Two of the three annexations that Pearland City Council approved in November may soon be dropped if an ordinance to repeal them comes to a vote, possibly by the end of March.

After an executive session on Monday, City Councilmember Tony Carbone made a motion requesting city staff to prepare an ordinance to repeal the annexations of areas A and L, and to look at how to transition away from providing fire and emergency services to those areas as well. The motion was supported unanimously.

Carbone voted originally against these two annexations in November, but he said he supported the council's decision once it was made.

Public outcry did not relent after the council vote, and residents of one of the areas even got the attention of the Brazoria County district attorney a typo on one of its ordinances.

"Circumstances changed. ... This is a chance to do what is right," Carbone told Community Impact Newspaper.  "Everybody on both sides wants to put this to bed."

Residents in the annexation areas who have been putting pressure on the city to repeal say this comes as welcome news, but they aren't celebrating just yet.

"I'm not letting myself get too excited," said Gerard Hauser, who has lived in Area A for over 40 years. "But this is big. It's huge. It's been a battle."

The possibility of losing emergency services was not a huge concern for Hauser, but he said he would have to see exactly what the city spells out in its ordinance.

According to the city, residents will have some options to consider.

"The primary objective would be to provide opportunities for property owners in the ETJ to enter into appropriate agreements with the City for provision of such services or allow them the opportunity to create an Emergency Services District, or other mechanism, to provide those services supported by City taxes," a statement from the City of Pearland reads.

Barring that, Brazoria County would become the primary responder for those services.

Area A is 895 acres and is home to over 250 residents, according to previous Community Impact reporting.  Area L is 1,004 acres and includes the Pearland Regional Airport. Area C, the only annexation area that would remain in the city limits if the repeal is passed, is 20 acres.

The Pearland City Council's next regular meeting is March 26.