Board OKs voluntary annexations
The Hot Springs Board of Directors unanimously adopted ordinances Tuesday night approving voluntary annexations for two parcels and parts of two others near the Hills at Belvedere on Park Avenue.
The annexations will increase the city’s land area by more than 20 acres.
Developer Thomas Guerrero petitioned the Garland County Court to bring his 10.39-acre parcel and adjacent 10.33 acres he sold in February into the city. County Judge Rick Davis issued the subsequent annexation decree in May.
Oak Creek Drive traverses the 16 acres Guerrero owns adjacent to the 10.39 acres that’s been annexed. The former tract fronts Park Av-
enue and is part of the corporate limits.
The state’s annexation code enables voluntary annexations if the territory is contiguous to the corporate limits, and if property owners owning more than half the affected acreage assent to the annexation petition.
Guerrero’s company owns several undeveloped parcels in phase one of the Oakbrook Heights Subdivision north of the newly annexed area. Information presented to the board by city staff said Guerrero intends to extend the subdivision into the annexed lands.
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Lance Spicer told the board Guerrero plans to petition the planning commission to have the area rezoned to suburban residential. Rural residential is the default designation the city assigns to all newly annexed areas.
The other annexation ordinances will make two parcels that straddle the corporate boundary whole entities of the city. The annexation decree for Annette Meredith’s petition was granted in May, bringing the vacant parcel she owns in the 2400 block of Park Avenue entirely into the city.
The northwest section of the parcel is currently in the city limits.
The decree for William and Suzanne Irwin’s petition was also issued in July, bringing the north corner of a parcel they own in the 2400 block of Park Avenue into the city.
All of the newly annexed lands will be represented by Position 1 on the city board.