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 double since 1980, to about 286 square miles as of June 30, 2007.
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, 2007, and will schedule completion of another annexation with a June 30, 2009 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 (see a summary of the State annexation statute development requirements below).
2007 ANNEXATION PROCESS SUMMARY
Since annexation in Charlotte operates on a two-year cycle, and since the entire process has a two-year duration, the 2007 annexation process began in mid-2005 with the identification of "annexation study areas". These consist 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 2006 for the 2007 annexation.
The following measures were taken as part of a 2007 annexation process:
June 13, 2005
City Council adopted Resolution of Consideration, establishing 2007 annexation study areas
March, 2006
Annexation study area field work was conducted; areas that qualify were preliminarily determined
April – June 2006
Annexation "service plans" were developed for annexation qualifying areas, including identification of budget impacts (including potential revenue implications) for each qualifying area.
July, 2006
Preliminary Annexation Reports were developed and presented to City Council; City Council on July 24, 2006 adopted "Resolutions of Intent", scheduling a public informational meeting and public hearing on annexation qualifying areas, and approving the Annexation Reports.
September 14, 2006
Public informational meeting was held.
October 9, 2006
City Council conducted annexation public hearing.
November 27, 2006
City Council adopted annexation ordinances for annexation qualifying areas, and any necessary budget ordinances.
March 2007
Notification/information packets were mailed to property owners affected by the approved annexations
June 30, 2007
Effective annexation date – City services extended to annexation areas.
2009 ANNEXATION PROCESS SUMMARY
The following measures have been – or will be - 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 will be determined, and "service plans" will be developed for the qualifying areas that will include identification of budget impacts (costs of service extensions and potential revenue implications) for each qualifying area. The service plans will be integrated into Annexation Reports that describe each qualifying area and the manner in which it qualifies under the state annexation statutes.
July, 2008
A Preliminary Annexation Report will be developed and presented to City Council, who will be asked to adopt "Resolutions of Intent", which schedules a public informational meeting and public hearing on annexation qualifying areas, and to approve the Annexation Reports.
September, 2008
Public informational meeting will be held for property owners affected by annexations (date, time, and place to be determined).
October, 2008
City Council will conduct annexation public hearing (date, time, and place to be determined).
November, 2008
City Council will be asked to adopt annexation ordinances for annexation qualifying areas, and any necessary budget ordinances.
March, 2009
Notification/information packets will be mailed to property owners affected by the approved annexations.
June 30, 2009
Effective annexation date – City services will be extended to annexation areas.
Updated April, 2008
