What is Annexation?
Annexation is the methodical extension of a city's boundaries into adjacent unincorporated areas, and the corresponding extension of that city's services to the areas encompassed by the new boundaries. In North Carolina, annexation is governed by state statutes that allow cities and towns to annex adjacent areas, once those areas contain certain urban development characteristics (population density, subdivision of land into smaller lots, development intensity). Annexation has enabled Charlotte's land area to more than double since 1980, reaching about 299 square miles as of June 30, 2009.
The City of Charlotte has a policy of systematically undertaking annexation every two years, culminating with an effective annexation date of June 30th of the odd-numbered years. The City completed an annexation on June 30, 2009, with the next anticipated City-initiated annexation having a June 30, 2011 effective date. An area can qualify for annexation if it meets the prerequisites and one or more of the standards contained in the State annexation statutes.
2009 ANNEXATION PROCESS SUMMARY
Since annexation in Charlotte operates on a two-year cycle, and since the entire process has a two-year duration, the 2009 annexation process began in mid-2007 with the identification of "annexation study areas". These consisted of unincorporated areas in Mecklenburg County and within Charlotte's extraterritorial jurisdiction that demonstrate relatively high rates of change as documented by indicators such as issuance of building permits, approvals of subdivisions, and high rezoning petition activity. These characteristics generally indicate areas that might soon qualify for annexation and are therefore worthy of further study. It is within these areas that annexation analyses were conducted early in 2008 for the 2009 annexation.
The following measures have been taken as part of the 2009 annexation process:
June 11, 2007
City Council adopted Resolution of Consideration, establishing 2009 annexation study areas.
March, 2008
Annexation study area field work was undertaken in order to preliminarily determine areas that might qualify for annexation.
April – June 2008
Annexation qualifying areas were determined, and "service plans" developed for the qualifying areas that include identification of budget impacts (costs of service extensions and potential revenue implications) for each qualifying area. The service plans were integrated into Annexation Reports that described each qualifying area and the manner in which it qualified under the state annexation statutes.
July, 2008
A Preliminary Annexation Report was presented to City Council, which then adopted the Annexation Reports and "Resolutions of Intent", which scheduled the public informational meeting and public hearing on annexation qualifying areas.
September 18, 2008
Public informational meeting was held for property owners affected by annexations.
October 27, 2008
City Council conducted annexation public hearing for the 2009 annexation qualifying areas. The public hearing for the "Eastfield North" and "Eastfield South" qualifying areas (formerly the "Eastfield" qualifying area) was continued to the December 8, 2008 City Council meeting.
November 24, 2008
City Council adopted annexation ordinances for the following annexation qualifying areas: Hood Road North, Hood Road South, Spring Park, Providence/I-485, and Berewick. This represented final City Council action on these annexations.
December 8, 2008
City Council concluded the public hearings for the Eastfield North and Eastfield South annexation qualifying areas at their business meeting.
January 12, 2009
City Council adopted annexation ordinances for the Eastfield North and Eastfield South annexation qualifying areas. This represented final City Council action on these annexations, bringing the total number of 2009 annexation areas to seven – the five approved on 11/24/08, and the two approved on 1/12/09.
March, 2009
Notification/information packets were mailed to property owners affected by the approved annexations.
June 30, 2009
Effective annexation date – City services were extended to 2009 annexation areas.
2011 ANNEXATION PROCESS: A FIRST LOOK
The anticipated 2011 annexation schedule follows:
January – May, 2010
City staff will determine what geographies within the study areas will qualify for annexation under the statutes, and will develop service plans and Annexation Reports for those qualifying areas.
June, 2010
City Council will receive information on the qualifying areas and will be asked to adopt the Annexation Reports and to authorize staff to proceed with the annexation process.
Annexation qualifying areas will be posted on Planning’s website and owners of properties in those areas will receive notification and annexation information.
August, 2010
A public informational meeting will be held for owners of properties affected by annexation. City Council will conduct public hearings for each of the annexation qualifying areas.
November, 2010
City Council will be asked to approve annexation areas and to adopt budget ordinances necessary for the extension of City services into those areas.
March, 2011
Informational packets will be mailed to owners of properties in annexation areas
June 30, 2011
Annexation will become effective; services will be extended.
Updated December 17, 2009
