Report Prepared by: Kim Espinosa, Planning Manager, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Overview of North Merced Annexation Feasibility Study Process
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City Council will receive an overview of the proposed North Merced Annexation Feasibility Study process.
RECOMMENDATION
Information Only.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
None.
AUTHORITY
Not Applicable.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
"Future Annexations/Growth of City" is listed under "Future Planning" on the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Council Goals and Priorities.
DISCUSSION
Background
On January 3, 2012, the Merced City Council adopted the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan, which includes a 28,000-acre growth boundary [known as the Specific Urban Development Plan (SUDP)/Sphere of Influence (SOI)]. In August 2016, the City of Merced executed a new Tax Sharing Agreement with the County of Merced, which allows annexations to the City to move forward.
Prior to the adoption of the General Plan, throughout the 1980's, 1990's, and early 2000's, the City grew at a steady pace and annexations occurred on a regular basis. In fact from 1997-2008, 20 annexations were completed adding over 3,835 acres of residential, commercial, and industrial land to the City's inventory. The last annexation to the City was completed in 2009, just after the start of the great recession. From 2009 to 2015, no annexation applications were processed by the City due in part to the downturn in the economy and housing market as well as the lack of a tax sharing agreement with the County.
In 2015 and 2016, two annexation applications for properties directly adjacent to the City Limits (of approximately 8 and 28 acres respectively) were submitted to the City, and have been going through the environmental review process and City approval process. Also during this time, the City began work on the City's Wastewater Collection System Master Plan to address wastewater collection infrastructure required to serve the City's Sphere ...
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