WVID/Mattamy Homes cut the irrigation water supply to Gran Paradiso on March 31, 2025

Petition to Restore the Irrigation Water Supply to Gran Paradiso, West Villages - To sign this petition you do not need to donate $ to change.org

To: Peter Gilgan, Founder and Chairman and CEO of Mattamy Asset Management and Keith Bass, CEO of Mattamy Homes US

Subject: Urgent Demand for the Immediate Restoration of Our Community’s Irrigation Water Supply

 

Dear Mr. Gilgan and Mr. Bass,

We, the residents of Gran Paradiso in West Villages, urgently demand the immediate restoration of our community’s irrigation water supply. On March 31, 2025, the West Villages Improvement District - under the control of Mattamy Homes - suddenly cut off our water amidst ongoing litigation over an amended irrigation agreement. This drastic decision has not only endangered our environment and diminished our property values - it is also delivering an unjust punishment on residents who have faithfully invested in our community.

Our Concerns:

• Unfair Negotiation: The current irrigation agreement, amended in 2019 without our consent, was legally challenged for its inherent unfairness. Suspending water service amidst unresolved legal disputes compounds this injustice and immediately jeopardizes our community’s well-being.
• Financial and Infrastructural Impact: Our community has committed millions of dollars through Unit 3 Bonds and continues to bear the debt of constructing this vital irrigation infrastructure. The shutdown renders this expensive system useless, destroying the value of our investment and potentially breaching bondholder agreements. We are prepared to pursue every recourse available to protect our community’s financial interests.
• Destruction of Our Environment and Landscape: The abrupt cessation of water service is decimating our carefully maintained landscaping—an investment worth several million dollars. Lawns are drying and, in effect, “burning,” while plants perish, undermining both the aesthetic and economic value of our homes.
• Inconsistent Community Priorities: It is particularly disheartening to learn that while our essential services are being compromised, personal luxury projects are flourishing. Notably, it has come to our attention that Mr. Gilgan purchased a house in Naples for $48 million, demolished it, and is now constructing a lavish mansion valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. This stark double standard - where extravagant personal investments are prioritized over the basic needs of a community - is unacceptable. How can we reconcile the burning of Gran Paradiso’s lawns with the erection of opulent residences, all while our community pays the price for diminished quality of life?

Our Request:

We respectfully urge you to take the following actions immediately:

• Restore the Irrigation Water Supply: Reinstate our water service without delay to protect our properties, investments, and natural landscape.
• Engage in Good-Faith Negotiations: Work transparently with Gran Paradiso POA to renegotiate an equitable irrigation agreement that reflects our community’s rights and financial contributions.

Next Steps: Should these issues remain unresolved, we will be forced to escalate our actions by:

• Accelerating/organizing public demonstrations to highlight our plight.
• Engaging with local and national media to expose the discrepancy in community versus personal priorities.
• Pursuing all available governmental channels avenues to ensure that our rights and investments are respected.
• Consulting with financial institutions regarding potential violations of our bondholder agreements.

A Community’s Plea:

We trust that you will act swiftly and responsibly to restore our essential water supply and resolve this issue in a manner that honors the values of fairness and accountability. Gran Paradiso should not be sacrificed for the sake of luxury developments that starkly contrast with the community’s basic survival needs.

Sincerely,

The Residents of Gran Paradiso