Originally posted April 12, 2011
Just like its neighbor, the Woodlands, Woodmont in Tamarac wants to form a Neighborhood Improvement District as well. A Neighborhood Improvement District is created in an area that wants public-use improvements that are paid for by special tax assessments to property owners in the community in which the improvements are made. The kinds of projects that can be financed through the District must be for facilities used by the public and must be on property within the District.
The Woodlands formed their Neighborhood Improvement District primarily to fund security for their development. Whether it is used for gates or security cameras, the type of security has not been decided yet in this newly formed District. Once it is determined, it will be up to the residents to vote on the improvement for it to be implemented. Other uses for the Woodlands District would be beautification of the neighborhood and possibly a neighborhood park.
Woodmont wants to update its entrances. Improvements such as these benefit all residents and increase property values. Currently, the Woodlands residents are paying BSO for extra security as well as beautification for their common areas through dues in their eight different sections. Unfortunately, two sections do not have mandatory dues, and many sections have residents that are not paying their dues. Creating a District would make everyone pay their fair share since these items would be paid through property taxes.
It looks like the same inaccuracies about Neighborhood Improvement Districts are going around Woodmont as they did in the Woodlands. However, this one is misleading residents into thinking there will be land-use changes as a result of creating a District.
The following letter by Woodmont Association President Lee Viverette addresses these rumors:
A letter was mailed to all the residents of Woodmont, and while there were a few correct statements, for the most part, the letter was misleading and disturbing.
I am a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser, and I have a Real Estate Sales license.
Who better to understand the value of maintaining and preserving our community?
For more than just a few years, the appearance of our community has begun to decline. It is my wish to restore Woodmont to a level that other communities can aspire to.
When I learned about how some communities have formed Safe Neighborhood Districts to preserve and revitalize their communities, I realized it was something we should consider.
The concept of developing a new district in Woodmont was presented to the community at an open meeting on December 7. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how such a district could benefit our community. The meeting was to “inform” our residents of a State of Florida program that has the potential to help Woodmont. One of the things I stated several times during the presentation was, “I want people to leave here with more answers than questions.”
There can only be a functioning district after approval by a majority vote of the community.
In an attempt to discredit the intent of upgrading the signage at our entrances, the letter has some nonsense about deed changes that somehow mysteriously affect land use.
We all want our entrances to look their best, and many want someone else to step up and do it.
We want to find a way to make Woodmont shine again. We want to make our community one to be proud of.
Lee Viverette
President WPOA
If Woodmont wants to continue attracting new buyers in this real estate slump, they need to update their entrances. Residents need to get the facts and learn more about Neighborhood Improvement Districts.