I know, I know. You think you're safe out there in the hinterlands. Safe from the frustrations of a Unified Development Ordinance. Safe from the freaks and geeks hanging around the Vance Monument. Safe from Bryan Freeborn and the rest of City Council.
You think you're safe. But you think wrong.
Just take a look at this map. It shows all the land that the city desires to absorb. Amazing, isn't it? Council may not annex every last bit, but the map gives you an idea of what it could, and perhaps would, do sometime soon.
To that end, Ashvegas City Council plans to hold a special meeting at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on a third floor room of City Hall. "The purpose of the meeting will be to consider adoption of the resolution of consideration identifying areas with potential for future annexation," according to the council agenda.
These are the areas council will move to annex immediately: the Heritage Business Park (Leicester Highway); Honey Drive (East Chunns Cove); sections of Enka Park, Sand Hill/Oakview, Ashewood (off School Road), Heathbrook and Sweeten Creek. We know this because a couple of years ago, City Council did the preliminary paperwork to get the process started. Now council can move and suck you in within 70 days.
Why should you care? First and foremost, it will hit your wallet. If you own a home in the county, you're paying 59 cents per $100 of property valuation. On a $200,000 home, that's just more than $1,000 in property taxes. If you're annexed into the city, your tax rate nearly doubles, to $1.12 per $100 of valuation. The tax bill on your $200,000 home jumps to $2,240.
Second, you should care because nobody has a real growth plan for Buncombe County. There's no zoning in the county, but Ashvegas will bring complicated development rules and regulations. So the city will extend its zoning reach to the annexed areas, and even beyond, in what is called "extra-territorial jurisdiction."
Welcome to Ashvegas.
Any questions? Call the City Clerk's Office at 259-5601.
7 comments:
Yes, but Buncombe County NEEDS a plan for growth.
And, if you're using city services and city schools, then you oughta be paying city taxes. Annexation is asking folks to pay their fair share for living in our beautiful city.
Ashevegas?
I don't get it.
I don't have an opinion on annexation either way right now, but what the heck does Las Vegas have to with this issue?
Why not call it "Atlantaville" or "Ashemecca". It would make about as much sense.
It sounds like since opponents to annexation don't have a plan for sustainable, healthy growth - they have created an innacurate, imaginary word that can fit easily on a bumper-sticker.
Paul,
Ashevegas is a term of endearment. Intended ironically, it's a fun way to talk about our fair city.
...and it's better than "hooterville"! :)
BS,
You don't read Ashvegas? For shame. Go now to www.ashevilleblog.com.
Annexation on the Fast Track
By Tim Peck
Adding to concerns about zoning, revaluation, development and district elections, Buncombe County must confront another controversy on the horizon: Many unsuspecting Buncombe County residents could very well have a new mailing address in the not too distant future: Asheville, NC...
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