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St. Pete Council OKs Plan To Annex Part Of Tierra Verde

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By ROD CHALLENGER

rchallenger@wfla.com

Published: November 6, 2008

Updated: 11/06/2008 01:15 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - Despite objections from numerous Tierra Verde residents, the St. Petersburg City Council gave tentative approval today to a plan to annex a small part of the island community in southern Pinellas County.

The proposal faces a final public hearing and council vote Nov. 17.

About a dozen residents begged the council not to take the action. They were among about 50 residents of the unincorporated community who came to the St. Petersburg City Council meeting today.

The city's development department recommended that St. Petersburg annex 28 acres on the northern part of the island, which consists of commercial development on the west side of the Pinellas Bayway just south of the Tierra Verde bridge.

A majority of the owners of that property requested the annexation.

Island residents think the property owners are using annexation to circumvent county planning rules on building high-rises and increasing population density.

The owners who are asking to be annexed have also agreed to limit new development to eight stories, but residents of the island told the city council that would be twice as high as any building now on the island.

"The reason for this annexation is so that the developer can put up taller buildings," resident Jack Parker said.

Resident Terri Pentek told council members the idea of new, taller condominiums is "not what we want to see done to our island."

Resident Joe Dorner said the only reason the city would consider the annexation is to increase its tax revenue.

The property has a taxable value of $22.2 million, which would generate $132,000 in new taxes for the city of St. Petersburg, tax revenue which would be lost to the Municipal Taxing Unit for the island.

Island residents fear the property owners' plans would destroy the distinctive and cohesive nature of the community.

The owner of the Tierra Verde Marina has signed an agreement with the Tierra Verde Community Association not to bring a gambling boat to its docks, overcoming a previous objection.

The island residents are exploring the idea of incorporating and creating their own city. They would need legislative approval for the idea to proceed, which would come too late to stop the current annexation proposal but could stop annexation in the future. Residents asked the council to stop the annexation until they can incorporate.

The property consists of 18 acres of upland property and 10 acres of submerged lands.

The State of Florida, which owns the submerged lands, has not agreed to the annexation, nor has the owner of a 7-Eleven south of Madonna Boulevard.

The three owners of the majority of the property, which includes the Tierra Verde High and Dry Marina, the vacant Tierra Verde Resort, the Tierra Verde Marina Shopping Center, the Sandbar Restaurant and five vacant residential lots, are in favor of the annexation.

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