By Matt Ward —
Landowners whose property could be moved inside Fredericksburg’s city limits had more questions than concern during a public hearing Monday.
A second public hearing is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18 — also in conjunction with the Fredericksburg City Council meeting planned that date at the Gillespie County Law Enforcement Center.
Considering input from both hearings, the council is expected to officially start annexation proceedings the first week of September to kick off a 90-day wait period toward completion.
Residents and business owners of property stretching approximately 145 acres along the southeastern corridor of U.S. 290 East wanted assurances that they could maintain well service, as well as agriculture exemptions related to property taxes.
Several property owners south of 290 asked why the proposed annexation is drawn with the majority of annexed property south of the highway.
“The state law requires that you have a minimum width (1,000 feet) for your annexation,” Brian Jordan, city development director, said.
“When we applied that across both sides of 290, it was bisecting several tracts. Wherever that strip affected a property, we went ahead and added that property as a whole,” Jordan said.
The only exception, he added, was on property owned by Sharon Hodges in the southwestern portion of the annexation territory. In that instance, the annexation line borders Barons Creek.
City officials indicated no plans are on the table to adjust the annexation plan.
The proposed site was selected over six other possible annexation areas, including land northwest on U.S. 87 North and 290 West, northeast on Texas 16 North and RM 1631, south on 87 South, southwest on 16 South, southwest on FM 2093 and a small tract bordering Cherry and Morse streets.
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