State law requires a municipality to offer development agreements in lieu of annexation to property owners who maintain a current agricultural tax exemption on property considered for annexation. If a development agreement is signed, the property will retain its extraterritorial jurisdiction status until it loses its agricultural exemption or the development agreement expires, whichever comes first.
The five-year annexation program identifies two areas for annexation consideration in 2009, Areas 2 and 66-1. Approximately 51 acres of land in Area 2, located south of SH 114 and east of I-35W (North Freeway) in Denton County, qualify for the development agreement in lieu of annexation. The Old Elizabethtown Trust owns this property in Fort Worth's extraterritorial jurisdiction, shown on Exhibit A. On October 7, 2009, the property owner signed his portion of the development agreement.
Also, approximately 217 acres of land in Area 66-1, located north of SH 114 and west of I-35W (North Freeway) in Denton County, qualify for the development agreement in lieu of annexation, as shown on Exhibit B. Several individuals or corporations own sites in this portion of Fort Worth's extraterritorial jurisdiction and are listed as Charles Bellinghausen; Industrial Development International (Texas) L.P.; Industrial Developments International, Inc.; Mitchell, Mitchell & Mitchell; Roanoke Ranch & Inv. Co.; and Doyle Wood. By October 5, 2009, the property owners noted above signed their respective development agreements.
The attached sample development agreement, Exhibit C, provides for the enforcement of development regulations; agricultural zoning regulations; municipal building, mechanical, plumbing, residential, energy and fire codes; building permit requirements; minimum building standard codes; environmental protection/compliance and health codes; prohibitions on septic tanks; the gas drilling and production ordinance; the Comprehensive Plan; and other City regulations as they currently exist or may be enacted in the future. Additionally, the Owners consent to the jurisdiction of the City's Municipal Court, boards and commissions to enforce City codes and regulations, as well as prosecuting criminal violations of City regulations. The development agreements cause the properties to be generally in compliance with development standards within the City limits.
All properties in the Old Elizabethtown Cemetery Road Enclave and the SH 114 Enclave are adjacent to COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. |
