Jackpot! East Side Annexation Area Includes FPL's Turkey Point

On Wednesday May 15th the City Council voted to conduct a study to possibly annex the Unincorporated Municipal Services Area (UMSA) east of the city up to Biscayne Bay using Biscayne Dr (SW 288th ST) and SW 352nd ST as the north and south boundaries respectively.  It appears from the map below that part of Florida Power & Light's Turkey Point land and it's northern surrounding property falls within the Homestead Annexation Study area. The facility itself appears to fall south of theoretical SW 352nd ST. If this is the case the tax boon will not be as lucrative but it's not chump change by any means. FPL also owns other large parcel of lands further north near the Homestead Air Force Base (AFB).  Essentially, FPL would be the largest land owner in the new annexed area and with this ownership comes the biggest tax bill.  One may suppose this is the primary  purpose for annexation never mind the reasons given about incorporating Homestead Bayfront Park. The money is in the millage rate charged for the land owned by FPL plain and simple.

There is a method to the madness down at City Hall because it didn't really make sense to annex an area outside the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) unless there was an immediate return on investment (ROI) for the effort.  Especially, since the city is running through reserves like a sailor on shore leave.  Surely, one could suggest the City Council is exhibiting foresight to incorporate areas for future growth, but historically that hasn't been the case.  Shotgun Houses, Baseball Stadium, Seminole Theatre, are but a few examples of the lack of this scarce skill set down at City Hall.