With annexation reform possibly up for discussion during a special session of the Texas Legislature starting in mid-July, the city of Leander is moving up its timeline for several planned annexations. 

In July, City Council held two public hearings for the annexation of six sections of land totaling 4,937 acres on the north and west borders of the city. The proposed annexations are involuntary, meaning the residents within the selected areas did not request to be annexed. 

The sections sit south of CR 280 and west of North Bagdad Road. Notice of the annexations was sent to property owners by June 2, according to the city. 

The portions of land fall within Leander’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, which have a city address but do not pay city taxes or receive city utility and emergency services. 

Leander Assistant City Manager Tom Yantis said the annexation acreage could not legally be more than 3,807 acres due to state laws limiting involuntary annexation, so the planned annexation will have to be reduced by more than 1,000 acres, at least.

Planning future development

Yantis said the proposed annexations are an effort to keep development in those regions up to city standards by imposing city zoning and building regulations. With a population growth rate of 10 percent each year, he said Leander is under pressure to develop quickly in order to keep up with population growth. 

“We really weren’t anticipating doing these annexations on this time frame,” he said. “But as the Legislature is limiting the city’s ability to do involuntary annexations in the future ... we believe that’s detrimental to our long-term growth, so we have to do this in order to protect those long-term growth interests.”

Annexation reform died during the regular session of the Texas Legislature, though lawmakers will return for a special legislative session July 18, after this edition of Community Impact Newspaper’s press date. Municipal annexation reform is on the governor’s list for lawmakers to discuss. 

Yantis said the upcoming possible annexations are an important part of maintaining the city’s land-use plan and will help maintain high building standards as the city expands. 

“We want to make sure that if new subdivisions are proposed, they are at the same level of quality that our rules require,” he said. “That helps protect not only property values of people outside the city limits but inside the areas adjacent to these large tracts.” 

Landowners’ reactions

There are four properties within the proposed annexation areas that serve as primary places of residence, Yantis said. Genny Kercheville is one such property owner and is against the involuntary annexation of her ranch along Nameless Road.

“We hope to keep the ranch for forever in our family,” Kercheville said. “It’s not like we’re planning to put some kind of business out on that road. So what we’re asking is that you not put us in there.” 

In past annexations, the city allowed qualifying property owners with agricultural or wildlife tax exemptions to enter into an agreement with the city to delay annexation for up to 20 years as long as they continue using the property for agriculture or wildlife management, Yantis said. The agreement can be renewed for up to 45 years, and its termination would result in annexation. 

Some landowners who do not qualify for tax code exemptions but own property subject to annexation requested to enter the same development agreement. During a June 1 meeting, City Council directed city staff to offer the development agreement to all landowners in the areas pending annexation.

At that meeting, Jeff Sweazea spoke on behalf of a family who owns an operating tax-exempt agricultural ranch and asked to be removed from the annexation. 

“The property is an [agriculture]-exempt ranch, and the annexation would limit our ability to manage the ranch due to some of the city’s more intensive ordinances and regulation,” he said. 

 Leander Mayor Chris Fielder said the annexation was a long-term plan to protect the city’s future interests.

“We’re looking to set an agreement in place that would allow for annexation in the event that the property sold for development,” Fielder said. 

The first reading of the annexations ordinance is scheduled for Aug. 3, and the final reading is Aug. 17. 

If City Council approves the annexations, the area properties that have not entered into development agreements will begin paying property taxes to the city in January 2019. Leander will provide police protection, fire and EMS services, solid-waste collection services and animal control, as well as maintain the parks, playgrounds and roads within the boundaries, according to city documents. The city will also make water, wastewater and sewage lines available, though property owners will front the cost of constructing internal lines to connect to the main lines. 

“If [property owners] have a home, it would already be serviced by a water well and septic system, and we aren’t going to change that,” Yantis said. “We are providing the same level of service we offer similar tracts of land that are within city limits.”