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ST. PETERSBURG — The city just got a little bigger.
The City Council voted 5-2 to annex 28-acres of Tierra Verde's waterfront commercial district Friday, expanding St. Petersburg's border across the Pinellas Bayway and into the wealthy enclave.
Now in the city: the Tierra Verde Marina, a vacant 56-unit condominium resort, five empty residential lots and a 7-Eleven. Property owners there supported the annexation because the city has a more lenient approach to development than Pinellas County.
The city also annexed 10 acres of submerged state land, the only way it can connect to the 18 acres of commercial property on the island.
The annexation will add nearly $200,000 to city coffers in 2009. New development could eventually contribute $1-million in annual property tax revenue. In return, the city must now provide services such as police and code enforcement to the northernmost tip of Tierra Verde.
Critics claim the annexation is inappropriate at a time when the county is in the midst of overhauling its annexation restrictions.
Hundreds of Tierra Verde residents who are not part of the annexation worry new development will strain the bedroom community's already overstressed main corridor, the only road to the county's Fort De Soto park.
Council members said they received phone calls up until Friday morning asking them to delay the vote.
As an olive branch, the city made a last-minute offer to opponents: Don't challenge the annexation, and development will be limited to eight stories instead of 15. If it is challenged, officials said the deal would be off and 150-foot buildings would be allowed. Tierra Verde limits building height at five stories.
But county and Tierra Verde residents not involved with the takeover say they plan to challenge the legality of the annexation in court anyway.
"They left us no choice," said Brian Smith, the county's planning director. "I'm kind of disappointed."
Several council members seemed uncomfortable with their decision Friday.
"I've been kind of wrestling with this," said council member Karl Nurse. "All the pros are self evident, and, frankly, for the citizens of St. Petersburg, a million dollars a year over time is not insignificant."
But, Nurse said, the city's actions could also strain its relationships with the county and the people of Tierra Verde.
"We have been trying to act in good faith," said Mayor Rick Baker. "The city has tried to listen."
.Fast facts
What people are saying
• "While we understand the city's need to improve the tax base, we are disappointed that they choose this particular way to do it." — Barbara Heck, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations
• "They did the right thing." — Don Mastry, a spokesman for property owners involved in the annexation
• "This means a long court battle, expensive litigation that could go on for years. The community is very upset. … They are talking about boycotting the businesses." — Paul Murray, president of the Tierra Verde Community Association.
• "I am glad that the annexation went through. I'm sorry that everybody doesn't get what they want." — Tony Amico, a property owner involved in the annexation
[Last modified: Nov 23, 2008 10:57 PM]
Comments on this article
by Gladys
Nov 23, 2008 10:57 PM
I really can't think of a single issue more important than this one. War, state-sanctioned torture, human trafficking, all pale beside the suffering of the Tierra Verde residents. Please, devote more and more ink to this issue, every day.
by St.Pete Voter
Nov 23, 2008 10:55 PM
Don't blame the Semblers and this group of developers for being wealthy. Blame our mayor and council for wanting to be and make influential friends. Why not throw in the keys to the city.
.
by sam
Nov 23, 2008 9:25 AM
i said before steve sembler richard fabrizzi tony amico great job make the face of our island nice please and the tv members will be the first ones to use all the new stores and shops
by johnson
Nov 23, 2008 8:11 AM
This is a major boondoogle by the city - they have seriously overstepped and have acted in bad faith. This is nothing more than a power grab. Baker is not ending his tenure well at all.
by Dennis
Nov 23, 2008 8:00 AM
So St Pete tried to bribe Tierra Verde by saying that they would not allow a high rise if we did not oppose the annexation. I don't beleive anything they might have offered, their word is worthless. We're taking it, you can either lie back or fight
by ted
Nov 23, 2008 7:57 AM
Sounds a litte like legalized blackmail to me! Makes me proud to be an american when a city can behave like this for money alone!
by PC
Nov 23, 2008 7:55 AM
It is a sad commentary that our Mayor and Council ignore the will of the people and force our city to act as the big bully for the sake of their wealthy friends. This will cost the taxpayers far more than we gain.
by Ian
Nov 23, 2008 7:37 AM
Someone needs to look into this I am under the impression that the state always controls submerged land. In West Palm Beach the city lost a lawsuit a few years ago because they tried to control submerged land for this very reason.
by Larry
Nov 23, 2008 7:34 AM
This is so wrong. It's all about the money, isn't it? And what happened to all the readers' comments visible on this article from Friday evening?? Did Sembler get to you, SPT?
by Bill
Nov 23, 2008 7:32 AM
There is no data that demonstrates that piecemeal annexations such as this are financially desirable. In fact, the cost of to maintain infrastructure and services generally exceeds the so-called "gain" in the tax base. Snookered once again.
by murfinthekeys
Nov 23, 2008 7:32 AM
Mayor Rick Baker and the St Pete city council have sold out to developers as usual and now threaten other Teira Verde residents with high density and unsightly buildings. What a shame.
by Frank
Nov 23, 2008 7:25 AM
At last the gateway to the areas best park will be cleaned up. For years this blighted sight has needed help and now St. Petersburg will fix it!
by PC
Nov 22, 2008 10:50 PM
Our Mayor and council must have been made an offer that they couldn't refuse.
Mr. Amico's comment about everyone not getting what they want tells the story.
by Steve
Nov 22, 2008 10:27 PM
This looks like the beginning of St. Pete taking over Tierra Verde. This is a time I am glad I don't live there. To the residents of Tierra Verde, I think boycotting the businesses is a good idea. See how long they last there.
by Tom
Nov 22, 2008 10:23 PM
It's sad that the city's are acting like vultures to increase their tax bases. They annex business properties because the property owners have no voting rights and can not fight the annexations.
by Jean
Nov 22, 2008 10:16 PM
Greedy St. Petersburg has a habit of annexing choice properties leaving the unannexed to pay a much higher tax rate. Hope they spend some of that money to repair roads not fit to drive on instead of dumping it into a new stadium.
by rich
Nov 22, 2008 1:21 PM
Sembler will get the property then his good old buddies with the city will give him tax breaks to build another Baywalk backed by public bonds just like Centro Ybor.
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