Memphis council votes to trim South Cordova from its bounds

The city of Memphis will trim a roughly two-square-mile section of South Cordova from its boundaries over the next two years, giving residents of the area a victory in a fight they’ve waged for years.

With this de-annexation, the third and last in a planned series aimed at decreasing the strain on city services extending to Memphis’ sprawling outer reaches, the city will shed roughly 4,000 residents and about 1,800 housing units spread across 2.3 square miles.

Councilman J. Ford Canale said the move will allow the city to reinvest in some of its core neighborhoods, and characterized it as “right-sizing” the city.

“I do not believe urban sprawl is good unless you can take density with you,” Canale said.

Public support for de-annexation

All of the members of the public who spoke to the council on Tuesday favored de-annexation, and some said they saw their property values decrease after they were annexed into the city.

The city doubled its footprint through annexing additional land over a 40-year period, stretching its service area to more than 300 square miles.

The South Cordova de-annexation process will start in January 2020 and be complete by 2021.

Councilman Sherman Greer said it’s “troubling” that people want to leave the city.

“It should never be an us against you all kind of thing,” Greer said.

No reduction in revenue expected

As a result, the city will lose roughly $3 million in annual tax dollars, but won’t see a net reduction in revenue, because population growth is expected and the city will save money by no longer offering services in the area, the city’s Chief Operating Officer Doug Mcgowen said.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, who represents the area, issued a statement Tuesday urging council members to vote in favor.

South Cordova residents in the deannexed area will pay city taxes through 2020, and will pay a declining supplemental city tax for another three years. The residents will no longer be Memphis city taxpayers in 2024.

The council voted to de-annex the Southwind-windyke, Rocky Point, Eads and Riverbottoms areas last year. City officials are considering a new comprehensive plan called Memphis 3.0, which carries a tag line of “build up not out.”

Jamie Munks covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jamie.munks@commercialappeal.com. Follow her on Twitter @journo_jamie_.