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Austin Expands: Annexation & Service Debate

Wednesday, April 4, 1984 special called
  • The city held a public hearing on the limited-purpose annexation of over 1,500 acres of land, primarily along major corridors like RR 2222, Loop 360, and Highway 620.
  • These annexations aimed to extend Austin's authority over zoning, building standards, and health codes in these 1000-foot wide road segments.
  • Residents expressed strong concerns about potentially losing essential county services, such as police protection and road maintenance, following annexation.
  • Mayor Mullen clarified that Travis County remained responsible for providing services in these limited-purpose areas, noting the city was working to resolve the county's "misunderstanding" of this type of annexation.

Full Transcript

City Council Ron Mullen Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Roger Duncan Sally Shipman Mark E. Spaeth Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge City Clerk CITY OF FOUNDED 1839 Austin City Council MINUTES For APRIL 4, 1984 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: 6:00 Ρ.Μ. Mayor Mullen called to order the Special Called Meeting of the Council scheduled for 6:00 p.m., noting the presence of all Councilmembers. The Mayor announced the meeting was convened for a public hearing on annexation of the following: .. b. c. 706 acres of land - 569 acres out of and a part of the D. and M. Railroad Company Burvey No. 73, L. Fritz Survey, Alex Dunlap Survey No. 805, C. Jergin Survey No. 704, A. E. Livingston Survey No. 455, 8. λ. and M.G. Railroad Company Survey No. 20, and the William Frampton Survey in Travis County, , Texas, and 137 acres out of and a part of the William Frampton Survey in Williamson County, Texas. (C7a-84-001) 500 acres of land out of and a part of the James Jett Survey No. 1, the O. Dalton Survey, the William Swain Survey No. 810, the J. N. Preece Survey, the William Bell Survey No. 805, B. Payne Survey No. 288, and the Alex Dunlap Survey No. 805. (C7a-84-002) 310 acres of land out and a part of the John Swesey Survey No. 506, λ. Eanes Survey No. 509, B. Beacham Survey No. 508, Isaac Perkins Survey No. 37, F. C. Pecht Survey Nos. 69 and 593, C. Parker Survey No. 703, Ν. Sergeant Survey No. 499, S. Heffington Survey No. 588, W. L. Heffington Survey No. 590, E. C. Gaines Survey, and the J. M. Teague Survey No. 40. (C7a-64-003) Dennis Foster, representing Edward Morrow a property owner at 7526 Bee Caves Road, who is opposed to limited annexation appeared before Council to express his clients opposition. i Council Memo 2 4/4/84 Gary Browder, who lives in the area, said he understands the need for the City to control the fringe area but has a hard time understanding when it deprives the people of the basic County services which they now enjoy. He cited police protection and road maintenance. Mayor Mullen stated, "In some cases the County has chosen not to give services in the areas of limited purpose annexation. We have had a discussion recently with them and are sending a team over to County Court to discuss what limited purpose annexation means because they did not understand it and describe what we do and don't do and what they should be doing and not doing. That means they should continue on with all the services they are providing now, including roads and police service. Whether they get resolved or not is not that important. If they do not assume their responsibilities and keep up their responsibilities then you need to go to them not us because limited purpose annexation does not in any way change their responsibilities and if you have a problem it is with them, not us because we are not supposed to provide police service." Mr. Lillie, Director of Planning, explained, "These corridors are at RR 2222 from the City limits out Loop 360 and out to its intersection with 620, 620 from 183 down to Comanche Trail excepting that portion which is in the Cedar Park ETJ and 2244 from Loop 360 two miles out to Commons Ford Road. These are corridors that are 1000 feet wide, 500 feet from center line and the rights of way are generally 100 feet wide so about 450 feet of private property on either side is being annexed for limited purpose which includes zoning, building standards and health and sanitation codes and ordinances. Included on this map you will find Anderson Mill and the Northwest Municipal Utility Districts which are currently being reviewed, the River Place District, already approved and a brand new municipal utility district on the west side of 620 and there are three water districts south of Lake Austin on 2244 that will have overlapping. This is a total of about 300 acres on 2244, 706. acres on 620 and 500 acres on 2222. Mr. Bell with Management and Budget has submitted a fiscal note that would include costs for administrative services, processing zoning applications and building permits and also public work costs. Those costs should be covered by fees that would be generated by application." ADJOURNMENT Council adjourned its meeting at 6:25 p.m. on Mayor Pro Tem Trevino's motion, Mayor Mullen's second, 7-0 Vote.