Item: Council OK’s Annexation Process

The June 20 edition of the Huntsville Item highlights the City Council's okay to annex the proposed site of the SHSU research park:

Huntsville City Council on Tuesday agreed unanimously to move forward with the process of considering the annexation of about 160 acres on Highway 19 that will serve as the site of a planned Sam Houston State University research park.

Mayor Mac Woodward excused himself from discussion and voting on a motion to initiate the annexation process of the land, which lies near the intersection of Highway 19 and Ellisor Road in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.The measure passed unanimously.

The vote allows staff to gather the necessary information on capital planning and cost analysis and to schedule public meetings on an annexation proposal.

Though the vote Tuesday was unanimous, council members had questions they wanted addressed in the initial phase of the annexation process. Among them: Who would pay for the extension of city services to annexed land if grant funds were denied?

The proposed measure would have legalized the sale of alcohol throughout Huntsville. In that event, the annexed tech park —which might include a hotel and convention center — also would be “wet.”