Public Hearing 11/21

Members of the City Council and Board of County Commissioners joined together for a public hearing on the planned Impact Zone that affects both entities.  The Impact Zone is defined by the area that includes roughly a half mile outside the city limits.  It is required for the city and county to revisit the Impact Zone boundaries on a regular basis in order to determine whether it still reflects the anticipated growth of the city.  Present were City Councilmembers Jaime Olsen and Lance Tripp, Mayor Joan Hawkins, and Chairman Bill Lewis and Commissioner Ken Eliason from the Board of Commissioners.

The Zone helps both the city and county make development decisions and regulate growth.  When a property is determined to be in the Impact Zone, that property can be annexed into the city and receive city services, as well as the accompanying taxes.  Until an area is officially annexed, the choice of whether to pursue city services is left to the property owner.  

The meeting was opened by Jaime Olsen.  The hearing was designed to receive public input on the current version of the Area of Impact map generated by a committee composed of city and county officials as well as members of the public.  The committee has been meeting for almost exactly a year, during which time they discussed various issues related to the implementation of the zone.  The boundaries of the Area of Impact on the proposed map are fairly similar to those of the existing map, with changes to account for natural geography and established section lines.  The area has not been significantly increased.

After Olsen explained the purpose of the Impact Zone, the floor was then opened for public comment, following standard public hearing rules.    

County Commission Chairman Bill Lewis stated that “One thing that should be stressed is that we need to grow from the city out.”  It was his expressed belief that the impact zone should be defined by where the city can provide water and sewer.  

Several property owners on the edge of the Area of Impact spoke with the committee about how the designation would affect their current property and any decisions they might make in the future.  

It was determined that any property which was contiguous with any parcel inside the zone would be considered as all belonging to the area of impact, as long as a connecting segment remained.  

Commissioner Eliason advised that the committee had tried to follow existing property and section lines as much as possible to create the clearest map. 

Mayor Hawkins repeated the point that anyone determined to be inside, or partially inside the area of impact could request city annexation.

City Councilmember Jaime Olsen reminded the audience that any area between a property requesting annexation and the city limits would also have to be annexed.

Councilmember Lance Tripp asked what the process would be for adjusting the boundaries at this point in the process.  Chairman Lewis believed that such a change would require the map to be sent back to both the city and county for reconsideration.  

Jaime Olsen explained that until a property was annexed into the city, its taxes wouldn’t be affected.  City services which are brought out to locations outside their current reach would be the responsibility of property developers seeking those services.

Olsen stated that the county and city planned to revisit the map every five or so years.

Jaime Olsen reiterated that if you were in the IZ and you wanted to develop, you’d have to work with the city and the county.  Even in the IZ you need an acre at least.  

Lewis explained that the intention is for developers eventually to hook up to the city to prevent drilling excess wells.

A discussion about future plans to potentially “loop” the water system to increase reliability and pressure were discussed.

The proposed map was approved by the county commission at last week’s meeting, leaving the approval of the city pending before the ordinance is adopted.  Once adopted, it will be publicly printed with a legal description of the property defined as the Area of Impact.  

The meeting was adjourned, and the next City Council meeting will be held on December 13, where the map will be approved or rejected.