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Letter to the editor

Residents group vows to fight city annexation of retail areas

The community itself might consider incorporation.

By NICK JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

TIERRA VERDE - The Tierra Verde Community Association has decided to fight the planned annexation of commercial areas to St. Petersburg by any means necessary.

During a meeting held Thursday morning, the group plans to voice its disapproval at the city's public hearings on the annexation on Jan. 17 and 24.

They also plan to fight the decision in court if necessary and pursue the possibility of designating the area as a preserve.

"We're looking at all possibilities to protect the island," Paul Murray, president of the association, said.

The annexation report, submitted by St. Petersburg to Pinellas County in December, includes the Tierra Verde Marina, the Tierra Verde Resort and a number of residential and commercial lots near the Pinellas Bayway and Madonna Boulevard.

Concerns about a large-scale commercial development as well as the possibility that shuttles to an offshore gambling boat might be allowed to dock at the marina are the source of the community's response.

City officials say that they were contacted by the property owners who were seeking annexation from the county.

Last June the Tierra Verde Marina applied for a waiver of the no-gambling clause in its submerged land lease with the county, but withdrew the waiver request after residents openly protested the possibility of gambling boats.

"I don't blame a businessman for trying to make a dollar on their property, but at what expense to the community," Frank Lauro, administrator of the community association, said.

Officials from the marina and resort properties were unavailable for comment.

Representatives from the county's legal and planning departments and District 6 Commissioner John Morroni were also in attendance at the meeting.

"A lot of people are really concerned about St. Petersburg annexing this area," Morroni said. "They need to know that the county cares about their future, which we do, that's why we were down there."

County Planning Director Brian Smith has sent a letter to David Goodwin, the city's economic development director, questioning the legality of annexing an area "isolated from the city by almost one mile of open water and surrounded by unincorporated county on all three sides."

"We are on firm legal ground with the annexation; otherwise, we wouldn't go forward with it," Goodwin said.

The Tierra Verde Community Association has also decided to continue the process they previously started of incorporating the island "mainly to prevent any further annexation," Murray said. They had begun the process but stopped about 18 months ago.

St. Petersburg officials consider the commercial annexation a natural progression. The city provides fire and sewer services to the area and would benefit from the increased tax base.

While the city has no immediate plans to annex any residential areas, which would require approval of the residents, it has been a consideration. "Maybe someday in the future," Goodwin said.

Morroni said the county would support the resident's decision to incorporate.

"We would hate to see them leave the county but we totally understand if they have to protect their quality of life."

Nick Johnson can be reached at nickjohnson@sptimes.com or 893-8361.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 20:46:31]