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St. Pete To Vote On Tierra Verde Annexation

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By ROD CHALLENGER

News Channel 8

Published: November 20, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The St. Petersburg City Council is scheduled to vote Friday on whether to annex 18 acres of the island of Tierra Verde.

The annexation vote comes on the heels of two contentious public hearings where Tierra Verde residents begged the city to leave their community alone.

Tierra Verde is an unincorporated area of Pinellas County and home to about 4,500 residents and several businesses.

The land being considered for annexation consists of commercial property on the north side of the island, just south of the bridge to Tierra Verde and west of the Pinellas Bayway. The property includes the vacant Tierra Verde resort, a strip shopping center of small businesses, a marina and two high-and-dry boat storage facilities.

The property owners asked the city to annex the land because the city has more lenient development rules than the county. The developers plan to build at least three eight-story condominiums on the property south of Madonna Boulevard. The county has a limit of five stories.

The developers have said they plan to rebuild the strip center on the north part of the property, but under city rules they could put up a condominium of up to 15 stories in height.

Tierra Verde residents charge the city is planning to annex the land to increase its tax base without considering the residents' wishes.

Tierra Verde residents told city council members at the public hearings that construction of high rises at the gateway to the island will destroy the community. The tallest building on the island now is just four stories. They told council members anything bigger will destroy views, add traffic and be an eyesore at the entrance to the island.

Pinellas County officials think the annexation is illegal and asked the city to stop the process. David Goodwin, St. Petersburg development director, disagrees with the county's opinion and has given the proposal a favorable recommendation.

The council meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.

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