By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Hammocks residents Rod and Ima Storts made one more appearance at the Walden Lake Community Association’s meeting Nov. 12, to lobby the association to allow golf carts to use a pedestrian path in the Hammocks. Four other residents came with them in support.
“You’re not looking at just correcting a problem with just us who are here today,” Rod Storts said. “You’re looking at correcting a problem for those living there for years to come.”
The WLCA voted to allow the path to be used by golf carts.
The path was deeded to the WLCA in the 1990s. Since then, many golf carts have used the path, despite its status as a pedestrian-only path.
Rod Storts presented a letter explaining he recalled 26 families that have used the path and paid for the paving of the new path in 1999, before it was deeded to the association. Three more families who have moved in recently also want to use the path, he said.
Supporters also cite safety issues to keep cart traffic on the path, because there is a bend in the road where golf carts would have to cross Timberlane Drive.
“The safety of these members, as well as the Hammock golfing members, should be the No. 1 responsibility and concern of the board,” Rod wrote in his letter to the association.
“Anything that deals with safety needs to be addressed,” association member Ray Page said during the discussion of the proposed change.
It will cost about $600 to $700 in legal fees to change the deed restriction that prohibits the use of motorized vehicles on the path and legal fees to obtain permission from two property owners whose houses border the path. It will cost about $800 to remove the grate at the foot of the path, install concrete pads and add new irrigation.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.