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    • St. Augustine Beach wants surrounding property owners to consider annexation
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    St. Augustine Beach wants surrounding property owners to consider annexation

    Kathleen William Posted on

    St. Augustine Beach is urging residential and commercial property owners to consider annexation

    The City of St. Augustine Beach is asking residents who own commercial and residential properties adjacent to the city limits to annex their property to St. Augustine Beach.

    Specific areas include the north side of Pope Road, the west side of A1A South and Sandpiper Village. Anyone who applies for annexation does not lose any property rights.

    In return, the city promises to promptly process requests for land use changes, renovations, new roofs, signs, variances, etc. Citizens also receive timely review of demolition applications, plans for new buildings and inspections of ongoing construction work.

    Residential property owners who choose to annex with the city are also subject to the Beach's jurisdiction over police, solid waste disposal issues and code enforcement.

    According to the city's website, annexation also includes “a stronger political voice and defense of residents' interests against the county and the state.” Residents can run for a seat on the commission or be appointed to the city's Planning Board, Code Enforcement Committee, Sustainability and Environmental Planning Advisory Boards.

    Max Royle, the Beach's city manager, described the annexation as a way for residents to work directly with the city instead of working with the unincorporated county.

    “This process could take much longer depending on the workload of the county planning commission,” he told the St. Augustine Record. “I’m not saying the county doesn’t work quickly, but we are smaller and therefore closer to the subdivisions. Annexed areas would become part of the city government and not just a part of the county.”

    Royle cited waste debris as an example and said that maintaining piles of vegetation along roads, especially after storms, can be done more efficiently because the area of ​​the beach is smaller and “doesn't spread over a few hundred square miles.” Areas considered part of the city.

    “We can focus our resources on solving problems like picking up storm debris more quickly,” he said.

    Royle said the commission decided to reconsider the idea of ​​annexation after failing to do so for 10 years. He emphasized that the annexation of the boundaries of settlements or commercial properties does not mean that people will lose ownership of their properties.

    “The only thing that changes is the political entity that represents them,” he said. “Instead of the county commission representing them, the city commission will represent them.”

    Royle said there is no time limit on the application. Permitting and planning staff are available to the public via email, telephone or in person to answer questions and provide advice.

    “We would of course inform the district about the desire for annexation so that there is clear transparency on all sides,” said Royle. “Anyone who shares a border with the city that wants to be annexed will do so in accordance with state law.”

    The areas to be annexed would be examined by the city attorney.

    For more information, visit https://www.staugbch.com/community/page/invitation-annexation.

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    Kathleen William
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