Homeowners packed a McKinney City Council meeting Tuesday.
They say the city's trying to annex land before a new state law takes effect in December.
The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott during special session, allows property owners to vote on whether a city can annex areas outside of its limits.
It takes effect December 1.
Last week, the City of McKinney sent letters to about 150 property owners in Collin County, notifying them the city wants to annex their land.
“I opened it up and my heart just sank,” said homeowner Tamlynn Clyde.
Clyde and her family moved to Collin County from California two years ago. They own a farm full of goats, chickens, bees and a horse.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“We just have the freedom to do the things that we've always dreamed of doing,” Clyde.
Clyde and dozens of property owners attended Tuesday’s city council meeting to voice concerns about the proposed annexation.
They say it’s about what’s happening. They also say it’s about how it’s being done.
The city council approved plans to move forward with offering development agreements to homeowners.
In a statement, a city spokesperson said:
“The City of McKinney is taking a strategic approach to annexing property that’s based on sound municipal planning principals while keeping residents and long-term fiscal responsibility in mind. These strategic municipal annexations will allow the city to continue to chart its own future by managing growth and development, balancing the city’s tax burden and providing these areas with necessary municipal services such as adequate police and fire protection, solid waste collection, operation and maintenance of roads, and access to city-owned recreation facilities and parks.
As it has with previous strategic annexations, City Council is offering a development agreement to properties with existing wildlife management, timber land and agricultural tax exemptions as is authorized by state law. These agreements would allow properties to remain in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) for a period of 5 to 10 years in exchange for the property owner agreeing to limit the use of the property for agricultural purposes.
Additional information, including FAQ’s, regarding the city’s annexations may be found online at www.mckinneytexas.org/annexations.”
