City Council approves Tierra Verde annexation

ST. PETERSBURG -- Dozens of Tierra Verde residents who showed up at City Hall today to protest the city's plans to annex nearly 28 acres of the unincorporated community did not dissuade the City Council from moving ahead with it.

The council voted unanimously to continue with the annexation, which extends St. Petersburg boundaries to include about 10 acres of submerged land and 18 acres of commercial property.

Mayor Rick Baker, whose staff advised the council to move forward, said the council's decision was appropriate.

"Anytime you annex a new property, you increase your tax base,"  Baker said.

Paul Murray, president of the Tierra Verde Community Association, said he was not surprised by the vote.

"They want the money," he said. "If they do this, they can be assured that there will be an appeal."

Another hearing and a final vote are scheduled Nov. 17.

The council angered some of the residents when it delayed the hearing, scheduled for 9 a.m.

The council held two other public hearings scheduled but declined to start the Tierra Verde discussion so they would not hold up city staff there to discuss other matters.

"We are going to do it last," City Attorney John Wolfe told a reporter. "We are not going to tie up staff till 11 o'clock at night."

City Council Chairman Jamie Bennett said the delay will allow the council to focus on the Tierra Verde issue. "That way we can have no disruptions,'' Bennett said. "Everyone will get their say.''

But no explanation was provided to the nearly 50 people who have been waiting in the council chamber.

That outraged Tierra Verde resident Greg Pentek.

"There are a bunch of people from Tierra Verde who are now going home. They took off time from work to be here," he said. "It smells to me that they are stalling so that people will leave."

Baker's staff recommended the council annex nearly 28 acres, including a marina, a condominium complex and a convenience store. Residents worry the city would allow more intense development than the county allows. They also point out that the land is connected to the city only by bridge.

Residents said today they don't want the city to annex the land because it would erode their tax base if they move ahead with discussions about incorporating as a separate city.

- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Comments

Residents worry the city would allow more intense development than the county allows?

Those residents should study density regulations in the county vs. the city if that is really their concern. They'll find that they are better off annexed.

[Al]

This item is on the agenda today for first reading and the first public hearing at 9:00 a.m, but that means as soon as the city council gets to it after 9:00 a.m. The meeting began at 8:30 and there were other things on the agenda ahead of this item. The agenda also says that the second reading and second public hearing will be conducted on November 17 at 5:01 p.m. That also means, as soon as they get to it after 5:01 p.m.

The Election is over, the local minions have won… and this deal is done. Say good bye to TV and Ft. Desoto.

[Joe Dorner]

The question that needs to be answered is....Why did Sembler buy the property? He knew of the existing bylaws in Tierra Verde but bought the property anyway. He HAD to know that the Mayor and the council would approve the annexation. The residents of TV are getting bent over courtesy of Mayor Baker and the city of St. Pete. The problem is that we are not represented by the city council and since there are no residents in the annex proposal, there can be no referendum. The pleas of the residents are cries of passion, but those pleas fell on deaf ears today.

[Joe Dorner]

"Anytime you annex a new property, you increase your tax base," Baker said.

This is where the greed comes into play. The developers of the land, in an effort to appease Mayor Baker and increase their own gains, want to build buildings that will reach the sky. There are currently height and density regulations in the Tieera Verde charter that restrict buildings on TV to no higher than 50 feet. By annexing the property the developers can circumvent the charter and build massive condos and/or a hotel. This will greatly increase the tax base Mayor Baker craves and line the pockets of the developers.
Once again, the keys to this sorted ordeal lie in the simple question....Did Sembler know the Mayor would push this through when he bought the property?

[You did it to yourselves!]

Once the City and Sembler annex TV, it will effectively cut off Ft. Desoto from Pinellas County. The reality of the new “voter approved” process that will allow the BOCC (with voter approval; HA!) to sell or lease the environmental land that sits between TV and Ft. Desoto will then come to light.

Say good-bye to Ft. Desoto and hello to a concrete property tax windfall. It has been the plan all along, and I’ve even seen the artist’s renderings of the soon-to-be “Ft. Desoto Condominium and Yacht Club”

[Hammer]

2:43 is dead-nuts-on. And the two new imbeciles you voted onto the BOCC will join the ranks of unanimous voting without a pause.

Pinellas deserves the government they elected, and the result of their apathy, ignorance, and blind partisanship.

Now we have another place to put a stadium. The helicopter shots will be beautiful with the skyway as the backdrop. Pave Ft. Desoto for parking and Entertainment facilities. This makes much more sense than using a site that already has a ballpark and parking garages around it...

[None of the Above]

All of two days since the Election before the games start anew...

[Paul]

Baker is a disgrace to the people of this City. Stop with the destruction of our beautiful area and LISTEN to the people who live here. Baker and Sembler can go take a long walk off a short pier together. I am disgusted at this land grab by our City. The stadium run around game Baker has enacted with 'ABC' will be crushed by the citizens. Too bad Tierra Verde didn't have an option like that.

[Ron H]

Once again Mayor Baker shows his true devotion to developers and disdain for the citizens. He needs to be put to pasture with former Hillsborough Commissioner Blair. Both never met a development they did not love.

Welcome TV - the 25th city in pinellas county

[Gary]

Why has no one mentioned the planned gambling shuttle? Does anyone REALLY think that it has been shelved?

[George]

TV residents just can't get themselves together, collect funds and hire a team of lawyers to fight for them. If they did, they would not have this problem Don't blame Baker. Baker has a duty to St. Pete, and no duty at all to residents of TV. Baker and City Council are doing what they are paid to do -- work on behalf of the citizens of St. Pete.

[George]

TV residents just can't get themselves together, collect funds and hire a team of lawyers to fight for them. If they did, they would not have this problem Don't blame Baker. Baker has a duty to St. Pete, and no duty at all to residents of TV. Baker and City Council are doing what they are paid to do -- work on behalf of the citizens of St. Pete.

[Dont live in TV]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! way to go Baker and crew.

[Al]

This was not a final vote. It comes up again on November 17.

[Bob]

Tierra Verde residents do not need to annex into St Pete. I'll bet they will choose to though.

Shouldn't the owners of the marina have a right to choose if they want to be in the City?

If I had a choice, none of Tierra Verde would be developed because I would like the entire area to be natural.

[Paul]

I lived in downtown St. Pete for 10+ years. 3 years ago myself and several residents organized condo associations and neighborhood associations to, for lack of a better word, fight the city on all sorts of issues. Excessive noise brought on by the “multi-use” buildings, a serious increase in crime though effectively brushed under the carpet by Baker, approvals of developments that destroyed neighborhoods, excessive noise and an increase in crime (wait I already said that). The bottom line Mayor Baker is the worst thing that has ever happened to St. Pete. However, he is a spin master. His entire staff works to keep him clean – I was told this by one level down from Baker. He associates himself with people that are just greedy and don’t care about majority. I know of one restaurant owner that caused so much grief for down town residents that the State took him to court. The owner use to tell us “I have Mayor Baker’s number on speed dial – I will do what I want” and he did. This same person was arrested a few weeks back for possession of cocaine.
I moved out of St. Pete and bought on TV to get away from Baker and his lap dogs. I know these people, have had to deal with their under handed ways for years. What happened at the meeting was predictable.
Here is the only thing TV can do that will matter --- lawyers, good ones. If we pony up the money the city will steal from us and put it into a legal fund I assure you we will win. Sue for everything we can including the criminal removal registered residents of the resort marina. Understand this, if Baker gets his hooks on this Island, life as we know it is over. This place will be a zoo.

[Fiscal responsibility]

Make no mistake about it, Baker wants your tax dollars. Once part of Tierre Verde is annexed, the efforts will continue to get the rest. Get ready. Rather than beneft from this annexation, however, the citizens of St. Pete will have even slower response times for calls for service. St. Pete's finest will be spread even thinner. This annexation benefits neither the citizens of St. Pete nor the residents of Tierre Verde. But, this would not have occurred if City Council had opposed it. Remember Baker who pushed it and all of the City Council members who voted for this when they run for re-election or election to a new office.