Annexation Opponents Speak Up

ARLINGTON - Two property owners voiced opposition during a public hearing Tuesday on whether Arlington should annex 450 acres just north of the city limits.

The 12 mostly undeveloped parcels, east of Farm Road 157 and south of the Trinity Railway Express line, lie in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction and can be annexed only by Arlington. If the annexation were approved, Arlington would begin collecting property taxes on the land but would have to provide infrastructure and the same level of service, such as water and garbage collection, that it does in other parts of the city. Annexation would also allow the city to impose its design standards on development.

A man representing the Armentrout family, owners of 110 acres that include the historic Bird's Fort, said annexation would raise property taxes and make it difficult for the family to hold onto the land. Another man representing Reynolds Asphalt Co., which owns 10 acres off Calloway Road, said the company isn't receiving any Arlington-provided services, such as road or water service, and he does not feel the city could provide any services the business might need.

Representatives of the Huffines Communities of Dallas, which is developing the Viridian master-planned community in that part of the city, voiced support for annexation during the hearing.

The next public hearing is scheduled during the Council's meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The council will not vote on the matter until July 24.

In other business, the council unanimously approved economic development incentives totaling $469,535 to help Texas Health Resources relocate to the Chase Bank building in downtown Arlington and pay for storm water improvements near Arlington Memorial Hospital. City staff said the incentives would help bring new jobs to the city and pay for infrastructure that benefits the public. Mayor Robert Cluck recused himself from the vote because of his ties to the company.