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St. Petersburg delays move to annex parts of Tierra Verde

Questions about fire service and liveaboards at the marina would have to be resolved. Opponents are relieved, for now.

By Anne Lindberg, Times Staff Writer
Published February 20, 2008

TIERRA VERDE - To the joy of opponents, St. Petersburg has put an indefinite hold on the proposed annexation of several parcels on this barrier island.

The hold is expected to become official today, when the Pinellas Planning Council considers a city request to withdraw a report that must be approved before the annexation could take place.

Planning council staff members had raised questions about fire service should the parcels be annexed.

Potential problems with fire service are not the only snag.

Problems presented by previously unknown voters who live on boats at the marina must also be solved. The voters would either have to move or be given a chance to vote on the annexation if they continued to live there.

The hold is expected to give the property owners time to solve those issues so the annexation can proceed.

"We're happy," said Mary Ann Shaw of the Tierra Verde Community Association. The association is fighting the annexation, saying it will destroy the quality of life on Tierra Verde.

But, Shaw said, activists are concerned about the liveaboards. The fear is that the property owner will force those people to move so the land can be more easily annexed.

Annexation became an issue late last year when St. Petersburg notified the county that it wanted to annex certain commercial parcels on the island.

The move outraged many residents, who said they fear that the city would allow more dense development that would destroy the island's laid-back lifestyle.

Last month, members of the Tierra Verde group joined activists from Lealman, unincorporated Seminole and elsewhere to support one another in their individual battles as well as the overall struggle against annexation.

The main thrust of that effort is the creation of a community protection act that would allow unincorporated areas to remain annexation-free.

The group also agreed to help Tierra Verde in its efforts to become a city if that proves to be the only way residents can protect themselves from being nibbled by St. Petersburg.

[Last modified February 20, 2008, 09:55:00]