The News of
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Sun City Center
April 2016
...an official publication of the Sun City Center Community Association
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE April 13 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. 19 Community Leaders Meeting Florida Room – 9 a.m. May 5 Lawn Concert with Kevin Brooks Band Stand – 4 to 6 p.m. 11 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. 17 Community Leaders Meeting Florida Room – 9 a.m. Agendas for monthly Board Meetings will be posted on Official Bulletin Boards the Friday before and on CA website (suncitycenter.org ) – under “Association”). They will also be sent via “What’s New in the CA” email. Every Wednesday: Orientation for new members in the Board Room at 1 p.m.
CA Contact Information Phone: 633-3500 sccboard@suncitycenter.org Website: suncitycenter.org Information Center 813-633-4670
Board Welcomes New Directors By Diane M. Loeffler Marilyn Coté-Miller and Ernie Addison will fill the remainder of the terms vacated by Ed Feder and Richard Angerosa. CA President David Floyd said every member of the board was actively involved in the very thorough vetting process. After carefully reviewing application documents and interviewing prospective candidates they voted to approve Coté-Miller and Addison at the March 9 CA meeting. “Speaking for all of the original seven members of the Community Association Board, we’re very, very happy to have them join us,” Floyd said. A variety of state, federal and local documents regulate what the board can and cannot do. Coté-Miller and Addison thoroughly familiarized themselves with these regulations. During the interviews, they were able to answer and ask questions about these materials. About Coté-Miller, Floyd said, “Marilyn was very well-spoken and very familiar with the 501(c)(3) regulations under which the CA operates. She is young and brings a fresh and interesting perspective to the board. She listens thoughtfully and answers a question in return.”
Planning For SCC
By Jim Duffy A few weeks ago, I wandered into the new addition of the library and noticed a small section of shelf that included all SCC CA studies since 2009. Together, they tell a good story of our past and maybe our future. The SCCCA 2015 Accepted Strategic Plan: Our newest community plan is the 2015 Strategic Plan. It was completed in October 2015 and accepted by the Board. It is available in the library and on the Internet at http://www.suncitycenter.org/images/ stories/pdfs/BOD/2015/LRP_2015.pdf . We owe thanks to the volunteers who completed the plan. Chartered by President David Floyd; Richard Angerosa was the Chairperson, and Renee Bray, Joe Michaliszyn, William James and Al Demarest served as committee members. Projects in the 2015 Plan were prioritized according to their ability to improve the quality of life for the residents, continue to attract new buyers to our community, and increase property values. Each of these factors is essential for the long-term viability of the community. The study identified 25 ideas which were prioritized down to a “short list” of six items. These
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projects were further prioritized to three projects, and then down to two. 1. The North Lake Golf Course to be repurposed from an abandoned golf course to park and recreational space 2. A Resort Style Second Outdoor Community Pool Repurpose the North Lakes Golf Course: The North Lake course was built shortly after Del Web started the community in 1962. It was closed in 2009. The Caloosa Greens course was also closed in 2015. There is a national trend of golf courses closing. The possibility of the North Lakes golf course re-opening as a viable golf operation is essentially zero. Two SCCCA studies are available in the Library: The “WHAT IF?” study was completed in August of 2009. This study established a “new way” to look at the closed golf course. The 185-acre area is divided into six “areas” that are separated by county owned streets. Each parcel can be used for a different purpose. The SCCCA “north campus”, which includes many SCCCA services, is located in one of the areas. The property would be a great value the CA. The “North Lakes Site Conversion Task Force, a study completed in October 2010, adds additional detail and possible uses to the “What If study”. The SCCCA Board has been in regular communication with ClubLink as to the disposition of the property. ClubLink has consistently declined to indicate any plans for the course. The Board was fortunate to receive 5.23 acres of land through a donation from ClubLink in August 2012. Some questions residents have asked: 1. Will New Homes be Built on the Closed North Lake Golf Course? I
The now fully-staffed SCC Community Association Board of Directors includes (front row) Neil Rothfeld, Treasurer; Sam Sudman, Vice President; David Floyd, President, and Joe Elam, Corporate Secretary. (Back row) John Luper, Marilyn Coté-Miller, Ernie Addison, Helen Lewis and Jim Schwartz.
About Addison, Floyd said, “Ernie came across as very analytical. He has great computer skills, which will be an asset to our board. He is very familiar with developing and following Standard Operating Procedures and is very detail oriented. He has been in command,
has worked in logistics and high-tech consulting.” After months of operating with seven members, the board will now be back to a full roster. Starting immediately, the board members assignments will be as follows:
Meet our New Directors on page 4. believe ClubLink is exploring the possibility of selling the North course to a residential developer. However, due to many access and legal issues, plus the “vintage” of surrounding homes, the land is not likely to be suitable for new housing. 2. How Much Would the North Lake Course Cost? Nobody knows. Maybe the CA could get control of the property “for free”. What we do know is that the current owner has no income and some expense associated with owning the property. 3. Outsiders? If we received assistance from an environmentally focused nonprofit organization or foundation, or a governmental agency, would we need to let “outsiders” on the property? It is far too early to know. The conclusion from all of the above is: • Repurposing an abandoned golf course is very hard and complex, but not impossible. • The North Lakes Golf Course has been closed for over six years and it is time to start to take action on the abandoned 185-acre property. • SCC community would require help from “outside organizations” to have a chance to succeed. A Resort Style Second Outdoor Community Pool: The Long Range Planning Committee recommended the addition of a second outdoor pool. Sun City Center currently has an outdoor recreational pool and a lap pool and walking pool. During a meeting with local realtors, the realtors said prospective homebuyers considered an outdoor resort type pool to be perhaps the most important and visible amenity the buyers considered important. There are 19 different 55+ communities in the Tampa Bay area. All have outdoor pools. Four of them have two outdoor
pools and almost all describe their pools as “resort style”. With regard to aesthetics, our current pool is lacking. The pool is an “L” shape designed with straight sides. There are no attractive features of any kind. More importantly, the pool is located in an area surrounded on 3 sides by buildings, with an iron fence on the fourth side. There is minimal greenery and landscaping around the pool. By comparison, other 55+ communities in our market area have “resort style” pools that are irregularly shaped, with curved perimeters and wide “walk in” steps and seating areas. Many are surrounded by lush tropical landscaping. A new “resort style” pool would greatly enhance Sun City Center and provide a welcoming and attractive new amenity for existing and new residents. The new pool could be built on the vacant land that remains from the original 5 acres acquired from ClubLink. The committee recommended a 3,000 square foot pool surrounded by 7,000 square feet of decking, roughly the equivalent of the current pool and surrounding decking. A maximum depth of 5 feet would be sufficient, as there does not need to be a diving area. This would also help to keep costs down. The committee did not think that a larger pool than 3,000 square feet is required, since the community would still have the original pool. This new pool would feature aesthetics, overall attractiveness, setting and relaxation. This recommendation certainly can be modified. State law requires that the pool have dedicated bathroom facilities within 200 feet, which would be part of the construction. In closing, Sun City Center Community has been a wonderful and attractive community since the 1960s. We will
See Planning on page 2.