City & County Joint Workshop focuses on key Annexation issues & Master Plan
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Maverick County Commissioners Court and the City of Eagle Pass City Council held a joint workshop on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at the International Center for Trade to discuss important issues as the City’s Master Plan, future annexation plans, and future growth of the community in an orderly fashion. The joint workshop highlighted differences between the City and County on which areas need to be annexed by the City of Eagle Pass. The City prefers undeveloped land while the County prefers the annexation of Colonias (subdivisions) adjacent to the City limits as a priority.
Eagle Pass Community Development and Planning Director Bryan Shea presented a briefing to both governmental entities on the short term and long term plans and analysis of the City of Eagle Pass and its Master Plan, which more than likely will have the annexation of certain areas or real properties in the immediate future.
Shea noted that the City of Eagle Pass currently in the process of updating its original 1995 City Master Plan which is used in all City land use application processes. “This addresses various topics including land use, economic development, parks and recreation, public facilities, and housing,” said Shea.
Shea presented the process that is planned to be undertaken in revising the City’s Master Plan. “One of the components of the plan is annexation,” said Shea.
Shea stated that the City’s annexation plan will provide structure to the City’s Master Plan and future development in the community. Shea added that the City of Eagle Pass is in the process of finalizing a general approach that the City will use in annexation of land outside the city limits.
“Some of the areas within the City that are called ‘doughnut holes’ which are areas in the County but they are surrounded in all four sides by the city,” said Shea.
“We want to look at those and other areas along the state highways along 57 and 277 headed towards Del Rio and 277 headed towards Loop 480 and the old El Indio Highway,” said Shea.
Shea explained that these areas are being looked at through a short term process which would then be followed by a long term process as well.
“The short term process would allow the City to annex the ‘doughnut hole’ areas, also large undeveloped acreage tracts, and lastly it allows the City to annex Colonias,” said Shea.
Shea stated that a map was to be put together signaling out those areas being looked at for annexation which will be presented to the City Council with recommendations that would cover various things, including the ability of the City government to provide the services (Service Plan) needed for these areas to be annexed and establishment of procedures to begin the annexation process.
Shea defined what the long term annexation process is and what consideration and studies are needed to be done, including financial analysis, to determine the viability by the City to provide services (water, sewer, police & fire protection, parks & recreation, etc.) to areas possibly to be considered for annexation.
“The Master Plan is going to provide some general goals for annexation to be used by the City,” added Shea.
Maverick County Commissioner of Precinct 1 Jerry Morales asked City Planner Shea if Cedar Ridge and Las Quintas subdivisions were being considered as part of the “Doughnut hole’ theory presented by him for annexation by the City. Commissioner Morales noted these two subdivisions are completely surrounded by the City limits.
Shea replied that if they are surrounded by City limits they could be considered, and if they are not, then they could be taken into consideration for annexation if they complied with state laws regarding Colonias.
Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated that all these points were valid ones to consider under the overall Colonia annexation but that what was being looked at were circumstances of parcels of real property that are undeveloped and planned for development.
Mayor Cantu noted that there had to be a consideration and determination between both entities to see what areas are to be prioritized for annexation.
Commissioner Morales questioned Mayor Cantu if the decision to go after large parcels of land for annexation before Colonias was solely the decision of the City of Eagle Pass or was the County’s input into the decision going to be taken into consideration by the City.
“I feel we can target a lot more residents if we target the Colonias rather than targeting large acreage that is undeveloped,” said Morales.
“ I feel that Colonias should not be at the bottom of that line (annexation),” said Morales.
“ I don’t think that they are so much at the bottom of the line. Those are just certain instances that we’re seeing right now,” replied Mayor Cantu to Commissioner Morales.
Mayor Cantu explained that the annexation through preliminary meetings and research are to take into consideration annexing different Colonias that might be ready and feasible to be taken into the City through annexation and certain time frames.
City Councilman Luis E. Sifuentes added that the City was not just looking at annexing undeveloped parcels of land, but that every aspect of an annexation process was being looked at and considered, particularly areas adjacent to the City. “We’re not leaving these things out of the picture or at the bottom either,” added Sifuentes.
Sifuentes noted that the annexation plan was to involve all the areas signaled out which include empty parcels of land to be able to set a control of development in the future.
“We want to make sure that the growth is consistent with the Master Plan.” added Sifuentes.
Both entities then discussed the preparedness of certain Colonias for the annexation transformation as required by regulations.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo noted he had serious concerns over statements made concerning the City’s prioritization of areas in the annexation plan/process.
Judge Saucedo discussed the ‘Doughnut hole’ theory and how Las Quintas and Cedar Ridge subdivisions actually fall into that category. “ I don’t see how that is not categorized as a doughnut hole.” said Saucedo.
Judge Saucedo noted that these annexation issues have been an ongoing dilemma for years between the City and County. Judge Saucedo added that the City of Eagle Pass has failed to annex certain Colonias due to allegations of it costing the City too much to be annexed.
“I am just trying to create a dialogue as to what would be a priority and what would not be. Not to necessarily look at certain areas that would be easier to annex than others,” said Judge Saucedo.
Judge Saucedo stated that what was being looked at and being proposed by the County-to annex Colonias-was understood to be an unpopular action among county residents but that in the long run they would be receptive to being absorbed into the City due to the services provided.
“We’re just asking for your help. For us to be able to try to breath a little bit so we can take care of the other colonias. If we start annexing, the County can put those resources into other colonias.” said Judge Saucedo.
Both entities discussed the use of the Flood Protection Study in the Master Plan Process, possible funding available through the state or federal governments for such projects, resistance by county residents against annexation, and how Colonia residents can be educated on how annexation is best for them in the long run. Many Colonia residents do not want to be annexed by the City of Eagle Pass because they do not wan to pay higher ad valorem taxes on their properties. However, as Judge Saucedo noted the long term benefits of annexation outweigh the disadvantages, especially better services from the City.
The Eagle Pass City Council approved to set into motion looking at remedies on how to pay for the increased costs associated with annexation of established Colonias through possible federal grants.
During the meeting, it is quite obvious that the City of Eagle Pass priority is to annex undeveloped, large parcels of real property along U.S. Highway 277, U.S. Highway 57, and Loop 480 instead of existing Colonias or subdivisions in the County, while the County’s priority is to get the Colonias adjacent to the City limits being annexed and receive better services than what the County can provide them. This dilemma is a sticking point of future Master Plan and annexation meetings between the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
