The Viera East Community Development District was established under the Florida Statutes to fund development of community infrastructure pursuant to the CDD's Improvement Plan and to provide maintenance of CDD owned properties in the future.  When the Viera Company formed the CDD they owned all the land.

Properties in the CDD are divided into a southern area that includes Viera Commons commercial area, Hammock Trace, Hammock Lakes and Woodside Park. East of Murrell Road is a 31 acre strip of commercial area on the north side of Wickham Road. North of the Deveraux area the CDD includes a commercial area along Spyglass Hill Road and the Fawn Ridge residential section.

Crane Creek, Six Mile Creek and Cross Creek and the southern portion of the IRCC are not in the CDD. When the CDD was formed in 1991 these properties were not owned by the Viera Company and therefore could not be included in the CDD.

The northern portion of the CDD west of Murrell Road starts with Bayhill and goes north through the Viera East Golf Course community to the northern parameter canal. East of Murrell Road the CDD starts with the northern part of IRCC up through Grand Isle, Heron's Landing, Osprey, Summerville, Bennington, Templeton, Auburn Lakes, Wingate Estates and the Heritage to the northern parameter canal.

Clubhouse Park located on Clubhouse Drive next to the school and the new park under construction on Murrell Road south of Viera Blvd. are owned and maintained by the Viera East Community Association (VECA). The VECA assessment to each homeowner in 2007 is $115 paid directly to VECA.

By Florida Statute a five person Board of Supervisors governs the CDD. District residents registered to vote with the Brevard County Board of Elections elect Supervisors during the November Elections. Three Supervisors will be elected in November 2008.

Current Supervisors are: Jack McGinn - Chairman; Eugene Luthe - Vice Chairman;  James Seidel-Treasurer; Larry McDonald-Asst. Secretary and Wilson Butler-Asst. Secretary.

Funds for the development were obtained by the CDD through the sale of Road and Water Management Bonds. The bond proceeds were used to build Murrell Road, Viera Blvd. and Spyglass Hill Road. (All current and future widening of Viera Blvd. to four lanes and the construction of the flyover I-95 will not be at the CDD expense.) These funds also constructed the community drainage system within the CDD. This includes wetlands, retention ponds and connecting pipes and canals. All this drains to the west eventually going into the St. Johns River. The drainage system is designed to purify the water as it travels west.

All property owners in the CDD are assessed annually to pay for the Road and Water Management Bond debt, the Maintenance Department expenses and a small portion of the Recreation Fund bonds. The Brevard County Tax Collector includes a non-ad valorem assessment  on the annual real estate tax bill of each property owner to pay for these expenses.

The total assessment for 2008 is $512.87 per residential unit.  This is not assessed according to property value but rather each property owner is assessed the same amount based on each receiving equal benefit from living in the CDD. Commercial and apartment properties are assessed based on their size. A breakdown of the 2008 assessment is as follows:

• Road and Water Management Bond assessment is $346.44 (Bond payments are to be completed in the year 2022.)
•  Woodside Park and the trail system is located in the southern portion of the CDD district. The assessment for construction bond payment and maintenance is $19.66.
• Grounds maintenance, other than the park, is $146.78. This money is used to maintain CDD owned retention ponds, wetlands, water control structures, drainage pipes and the conservation area in the east side of the CDD.

All of the retention ponds and wetlands in the District are owned by the CDD. This includes ponds in residents' backyards along with a strip of shoreline around the ponds. The shoreline property is needed for access to perform maintenance. The retention ponds are an important part of the drainage system.

If residents see staff working in their backyard it may be to keep the ponds free of undesired vegetation or to cut exotic plants out of the wetlands. The retention ponds are treated for undesired vegetation by contract with Ecor Industries under supervision of the District Superintendant of Ground Maintenance. 

The employees of Grounds Maintenance keep the wetlands that border many residents' homes free of exotic vegetation. They maintain Woodside Park by mowing the grass and maintaining the trails. They assure that all drainage structures carry water effectively through the district. During significant storms the maintenance crew is out checking all drainage structures to assure they operate properly. Residents with questions or concerns regarding maintenance can reach Grounds Maintenance at 623-0327.

The CDD owns and operates the Viera East Golf Course. This is a public golf course and residents of the CDD receive discounts on golf fees and items purchased in the Pro Shop. Resident identification cards are needed and may be obtained in the CDD office with proof of residency. The golf course is operated without cost to CDD property owners other than the onetime recreation fee collected when houses/buildings are constructed.

There is a provision whereby property owners could be assessed in an emergency if there were insufficient funds. This is extremely unlikely as revenues cover expenses, including the annual bond payment of $640,000 for the original construction of the golf course. In case of a disaster, the golf course fiscal reserves and insurance would cover lost revenue and reconstruction. Future major costs, like rebuilding greens, would be paid for by selling bonds. These bonds would be paid for with golf course earnings, like the present bond is.

The CDD Board of Supervisors holds a Workshop meeting on the second Wednesday of each month, except December, when it is on the first Wednesday; and a Business meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except December, when it is on the third Wednesday. The meetings are held at 2:00 PM in the Viera Faith Lutheran Church Educational building on Viera Blvd.

Further information on the CDD may be obtained from the CDD office located in the Golf Course Clubhouse or by calling 639-2355.

Updated September 2007