Landowner's 'in your face' antics rile Lake neighbors

The oak trees are gone, and a scruffy-looking man -- perhaps homeless or perhaps paid to appear that way -- occasionally wanders the shadeless parcel near the Royal Highlands subdivision.

[Orlando Mis Managed]

There is obviously much more to this story.

[MY Opinion]

Once again transplants to Florida with HOA's want to control every thing that is within eye sight, next they will be complaininging that the state or local goverment needs to change the weather when it is to hot in the summer or to cold in the winter.

[miguel]

I can't wait to see what the property "rights" whack jobs do with this one. There probably IS more to the story, but it surely boils down to petulant grown ups behaving like children.

If the HOA wants to better manage "their" entrance they should buy the property. The owner should pay the fine for taking out the trees from the proceeds from the sale....and thank his lucky stars he only got whacked for $15K.

[Mortimer Mouse]

The ones who put the most money in the last election of commissioners will prevail. That of course will be Pringle and the hemoroids that ain't ready to go back up yet! I hope these folks stand their ground. the communist inspired government has no right telling us when or which trees we can cut down on our own property.
As local government sinks and is replaced by the national government which is well underway and local official are to stupid to realize they are being used to put it in place but will not be needed when the act is accomplished. Issues such as trees, swamps, and even water will become moot. It will be the single issue of The Survival Of The Fittest.

[Redogg]

I think this is great. The guy's ingenious because he'll probably end up forcing the HOA or development to buy the land.

[Floridagirl]

What a great story! I just love this man!

[Bill]

Obviously based on the idiotic posts made above there are some really stupid people in the world. They cannot read or understand what is written. This is BLACKMAIL, pure and simple! The owners made a bad purchase and now they want someone to
buy them out.

No, I don't live there and I don't think I even know anyone who does.

[Newsguy]

This is obviously a situation of old people complaining because they have nothing better to do. They have their little uppity complex and instead of worrying about another human being's welfare, they are concerned about having "someone like that" living close to them. Wake up old people! It's a tough time for everyone. Some people aren't as lucky. You don't like it ... LEAVE! It's people like you who have made Florida the cesspool that it is. Go back to Ohio or Michigan and rust away.

[Just_One_Voice]

HOA nazis up in arms... maybe they can get Elkins and his klan buddies to lend a helping hand.

There is more to this story and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this one. Pringle screwed this up by letting this piece of property go up for sale instead of folding into the development's easement.

[HOA Freeloaders]

Who did what to whom is not my concern and it certainly is not the Lake County's taxpayers responsibility to settle what amounts to a private civil action and a neighborhood petty quarrel. County Commissioners please explain why the taxpayers should have any part in this matter???? If the 500-member strong and affluent Royal Highlands HOA wants this matter resolved, then let them hire an attorney and take the matter to court on their dime and not ours but it is one heck of a lot to ask that the Lake Taxpayers foot the bill at a time when the county taxpayers have so many unmet needs, dozens of county workers are being laid-off and our vital county services are being cut-to-the-bone because of the County's purported budgetary crisis. All that one has to do is drive around the county to witness junk yards and heinous eyesores right up next to thousands of houses and the mniority communities are blighted with all manner of code violations much worse than that cited in this article and which receive not even minimal code enforcement attention which is directly the Commissioners' responsibility but for too long ignored but I guess that is different?

[Bill]

No change -- more idiotic comments!
It is the county's business when it is zoned for one thing and being used for another.

[Lake Co person]

The Lake County Commissioners have allowed the most butt-ugly developments be built in this section of the county, including Royal Highlands. I don't like the guy cutting down the oak trees, but what about all the developers this county has allowed to cut down all the trees in every development that's been built in the last 10 years. None of those developments in south Lake Co. have trees. I agree with Newsguy, let all these old farts move back up north. None of us ask them to be here in the first place. All they do is complain anyway.

[Bill]

There were very few trees cut down for the Royal Highlands property. Most of the property was dead orange groves and watermellon fields. I used to live just South of there.

[Take A Minute]

Bill you should take a minute to review and educate yourself regarding the Lake County Landuse and Zoning Code which is available online for free. Specifically what portion or paragraph of the zoning code has been violated? There is nothing in the code that prohibits a small tent and small hand-lettered sign to be erected on a commercially zoned parcel at least on a temporary basis, hence Mr. Minkoff's advice to the Commission that there really is no issue here that the County TAXPAYERS may prevail upon and strongly suggesting as he can to stay free of involvement. Absolutely silly except that our tax dollars may wind-up being spent on a private quarrel. Yes you folks need to become adults, but in violation of the Lake County Zoning Code, very very doubtful. Truth be told, you folks just want a freeride, which seems to be the norm these days as too many people are looking for government to take care of their every need while others pay for it and want the taxpayers to pick-up the tab. Best of luck in your fight but you folks are obviously affluent enough and need to assume the expense of taking care of your own business and leave our tax dollars for serious public health and police protection funding shortages.

Bill wrote:

No change -- more idiotic comments!
It is the county's business when it is zoned for one thing and being used for another.

[Bill]

You missed the obvious! The land is NOT zoned for someone living on it.-- Commercial... You need to read correctly.

[florida native]

MY Opinion wrote:

Once again transplants to Florida with HOA's want to control every thing that is within eye sight, next they will be complaininging that the state or local goverment needs to change the weather when it is to hot in the summer or to cold in the winter.i agree, ship all of them back north

i agree, ship them all back north

[Solution for all]

Put a Large Double wide on the property, with an office, and open a very much needed HOMELESS SHELTER. Then you could use the property for it's zoning! I bet I can get more then 500 people to sign a sheet of paper stating WE THE TAX PAYERS DON"T WANT TO PAY FOR CHILDISH WARS!

[Bill]

Solution for all wrote:

Put a Large Double wide on the property, with an office, and open a very much needed HOMELESS SHELTER. Then you could use the property for it's zoning! I bet I can get more then 500 people to sign a sheet of paper stating WE THE TAX PAYERS DON"T WANT TO PAY FOR CHILDISH WARS!

Still not what it is zoned for!

[Another Point of View]

Dougherty parcel (by: Mary hitchcock - 2/26/2009)

Lawyer: Royal Highlands situation. Article Thursday February 26, 2009. Benjamin Roode, Daily commercial Staff. I depend on my Daily Commercial for the local news. This could have been a great article if the reporter had done a bit of research. A check of deeds shows that Mr. Dougherty bought the parcel from a bank at the height of the real estate market in 2005-2006 for $150,000. Then property values plummeted. Mr. Dougherty was unable to sell his parcel. It, along with two other larger commercial properties adjacent and nearby, remains unsold. According to your article he approached Royal Highlands about buying it for $500,000. Most residents didn’t have any idea the bank sold the parcel three years ago. Then in late summer of 2008, Mr. Dougherty threatened to cut the well water supply to the RH baseball field, causing the community to spend thousands of dollars to connect to city water. Few heard of any offer. Royal Highland’s residents have never had any interest in purchasing any of the commercial property outside their gates. Purchase simply makes no sense. This is a Community of retirees on fixed incomes. Residents voted against purchasing the former Pringle Sales Center located just outside the gate, a few years ago. When residents didn’t respond to his wishes, Mr. Dougherty removed thousands of dollars worth of palms, a wall, sprinklers, and lights erected by the developer on property that was believed to be community easement which had been maintained by the community since it was established. He turned what had been a well manicured lot into an eyesore, strewn with stubble. He stripped the landscaping from a utility area that serves the community and claimed the units must be removed. The land in question is exempt from his property deed. When he also removed several huge, beautiful, 100+ year old live oak trees, without a permit, in violation of county rules and regulations, Code enforcement did their job. A hearing was held. Mr. Dougherty did not appear. He was fined and ordered to submit a plan to remediate the property. Then Mr. Dougherty installed the “homeless shelter”. Residents of Royal Highlands are saddened that the parcels outside their gate were zoned commercial but apparently normal easements were never established. These issues should be addressed by the proper authorities. Residents have no control over them. Residents of Royal Highlands expect Mr. Dougherty, like every other neighbor, will take pride in and properly maintaining his property. The removal of the vegetation and decorative wall only made his property less attractive to potential buyers. His behavior is irrational and frightening.

Idiot (by: Bill - 2/26/2009)

If you believe ANY of what the lawyer said you have to be an idiot. This is pure and simple blackmail. Dougherty want more than THREE TIMES what he paid for the land in 2006. What else would anyone call it??? No I don't live there.

[Just_One_Voice]

Hope he gets every dime he's looking for... Pringle are the ones who made the mistake and let this easement lot go up for sale. The land is zoned vacant commercial and it would only take a permit to turn it into whatever Dougherty wants. I'd like him to start a landscape supply business with lots of piles of wood chips, mounds of fill dirt and topsoil and maybe supply some organic fertilizers.