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Part of Tierra Verde has a suitor

St. Petersburg wants to annex commercial areas.

By SANDRA J. GADSDEN & CRISTINA SILVA, Times Staff Writers
Published December 19, 2007

The Tierra Verde Marina would be among the businesses annexed. Talk of incorporation is growing among many island residents.
	[SCOTT KEELER | Times]

BY THE NUMBERS 

Just weeks after learning that they would have to foot the bill for replacing the bridges along the Pinellas Bayway, Tierra Verde residents are reeling from news of possible annexation.

St. Petersburg has filed an application with Pinellas County to formally annex commercial areas on the barrier island.

The application lists the Tierra Verde Marina, the Tierra Verde Yacht and Racquet Club I and II and five residential lots on Third Avenue N, and the property occupied by the 7-Eleven and gas station.

"The possibility of the city of St. Petersburg having a foothold on the island is disturbing to a lot of people," said Frank Lauro, administrator for the Tierra Verde Community Association.

"I guess it's going to be in the hands of the attorney," he added.

The barrier island is mainly residential and is home to about 3,500 people.

If approved by the St. Petersburg City Council, the annexation would add 16 acres to the city's boundaries and $14-million to the tax rolls. The county would then hold a number of hearings before the annexation could be finalized.

City officials say Tierra Verde business owners contacted them about the annexation. The city currently provides fire and sewer services to the area.

"We think Tierra Verde is obviously a natural extension of the city's boundary," said Dave Goodwin, economic development director. "It is in the city's interest as far as the tax base."

The city has considered annexing Tierra Verde for years, but such a measure would require the approval of residents of the island, Goodwin said.

"That may come," he said. "But we would have to do a lot of work with the community to see if they are interested."

Meanwhile, talk of incorporation is gaining traction on the barrier island.

Resident Connie Langhorst has proposed that Tierra Verde residents begin looking into forming their own village.

"Tierra Verde has to wake up and smell the coffee," she said. "We like being unincorporated, but unless we incorporate we are going to constantly be faced with the threat of annexation."

Langhorst foundedFriends of Tierra Verde, one of two community associations on the barrier island.

The Tierra Verde Community Association has retained John Thomas, a St. Petersburg lawyer, to represent the group on the annexation issue. At this point, nothing has been decided, he said.

"All we're asking for is to have our quality of life the way it is, which isn't asking for a whole lot," said Lauro.

The Tierra Verde Community Association has been in existence for more than 25 years and has grown weary of talking about annexation.

"It appears that the resort and the marina are trying to make a profit at the expense of the residents," Lauro said.

The deal would affect many of the businesses at the foot of the Tierra Verde bridge, including the Tierra Verde Marina and the Tierra Verde Yacht and Racquet Club. The owners of those properties, Tierra Verde Marina Holdings and A&S Tierra Verde Ventures, have consented to the annexation.

Langhorst said she is wary of any annexation plans because she fears that her taxes will go up.

"We don't know what the implications of annexation would bring," she said, but "we pay enough. We have some of the highest taxes in the county."

Officials from the Tierra Verde Marina declined to comment on the proposal.

By the numbers

$14m Amount that would be added to St. Petersburg's tax base.

16 Number of acres to be annexed.

3,500 Residents living on Tierra Verde

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 07:35:52]