North county annexation: Gardens, North Palm battle to add 4 communities in March election

It may be a first for Palm Beach County: Two governments trying to annex the same neighborhoods in the same election. Voters will decide who wins.Maya WashburnPalm Beach PostShow CaptionPALM BEACH GARDENS — A year ago, annexation was nothing more than a 10-letter word to the residents of Hidden Key, Pirate's Cove and two other pockets of northern Palm Beach County.Today, it’s a choice, one that has been marked by angry words about tax bills and possible lawsuits at information sessions with residents in the unincorporated communities that the cities want to annex.Annexation happens when a city extends its boundary to add land currently governed only by Palm Beach County. The city would then provide the residents with services ranging from public safety to code enforcement and tax those properties to help pay for it.Palm Beach Gardens wants to annex a large swath of land totaling 1,316 acres, and North Palm Beach wants four neighborhoods out of that area that include 182 homes. In a mov...