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Bryant annexation may go on ballot |
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
Bryant could grow by about 16 square miles, which would almost double the city’s size.
A Planning Commission official informed aldermen and other officials Thursday night that a public hearing will be held June 9 on an annexation proposal.
“I mailed out letters and brochures to the residents in the proposed annexation areas,” Planning Coordinator LaVenia Jones told the City Council.
“I have fielded about 18 phone calls so far and of those 18 only two were against the annexation. All the others were OK with it or very excited about it. The letters to the residents of the city will go out in the next water bills next week.”
Jones said the public hearing will be held in the courtroom at Boswell Municipal Complex during the 6 p.m. Planning Commission meeting.
The proposal would be placed on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Jones said the commission wants to hear from more residents.
Jones also requested that aldermen and Mayor Larry Mitchell attend the hearing.
“What we have done in the past is make sure that all of the department heads are there,” Jones said.
“We’ll get up and do a little speech before the public hearing actually starts to tell the [residents] how each department has been involved with the annexation process, what they do and do not do, because we get a lot of questions about animal control, what they can have or cannot have on their property, building permits and other things. If people want to talk about or bring up any issues they need to come to the public hearing to express that.”
The proposed annexation involves the areas of Springhill, Midland, Hilldale, Northlake, Wilkerson and property surrounding the new Saline County Regional Airport.
If approved, the annexed areas of Springhill, Midland and Hilldale would extend the Bryant city limits to the Pulaski County line.
“Currently, the city limits of Bryant is 18.99 square miles,” Jones said Friday. “If approved, it would make the Bryant city limits 34.9 square miles.”
Jones said the are other reasons why the annexation is needed.
“In essence, what we are doing is annexing all of our territorial jurisdiction,” Jones said.
“Right now we don’t have any authority on those properties. We have plans already for the areas including with the update of the comprehensive city plan which was approved by City Council last night. Basically, if someone wants to do something in those areas right now, we can’t help protect them because it isn’t Bryant city limits.”
Jones said residents of the Bryant territorial jurisdiction have much in common with residents inside the city limits, including the following:
•Their children go to Bryant schools and play on Bryant athletic teams
•The neighborhoods are developed to urban densities and with urban infrastructure, which are indistinguishable from the rest of Bryant
•When shopping in Bryant, the sales tax dollars contribute significantly to the city’s budget.
•Residents of the areas work and own businesses in Bryant
•Residents are members and serve on the boards of Bryant’s civic, charitable and religious organizations.
Jones said an annexation offers long-term benefits for residents, both those living within the city boundaries and the territorial jurisdiction. She said the annexation of the areas would allow full access to all city services as well as the right to vote on city issues that affect the community.
“As a community banded together, residents would have better opportunities for federal and state financial aid which are based on census figures,” Jones said.
“With the 2010 census looming, there are economic advantages to annexing these properties now rather than waiting to annex properties individually after being developed ... residents in the proposed annexation areas would be able to share in any federal and state financial assistance provided to the city.”
Jones said she plans to have the annexation proposal available on the city Web site, www.cityofbryant.org, along with a master street plan so residents can locate their neighborhoods to see if they live in the proposed annexation. Mitchell also asked that Jones provide information that will address tax issues and the possibility of changes with the city fire rating, which could effect a homeowners insurance rating.
“If the issue is placed on the ballot, it will be voted on by both the residents of the city and the residents of the potential annexation areas,” Jones said.
“The city council and the planning commission feel that it is extremely important to continue to be a progressive growing community and often times an annexation is a part of that process. All affected property owners and residents are invited to address the Planning Commission during the June 9 meeting.
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