The Villages may be on the brink of a major upgrade, as residents could soon pass through entrance gates without lowering their windows or presenting a card.
Last year, during a joint meeting between the Project Wide Advisory Committee and the Amenity Authority Committee, elected officials pushed back on the cost of installing long-range readers at the gates.
Since then, officials have eased their stance and are now considering $20 headlight stickers that residents could use to automatically trigger the gates to open.
Over the years, gate cards have drawn numerous complaints. Frequently rolling windows up and down has led to burned-out motors. The cards must also be held within 18 inches of the sensor for the gate to respond. For many residents, lowering windows during heavy rainstorms has never been practical.
Switching to a new system appears to offer several benefits. If enough residents choose to purchase the $20 stickers, the system could pay for itself. These stickers use radio frequency technology and can be detected from 30 to 50 feet away. However, that range would be reduced to maintain safety at the gates.
Residents who prefer not to spend $20 on a headlight sticker can continue using their current gate cards.
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