Homeowners feared the park would become an admission-only venture with crowds and traffic-inducing commercial enterprises designed to generate funds to benefit the operating entity. They planned to delay the land purchase until voters could pass a charter amendment ensuring the park would be operated as a passive, public park managed directly by village employees.

By the time the village council met last week, the proposal had been replaced with a proposal from Lombardi in which all park workers would be village employees. The proposal still calls for the village to contract with a tax-exempt organization that "shall be exclusively committed to fund raising for Pinecrest Commons." The park director would serve as an ex-officio member of organization's board of directors.

Seth Gordon, managing partner of GDB + Partners, the Coral Gables public relations firm representing the homeowners, tells GlobeSt.com that arrangement seems "overly cozy. Why commit to one organization before you know they can even perform? If the village thinks people out there are ready to raise money, why just choose one? Why not let them all raise money?"

Gordon says there is speculation the village intends to contract with an existing organization called "Preserve the Jungle," which is headed by a friend of Pinecrest's mayor. Lombardi says that's not true.