DEPARTMENT: Planning & Community Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Bridgett White, AICP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Second public hearing regarding the annexation of Neal Road Area consisting of approximately 5.9 square miles, in south Bexar County
SUMMARY:
Second public hearing regarding the annexation of the Neal Road Area consisting of approximately 5.9 square miles in south Bexar County, generally located north of South Loop 1604 East, east of Applewhite Road, west of Pleasanton Road, and south of Mauermann Road.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On December 31, 2016, the City of San Antonio extended its city limits by approving the full purpose annexation of approximately 19.62 square miles of land known as the South San Antonio Annexation Area. The Neal Road Annexation Area is located adjacent to one of the South San Antonio Annexation Areas within the City of San Antonio’s southern extraterritorial jurisdiction and consists of approximately 5.9 square miles. (A map of the Annexation Area is attached as EXHIBIT A.)
The Annexation Area primarily consists of agricultural uses, vacant land, residential uses and a sparse number of commercial properties. It contains 163 parcels of land, of which 82 parcels contain residential uses. The area is within close proximity to the Medina River, the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus, and the Toyota manufacturing plant. The proposed annexation area also contains portions of the Land Heritage Institute whose goal is preserve natural, archeological and historical assets in the area.
According to Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code, the proposed annexation is exempt from a three-year Municipal Annexation Plan because it contains less than 100 separate tracts of land where one or more residential dwellings are located. The proposed annexation also will expand San Antonio’s municipal boundaries and public service area. The annexation will be part of City Council District 3.
State law requires that the municipality follow annexation procedures, which includes the publication of the public hearing notification, two public hearings by the governing body and the adoption of the annexation ordinance. On April 20, 2017, the Department of Planning and Community Development (Department) mailed all the property owners in the annexation area a letter notifying them that their property is an area being considered for annexation by the City and provided the dates of public hearings for annexation. On April 26, 2017, the Department offered via certified mail development (non-annexation) agreements to property owners of land assessed as agriculture, wildlife management or timber uses for ad valorem purposes. An interactive mapping system on the Department’s webpage will display the annexation area, which can be searched by property address, the property owner name, or by parcel identification number.
On May 11, 2017, through Resolution, the San Antonio City Council directed the Department to prepare a Service Plan for this area prior to the publication of the notice of the required public hearing, in accordance to Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code. (The Service Plan is attached as EXHIBIT B.) The intent of Service Plan is to provide specifics on the services and capital improvements to be provided by the municipality after the area has been annexed for full purposes. The Department will publish the availability of the Service Plan, and present it at the City Council public hearing as a requirement of Section 43.056(j) of the Texas Local Government Code. The Service Plan will be available for public viewing at the Department’s Office, located at 1400 South Flores and at other location(s), and will be posted on the Department’s internet web page. The first public hearing was held on May 31, 2017.
ISSUE:
This is the second public hearing regarding the annexation of the Neal Road Area consisting of approximately 5.9 square miles in south Bexar County, generally located north of South Loop 1604 East, east of Applewhite Road, west of Pleasanton Road, and south of Mauermann Road.
The proposed annexation would protect the quality of development through the extension of city codes and the application of zoning, and protect economic investment in the area by providing certainty and predictability, facilitating long range planning in environmentally sensitive areas and encouraging sustainable growth and development. The proposed annexation is consistent with the 2015 SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan goals and policies:
Growth and City Form Goal 3: Strategic annexation benefits existing and future city residents and does not burden the City fiscally.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Policy 2: Develop a growth and annexation plan that reduces negative environmental impacts of new development.
Additionally, the annexation is consistent with the goals in City’s Annexation Policy:
• The city should consider annexing any areas that have the greatest potential for aiding the protection of natural, cultural, historic, military and economic assets.
• Protects the City’s ability to expand city limits
• Extends regulations before development occurs
• Annex areas where unregulated development could have an adverse impact on military mission/operations or an adverse environmental impact.
Full municipal services will be provided to the area in accordance with Local Government Code 43.056(b). Under full purpose annexation, the City will enforce all ordinances, provide services as required by law, and assesses property and sales tax. Once the Annexation Area is annexed into San Antonio, it would benefit from standardized full City services protecting health, safety and well-being, including public safety services, such as police protection, fire fighting, hazardous material response (hazmat), and emergency medical services. The Annexation Area will be served by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) South Patrol Substation, located at 711 Mayfield. The San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) will provide fire and medical emergency services (EMS) to the Annexation Area consistent with the provision of services in similar areas of San Antonio. SAFD will be providing fire protection and EMS from Fire Station 50 located at 15000 Applewhite Road and Fire Station 22 at 1100 March Drive.
In addition to State requirements to annex an area for full purposes, San Antonio must follow annexation procedures provided by its city charter. The City of San Antonio Charter requires that proposed annexations are considered by the Planning Commission, and the publication of the annexation ordinance 30 days prior to the final adoption. Below is a proposed schedule of all required actions for the Annexation Area.
|
2017 Dates |
Required Actions |
|
April 20 |
− Written Notification to Property Owners |
|
May 11 |
− City Council’s Direction to Prepare Service Plan |
|
May 24 |
− Planning Commission Hearing and Consideration |
|
June 6 |
− Zoning Commission Hearing and Consideration |
|
May 31 |
− First City Council Public Hearing |
|
June 1 |
− Second City Council Public Hearing |
|
June 22 |
− City Council Consideration and Action on the Annexation Ordinance, Adoption of the Service Plan, Development Agreements, and Zoning |
|
June 22 |
− Effective Date of Annexation Ordinance |
ALTERNATIVES:
There is no alternative associated with this public hearing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
City Staff is currently preparing a financial impact study for this Annexation Area.
RECOMMENDATION:
Action will be required at the consideration of the annexation ordinance.