Ellie’s Notes – 10/7/23

IMPORTANT INFORMATION regarding the LIVE LOCAL ACT new legislation! Please read this communication carefully.

Hello All,

It was great to see so many of you at Mike Owen’s Town Hall meeting at the SCC Community Center on September 26^th.  The SaveSCC tee shirts made a great impression. Thank you!

Per the CA, we were not allowed to petition or sell tee shirts. Too Bad!

The only topic that Mike Owens spoke to from the podium was his support of our cause to deny development of the golf courses. Of course these things are never over until they’re over and even then they come back to life.

I did speak with a number of the county representatives related to our courses and I am following up on some outstanding questions. As information becomes available, I will keep you posted.

One item I did explore was what courses in Sun City Center are receiving reclaimed water for irrigation – per the county staff representative who called me, both Caloosa and Freedom Fairways receive reclaimed water for irrigation but none of the ClubLink courses. There had been a Capital Project N804 to extend reclaimed water transmission mains but once courses were being closed, the project was canceled.

I had reported to you of the success defeating the zoning and development application for Walden Lakes Golf course redevelopment before the Plant City Zoning Commission to deny approval in a 3 to 2 vote earlier this year.  A new application was filed on October 4, 2023 leveraging the Live Local Act signed in July by Governor DeSantis that could allow bypassing of local zoning and community plans in an effort to secure approval for their new development plan that includes affordable housing.  This is a very important development to watch as it could have direct bearing on development plans for Sun City Center. Here is a link to a newspaper article on the situation – https://www.plantcityobserver.com/developer-leverages-live-local-act-to-submit-new-development-plans-to-city/.  

Development projects providing affordable housing leveraging this new law are still playing out and the particulars will be hammered out as applications are acted upon and litigated. This is one of the areas our group will follow up with the County on.

In Tamarac, Fl at the Woodlands Golf Course, ClubLink and their development partner 13^th Floor just had a Public Hearing:

CITY OF TAMARAC 
PLANNING BOARD AND CITY COMMISSION 
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS 

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a Public Hearing will be held before the PLANNING BOARD of the CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at or after 9:00 a.m. in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall at 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321. 

YOU ARE ALSO HEREBY NOTIFIED that a Public Hearing to consider the same application will be held before the CITY COMMISSION of the CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at or after 7:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, located at 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida 33321. 

The following request for the Woodlands Country Club project will be considered: 

PETITIONER: Michael Nunziata, 13th Floor Woodlands HB GP, designated agent for the property owner, Clublink US, LLC, is requesting approval of:  
CASE NO.: 14-SP-19: Site Plan Approval (Major) – Quasi-Judicial  
PETITION: Requesting approval of a Major Revised Site Plan application to allow for the development of a total three hundred thirty-five (335) residential single family lots within the following areas of the Woodlands Country Club property: Pod A, nineteen (19) dwelling units (location: west of White Oak Lane); Pod B, thirty-six (36) dwelling units (location: south of Red Oak Circle and Blue Jack Oak Circle); Pod C, thirty-one (31) dwelling units (location: south of Guava Drive); Pod D, twenty five (25) dwelling units (location: south of Banyan Lane); Pod E, seven (7) dwelling units (location: between Woodlands Boulevard and Coco Palm Drive); Pod F North, twenty-seven (27) dwelling units (location: between Red Cypress Lane and Bayberry Lane); Pod F South, thirty-five (35) dwelling units (location: east of N Travelers Palm Lane); Pod G, one hundred thirty-nine (139) dwelling units (location: east and south of King Palm Drive); and Pod H, sixteen (16) dwelling units (location: south of Orchard Tree Lane).

This notice was a Classified Ad Notice in the Sentinel available online at  https://classifieds.sunsentinel.com/fl/notices/city-of-tamarac-planning-board/AC1E0322164bb118F6DIFmD0E097.

I do not know the outcome of the hearing currently but will investigate further.

It is also time for ClubLink members to renew and pay their annual dues.  The interesting fact is that this year instead of the renewal letter being under Paul Ascioti’s name alone as in previous years, it was closed:

Sincerely Yours,

Julian Gil

Director of Operations

Eagle Trace Golf Club

Rodion Gomez

Director of Operations

Palm Aire Country Club

Paul Ascoiti

Director of Operations

Sun City Center

Palm Aire (3 courses- Palms, Oak & Cypress) and Trace Eagle (1 course) are the only other ClubLink owned courses that are still operating in Florida other than Scepter and Renaissance here in Sun City Center.  By my tally, since 2010, ClubLink spent  USD $27.3 M plus ClubLink Gold Memberships for all equity members at the Woodlands to acquire 13 operating and 1 closed golf course.  Since then they have closed 7, for 8 closed and 6 operating as of now. Of the closed courses- they sold Heron Bay for $32M in 2021, and the Woodlands is under contract to 13^th Floor, terms unknown.

ClubLink has a number of  US golf course development projects in play:

United States

Palm Aire Country Club – Pompano Beach, FL (Broward County)  Per Florida South Business Journal Article 7/17/2023 ClubLink has agreed to sell a portion of their property to Morguard Management Co. (K. Rai Sahi is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morguard and has been associated with them since 1997  and is President & CEO of ClubLink). MSA Architects designed the project that would include 286 units (112 – 1 bed, 154 -2 bed, 203 bed) ranging from 735 sq ft to 1,333 sq ft in four 5-story buildings plus two 2-story “carriage house” buildings, a 9,130 sq ft residential clubhouse, pool, parking and a 7,162 sq ft golf clubhouse.  See article at https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2023/07/17/palm-aire-country-club-pompano-beach-redevelopment.html.

Woodlands Golf Club – Tamarac, FL (Broward County)  – hearing and project overview is above.

Sun City Center Golf Courses – Sun City Center, Fl (Hillsborough County) – Per ClubLink 2022 Annual Report page 32 – “The Company is considering strategic options for its remaining Florida land holdings including underutilized land in Sun City Center

Canada 

Summary information on ClubLink’s golf redevelopment projects can be found in ClubLink’s 2022 Annual Report, pages 31- 32, at https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReports/PDF/TSX_TWC_2022.pdf.

In other local news, Leslie Green, a homeowner and strong opponent against the development of Pebble Creek Golf Course, sued by the owner Bill Pace of Ace Golf, was unsuccessful in her motion to dismiss the suit brought for damages for defamation and false statements siting dissent as protected speech “saying it amounted to a strategic lawsuit against public participation. Known commonly by the acronym SLAPP, such suits are prohibited by state law. “Per the judge’s ruling, it is not and the suit continues.  https://www.tampabay.com/news/2023/09/14/closed-golf-course-new-tampa-anti-slapp/

As you can see from the above tidbits, there is lots going on a number of fronts.

As the snowbirds return, I am asking our various committees to reconvene and renew their efforts. It is only through good and thorough work that we will prevail. The landscape keeps shifting and there are new strategies that may be employed to circumvent any safeguards and obstacles that are in place. We must remain vigilant. If you have brains and time, we need you as a volunteer.  We have lots of opportunities for you to engage in. Just let us know via email to getinvolved@SaveSCC,org and we’ll put you to work.

Take care and please stay abreast of news within our community and beyond.  We need informed citizens to guide our progress in these challenging times!

I do my best to keep it accurate and up to date and provide you with sources but also trust but please verify!  We do not want to spread erroneous or incorrect information.

Please pass this on to your friends!

Best regards,

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 9/25/23

Hello All,

Ruthie and I have just returned from our world-wind vacation 25-day cruise followed by several days of private touring in Italy.  It truly was the trip of a lifetime for us and a well-deserved break.

I can see much has been happening here during my absence.

I’d like to encourage everyone to attend tomorrow night’s Town Hall Meeting from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd with Mike Owens, our District 4 Commissioner, and representatives from the various Hillsborough County departments including Development Services. Please wear your SaveSCC tee shirt if you have one and be prepared with your questions. This is your chance to be heard. Don’t miss it!

We’re also planning on having the SaveSCC petitions for the County Commissioners available for signature if you haven’t signed yet and possibly tee shirts available for a $20.00 donation.

As our District Commissioner, Mike Owens will play a crucial role when ClubLink plans are submitted for approval for golf course redevelopment in Sun City Center.  We need his support and that of the other Commissioners to deny development and he needs to know from the entire community unequivocally that we demand our golf courses be used for recreation, not residential development, as stipulated in Greater Sun City Center Community Plan!

Volunteers are needed to man our tables.  If you are so inclined, just visit us at tables and pitch in!

I hope to see you all tomorrow at the meeting.

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 7/30/23 HELP WANTED!

Hello all – Hope this mid-summer finds you healthy and happy. Many are traveling up North trying to escape the Florida heat.

I have been busy working to protecting our golf courses and will share some highlights shortly. I am urgently requesting some assistance.  I can’t be the primary chief cook and bottle washer in our efforts. I need help if I am to continue to lead this community quest to preserve our lifestyles, protect our golf courses, and ensure the future of our community.

Personal Assistant

I am looking for a personal assistant to become my right hand and auxiliary brain before mine explodes. I do this work as a labor of love for a community that I find second to none. The satisfaction this challenging work has brought and the hope that we may succeed in stopping Clublink is enough. We have smart people, a terrific community, and the raw materials for Sun City Center 2.0. Let’s get a few brave, intelligent, and caring folks to make our community even better.  It is possible to prevail, and the proposed development is far from a done deal. So please if you can find it in your wheelhouse, volunteer to team up to work directly with me on our day-to-day efforts.  I will be out of the country, and someone must fill in while I’m gone to make sure nothing gets away from us or is missed. It is vital.  Thanks for your consideration. Please call me to discuss at 312-282-7337.

SaveSCC Corporate Secretary Needed

Due to the sickness and passing of her father and the need to settle his affairs out of state, Tami Mondy has resigned as SaveSCC Corporate Secretary.  We are seeking candidates to fill this critical board position. If you are interested, please contact me.

Radio Spots

I am pleased to share that I have been in the studio with Sun Radio and Grace FM working on radio spots and shows to continue to pump up awareness and the good news of our promising prospects as we lead the efforts to save the centerpiece golf courses and greens spaces. We are closer to preserving the wonderful character of our neighborhoods and lifestyles here in Sun City Center.

I will send you a blast with airtime for extended programs.

A Question for Everyone to Ponder

What community in its right mind would allow a key amenity integral to the lifestyle, open vistas, wildlife, health, environment, and future to be placed under the control of a third party as owner and operator?  Golf Courses here are 24 % of the land use, second only to residential housing at 34%.  Whether through faulty thinking, short sightedness, or apathy,  wouldn’t you want to correct and neutralize this threat at the lowest cost possible? It is not too late. We must stop development as the first step, but it will take a village – our village – every HOA, every resident, every club, and our CA board to make SCC secure. Let’s get to work!  Go to our web site to join, donate or volunteer. we need you!

Exclusive Freedom Plaza Save Sun City Center Presentation

With the support and approval of Freedom Plaza’s Executive Director – Angie Rohr, I held an exclusive event for Freedom Plaza residents to promote Save Sun City Center and our efforts to protect the golf courses. We got some great exposure, donations and some additional volunteers to help advance the cause. Here is the flyer:

Save Sun City Center (SaveSCC) Presentation

 “Protecting and Preserving the Greater SCC  Area Golf Courses from Development by ClubLink”

Tuesday, June 13 | 2 – 3 p.m. | Freedom Plaza Auditorium

 Presented by Ellie Anderson  – President and Founder of SaveSCC and New Freedom Plaza Resident

ClubLink is owner of seven of the 10 golf courses in the Greater Sun City Center Area, and their development plans proposed to the community on March 23, 2022, represent an existential threat to the centerpiece golf courses and green spaces in our community. ClubLink intends to pursue residential development on some of their 1,200+ acres of land in the community to realize greater profits from their real estate holdings here.  From their point of view, there is more money in development than closed or underperforming golf courses.

Save Sun City Center is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization working to preserve our golf courses and green spaces for future recreational use only. Ultimately, ClubLink’s development plans will require application to the county and approval from the Hillsborough County Commissioners for their project to proceed.  SaveSCC is working to prevent ClubLink from gaining approval of their application before the county by mounting a successful case against rezoning and having the community as a whole resist ClubLink’s efforts.

During this presentation, you will learn how SaveSCC got here, and how you can help prevent this threat to our community’s future and quality of life. We don’t need more houses, traffic, demands on our infrastructure, including water, which is already restricted and suffering low pressure, along with stormwater run-off and management, decreasing EMS response times threatening life and property, as well as the increase of airborne toxic particles and noise through this large-scale building project.

Please come and see what this is all about and how you can help! Come and share the passion for our lifestyle and community. We want to educate you and enlist your help to ensure this residential plan by ClubLink does not come to fruition.

For more information in the interim, please consult SaveSCC’s website at SaveSCC.org or call Ellie at 312-282-7337.

Hope to see you there!

Possible Upcoming Fundraisers 

We’ve got two fundraisers we are exploring. A Save Sun City Center Golf Event and SaveSCC Golf Cart Washes.  We are assembling volunteers to explore, plan and make these events come to fruition. Would you like to be involved?  Let’s make it happen together. Email us at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org.

Keep the faith and share our email with your SCC friends, neighbors, HOA members and Club Members.  Let’s get the word out!

Hope you’re having as great a summer as I am.

Best to everyone!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

 

 

 

 

Ellie’s Notes – 7/19/23

Hope this communique finds you well in this hot, hot, hot summer!

The SaveSCC team has been busy behind the scenes and in public working to advance our efforts to protect our golf courses.  A special shout and thanks to Carol Hugill and her team who continue their efforts to gather signatures on our petition for the County Commissioners. They were at the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast and the response was excellent from many supporters. Mike Newsom had also continued in his efforts with Commissioner Owens and his office, Brains Grady – HCC Development Service and Adam Gormly, Department Director – HCC Develop Services. They have confirmed that there has been no pre-application conference or communication of application files by ClubLink or anyone else concerning the golf courses in our community as of late last month.

Also thanks to Garry Higgins and Larry Bender for work fixing our email blast list. This will be the first use since they have loaded and sanitized our listserver.

On the great new front, the Pebble Creek Golf Course Redevelopment Plan (MM 23-0132) in Hillsborough County (HC) was defeated at the HC Board of County Commissioners’ Land Use Meeting 7/18/23 by a vote of 5 to 2.

In my opinion, their case was not as strong as our case. They did not have a local community plan demanding:

“GOLF COURSES

• Maintain and protect existing golf course(s) and insure that they are dedicated for future recreational use only. “
• And community support against development is at 90% based on our polling and petition efforts.  Per the Hillsborough County’s reckoning bases on their calls, letters and email on Pebble Creek, their support was 20% for and 80% against.)

Please watch the hearing at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61097zou9Fk&list=PLZwNyAnHaDIti2GLsDni9UU0UsRjUHgRN&index=75

For the whole hearing on MM 23 -1032 go to 1:46 on the video.

For just the Board comments and vote on MM 23 -1032 go to 2:35 on the video

You really need to listen to the Board’s comments.  This is great news that points the way to our future success but know that there will be many challenges.

We need volunteers for our many committees to ensure we do our homework and prepare for success.  It is kind of like the iceberg, 90% of the work is below the water line in prep and ground work, before the 10% in the home stretch.  No matter your skills or how much or little time you have, we need you.  Do not let us or your community down. It takes the whole community!

I will be out of the country from August 21 until late September with very limited access to the Internet and email.  I am trying to get five folks who will agree to monitor via email notifications for zoning applications and HC web site new zoning requests so we do not get blindsided. Email to info@savescc.org  to volunteer. I will provide training via zoom.  We do not want to miss any action regarding our golf courses. Thanks!

 Please help us!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 5/28/23

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

The closing of Sandpiper should be a signal to every resident of the Greater Sun City Center area that the time to ramp up and resist Clublink’s bid to develop their golf properties here is urgent. Right about now, Clublink, encouraged by their win at the Woodlands in Broward County and the engagement of 13^th Floor developers to partner with them on that project, is proceeding with their project plan for SCC and preparing their application to build more housing in Sun City Center for submission to Hillsborough County.

We can not leave anything to chance and must not be complacent. Everyone must be prepared to fight because if we all come together, we can prevail and our green spaces will stay green. The first order of business is for every citizen to sign the petition. Numbers are powerful and send a message to the CA and the Hillsborough commissioners.

Petitions are available to sign at the Emergency Squad on 720 Ray Watson Drive or at the Security Patrol 1225 Pebble Beach Blvd. Or there is a form you can print out on the Save Sun City Website under the “Take Action” section. Ask your friends and neighbors to join you in supporting this effort. Contact Carol Hugill at  cah5652@gmail.com or follow the instructions on the petition. Every signature truly matters.

If you have a little time, please help us. Any skills you possess can be deployed on one of our standing committees or special projects. We have a very small group of people pushing the giant boulder up the hill but if we are to stop Clublink in their tracks, everyone has to pitch in.

Permanent Committees:

·      Finance Committee (John Newbury)

·      Technology Committee

·      Communications Committee (Rick Johnson & Joan Zegras)

·      Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee (Mike Newsom)

·      CA Board Committee (Jim McCaw)

·      ClubLink & Birds of a Feather Committee

·      Petition and Canvassing Committee (Carol Hugill)

·      Application (Emergency) Response Committee ( Joyce Black & Punky Fedora)

·      Okay We Won, Now What Committee

Again, the time is now before the next move is made. We cannot afford to wait and see what transpires if we wish to preserve our glorious lifestyles.

For those who have not seen the Notice from ClubLink to Renaissance members about Sandpiper’s closure,  here it is:

                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Sandpiper Golf Club Announcement

Dear Ellen Anderson,

On behalf of ClubLink US LLC, owner of the Sandpiper Golf Club, I write to inform you that, after years of sustained operational and financial challenges, ClubLink has made the difficult decision to close the Sandpiper golf course and Clubhouse indefinitely. The closure will become effective on June 1, 2023.

The Sandpiper driving range and practice green will remain open for existing Members. Additionally, existing Sandpiper Members will be able to continue their current membership at Scepter or Renaissance at their existing fee structure through the end of the 2022-2023 membership year. Bunker’s Bar will remain open for the time being.

If you have any questions regarding your Sandpiper membership, please contact our membership department at (813) 633-1015.

Closing the course has been a difficult decision for us as we want our valued ClubLink Members to have as many playable options as possible. This decision, however, was necessary given the state of operations at Sandpiper. We hope you will continue to enjoy and support our other golf courses.

Sincerely,

Paul Ascioti | Director of Operations

Sun City Center

CLUBLINK US, LLC

551 S. Powerline Road

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Please help us!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 4/10/23

I hope these spring holidays – Easter, Passover, Ramadan and, perhaps others, find you at peace and enjoying time with family.

I wish I could say the end is in sight with our fight to preserve our greenspace but I think that is a fantasy or nightmare that will not come to a head or conclude for quite some time ( think years!).

The fight over preserving the Woodlands Golf Course in Tamarac, Fl went down in defeat with a 3 to 2 vote in by the Tamarac commissioners after a marathon session with the critical vote happening around 2 am on Thursday, March 23 bringing to a conclusion the matter. ClubLink and their developer 13^th Floor had been working on the project since 2017 and the course was closed by ClubLink in 2019. ClubLink will no doubt become more determined.

That brings me to the fight to Save the Green Space in Sun City Center. ClubLink, TWC Enterprises, Paros Enterprises Limited, Morguard and K. Rai Sahi, their President and Chairman are patient, determined and have deep pockets.  The golf courses of the Greater Sun City Center area are a valuable part of their real estate portfolio and they fully intend to pursue development. Anyone who thinks otherwise is naïve or not well informed.  The amount of land involved is substantial and once the precedent is set, none of our courses are beyond their reach.

If SaveSCC and the residents’ resistance, resolve and engagement /support wanes, Sun City Center is at significant risk of losing greenspace and destroying the community as we know it now.  In my humble opinion, the owner of these land resources ( the seven golf courses currently owned by ClubLink) will ultimately generate significantly more profit from development than from any other use. However, approving such land use, which is inconsistent with the objectives of the Greater Sun City Center Community Plan and allowing ClubLink to proceed will be to the detriment of residents and property owners from an economic, health, environmental, quality of life, personal enjoyment and services point of view.  We must build strong resistance, a great legal argument and a strong case to ensure that any application is not approved and have relations that we can strengthen and count on when the going gets tough.

I must step back for health and personal reasons.  Even during these difficult times for me and my family, I have tried to encourage more engagement through SaveSCC communities to lead our effort into the future. I know what has been required to get us to where we are and I know there is much yet to be done.  Will you please help?

We continue to need more signatures from SCC supporters of the cause. We need people doing the necessary work / research over an extended period while still allowing for time with our families, our favorite activities and with time to recharge our batteries.

Please, if you have time, talent or dollars to contribute, we can put your gifts to good use!  Just email us at GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org.

With our new once a month meeting schedule, we will gather tomorrow, Tuesday, April 11 at 6 pm in the Rollins Theatre.

Here are the details and agenda:

Our next SaveSCC meeting is Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the Rollins Theatre.

SaveSCC Agenda –  Working Session Meeting

Rollins Theatre, 960-E, Cherry Hill Dr., SCC  

ZOOM

Topic: @Save Sun City Center’s Zoom Meeting

Time: Apr 11, 2023 18:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82683300818?pwd=S1FlR1ZFTHhwYUZ1RFRQZlhiNkVFUT09

Agenda

Welcome & Call to Order

BOD Update

New Business/Decisions/Directions/Polls

Committee Updates (target time – 5 minutes)

·      Finance Committee (John Newbury)

·      Technology Committee

·      Communications Committee (Rick Johnson & Joan Zegras)

·      Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee(Mike Newsom)

·      CA Board Relations Committee (Jim McCaw)

·      ClubLink & Birds of a Feather Committee

·      Petition and Canvassing Committee (Carol Hugill)

·      Application (Emergency) Response Committee ( Joyce Black & Punky Fedora)

·      Okay We Won, Now What Committee

 Resource Needs/Recruitment

 Wrap-up

 Hope to see you Tuesday or hear from via email regarding how you can help!

Thanks!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 3/27/23

Less is so Much More

Hello Sun City Center,

As always, the support and good thoughts coming our way are much appreciated and we continue to work long, hard hours to preserve our community. We are a small group but mighty.

We have decided on a new practice of hosting only one meeting per month, on the second Tuesday. After much deliberation, we feel it will be a better use of our human resources to devote the surplus hours to our committee work. This week’s scheduled meeting is cancelled.

Hope to see you at our next regularly scheduled meeting on April 11^th at 6:00 pm in the Rollins Theatre on the Central Campus at 901 Cherry Hill Dr., SCC. Meeting link to be provided at a later date.

We really need your help. If you have just a few hours, please consider being a part of one of the groups shown below. Any skills or brilliant thoughts are most welcome, and we desperately need more people / brainpower to move the rock up the proverbial hill.

• Finance Committee
• Technology
• Communications
• Gov’t Relations and Zoning
• ·CA Board
•  ClubLink & Birds of a Feather
• Petition and Canvassing
•  Application (Emergency) Response
•  Okay We Won, Now What?

Contact us to get connected via email to GetInvolved@SaveSCC.org.

We continue to be optimistic about stopping the Clublink plan, but we can never take our eyes off the ultimate goal of protecting our green space and there is still much to be done.

All best wishes,

Ellie Anderson

Ellie’s Notes – 3/14/23

Hello Sun City Center,

If you have friends, neighbors, or associates that could benefit from our SaveSCC email blasts, please forward this communique to them. Anyone can sign up as a member and receive our email blasts by going to our web site and registering.

Fun Fest  

Sun City Center Fun Fest – Tomorrow, March 11, 9 -2, SCC Central Campus, 1009 N Pebble Beach Blvd.  FREE park and ride from South Campus, 1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd.

This is a fabulous opportunity to support the community as a whole and have a great time.  Visit with representatives of our local SCC Clubs and organizations, have some great food, make new friends and connections, and enjoy some entertainment.

Save Sun City Center will be there at booth 72, on the NW corner of the display tables by the shuffle board area and Needle Crafters.

If you have not signed our petition asking the Hillsborough County Commissioners to deny any development rezoning or permits for the SCC golf courses, this would be a great opportunity to do so.

We’d love to see you and address any questions you have.

Our next SaveSCC meeting is Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the Rollins Theatre.

Click Here for the Meeting Details

The 1st Save Sun City Center Golf Scramble was an overwhelming success.  Together we raised over $11,000!  Thank you to all the golfers, sponsors, donors, volunteers, committee and attendees for making the event fabulous!  Well done!

Hope to see you and your friends at FunFest or the meeting Tuesday!

Best Regards,

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

Ellie’s Notes – 2/10/23

Hello Sun City Center,

If you have friends, neighbors, or associates that could benefit from our SaveSCC email blasts, please forward this communique to them. Anyone can sign up as a member and receive our email blasts by going to our web site and registering.

A reminder to all!

We will not host a SaveSSC meeting on Tuesday February 14^th. Instead of our regularly scheduled program, we will be ceding to the hearts, flowers, chocolate, and romance that is Valentine’s Day. Our next meeting will be on February 21^st. No meeting on Feb 28^th.

Here’s the Zoom info and agenda for Tuesday, February 21^st

SaveSCC Agenda –  Working Session Meeting

February 21, 2023, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Rollins Theatre, 960-E, Cherry Hill Dr., SCC  

Zoom:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84987340508?pwd=Vm4vS3ZpWFBFOXZJL3NDemhPU05Zdz09

Agenda

Welcome & Call to Order

BOD Update

New Business/Decisions/Directions/Polls

Committee Updates (target time – 5 minutes)

·      Finance Committee (John Newbury)

·      Technology Committee

·      Communications Committee (Rick Johnson & Joan Zegras)

·      Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee(Mike Newsom)

·      CA Board Relations Committee (Jim McCaw)

·      ClubLink & Birds of a Feather Committee

·      Petition and Canvassing Committee (Carol Hugill)

·      Application (Emergency) Response Committee ( Joyce Black & Punky Fedora)

·      Okay We Won, Now What Committee

Resource Needs/Recruitment

Wrap-up

It takes a village

A gigantic thank you to our volunteers who made the golf tournament a sell out success. Our lineup is full and it’s going to be a fantastic day of fun and competition, loads of challenges, good food, no trash talking and laughs. Golf scramble committee members who have worked tirelessly under the leadership of Coach Starewicz are his wife Nancy, Bill Fleck, Jack Hugill, Peter Hyjek, John Jackson, Dennis “Doc” Ora, Rich, Mellissa Soucie, and Bill Stinchcomb. Your dedication made this inaugural event a happening thing.  Thank you all!

We also thank our participants and appreciate you for playing and supporting golf and courses in Sun City Center.

We are incredibly grateful to the generous Double Eagle sponsors, The Dilly Dilly Group and Podmore Manufacturing and to our Par sponsors, Dr. Allen T Zak, Bunkers Bar, City Salon, Corky Stallings, Dukes Irrigation and Landscape Design, John Herriko, Katie Crider (Re/Max), Legacy Law, Pinch-A-Penny, Pura Vida Salon, SCC Shrine Club , Tom Butler and West Coast Golf Carts. You have helped us to realize a “Par Tee” and successful fundraiser.

We are also grateful to our gift/prize donors – AMC Riverview 14, Beef O’Brady’s, Bill and Martha Fleck, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cali Nails, Classic Cuts, ClubLink, David Cook, The Dilly Dilly Group, Doc Ora, Dunkin’, Fletcher Music Center, Glory Days, Harry Barry, John Bradley Thomas, John Jackson, Joyce Bruno, Kathy Ambs, Katie Crider (Re/Max), Maid Easy Cleaning Professionals, McDonalds, Nancy Starewicz, Nearly New Shop, PGA SuperStore, Pinch-a-Penny, Riverside “Golf” Club, Salty Shamrock, Spa Celeste, Taco Bell, and Tom Hallis.

It is the efforts and contribution of you all that makes this event and our cause the success it is. Thank you!

Speaking of a village

More thanks to Carol Hugill and her merry band of Canvassers. Again, you have all done a super job connecting with the residents of Sun City Center and encouraging them to sign the petitions to SCC. You have been dedicated and have done a wonderful job. Please keep on truckin.

For all of you wanting to support the cause by signing the petition: Keep in mind that there are many options for signing. Petitions are available at the Emergency Squad on 720 Ray Watson Drive or at the Security Patrol 1225 Pebble Beach Blvd. They will also be at FunFest on March 11^th from 9 am to 2 pm at table 72. Stop by. If you prefer to download, go to https://savescc.org/petition/ and email to cah5652@gmail.com or follow the mailing instructions on the bottom of the petition.

If you have your own network of friends, please volunteer to make contact and help the Canvassing team. Contact Carol Hugill at cah5652@gmail.com.

In addition, we are looking for people to work on The Clublink  and “The Birds of a Feather” committee. This is an intelligence gathering group. The goal is to learn what other communities (Saddle Brook, Walden Lakes, the Woodlands, etc.) are doing in the face of unwanted development and methods they use to block developers. We might be able to learn from their strategies.

The ClubLink aspect is looking for intelligence on what the company is doing and where. The plan to develop/sell off golf clubs is obviously patterned behavior and we want to see how other communities are addressing their plans.

Another committee that will be extremely important as we move forward is the “ Okay We Won, Now What?”  This is an extremely important question that we have to answer, perhaps even when speaking before the county commissioners and others. And there are some very interesting options that we need to explore and evaluate in a very detailed and methodical manner including establishing a special recreation district to own and operate the ClubLink closed courses for recreation, a potential equity ownership setup to own and manage Sandpiper as an operating golf course and social club, and a number of other options depending upon ClubLink’s future actions and decisions. Some work has already been done but we need smart folks and brain power to push this forward. Are you ready to assist? This is a critical one!  Let us know. We need you!

May you all have wonderful days enjoying all that there is in Sun City Center and may our community flourish forever under great leadership, fighting for what’s right and planning for Sun City Center 2.0.

See you soon!

Ellie Anderson

312-282-7337

andersonellie@mac.com

January 23, 2023

SaveSCC News 

Hello All, Hope things are going well for you. Things are very busy in the SaveSCC world.

Ellie Anderson’s Transition from the starting lineup to bleachers.

In an effort to shield Ellie from herself and her undeniable enthusiasm for all things associated with our community and SaveSCC, the leadership and Board find it imperative to ensure she is no longer our driving and guiding force.  She and we need to make this transition now as her health challenges continue.  She is under pressure with her upcoming move and her continuing work behind the scenes.  Everyone will be asked to step up during this transition. She will appreciate your support and understanding. Our efforts are dear to Ellie’s heart and she has laid a fantastic foundation for us to absorb and build upon. The work is now ours to carry-on!  Let’s make her proud and get the job done!

Next SaveSCC Meeting – January 24, 2023, 6 pm

We ask that all committee chairs or their delegates be at the SaveSCC standing meetings on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month to update the group on their progress and coming plans so that we can work together and support one another in this important work.

New Format For SaveSCC Meetings

Standard meeting formats and agendas will be used on a going forward basis for all SaveSCC standard meetings.

Newcomers Meetings (4^th Tuesday of the month) are being revised and organized to allow working time at the beginning of the meeting. If there are no newcomers, the entire session will be devoted to SaveSCC business.  If there are newcomers – the last 20 minutes will be a newcomer presentation. 

We’ve decided to shorten the newcomer orientation part of our bi-monthly meetings and move that to the end of the working discussions on the 4th Tuesday of the month for newcomers. This will enable those others (volunteers, board members, committee members, old-comers. etc.) to make better use of their time. The orientation has been distilled to a 15-minute presentation with opportunities for questions and comments.

We welcome any and all residents of Sun City Center and hope many neighbors will want to become involved in the SCC fight to save the green spaces we currently enjoy. Join us the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6 pm in the Rollins Theatre to find out more.

Standard Meeting Agenda

Welcome & Call to Order

BOD Update 

New Business/Decisions/Directions/Polls

Committee Updates (target time – 5 minutes per committee)

·      Finance Committee (John Newbury)

·      Technology Committee

·      Communications Committee (Rick Johnson & Joan Zegras)

·      Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee(Mike Newsom)

·      CA Board Committee (Jim McCaw)

·      ClubLink & Birds of a Feather Committee 

·      Petition and Canvassing Committee (Carol Hugill)

·      Application (Emergency) Response Committee ( Joyce Black & Punky Fedora)

·      Okay We Won, Now What Committee

Resource Needs/Recruitment

Newcomer Presentation – only on 4^th Tuesday of Month on Newcomer Night if any are present.

Wrap-up

Community Facing Priorities

We’ve got two priorities in SaveSCC right now – “hitting the streets” on our canvassing effort with the SaveSCC petition and promoting our Golf Scramble on February 25^th.  For both of these efforts we need  to recruit volunteers and press forward with the work. 

CANVAS, CANVAS, CANVAS, we must all canvas!

To all residents of Sun City Center,

While driving, walking, bicycling around, or playing a round of golf, you can enjoy the mix of green, water, pure light and wildlife abounding. Ask yourself how you would react if instead, homes were jammed into every available space? You would have a much different feeling, right? Wouldn’t that also affect everyone’s property values and taxes as well? These and other reasons are why as a community, we must stop ClubLink’s plan to develop parts of Sandpiper, Caloosa Greens and the North Course.  And that’s only what they’ve told us. There are more courses at potential risk.

Will you Help? 

Please be willing to spare a few hours to knock on doors and encourage neighbors to sign the petition. We need people to continue the work that was started. Obtaining as many signatures as possible will demonstrate to the elected officials that we are unified and a vast majority wish to block the proposed development. 

Our petition effort is well organized, headed by Carol Hugill, whom you can contact at cah5652@gmail.com  

 Ask her any questions, and send a note including your name and phone number. Mention time or physical limitations you may have. You can be assigned a limited number of homes or assist someone with a larger grid. State a preference for an area you would like to canvas, and we will attempt to accommodate your wishes. Anything you can do will be most welcome.

We still have a long way to go to Save Sun City but together we can make it happen.

Our Communication Committee has put out two excellent Press Releases – one regarding the Feb 25^th Golf Scramble and another informing the public about our “canvassers hitting the street again.”  Both are attached for your review and information.  We are cranking up the PR engine to get the SaveSCC word out! 

The Patch for Bloomingdale – Riverview picked up the SaveSCC Golf event from the Press Release sent out and incorporated that in their local neighbor posts Patch for Bloomingdale/Riverside and their email blast. 

Thanks Communications Co-Chairs Rick Johnson and Joan Zegras! Excellent work!

SaveSCC Golf Outing Update

 We are continuing with our preparations for the Save SCC Golf Scramble and Fundraiser on February 25^th.

If you are a business owner or individual who would like to support the endeavor we have opportunities available for sponsors. Please reach out to Coach Starewicz, our golf chairperson at 219-242-2364.

We still have openings available for players as well and would love to have you join us for a great day of play and fun supporting our effort to defeat any action to rezone or modify the comprehensive plan for Sun City Center to permit development of the golf courses for additional residences.  Please see the download the Golf Flyer for details and contact information.

Registration is closing on February 10^th so please get your information in to reserve a spot.

HOA’s

A constant will be ways to improve our ability to communicate and engage with the community.  HOA’s are probably one area where we can step up the effort.  Many of us are part of an HOA. There is a list of HOAs in the Sun City Center Directory but it only has the President from 2020 or 2021 and they have, most likely, changed. The list only has telephone numbers, not an email.  If you are a member of an HOA, we ask you to send the HOA names, emails, president, president’s number and email to getinvolved@SaveSCC.org.

Internal Priorities for SaveSCC

Getting all our permanent committees staffed, organized and operating is an urgent priority as we work to transition the work from Ellie Anderson and distribute the workload. We should focus on the coming year with an eye toward planning and should systemize much of our operations and work. Of course the Board of Directors is an integral part of this along with Ellie, but we are looking for new blood, capable of vision and leadership for each of the standing committees:

Permanent Committees:

·      Finance Committee (John Newbury)

·      Technology Committee

·      Communications Committee (Rick Johnson & Joan Zegras)

·      Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee (Mike Newsom)

·      CA Board Committee (Jim McCaw)

·      ClubLink & Birds of a Feather Committee 

·      Petition and Canvassing Committee (Carol Hugill)

·      Application (Emergency) Response Committee ( Joyce Black & Punky Fedora)

·      Okay We Won, Now What Committee

Temporary Committee

·      Golf Scramble Event Committee (Doug “Coach” Starewizc)

Environmental concerns are included with Gov’t Relations and Zoning Committee to address that area in our opposition strategies.

We are commissioning one additional committee: Okay We Won, Now What ? Committee.  

This committee will explore and evaluate potential outcomes once ClubLink is defeated. Of course ClubLink is  the property owners of the seven courses in the Greater Sun City Center Area and will determine what they will do short range and long range – operate a course, close the course, sell a course?  Are their plans course specific for the whole community or unique to each course? What options exist for the community – acquire 1, 2 ,3 4?  Should Renaissance members acquire Club Renaissance?, What about having a member equity group acquire Sandpiper? Should CA’s role change from a Special District, to a Neighborhood Association? What about a new non-profit as the owner? These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. These concepts need to be discussed and researched to include potential acquisition costs, maintenance costs, etc.  Information is available to assist in the process.

Recruitment Needs

·      Videographer to record SaveSCC meetings

·      Recording Secretary to produce minutes for SaveSCC meetings

·      Corporate Secretary to produce minutes for SaveSCC BOD meetings

·      General pool for administrative support and special projects like – data entry, making phone calls, doing spreadsheets, gather information, reaching out to folks like photographer to cover an event

·      Speakers for standard, canned SaveSCC presentations for newcomers, and to present at HOA meetings.

Hope to see you all Tuesday!