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Staff Report to Council City of Yelm STAFF REPORT   To: Mayor Adam Rivas Yelm City Council From: Tami Merriman, Assistant Planner Date: January 3, 2005 (for January 12, 2004 City Council Meeting) Subj: Annexation Petition – Howard Alexander and Leo Lefebvre Recommendation Accept the request to petition for annexation for the proposed annexation area utilizing the petition method of annexation. Require the property within the annexation area to assume it’s share of the existing City indebtedness and identify the Comprehensive Plan Designation of the annexed parcel as Commercial (C-1). Background Howard Alexander and Leo Lefebvre have requested Council approval to petition for annexation utilizing the petition method as allowed by State law. The property for which they request annexation is a 10,467 square feet piece of property owned by Howard Alexander that borders the southwestern property line of Mr. Lefebvre. Current Situation Annexation Process The annexation process is started with a request to circulate a petition for annexation. The City Council, at a public meeting, determines whether to accept, reject, or geographically modify the proposed annexation, whether it requires the simultaneous adoption of the comprehensive plan, and whether it shall require the assumption of all or a portion of existing City indebtedness. If the Council accepts the request to circulate a petition, the applicant then must obtain sufficient signatures on the petition. A hearing is then scheduled before the City Council on the proposed annexation. The Council may then adopt an ordinance which annexes the property into the City. Property Description The subject property is located on Yelm Avenue East and Morris Road. Mr. Lafebver’s property is currently in the City limits, is approximately 3.76 acres, and is served by City water service. It is zoned Commercial (C-1), and currently is in use as LeMar Acres, a mobile home park. Mr. Alexanders property is located on Morris Road, bordering Mr. Lafebvre’s property to the southwest. The property proposed to be annexed is approximately 10,467 square feet in area. The existing City limits are located on the southwestern property line of Mr. Lefebver’s property. The parcels have been owned by Mr. Alexander and Mr. Lafebver for many years. Over time, there have been discrepancies with the property line, and currently there are encroachments of mobile homes and accessory residential uses from Mr. Lafebvre’s property on Mr. Alexanders property. Mr. Lafebvre and Mr. Alexander are working on a purchase and sale agreement for the 10,467 sq. ft. piece of property that will clean up the property line and encroachments. The proposed annexation area is currently zoned Rural Residential 1/5 by Thurston County. The City has pre-zoned Mr. Alexander’ property as Low Density Residential (R-4), which allows up to 4 homes per acre. It is City staff’s opinion that annexing this small piece of property into the City limits as commercial property is logical. The property proposed to be annexed is a small portion of land that directly adjoins the commercial parcel, and is currently in commercial use with the encroachments of mobile homes, and their accessory uses. The small parcel of land does not create a need for additional City services. Consistency with City Regulations The Water Comprehensive Plan updated in September, 2002, states as interim water service policies: Annexation of properties in the future water service area will only be allowed for parcels within an existing sewer LID area or parcels that provide at least enough water rights to the City to allow service of the property seeking annexation. Parcels that currently receive city water and are not in the City limits will be subject to the annexation requirements identified above. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the ‘future zoning’ of the subject property to be Low Density Residential (R-4), which allows residential development at a density of up to 4 units per acre. Analysis The piece of land proposed for annexation is within the water service area, is currently in use as part of LeMar Acres, and is served by City Water. The Water Comprehensive Plan allows properties in this situation to annex into the City without bringing additional water rights. The proposed annexation makes a logical City boundary as it clears up a problem of encroachments from the mobile home park onto the adjoining residential property, and maintains a consistent boundary between commercial and residentially zoned property. The amount of land to be annexed in is not significant in the development or redevelopment of the current parcel. Allowing the small piece of property to be zoned commercial does not greatly affect the remaining portion of property within the county, allowing for a full 10 acres of residential land for future residential development. The Community Development Department would recommend that the Council authorize the petition for annexation as requested.