Heritage Harbour CDD decides to go it alone on landscaping

EAST COUNTY — As Lee Bettes prepared to leave the March 4 Heritage Harbour South Community Development District meeting, his red cheeks hinted at his frustration.

In an attempt to build unity on landscaping issues, Bettes proposed the CDD and the Stoneybrook Homeowners Association form a four-person committee, composed of two representatives from each group. Despite the CDD agreeing in February to form the committee, Bettes couldn’t believe the result of what started as an opportunity for a partnership: nothing.

Although the four members came together for the inaugural joint committee meeting, it ended abruptly when CDD Supervisor Joseph Jaudon said he was uncomfortable discussing issues in that setting.

“My intention was to let us (HOA and CDD) work together,” Bettes said. “We would talk and say, ‘Oh, I don’t like this,’ or, ‘Change this.’ The two groups could work together on problems.”

Instead, the topic of landscape maintenance was left to the CDD’s regular meeting later that night, at which CDD supervisors moved forward with plans to take back control of common-area landscaping maintained by the HOA on behalf of the CDD. The move came despite pleas from HOA representatives to “not give up” on the new partnership.

Although the HOA has contracted with the CDD to maintain its land within the community for about 10 years, the CDD now will maintain the land it owns within Stoneyrook’s borders. In total, the CDD owns about 35% of the property, which includes five medians and 10 cul-de-sacs in Stoneybrook, as well as other property.

Supervisors later will look for a vendor to maintain the property. The CDD will assume landscaping responsibilities starting Jan. 1.

Bettes and Supervisor Richard Lane, who opposed retaking control of HOA-maintained areas, said taking control from the HOA and giving it to the CDD will be confusing for residents and increase associated costs.

“As a community, it would make sense, to me, to have one unified landscape contract, and that’s not what we’re going to do,” Bettes said, noting the HOA owns property, as well. “If (residents) see a given parcel or plant that’s not being taken care of, who do they call — the CDD or the HOA? Well, someone will say, ‘I’ll have to get a map and decide who owns it.’ It doesn’t make sense to cut the baby in half.”

Bettes believes the HOA’s daily presence inside Stoneybrook’s recreational center comforts residents because they know someone is there to answer questions. It also gives the community a point of contact, Bettes said.

The CDD, however, has no supervisors present at the community hub to provide information. Should a resident want to speak to a supervisor, he must peruse the community’s website for contact information or attend the CDD’s monthly meeting.

To Bettes, Lane and others opposed to the divide, having two contracts ­­— one between the HOA and its contracted vendor, TruScapes, and the agreement between the CDD and the company it chooses — will result in higher prices because the organizations lose the benefits of economies of scale.

CDD Chairwoman Joyce Sandy, the key proponent of separating the two groups, views the situation in a more positive light. She believes the divide will stop arguments between the CDD and HOA.

“I’ve done research and talked to members of other communities that have joint groups, and the community seems to work best when things are separated,” Sandy said. “If there’s separation, there won’t be anything to argue about.”

As for a future working relationship between the two groups, Bettes remains uncertain if such a concept exists anymore.

“Until members of the CDD agree to work with the HOA, I’m not sure how we (as a community) go forward.”

SHORT-LIVED
Despite Supervisor Lee Bettes’ hope for an on-going working relationship with the homeowners association, the newly-formed joint landscape committee may disband. The committee consisted of Bettes, CDD Supervisor Joe Jaudon and HOA representatives Gene Ziner and Phil Martinetti.

At an HOA meeting March 10, HOA representatives told residents about the CDD’s decision to assume control of its landscape contract and discussed the HOA’s relationship with the CDD.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].