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Eagle’s Area Cleanup in March and April  - May 2004

 There is opposition to making any changes in The Eagle's Area.  If you wish to read it chronologically please start at the bottom and move upward. 

This page contains both original material and responses as they have been made available to The Eagle.

If you wish to add your comments please e-mail LandingsEagle@comcast.net  They will be added to the site as soon as possible.

Any edits or comments from The Eagle  will be clearly noted.

From: larryrlf@comcast.net [mailto:larryrlf@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 11:00 AM
To: HOWFEL@aol.com
Cc: jjost@comcast.net; capo1@gte.net; landingseagle@comcast.net
Subject: Re: LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

Howard,

 
This is to acknowledge your email of November 5.  I just want to be sure you understand that Jack Jost and I have no standing to determine how or if a legal evaluation of the Eagles Nest area is carried out.  We view our role as assisting the owner of the property in question ... LMA ... in evaluating how best to manage the property in the best interests of ALL Landings residents.  Jack and I have clear points of view about the highest and best use of the 7 acres which comprise the Eagles Nest area.  But the fact of the matter is that we, like you, have no authority to make decisions or take actions. 
 
Larry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 9:04 AM
Subject: LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

 
If you are proceeding to engage an attorney, which in our opinion, is really unnecessary and a waste of Landings' money, a process of selection and consultation should be in place. Obviously there are at least two sides to this issue and they should both be represented by an LMA attorney, if engaged.
Both sides of this issue should be represented in selecting an attorney, and when the consultation takes place with the agreed upon attorney, both parties should participate in briefing the attorney on the objectives of the legal evaluation. We must be aware that this is not a court judgment, but one attorney's interpretation of the Deed Restrictions and Quitclaim Deed.
Bob Greenfield has expressed his feelings that both sides should be present in any meetings with an attorney to address this issue.
 
After reading your personal notes, a comment you made concerns us in the selection of an objective attorney. The comment was:
"Per Irwin, there is a lawyer in The Landings who has an open mind on the eagles preserve property and may be agreeable to help us resolve the legal questions".
This appears to be "lawyer shopping" to arrive at the answer you are looking for.
We know two attorneys in The Landings who have excellent community and legal credentials
who would give their legal evaluation of the documents in question. Any lawyer selected should be acceptable by both sides.
We would like to discuss this BEFORE any action is taken.
Thank you, Howard & Adrienne Feltman

 

From: larryrlf@comcast.net [mailto:larryrlf@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 9:03 PM
To: HOWFEL@aol.com
Cc: Jack Jost; Bob Capo; Landings Eagle
Subject: Re: From Larry Fleming, LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

 

Howard and Adrienne,

 

Thanks for the advance notice on this.  Much appreciated.  Your letter is well written and, I know,  well intended.

 

The last thing anyone wants is internal discord within the Landings.  I remain hopeful that your position and ours can be reconciled.  Even if your interpretation of legal considerations ultimately prevails, there are still potentially fruitful areas for discussion.  Examples would be beautifying the property, responding to professional advice regarding removal of noxious vegetation and addressing drainage issues.

 

Nevertheless, we would like to proceed in obtaining CURRENT legal counsel so that we can be more certain about what the options are in terms of improving the Eagles Nest area.  Lets let the chips fall where they may.  And please know that I truly believe that your interests and ours are not incompatible.  Somehow we will work this out!

 

Larry

----- Original Message -----

From: HOWFEL@aol.com

To: larryrlf@comcast.net ; jjost@comcast.net ; capo1@gte.net

Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 6:15 PM

Subject: LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

 We want you to be aware of a letter to the editor of the Eagle we have submitted. It is reproduced below. We have talked to some of our neighbors and their feelings are consistent with ours. We hope that we can all sit down and talk about this before it goes further.

November 4, 2005

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LANDINGS EAGLE; FOR DECEMBER PUBLICATION

 PRESERVATION OF LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

We find the actions of the LMA Board at the meeting of November 3, 2005 to be very disturbing. We are told that an attorney will be engaged to determine if  The Preserve can be changed. Why are we spending in excess of $1,500 to determine the status of The Preserve when respected attorneys, who reside in The Landings, who have studied this issue, will tell you that the restrictions are clear and binding as documented  below.

 Since we expressed our concerns in our letter of May 1, 2005, we feel that LMA taking action without communicating with the property owners whose homes border The Preserve, and engaging an attorney, sends a hostile, adversarial message, and at the very least is unneighborly. We gave ample notice of our interest in this issue by attending the May LMA meeting, and writing to the LMA President, and Board members, as well as a letter to the editor of the Eagle. We are active, contributing residents, and believe we are entitled to courteous treatment from our elected board.

 On May 1, 2005 we wrote a letter to Bob Capo. President of LMA, and a letter to the editor of The Eagle, expressing our concern, and opposition, to any changes in “The Nature Preserve” from the original intent of the developer as stated in the deed restrictions, article 29.

The Deed Restrictions clearly states in article 29: “EAGLES NEST AREA” ________”This property, approximately 7.4 acres in size, is owned by C & M Associates and it is not intended for development.” __________ It further states: _____”The site is not intended as a park for use of property owners in The Landings.” “The site may be completely or partially fenced or otherwise barricaded to deter human intrusion”

“ The site is private property, and C & M Associates expressly reserves the right to restrict and prohibit access to the property and to impose and enforce such other restrictions as it may deem necessary to preserve this site”.

 On March 17, 1987, a Quitclaim Deed issued by C & M Associates clearly states;” “Grantee, by the acceptance of this conveyance, hereby expressly assumes the obligation of and agrees to be bound by and to comply with all the covenants, terms, provisions and conditions contained in the declaration of Maintenance, Covenants and Restrictions on the commons for The Landings recorded in Official Records Book 1372, page 1217, as amended, to Public Records Of Sarasota, Florida.”

 It further states: “The property is conveyed to Grantee in its capacity as the management association for the Landings and is to be held and used by Grantee in accordance with its charter and Bylaws and the Declaration of Maintenance, Covenants and Restrictions on the Commons of the Landings”. 

Property owners, bordering the preserve, bought their homes with the understanding that “The Preserve” would be undisturbed or changed in usage. To make any changes would negatively impact their privacy, tranquility and aesthetic quality of life that are all highly valued

 We would like to address this issue with The Board directly, without outside attorneys, in a non confrontational way, and arrive at a course of action that will benefit the homeowners whose properties border The Preserve, and all residents of The Landings.

  Howard & Adrienne Feltman

5050 Kestral Parkway South

 EAGLE’S NEST LTR EDITOR 2.DOC

 

Note:  This letter is also included in the above correspondence.

From: HOWFEL@aol.com [mailto:HOWFEL@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 6:03 PM
To: landingseagle@comcast.net
Subject: LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

 November 4, 2005

 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LANDINGS EAGLE; FOR DECEMBER PUBLICATION

 PRESERVATION OF LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

             We find the actions of the LMA Board at the meeting of November 3, 2005 to be very disturbing. We are told that an attorney will be engaged to determine if  The Preserve can be changed. Why are we spending in excess of $1,500 to determine the status of The Preserve when respected attorneys, who reside in The Landings, who have studied this issue, will tell you that the restrictions are clear and binding as documented  below.

 Since we expressed our concerns in our letter of May 1, 2005, we feel that LMA taking action without communicating with the property owners whose homes border The Preserve, and engaging an attorney, sends a hostile, adversarial message, and at the very least is unneighborly. We gave ample notice of our interest in this issue by attending the May LMA meeting, and writing to the LMA President, and Board members, as well as a letter to the editor of the Eagle. We are active, contributing residents, and believe we are entitled to courteous treatment from our elected board.

 On May 1, 2005 we wrote a letter to Bob Capo. President of LMA, and a letter to the editor of The Eagle, expressing our concern, and opposition, to any changes in “The Nature Preserve” from the original intent of the developer as stated in the deed restrictions, article 29.

.The Deed Restrictions clearly states in article 29: “EAGLES NEST AREA” ________”This property, approximately 7.4 acres in size, is owned by C & M Associates and it is not intended for development.” __________ It further states: _____”The site is not intended as a park for use of property owners in The Landings.” “The site may be completely or partially fenced or otherwise barricaded to deter human intrusion”

“ The site is private property, and C & M Associates expressly reserves the right to restrict and prohibit access to the property and to impose and enforce such other restrictions as it may deem necessary to preserve this site”.

On March 17, 1987, a Quitclaim Deed issued by C & M Associates clearly states;” “Grantee, by the acceptance of this conveyance, hereby expressly assumes the obligation of and agrees to be bound by and to comply with all the covenants, terms, provisions and conditions contained in the declaration of Maintenance, Covenants and Restrictions on the commons for The Landings recorded in Official Records Book 1372, page 1217, as amended, to Public Records Of Sarasota, Florida.”

 It further states: “The property is conveyed to Grantee in its capacity as the management association for the Landings and is to be held and used by Grantee in accordance with its charter and Bylaws and the Declaration of Maintenance, Covenants and Restrictions on the Commons of the Landings”.

 Property owners, bordering the preserve, bought their homes with the understanding that “The Preserve” would be undisturbed or changed in usage. To make any changes would negatively impact their privacy, tranquility and aesthetic quality of life that are all highly valued

 We would like to address this issue with The Board directly, without outside attorneys, in a non confrontational way, and arrive at a course of action that will benefit the homeowners whose properties border The Preserve, and all residents of The Landings.

 Howard & Adrienne Feltman

5050 Kestral Parkway South

 EAGLE’S NEST LTR EDITOR 2.DOC

 

From: HOWFEL@aol.com [mailto:HOWFEL@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 12:37 PM
To: landingseagle@comcast.net
Subject: LETTER TO THE EDITOR

April 30, 2005

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LANDINGS EAGLE; FOR JUNE PUBLICATION

 

PRESERVATION OF LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE

                    There have been articles in the Eagle, and comments at the LMA “Idea Brainstorming” meeting about changing the use of the Eagle’s Nest Area, known to all residents as “The Preserve”.

 Most residents of The Landings whose property borders on this tract of land have very strong feelings that the current status of the “The Preserve” should not be changed in any way.

 On March 17, 1987, in the Quitclaim Deed issued by C & M Associates to The Landings Management Association, the LMA expressly assumed the obligation of and agreed to be bound by and to comply with all of the covenants, terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Declaration Of Maintenance, Covenants and Restrictions filed with the Sarasota Circuit Court in the Official Records Book 1372, page 1217_____”, detailed below.

 The Deed Restrictions clearly states in article 29: “EAGLES NEST AREA” ________”This property, approximately 7.4 acres in size, is owned by C & M Associates and it is not intended for development.” __________ It further states: _____”The site is not intended as a park for use of property owners in The Landings.” “The site may be completely or partially fenced or otherwise barricaded to deter human intrusion” “ The site is private property, and C & M Associates expressly reserves the right to restrict and prohibit access to the property and to impose and enforce such other restrictions as it may deem necessary to preserve this site”.

 It is abundantly clear that the intention of the developer was to preserve this site as a nature preserve. Property owners, bordering the preserve, bought their homes with this understanding. To make any changes would negatively impact their privacy, tranquility and aesthetic quality of life that are all highly valued. 

As Landings residents, whose property borders on this preserve, we vigorously oppose any change in “The Nature Preserve” from the original intent of the developer as stated in their legal documents, and LMA’s commitment when they accepted this property. We have spoken to many other property owners, and they unanimously share our feelings.

 We support other ideas that were suggested in the April 18 LMA Brainstorming Meeting, and will continue to participate in the process of improving the quality of life in The Landings.

Howard & Adrienne Feltman