Paradise Grill a threat to Pot-Nets Bayside

With this post, I am coming out of the closet. I have been a full-time Pot-Nets Bayside resident for over 10 years. I am a retired Air Force officer and a previous NATO commander. I have earned three master’s degrees and a Ph.D. I am enjoying Pot-Nets Bayside and my retirement, and usually am able to stay in the shadows.

I view the site (Pot-Nets, Represent) comments to maintain a pulse of the community and until now, have made no comments of my own. I have no work or political ambitions, but feel a social duty to comment now, as the Paradise Grill/Island issue has deeply divided the community. In short, I feel a social obligation to speak.

I do feel that the recent “appointment” of Al Tortella, Paradise Grill manager, as Pot-Nets Represents site administrator is a definite conflict of interest, as it is his grill that is causing so much community division in our Bayside community. I would not be surprised to see my constructive comments deleted from this site.

Many love the Paradise Grill, no matter what, some are against the Grill, no matter what, and many sway in between. I am one who is in between. My comments reflect my own opinion and are meant to be constructive.

I, and several other full-time residents, have been instrumental in obtaining signatures for two Alcoholic Beverage Control petitions (one October petition with 85 signatures against excessive noise and one February petition with 46 signatures against Grill expansion until noise compliance is demonstrated).

For two years, Grill management has not taken resident complaints of excessive noise seriously. There has already been one ABC fine for excessive noise and another is yet pending. The Grill management has finally listened and it has proposed several noise improvements that have yet to be demonstrated. The February Grill expansion request is pending until a public ABC hearing is conducted. I am optimistic that a noise resolution may be worked out.

While obtaining the petition signatures it became apparent to me that I was not the only resident to feel that a more difficult issue, i.e. safety, needed to be addressed. When I purchased my home in Pot-Nets, I was given a copy of Pot-Nets Community Guidelines, which clearly state the behavior expected of myself, as well as other residents - and I purchased a home in Pot-Nets, based upon these expectations.

Moreover, I expected Pot-Nets management to enforce and themselves comply with their own guidelines. Page 1 of the guidelines states “… Guidelines are intended to make communities comfortable and a safe place for you, your family, and your guests.” The welcoming signs at both Bayside entrances state “For residents and their guests only.”

Today, however, the fact is many homeowners no longer feel safe allowing their children/ teenagers to drive golf carts in our residential Bayside area and, in particular, in the immediate area around the Grill. (Guidelines state that children age 14 and over can operate golf carts independently.)

This concern results from the fact that Pot-Nets management has allowed patronage of the Grill by nonresidents - clearly a violation of community guidelines. Page 9 of the guidelines states that “The use of each home site, home, boat facility or any other facility or amenity shall be limited to the personal use and enjoyment of the home owner of the home site and of his children, relatives and friends when the home owner is also present.” Page 10 of the guidelines state “The use of all recreational and amenities within Pot-Nets Communities is limited to home owners and their guests.”

The fact is that nonresidents can enter our private community with absolutely no accountability after going through the gated entry (often times manned). Nonresidents may well be unacquainted with children operating golf carts and may well be unacquainted with the Bayside area.

Combine this with alcohol ingestion and increased traffic through a residential area and it is only a matter of time until Al or Mr. Tunnell will have the unfortunate occasion to approach a homeowner and inform them that their child/children have been killed/injured in an accident - “not if, but when.” A carport has already been damaged by a nonresident driver leaving the Grill.

The new approval of 600 temporary camping sites near Massey’s Landing suggests that a new group of unfamiliar nonresidents will most certainly be visiting our community. The concern of increased crime due to nonresident access into our private area consisting of many part-time resident homeowners is also an issue. I view the Grill, as it is presently intentioned, as an improved amenity, but also as an unsafe liability. I argue, however, that this can be fixed - but it will take a change in Pot-Nets management philosophy.

Mr. Tunnell, I urge you to cater to your residents. You have over 3,000 home sites. With the improvements made to the Grill, I argue that residents alone plus their guests will provide you with more than enough patronage to support the Grill. Do not let greed spoil Pot-Nets Bayside. With a few exceptions, I have noticed many home values going down, not up, and a large number of residences listed for sale. Again, cater to your people who have made this place special.

For example, invest in a year-round health, exercise, and swimming facility (much like The Peninsula). Make nonresidents desire to move into Pot-Nets for the exclusive amenities. Take care of your own and it will come back to you many-fold.

This approach will not be favorably received by nonresidents, but instead of having some home owners stating “ if you don’t like the Grill, move,” you will eventually have residents stating “if you want to enjoy the Grill, buy Pot-Nets.” Nonresidents can either befriend a Pot-Nets resident or become one.

And, bottom line, our children should and will be safer.

Stephen G. Wilz Jr.
Full-time Bayside resident