SA Council OKs annexation ordinance

Nirenberg, Gonzalez voted against proposal

SAN ANTONIOUpdated at 2:02 p.m.:

City Council approves annexation ordinance. Councilman Ron Nirenberg and Councilwoman Shirley Gonzalez voted against the proposal. More on KSAT 12 News at 5.

Original Story:

The San Antonio City Council was scheduled to vote Thursday to adopt an ordinance on a three-year municipal annexation plan.

The ordinance would allow the city to annex approximately 15 square miles of the Interstate 10 West area. The city would begin providing services to residents and businesses in that area in the 37th month from the date the City Council approves the annexation plan.

During the three years of the annexation process, residents will remain in extraterritorial jurisdiction and will not be zoned or be able to vote in municipal elections.

Some people living in the area along I-10 West said they are concerned that they could see as much as a $2,000 tax increase if the city’s plans go through.

Dozens of residents dressed in blue "No Annexation" T-shirts, spoked before city council and voiced their opposition to the proposed ordinance.

"A big deal is they're not asking us. Clearly everybody in the area is opposed to this. Why don't they just come ask? Why don't they approach us and come up with a plan?" said Mike Stewart, president of the group, Homeowners Against Annexation.

In contrast, there wasn't much opposition to annex a commercial corridor along Highway 281.

If approved, commercial land would be annexed by the end of the year. The residential portion of the area wouldn't go into effect until 2034. Some residents told city council they're OK with the plan.

Initial annexation talks began in December 2014 and were presented to City Council in November.

Last month, the Planning Commission recommended the city continue with plans to annex the two areas.

http://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/Planning/Annexation/PC-PH-Presentation.pdf

The city’s annexation has scaled back in recent years. In the 1980s and 90s, the city had an aggressive annexation policy. A change in state law in the early 2000s, however, made it more difficult for municipalities to annex unincorporated land. 


About the Authors:

Ivan Herrera has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. His work for KSAT 12 and KSAT.com includes covering breaking news of the day, as well as producing Q&As and content for the "South Texas Pride" and "KSAT Money" series.