Council approves Tierra Verde annexation

ST. PETERSBURG - In the end, the letters to City Hall, the petitions and the stern comments from critics in all levels of local government weren't enough to persuade the City Council to vote against annexing Tierra Verde's waterfront commercial district.

The council voted 5-2 to annex 28-acres of unincorporated Tierra Verde Friday in a financially motivated effort that expands the city's borders across the Pinellas Bayway into the small wealthy enclave.

Council members Herb Polson and Jeff Danner cast the dissenting votes. Council member Jim Kennedy was not present.

The Tierra Verde Marina, a vacant 56-unit condominium resort, five vacant residential lots and a 7-Eleven are among the former Tierra Verde properties that will now reside in St. Petersburg. 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 would add nearly $200,000 to the city's coffers in 2009. New development could eventually contribute $1-million in annual property tax revenue. In return, the city is now responsible for providing services such as police and code enforcement to the northernmost tip of Tierra Verde.

City officials offered a last minute bargaining chip late Thursday to sweeten the deal: don't challenge the annexation, and development will be limited to eight stories instead of the maximum allowable height of 15 stories. If the annexation is challenged, the deal is off and 150 foot tall buildings could be built.

Mayor Rick Baker said the deal was cut after he met with Tierra Verde community leaders to address concerns about over-development. Tierra Verde limits building height at five stories.

"We have been trying to act in good faith," said Baker. "The city has tried to listen."

But county and Tierra Verde residents not involved with the land grab 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."

The annexation has been widely criticized. State and county leaders and neighborhood groups implored the city to delay the vote. Critics said the annexation is inappropriate at a time when the county is in the midst of overhauling its annexation restrictions and hundreds of Tierra Verde residents who are not part of the annexation oppose it.

Council members said they received phone calls up until Friday morning asking them to delay the vote. Council member Leslie Curran said she spoke with a critic who described the annexation as a communist takeover

Many Tierra Verde residents fear the annexation will divide their community and remove valuable commercial property from what could one day be an independent municipality. They also worry new development will strain the bedroom community's already overstressed main corridor, the only road to the county's Fort De Soto park. 

This was the city's third attempt to acquire the 28 acres. Two earlier efforts were dropped after questions arose over voting rights of boat dwellers in the annexation. The city ultimately decided not to annex the dock where those people live.

At one point Friday, several council members seemed uncomfortable with the decision before them.

"I'm struggling with this," said Danner. "Is it the right way to go? Should we have engaged the neighborhoods more?"

Council member Karl Nurse also expressed some reservations.

"I must confess I've been kind of wrestling with this. I think all the pros are self evident, and, frankly, for the citizens of St. Petersburg a million dollars a year over time is not insignificant," he said.

But, Nurse added, the city's actions could also strain its relationships with the county and the people of Tierra Verde.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[joyce]

The city may make money on this deal but it doesn't seem right to divide the island. St. Pete can't seem to keep up with all that needs to be done in the city, why divide a quiet island for the sake of the all mighty dollar. Oh right, this is FLORIDUH!! Annexation should be by majority vote of the residents involved NOT the mayor and city council.

The people need too call on the board of county comm. too get it change back.Annexation should be by majority vote of the residents involved NOT the mayor and city council.
fight for your right!!!!!

[Scott J]

Great, maybe Cuba will be next.....

[Tommy]

Be careful what you wish for St. Pete. Those family reunions that Wengay Newton likes to talk about will be a thing of the past once Ft. DeSoto Park becomes the Ft. DeSoto Convention Center. And believe this....every speck of paper on the ground, every car parked out of place, every violation will warrant a call from a Tierra Verde resident to the St. Pete police department. This will not go smoothly, and when the day comes that the Mayor asks a Tierra Verde resident for a favor......that'll be a cold day indeed Mayor Baker. The Mayor got 28 acres, but he just made 5000 enemies.

[Mary]

I don't even live in either St. Pete or TV, but I can smell rotten politics. This stinks!

I want my cut of the money they make. I think I'll randomly annex something and tax the bejesus out of it and get kick backs from developers.

I say the residents blockade the bridge onto the island.

[SAT]

No sense at all. Don't these councilmembers have consciences? How on earth does this make sense at all? Although they legally can do it, there is no rationale that they should do it. And the extortion of "only 8 stories" will go up in smoke as soon as a developer wants more. This stinks. People should look in the mirror and decide whether these people should represent them. Oh, I am a resident of St. Pete.

[ed]

hope all you folks remember this the next election-was it 9 or 15% of the elgible st pete voters actually voted?????
this is why the politicians ignore you-hell, you don't even vote!!!!

[Lee]

The following quote was missing from every other one-side piece by the St. Pete Times, "Property owners there supported the annexation." Troxler was sticking his neck in business where it did not belong. Why is it okay to go against the will of the people because your sanctimonious self wants it otherwise? I do not understand why all you people think your ideas are better than the people that actually live there.

They don't live there Lee. They own businesses there. And they apparently have been making side deals on property in Jannus Landing in exchange for more intense development on TV.

Great! Just what we need. ANOTHER vacant condo resort.

[Charlie]

Rick Baker will be the next governor of Florida. Mark my words. He is a real go getter. Remember the owners of the property wanted to be in the city, this has nothing to do with a takeover.

Corrupt developers are behind this deal.

[Jimmy Mack]

The poor residents there... Now they must adhere to the a-retentive code enforcement of St. Pete!

Charlie, get a clue. The owners wanted more intense development. Baker was willing to cut a deal. End of story.

Corrupt developers are behind EVERYTHING that Baker touches.

[Paul]

Law suites and posturing will cost a hell of lot more than the taxes St. Pete will receive from this hostile take over. Only Rick Baker's friends will benefit. Let the people of Tierra Verde have a say. THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN ST.PETE.
and with our mayor and council, I'm not sure that I do either.
( I am a 58 year resident.) This doesn't make me proud.

Com'on you cabbage key cry babies.much ado about not much.

Now St. Petersburg is part of the Mafia with Amico the Bonnano Family.
Does not surprise me the Baker Family building falty parts for the US Military and now this?

[Jake]

Ha ha. So, now TV residents are "concerned" about over-development and strain on their roads? That didn't seem to be a concern when they built thousands of condo units that now cover the entire island! GIve me a break, they simply don't want the city getting any of their tax revenue, and most importantly, they like to get off on saying that they are from the snooty little island of TV, rather than St Petersburg. Sorry, no sympathy here.

[Carol]

Jake..., good point. I never even thought of that...

[Dr_Dug]

Let them build thier waterfront stadium out there....

[Bob]

When I heard about this annexation, I considered it completely ILLOGICAL, and from the comments made by TV residents, unwanted. I guess when it comes to tax revenue, St Petersburg City Council wants ALL it can get. Doesn't the council even see it from the TV residents perspective??? What they have done is not unlike the City of Tampa making a unilateral decision, that because the Tampa City limits extends out to the center of Howard Frankland Bridge, they could have annexed the unincorporated Gateway Area at the west end of the bridge (before St Pete did its land grab a couple of years ago). I bet, if that would have happened, there would be some very angry council members. How dare they???? Well, from the perspective of the TV residents, St. Pete did almost exactly THAT!!!! Why???

The smell of a sweetheart deal that involves Jannus Landing is just overpowering. The greedy developers got what they wanted. Didn't I just read about Bay Walk defaulting on its mortgage. He built the place, SOLD OUT, and now that place has problems. If Sembler gets to build whatever monstrosity he wants, do not be surprised that in a few years, he sells out, and it too will be on the short path to h---. For those who live on TV; I guess your next stop is the Courthouse. You have a nice island, (I went down to Ft. DeSoto this afternoon) and I understand why you want to keep it that way.

St. Pete should be putting it efforts into improving what is in its boundaries, NOT EXPANDING THEM!!!!

[A knowledgable source]

Why comment before you know the facts?
Even City Council didn't have a chance to review all of the facts prior to voting! Including an agreement developers will not need to stick to 8 story height limits if appealed?!?!?! They're hoping it's appealed, they've got the annexation through!!
Greed is ruining the country & spreading from St. Petersburg & Mayor Baker to Tierra Verde! Kudos to Councilmen Polson & Tanner to vote NO, to not rush this through (as was initially agreed) and shame on the other council not representing the "people" and going with the Mayor. Two developers vs. thousands of residents?!?! No wonder Tierra Verde residents don't want this SP representation!

[Tramor]

How did the reporter say it was an unanimous vote before the vote even took place? Also, how did the SPTimes learn about the DUI arrest of the City Attorney that made the Tierra Verde deal go thru? Hmmm...maybe they were tipped off by the person writing this comment? The reason the Mayor won't do anything with this City Attorney is because the Attorney saved the day for the City and he annexed Tierra Verde.