The Tale of the Swale

What exactly is a "swale"? Well, you can think of it as both a drainage conduit, and a stormwater absorption zone. This man-made land feature must be maintained and kept open in order to function as intended. Taylor Morrison and Waldrop Engineering are currently designing such a swale system to run nearly the entire length (over 6000 feet) between the land of SEBPOG homes and the newly - to be elevated - land of the proposed project. Gated access points will be provided at various points along its length so that workers can enter the "swale trail" (pathway - if you will), to cut, and maintain it.

At this point, SEBPOG doesn't know exactly how deep the swale will be (info. may be forthcoming), nor how wide the trail beside it will be... some swales are "cut-able" by large lawn mowers, and others are steep and can only be maintained by crews with weed wackers - often moving down the swales with small trail vehicles.  However, whatever will be "back there" - there'll be a definitive "path" of sorts, that never existed before... It must always be remembered and respected, that many SEBPOG property owners, purchased these particular border parcels in Sorrento East because they wanted privacy in their backyards - a privacy that is now in jeopardy.

While our requested wall, will hopefully prevent unwanted human incursions and visitors from the east, currently there is no such planned barrier from the edge of our properties to the swale (unless we erect one ourselves - on our back fence lines). This "compromise" of an unfenced TM border was suggested by SEBPOG & TM; i.e. -  no barbwire type fence or barrier directly on their property line, in the hope that long time encroaching SE property owners might still retain some usage of their unowned land (up to the wall) - as several have had possession of it for up to the past 20 years. That can be good, or bad...

Additionally, the swale may closely follow the proposed berm (with wall atop) or they may be separated some distance apart. If you have wetlands directly beyond your perimeter, the swale would most likely travel out around the wetlands to the East.  However, in all cases, you (and others) would either have direct access to the swale system and up to the wall, or access to the swale through (or around) the seasonal wetlands and up to the wall  - again, unless a barrier is erected. In actuality, the swale will essentially tie all the SEBPOG properties together via a commonly accessible backyard pathway.

While we can appreciate its convenience for "frog hunting" young boys or friendly neighbors - to desire a private "back door" conduit between homes;  it also opens the possibilities for those with more sinister intentions to potentially gain unauthorized access to the back of SEBPOG homes from perhaps quite  a distance down the street. This is a new security concern, that previously didn't exist.

Let's look at a hypothetical example:

We could park our "get away" car say 10 houses south of our target dwelling - down on the street on the side of the road between two sleepy homes who's occupants appear to be  "Up North" for the season... Walking due east from the road then, we boldly go between the two houses - and quickly disappear into the swale trail system. Then its just a private stroll north ten homes to the one we want...  A quick dash west across their back lawn to the rear sliders... and out comes the crowbar.  Pop. We're in!  We'll do the exact reverse - once we have their pillowcases filled with goodies for quick sale on Craig's List.

So, if we take the above seriously... and unfortunately - we should; this presents a bit of a conundrum. We want the wall to protect our property values, isolate us from the noise and dirt of the jobsite, and to keep unwanted and unknown people out from the east... and it will do that (hopefully).  And... we want something decent to look at... to maintain some access to a portion of this property we have previously enjoyed;  but now, the swale opens up this new insecurity  - in our backyards from the east.  We will have to choose between having no back fence, greater insecurity, a perceived bigger backyard with access up to the wall or wetlands (near or far as it is designed), or - building our own fence or wall on our back property lines to secure unwanted entry and or observation.

If you have pets, and want to keep them out of the wetlands or swale/trail, a back fence is going to be a must. Happily, Sorrento East deed restrictions allow, with approval - currently as written - six foot high fences for all properties on the border of SE; and, in the actual wording -  the direct specifying and or limiting which sides of said qualifying properties these six foot fences may be erected on is delightfully missing... As such, legally - you could run it up the sides (as well as across the back - if you like) of any border property.  Indeed, the SEPOA board tried to "close out" this option - during the late Great SE Deed Restrictions War of 2013 (and in doing so, inadvertently acknowledged its existence and validity). Happily - for border property owners: they failed!

 
So, if you're a bit uncomfortable with perhaps unknown workers, mulling around in back of your home, messing with the swale zone... maybe having an impromptu picnic in back of your property, or even other unwelcome or unknown neighbors - taking a casual stroll by your previously completely private backyard, and seeing what's going on with it (and you)... a full 6 foot high fence maybe in order to regain your privacy and security.  You can always add a locking gate to it... so you will retain access and usage of  the swale trail (like everyone else will have).

And additional, yet no less important issue for erecting some sort of at least lower height chain link or farm fence on SEBPOG back property lines involves wildlife incursion events into backyards - which has historically, already been an issue. Animal and reptile density will most probably increase once the swale / wetland corridor becomes the only natural still existing greenbelt between the two neighborhoods. In summer, when the swale is heavy with water - you can bet those creatures are going to move out of the wetland areas to utilize the new waterway and travel around. Could there be more gators, snakes, deer, or wild boars in your backyard's future? It's definitely a greater possibility, moving forward.

Finally, we must consider the specter of liability for the development property owner, and the following new homeowners association of Sorrento at Palmer Ranch. It seems to SEBPOG, that this unfenced swale trail mile long buffer zone creates a bit of an insurance nightmare. Without the entire thing being secured, who will be found negligent and or financially responsible, should some young lad get eaten back there by a crock, or someone just falls, slips into the swale, and drowns... After such an event, There'll be all sorts of cries raised that the buffer is a dangerous place and needs to be secured. Indeed, the more we ponder this, the more we wonder about the actual chance of an "unfenced border promise ever being fulfilled by the new property owner...  Thus, , we predict, the forward looking reality: that the "no barrier border zone" - as envisioned  by the developer probably won't happen  (once they work through the issues, as we have). Indeed, the gravity of this final concern, may nullify - much that is written above.  

We should have better answers to all these concerns once the official site plan is fully flushed out...  Alas, whatever they come up with - living with "Das Swale" is going to become a reality, no current SEBPOG resident signed up for.  

SEBPOG Homes Already Slammed with Decreased Value

If you don't believe your home's monetary value isn't going to be adversely effected by the massive multi-year Taylor Morrison project, directly behind you - think again... In fact, its already happening!

Let's face it, there's not too many buyers that are going to stick around, as soon as they here the words "there's a large housing development going In directly in back of this place..." or even as it is now: "they are going for a rezone, to build a large housing complete in back with +320 homes".  Buyers who are coming down for peace, quiet, and even security... will immediately start to look elsewhere! Hardly no one is a fan of the monotone bulldozer tune: "beep beep, beeeep."

So, where does that leave SEBPOG owners? Well, lets take these options one at a time:

1.  We can wait it out. Hopefully, they will give us our stinking wall, but we will have to grin and bear it for all those months before it goes in. We will have to put up with the blowing dirt, the dirty roofs, the constant low vibrations from gigantic earth moving equipment, the beeping, yada yada yada... Then hopefully, once the site is elevated, the wall can be built... Ahhh - perhaps then, a little quieter and safer on this side of the wall, and more buyers may be interested in your home as it is better isolated and protected from the madness.


2.  We can sell out now on the cheap. That's right, we can bail on this whole nightmare before it even gets going - but there's a catch - we have to sell at bargain basement rates. That's great news for multiple house owning landlords, who might want the "back row" of Sorrento East to become an entire string of rental houses... Not so good for the neighbors across the street who can then deal with a never ending series of unknown people coming into the neighborhood for short periods of time, and probably without a lot of care for the greater community. Party time!!!  

 Sounds good, huh? I know, it sucks. And don't think if you're just across the street with a view of the jobsite, you're going to fair much better on the "For Sale" market - you won't. Sure, you're a tier down from those directly on the border, but you're no way safe...

How much can we expect our homes to drop during all this? Some estimators state, around 30%. Ouch... that's a serious number, but it reflects the true and dire nature of the problem, as far as buyers are concerned. We're just not that attractive right now... even if your house is pretty as hell - you're home's got an STD, unless this thing is voted down (unlikely), and or until it's relatively complete (5 years into the future). Hey, does anybody in the neighborhood have a spare "flux-capacitor"?

They're On Their Way...

An excellent highly productive meeting took place at the Bellacina Clubhouse on July 31st between SEBPOG Full Members, and representatives of Taylor Morrison (TM) concerning the proposed new development: Sorrento at Palmer Ranch.  Around six tables, within the comfortable confines of the new TM facility - SEBPOG folks put forth a variety of their concerns and suggestions, and engaged individually in meaningful conversations with various members of the TM team - in a "cooperative learning" style fashion - which seemed to work, exceedingly well. Most SEBPOG.ORG members in attendance came away feeling, they had done what they could, to submit their input.

How much Taylor Morrison and Waldrop Engineering, will be able to accommodate and address SEBPOG's advisements, concerns, and suggestions is anyone's guess... We acknowledge the project is not for SEBPOG; it is not for SEPOA (Sorrento East Property Owners Assoc.); and it's not for the current people of Nokomis... This is private property, a private endeavor, and will ultimately be designed as per Taylor Morrison would like it to be (within the confines of county, state, and national regulations). It's their "baby" and SEBPOG.ORG is certainly highly appreciative to all the members of this TM team, for considering the concerns of residents that will be directly effected the most. It was nice to have input, and we were most delighted with the opportunity to be heard.

In some ways, the meeting felt like a "bon voyage party" or a launch, where one group was embarking on a mission, and the other would be left to wait for it's completion. Indeed, this is very much the case - Waldrop Engineering and Taylor Morrison folks will now be busy at work, designing, crafting, and creating the full details of the project - to be presented to everyone probably some time in late October 2018. I certainly wish them good luck and Godspeed on their journey to bring forth something of value to potential new residents of the area, and compatible with those already living here.