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As land ownership passes from developer to homeowners, three residents vie for seats on the Community Development District board.
By JOHN BALZ and MARLENE SOKOL
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 1, 2002
ARBOR GREENE -- It's no accident that Arbor Greene looks a bit like its better-known next-door neighbor, Hunter's Green. The two were originally planned as one development.
Developer Markborough Florida sold part of the Hunter's Green tract in 1996, and five years ago the first homes went up, signaling Arbor Greene's birth.
Today the community, by New Tampa standards, is approaching adolescence, with 700 homes occupied. Land ownership is passing from the developer to the homeowners. And, as required by law, the Community Development District is opening board seats up to the people who live here.
Two of the five seats are up for grabs. The nonpartisan 4-year position pays a maximum of $2,400 a year. The supervisor receives $200 per meeting and attends one meeting per month. The other three seats are still controlled by Arbor Greene Joint Venture. The board oversees maintenance of Arbor Greene's streets, privacy gate and guard shack, common areas and fitness center, and other facilities.
As with many planned communities, fees and services are common issues, said John Blakley, the developer's vice president and general manager. "We have it in our best interest to keep the level of service and keep the place looking good, because we're here trying to sell homes," he said.
Eddy Resnick, 50, is a lawyer with the Tampa law firm of Gold, Resnick & Ficarrotta and is running for the District 3 seat. A graduate of Wayne State University and Cooley Law School, Resnick has lived in the Tampa area for more than 20 years. He moved to Arbor Greene last November and lives in the Estuary subdivision.
Involved in Northdale and Hammock Woods' civic associations, Resnick said he is running to get involved in his new neighborhood.
"My philosophy has always been, don't sit around and complain," he said. "I want to take my turn at it." He wants to "hold the line" on taxes and eliminate waste.
Resnick has a wife, Mindi, and two sons. One is a lawyer in Orlando. A second recently graduated from the University of Florida and is at the University of South Florida working on an accounting degree.
Christine Nelson, 40, is a homemaker running for the District 3 seat. Born in St. Louis, she received a bachelor's degree and a master's in business administration from St. Louis University. She lives in the Estuary subdivision.
Nelson held sales positions with Gillete and Dow Pharmaceuticals before moving to Tampa two years ago with her husband, Charles, a telecommunications executive.
"I see things that need desperate improvement," she said. No one plays in parks because they are poorly designed and in need of more equipment, she said. The pool needs to be improved, she said. "I want to see where funds are going and how they're used for all residents," said Nelson, who has two children.
Aaron Granger, 28 is a self-employed Web designer running for the District 2 seat. He lives in Whisper Pointe. He is running unopposed.
A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, Granger is the current president of the Arbor Greene homeowner's association. He moved to Tampa 16 months ago from Atlanta.
Granger said he wants to help keep taxes down without diminishing the level of neighborhood services.
He is married to Jennifer and has no children.