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Dear Coral Gables Residents,
On August 20, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of our community. By voting for the annexation of Little Gables, you can help significantly enhance the safety, value, and growth of Coral Gables. Your vote in favor of the Non-binding Straw Ballot on Annexation of Little Gables will encourage the City Commission to continue exploring the potential annexation of Little Gables, including costs and benefits to Coral Gables residents.
Understanding Annexation
Annexation involves extending our city’s boundaries to include adjacent areas like Little Gables, which are not currently within our jurisdiction. This process allows Coral Gables to provide its services, infrastructure, and governance to the newly included area, fostering uniformity and cohesion in the city’s management and development.
The Case for Annexing Little Gables
Little Gables is a unique area, as it is almost entirely surrounded by Coral Gables. This enclave situation is not only inefficient but also creates fragmented and uneven service delivery. By annexing Little Gables, we can eliminate this absurd boundary, creating a more cohesive and manageable area for our safety services and community development.
Key Benefits of Annexing Little Gables
- Increased Safety for North Gables: Squaring off the northern Coral Gables boundary at SW 8th Street will create a more cohesive and manageable area for our safety services. This redefined boundary will enhance the effectiveness of our police and fire departments, ensuring a safer environment for all residents. Chief Hudak stated, “My position as Police Chief is that if we square off the city, it is much easier to patrol one border than three borders.”
- Expansion of Our Tax Base: Annexing Little Gables will bring additional homes and businesses into the City of Coral Gables, boosting the Coral Gables tax base. This increase in revenue will provide more resources for public services, infrastructure improvements, and community programs, benefiting all residents.
- Enhanced Zoning and Code Compliance: With the City of Coral Gables gaining control over the zoning and code compliance in Little Gables, we can ensure consistent and high standards across the entire area. This will help maintain the aesthetic and structural integrity of properties, enhancing the overall appeal of our community.
- Incentives for Improvement and Property Value Enhancement: The annexation will incentivize improvements in the current Little Gables area, fostering development and beautification projects. These enhancements will directly contribute to increasing the value of homes in the northern section of Coral Gables, providing long-term benefits for homeowners.
Avoiding an SB 102 Disaster
A critical point to consider is the potential impact of SB 102, a state bill that could lead to developments like the one forthcoming on the Sears site on 37th Avenue across from Miracle Mile. Without annexation, Little Gables remains vulnerable to such developments, which may not align with the standards and expectations of Coral Gables residents. By annexing Little Gables, we can ensure that any development in the area adheres to our city’s stringent zoning and code compliance regulations, preventing undesirable projects that could disrupt the character and quality of our community.
How We Got to This Point and Next Steps
This process began with the City of Coral Gables providing a petition to the residents of Little Gables, asking whether they supported annexation by Coral Gables. A set number of petitions were required for the issue to move forward. The residents of Little Gables conducted a grassroots campaign, led by Little Gables residents, to obtain more than the required amount.
The City Commission decided to seek input from Coral Gables residents on their interest in annexing Little Gables into our city. Following the August 20th election, the City Commission will determine whether to continue exploring annexation. If the decision is to proceed, the City Commission will submit an application to Miami-Dade County requesting the annexation of Little Gables. After the application is reviewed and approved by the County Commission, the residents of Little Gables will have the opportunity to vote on joining Coral Gables. If a majority of Little Gables residents vote in favor, Coral Gables will officially annex Little Gables.
This will not be a fast process, and the current ballot measure is simply a preliminary step in considering whether to pursue the annexation of Little Gables.
We believe that the annexation of Little Gables is a crucial step towards a safer, more prosperous, and more unified Coral Gables. Your support in this initiative is vital, and we encourage you to participate in the upcoming vote. Together, we can build a brighter future for Coral Gables.
Your friends and neighbors,
Christina Villamil
Little Gables Resident
