to attract younger retirees to increase the value of our present homes and to do this, we need to have activities for both those who are 70-plus and those who are 55-plus. Revitalize the Community 2011 will present a real opportunity to revitalize our community. It’s our 50th
Anniversary year full of entertaining events that will showcase the community to new people and what activities we have here. We have a new developer in Minto and a new golf course owner in ClubLink, both of whom can commit significant resources to advertise SCC. It’s a great opportunity for promotion and rebirth. With these positive t h i n g s h ap p e n i n g , w e are pre s e nte d w it h an opportunity to improve our community facilities for existing residents and our incoming new residents. Reasoning? The recent economic downturn has impacted all of us in housing prices, decreased income and reduced portfolios, BUT, it has also caused a very significant reduction in building costs. The cost of construction today is less than 50 percent of what it was just three years ago! We have very carefully l o o k e d at t h e c o s t o f construction for the most recent additions to our campus: The Arts and Crafts building (built in 2002), the Lawn Bowling building (2003) and the Fitness Center (2007). The Arts & Crafts building cost $114 per square foot; the Lawn Bowling building cost $130 per square foot; and the Fitness Center cost $134 per square foot. Today these same structures could be See FUTURE on Page 6
Don’t Miss The NEWS!!!! Are you going to be away? The CA Office can mail you a copy of The News of Sun City Center so you won’t miss any of the important issues being decided and voted upon. Just complete the form below and bring or send it to the CA Office, 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd.
FORWARD THE NEWS OF SCC (Please print)
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