Council extends city borders after home rule designation

On May 11, Bee Cave voters approved home rule status and a new charter for their city, a move that enabled council members to annex a total of 178.3 acres into the city throughout the rest of 2013.

Bee Cave City Council members annexed the first tract Sept. 10—approximately 108 acres of land surrounding Hwy. 71 just west of the city. The annexed area included property proposed for construction of a Covert automobile dealership.

Additional properties of about 58 acres along RR 620 across from The Home Depot and 11.5 acres on Hamilton Pool Road, excluding the Grumbles tract, were annexed Oct. 22 and Nov. 12, respectively.

In 2013, as a home rule city, Bee Cave was able to initiate annexation of up to 337.5 acres, or 10 percent of the 3,375 acres inside its city limits, Planning and Development Director Lindsey Withrow said. The 10 percent annexation cap applies annually to the city, with unused acres rolled over to the following calendar year, she said. Residents who meet certain agricultural, wildlife and timber exemption requirements can agree to not be annexed by signing a development agreement with the city, she said.

Richard Grumbles, owner of approximately 128 acres on Hamilton Pool Road, said during a Sept. 18 City Council meeting that he opposed the annexation of his property because the city had no benefits to offer his family, and annexation would make it difficult for him to keep the property's agriculture exemption.

Grumbles signed a development agreement with the city of Bee Cave allowing him to avoid annexation by maintaining his property as a working ranch. The agreement, which City Council approved Nov. 12, also permitted him to add up to five single-family homes on the property. However, according to the agreement, should the land be sold and/or stop being used for agricultural purposes, it would automatically be annexed into Bee Cave city limits.

Withrow said because Grumbles entered into a development agreement with the city, the acreage of his land is not counted against the city's maximum annual annexation cap.

On Dec. 10, Bee Cave City Council initiated annexation of an additional 58.6 acres of land on Hwy. 71 east of Bee Caves Road. Withrow said the pending measure will be voted upon by council in February and, if passed, will count toward the 2014 annexation limitation.