annexation

A  scheme - scam - or  what ?

       

       Winter Springs Commission voted to change zoning on the "NEW " annexation properties on Orange Ave.     This change is to "TownCenter Zoning ", will allow condos , apartments, and etc. to be on the shores of Lake Jesup.

        The City needs this multi-family housing to supply people for their floundering "TownCenter" merchants desiring more cash revenues.    This, plus the proposed low-income housing, would provide foot traffic (since parking is scarce) with the hopes that these "NEW " zonings will increase revenue for exhausted revenues on the TownCenter Project.    Their millions of tax dollars are in jeopardy!

four property owners on Orange Avenue fell for the City's schemes ----

BEFORE   ANNEXATION ?

scroll down the page of agenda items to find land usage changes made to the people who annexed into the city !

it began with the June 02' agenda.

                For those of you unfamiliar with the Commission meeting procedures, look down the agenda (link on this page) for "Public Hearings".     If you wish to speak, you will have two opportunities.     The first will be during "Public Input", and the second, and last chance, will be in the "Public Hearings" portion.

            There are very many questions about the annexation procedure being directed by City Manager McLemore.     In this case, it appears that the City Manager is putting the "horse before the cart" on the annexation issue, to cover any sudden events that could forestall the City's desire to develop multi-housing along the banks of Lake Jesup.

            The annexation of properties North of Orange Avenue are being shoved into the "Towncenter Zoning" plans, which eliminates single family residences.    The City needs this type of multi-housing development to assist the traffic into "Tiny Town" so the merchants will have shoppers.    You have to walk ---- parking is limited.

            The same application applies to the low income housing development across the street from the TownCenter.    That development will run from the Mobile station to the east, through the current green belt.    That issue is also on Monday night's agenda.    Moti Khemlani and Commission Miller have already expressed their disfavor by issuing a typical "class-warfare" approach from the pulpit.     Commissioner Miller says the City has "already met the quota for low income housing the City".     Moti  Khemlani says it would be a deterioration of the "affluent community" where he lives. 

         (Both made the phony claim -- "Winter Springs was voted #1 in which to live", but you have to meet their standards.    What standards -- they are changed at the Commission's will?)

            Not only that, but the plan, generally unknown to the public, because it's being hidden under the guise of "park expansion".      The building of a new water pumping station to drain Lake Jesup is the real ploy behind this entire expansion.    The "park expansion" is a ploy

            The issue is being changed at this time to incorporate the "Towncenter Zoning & Codes".       The land change usage will put the property solely under the manipulation of the Commission to apply the codes any way they see fit.     Or, as in this case, any way that the City Manager leads them --- for they have "Home Rule Power", which is not a public issue.     The land usage is at the hands of the deceitful on the dais, because, under that type of dictatorial power on the dais, the public has no power of prevention other than through the legal channels.      The voter gave them that power when they  voted to amend the City Charter.

            Most people don't know how devastating the Towncenter label can be to their property.    It is now put under the SOLE control of the Commission, which, unfortunately, is controlled by the City Manager.     These people, under the Towncenter designation, no longer represent the people of Winter Springs.    They are their OWN development review committee, and sole judge of what they want to do with land placed in this category.    At an annexation proceeding, they can annex the property into the City. under your favorable designation, and then change the usage to meet their desires.    That's not only dangerous, but is a manipulation  of the land.

              Once the City has the unsuspecting land owner within their clutches, by offering their salt-intrusion City water, and EXEMPTING  ALL annexation fees, they can then change the land usage to their restrictive "Towncenter Zoning" specifications.    So those single family residences will now be available for "MULTI-FAMILY" development.     This is to increase the traffic for their floundering multi-million dollar Towncenter project.

            Huge developers such as Centex, Morrison, and others are stuck with hook-up fees and subject to impact fees upon building large scale projects, while the small Orange Avenue annexations will escape many of those huge tax bearing City revenues.    City Manager McLemore's favorites ( developers ) pay through the nose, at the expense of the City, thus enlarging its boundaries with smaller parcels a piece at a time.    That way the annexations are hidden in the background.

look  at  the  property  manipulations  by  the  city !

            As you look through the letters outlining these annexations (attached), notice what is missing.    Shown, of course, is the fact that  ALL FEES are to be waived, and the only service provided is the ability to tie into the City's water system.    In all probability, these property owners have been told their wells are going to dry up.   Have  they told these well owners of the increasing salt intrusion into the City's water system?

           Untold is the fact that the City of Winter Springs wants to build a pumping station on the shores of Lake Jesup to supply irrigation water for the huge developments they are allowing.     The City will go to any means to secure lake front property to build multi-housing complexes, and enlarge the area in which to build the planned pumping station.   The original area for this station, the Wincey property, cleverly disguised as "park expansion",  would cost the taxpayers $3,000,000.00 +  dollars.

           The City was duping the citizens, saying they needed the property to complete the $3.4 million dollar expansion already in progress, by saying it would provide an exit road from the park.    That it would, and --- also a road to and from the new water plant.    It is a very cleverly disguised project, and very expensive.

           Another way to achieve the property for the irrigation pumping station would be to find a developer to purchase the front half of the property on the north side of SR434, for multi-housing.       The City could then use the back half of the tract for the water pumping plant.    Lake Jesup has enough problems without the help from the City.

            What is cleverly missing from the City's proposal, to annex into the City of Winter Springs, is the cost of living.     Out of every dollar collected by the City --- taxes receive 47.8% and charges for services is 21.8%.     The City of Winter Springs has the highest amount, allowed by law, to tax your services such as --- telephone, cable, electric, cell phone, electricity, water, and 29 individual governmental funds.

            Since 1996 - to -  2002 the following amounts represent the increase of the City's business practices ----

General Government  ................ $1,522,370  to  $4,996,156

Public Safety ..........................      $3,684,567  to  $6,616,299

Physical Environment ................ $1,153,694  to  $3,635,893

that's just THREE areas !

Has the REAL truth  been told to the proposed properties to be annexed ?

With  the  current  city  management ---- it's  doubtful !

Just read the contents of  the attached documents ---

you decide !!

           **For the link to the City's web site and the June 9th agenda click the below link .

**However, please be warned that it is a link controlled by the City --- owned by the taxpayers of Winter Springs, but controlled by the City Manager.    Anything posted must be approved by him ( meeting minutes, agendas, scheduled events & etc.).    The City may have even tried to have this writer's IP address blocked to the access of that tax paid site.    This blockage was witnessed by two computer specialist, the law, and EarthLink.

The visit to the City's site should be done with your firewall enabled.    We'll say no more on this matter at this time.    Should you have problems --- notify us, and it will be checked out.

 Acrobat Adobe reader must be available on your computer.      That can be loaded from the below logo.  

This is a FREE download !

the city agenda for June 9th is below -

the pullen annexation document --- click [ here ]

the conti annexation document --- click [ here ]

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