A group of residents showed up at the Community Development District 4 Board meeting Friday afternoon to defend the small white crosses in their yards.
James Kelly who lives on Timberwood Terrace in the Village of Piedmont said he received a letter notifying him that his cross was in violation of the deed restriction.
“I am a Christian. It is our religious right,” he said.
Ted Cahalane, also on Timberwood Terrace, said someone anonymously complained about his cross, but not the crosses of his neighbors.
“I would like to know who was the brave soul who made the complaint,” he said.
Resident Walt Sahm said he believed it is a matter of common sense.
“I am not a Bible Thumper. I don’t give a darn if anyone wants to put a crescent of Islam in their yard. This is insane, folks. It’s a little white cross,” Sahm said.
He said the cross has been parsed out for scrutiny.
“You’ve got Norte Dame and Penn State stuff up. Nobody does anything about that,” Sahm said.
Residents lined up at the microphone, but were shut down by the chairman.
District Counsel Valerie Fuchs reminded residents that when they purchased their homes, they signed a contract agreeing to deed restrictions. The deed restrictions include a prohibition on lawn ornaments.
“It’s not just crosses, it’s flamingoes,” Fuchs said.
CDD 4 Chairman Paul Kelly said the residents’ anger was misdirected.
“We cannot change the deed restrictions. You signed a contract,” Kelly said. “We all signed them. It has nothing do with religion. It’s all about lawn ornaments.”
Homeowners in violation will receive three notices making them aware they are in violation and the matter will go to a public hearing if the notices don’t prompt the homeowner to bring the property into compliance. Residents who violate the restriction on lawn ornaments could face a $50 fine and be fined $25 per day until the property comes into compliance.
Residents of the Lady Lake portion of The Villages, as well as Community Development Districts 1 and 2 can display crosses because those districts do not have provisions against lawn ornaments.
