Agenda - 02-19-2013 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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27 ILVAI TD: Mayor and Town Council FROM: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager SUBJECT: Greater Chapel Hill Fire District: Annexation Analysis DATE: February 11, 2013 I ail - The purpose of this report is to summarize the current annexation laws in North Carolina and provide a f nanicial analysis of the proposed annexation of Area 5, which includes neighborhoods contiguous to the south side of town, north of Mount Carmel Church Road. This report also discusses the policy implications for development and expansion given the recent changes in annexation laws and concludes with recommendations for next steps for the area under consideration. BACKGROUND At the January 14, 2013 Business Meeting, Council considered Grange County's request to enlarge the Greater Chapel Hill Fire District to include Area 5 (See Attachment 1). Council was presented with three options: 1) Provide fire service to the area via mutual aid. 2) Enter into a service agreement with Grange County to extend the Town's current fire district into the affected neighborhoods. 3) Require the residents in the area under consideration to petition for annexation in order to receive fire protection service. Council chose to explore annexation of the affected neighborhoods, and requested that staff prepare a report outlining the costs and revenues of annexing the area. Resources from the School of Government and NC League of Municipalities, as well as cost and revenue data from Town departments serve as the basis for the discussion and recommendations that follow. Description of Area The area under consideration for annexation "Area 5" is located on the south side of Chapel Hill, north of Mount Carmel Church Road. The area includes Azalea Drive, Bayberry Drive, Chimeneas Place, and Rhododendron Drive and the surrounding neighborhoods and is in the extraterritorial planning jurisdiction of Chapel Hill and within the urban service boundary (See Attachment 1). The area is estimated to include 274 dwelling units and has a total population of 638 people. The area has access to water and sewer service through the orange water and Sewer Authority (See Attachment 2) and is comprised of state and privately maintained roads (See Attachment 3). The North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department currently serves the area, which is part of the Southern Triangle Fire District. The Town also provides fire protection through a mutual aid agreement and typically responds first to fire emergencies, given the area's close proximity to Fire Station #5. The Grange County Sherriff s Department provides police projection, though the Town Police Department responds to emergency calls in the area. The