River Hills, A Florida Golf Course Community Keeps Sexual Offenders At Bay
A sex offender lives less than half a mile from the gates of River Hills Golf Course. But that's as close to the community as he's ever going to get. The deed-restricted community has banned sex offenders from living within its borders.
In doing so, River Hills became one of the first Florida communities to join a growing trend throughout the nation. Since 1997, when Florida became the first state in the nation to offer residents a searchable database of sex offenders' addresses, many communities have found ways to keep offenders out.
Some gated neighborhoods, like the Longleaf townhouse community in Meadow Pointe, have considered going as far as requiring new residents to undergo criminal background checks before moving in.
River Hills Golf Community restrictions forbid sexual offenders or predators from occupying a unit inside the gated community - even temporarily. That means sexual offenders can't rent in the community or move in with someone.
Privacy and security are the main draws for people moving to River Hills, a 1,162-home subdivision built around a Florida golf course, said resident Rick Massimei. Anyone coming in and out has to check in with a security guard.
"Even our roads are private," Massimei said.
The ban on sex offenders passed quietly by referendum in 2004. The vote was 825 to 89. Massimei, who was president of the community's board of directors at the time, said he wasn't sure who first raised the issue.
"I think someone learned a predator had moved into the neighborhood," he said.
The news spread and a group of residents brought the matter to the board, he said. The board asked the community's lawyer to draft a charter amendment that would keep sex offenders beyond their gates.
Lawyer Michael Brudny, who represents the homeowners association, said he wasn't surprised by the request.
"Most communities aren't happy with having sex offenders living there," he said.
Mostly, community leaders want to know how to publicize the presence of the sex offender, said Brudny, whose firm represents hundreds of communities in the area.
He said he advises them to notify residents that a sex offender is living nearby. But he tells them not to name the individual.
Do you want a sex offender playing on a Florida golf course near your home?
In doing so, River Hills became one of the first Florida communities to join a growing trend throughout the nation. Since 1997, when Florida became the first state in the nation to offer residents a searchable database of sex offenders' addresses, many communities have found ways to keep offenders out.
Some gated neighborhoods, like the Longleaf townhouse community in Meadow Pointe, have considered going as far as requiring new residents to undergo criminal background checks before moving in.
River Hills Golf Community restrictions forbid sexual offenders or predators from occupying a unit inside the gated community - even temporarily. That means sexual offenders can't rent in the community or move in with someone.
Privacy and security are the main draws for people moving to River Hills, a 1,162-home subdivision built around a Florida golf course, said resident Rick Massimei. Anyone coming in and out has to check in with a security guard.
"Even our roads are private," Massimei said.
The ban on sex offenders passed quietly by referendum in 2004. The vote was 825 to 89. Massimei, who was president of the community's board of directors at the time, said he wasn't sure who first raised the issue.
"I think someone learned a predator had moved into the neighborhood," he said.
The news spread and a group of residents brought the matter to the board, he said. The board asked the community's lawyer to draft a charter amendment that would keep sex offenders beyond their gates.
Lawyer Michael Brudny, who represents the homeowners association, said he wasn't surprised by the request.
"Most communities aren't happy with having sex offenders living there," he said.
Mostly, community leaders want to know how to publicize the presence of the sex offender, said Brudny, whose firm represents hundreds of communities in the area.
He said he advises them to notify residents that a sex offender is living nearby. But he tells them not to name the individual.
Do you want a sex offender playing on a Florida golf course near your home?
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