Pinecrest advocates raise $8,515

The group pushing the incorporation movement in Pinecrest has raised $8,515 in two months, according to filed campaign reports.

Sixteen contributors are listed in the report from the Pinecrest Committee for Incorporation. Of the 16, three are homeowners associations for the Snapper Creek, Arboretum and Tree Top Estates communities.

Other contributors include attorneys, a property manager and individual homeowners.

Much of the money raised has been spent on brochures and labels to mail political advertisements to homeowners. The committee has spent $7,728.

The Pinecrest and Destiny incorporation elections Tuesday are being watched closely by residents in other areas. Incorporation efforts are also under way in East Kendall and West Kendall.

Gary Matzner, one of the leaders of the Pinecrest incorporation movement, said last week that his group will be at shopping centers to answer questions about incorporation and to promote the election. They also will mail pamphlets and are advertising in newspapers.

Pinecrest boundaries are from Snapper Creek and Kendall Drive to Southwest 136th Street and from Red Road and Old Cutler Road (except in Coral Gables) to the east side of U.S. 1.

The area consists mostly of single-family homes with some businesses on U.S. 1.

Advocates of incorporation say they want to form their own city so they can control their community through police, zoning and code enforcement.

Opponents of incorporation — including the Police Benevolent Association, which fears Metro police layoffs — say they are happy with county services and worry about the possibility of tax increases.

The election is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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