Annexation would save sun, add taxes

Pinecrest is considering annexing land just north of its boundary to prevent it from becoming a high-rise haven.

By Yudy Pineiro | [email protected]

In a bid to thwart developers who might want to build sun-blocking high-rises, Pinecrest is considering annexing a slice of commercial land just north of village borders.

Village officials considered several sites but recently identified their top choice: the Toys R Us property just south of South Miami’s city limits, at 8325 S. Dixie Hwy.

Pinecrest’s strict zoning codes have kept developers from building high-rises or multistory buildings. Mayor Gary Matzner said that with no control over the land across the street, however, developers could build high and shade the village.

“Someone could try to buy that property and build something on it,” he said.

Village officials have signaled their intent to proceed by asking Miami-Dade County to estimate how much it would cost to annex the land that is now unincorporated.

Pinecrest may have to turn over some or all of the taxes it would collect as a reimbursement to the county for lost revenue, according to the county incorporation and annexation services department.

“We’re just waiting for the final numbers from the county,” Matzner said.

Hialeah Gardens and Florida City recently annexed bordering land to generate more tax dollars.

Pinecrest officials say the property would generate up to $44,000 in new property taxes for the village, but that it’s not about the money.

“Zoning and rounding off our borders, that’s really why we want to do it,” Matzner said.

For those reasons, Matzner had also considered annexing the shopping plaza just north of Toys R Us and The Falls shopping center area - which has struggled for years to incorporate.

Matzner said he has ruled out those two options because South Miami is now considering annexing the shopping center, and Pinecrest residents don’t think the village boundaries should cross U.S. 1 into areas with less-pricey homes.

Pinecrest officials said they plan to take a closer look at the annexation during their budget process in September. They hope to have more definite figures from the county by then.