Zoning now locked in annexation plan
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

As El Campo city annexation efforts took a step forward last week, City Council also sealed the zoning fate of each targeted area.

Those zoning regulations will affect not only annexed land if Council approves the final ordinance Dec. 11, but exempted agricultural sections as well.

With a signed ag agreement, landowners will have a 15-year exemption from annexation - but only if the land remains undeveloped and has a proven agricultural use.

Any development would forfeit the agreement and bring the property into the city limits with all zoning regulations enforced in addition to other city ordinances.

Future development is one reason El Campo City Attorney Ronny Collins told Council they may want to consider proceeding with annexations of agricultural areas.

By doing so, the attorney told Council, it limits what sorts of potential developments could occur in areas just outside the city limits.

Last week in a 4-3 vote, Council approved proceeding with annexation of the Sandy Corner neighborhood along with 400 feet east of Hwy. 71 North to Wilbur Road - contingent upon an industrial agreement - as well as ag land along FM 2765 owned by the Bode family and ag land tracts south of FM 2765.

The motion also called for the city limits to extend on East Jackson to encompass Wharton County Electric Cooperative and capture all previously debated land west of South Meadow Lane and along the U.S. 59 south corridor.

In all but one instance, Council's vote during the Nov. 27 session sided with Planning & Zoning recommendations as to the land use plans.

During October meetings, P&Z recommended land north of the city limits directly on Hwy. 71 should be largely commercial and industrial changing to residential as the tract approaches Sandy Corner Road.

Commissioners also recommended residential areas along FM 2765 and commercial use on East Jackson.

Council split with P&Z officials on the best use for an L-shaped tract both north and south of Jackson Street from South Meadow Lane toward the Rice Belt bridge.

While P&Z recommended one commercial and two industrial zones in the area, Council voted to accept commercial use to the north of the section and heavy industrial use along with U.S. 59 corridor.

The measure was approved 5-2 with Councilwoman Gloria Harris and Councilman Ed Erwin against.

The zoning will go into effect Jan. 1 if City Council approves the formal zoning ordinance Dec. 11.