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Council discusses annexation to boost tax base and control development
Summary
Councilors and staff discussed voluntary and forced annexation options to increase Pierson's tax base, including outreach to enclave areas such as Sunny Sands and the potential need for surveys and ballot initiatives for forced annexation.
Councilors debated annexation as a tool to increase Pierson's tax base and to gain control over development decisions now being made by the county. Staff and councilors discussed voluntary annexation incentives, the survey work required and the alternative of a ballot initiative for forced annexation, which would require signatures and a public vote.
The chair said a large enclave called Sunny Sands on Turner Road contains numerous houses and could be a candidate for annexation; staff noted the area already has a water system and discussed tradeoffs such as the cost to expand the town's water infrastructure. Councilors emphasized a desire to preserve "old Florida" character through selective annexation and smart-growth policies rather than unplanned development, and asked staff to set a workshop with town legal and planning staff to explore options.
