St. Charles City considers annexing 10 sites
Jason Lee
Of the Suburban Journals
St. Charles Journal
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ST. CHARLES
The St. Charles City Council's plan to have voters decide whether the city should annex 10 separate unincorporated areas drew an uproar Tuesday from a long line of affected St. Charles County land and business owners.
The council conducted public hearings Tuesday on each of the 10 areas, which are in various locations adjacent to or surrounded by the city and include mostly commercial, industrial or vacant properties.
At the direction of Tom Ashburn, the city's community development director, the council removed several land parcels from the annexation plan because they were discovered to have people living on them. That decision would allow the annexations to pass with only a simple-majority vote of city residents.
Under state law, involuntary annexations must receive simple-majority approval from both the city's voters and, in a separate election, the voters in the area to be annexed. If no one resides in the area in question, then the annexation would need approval by only the city's voters.
The proposed annexations are part of the council's goal to eliminate "pockets" of unincorporated property near the city.
Council President Rory Riddler, Ward 1, had said the annexation would allow the city to deliver services more efficiently. Riddler has also said several of the properties are "key parcels" that feature "commercial and recreational potential."
The council is expected to vote on whether to approve the bills relating to the proposed annexation during its Jan. 18 meeting. If approved, the city is expected to then file a petition in St. Charles County Circuit Court for a declaratory judgement. Such a judgement would allow the city to place the annexation question before voters during the April 5 election.
Many of those opposing annexation shared common concerns, claiming the change would be of no benefit to their business or property and would only result in higher taxes and more restrictions.
St. Charles Boat & Motor, a boat sales and repair company at 3070 N. Highway 94, is located within one of the proposed areas. Jerry Sims, co-owner of the business, said it's existed at its current unincorporated St. Charles County location for more than 44 years.
Sims cited several issues for opposing the plan, including the expected cost to comply with the city's signage requirements and other business-related ordinances.
"This is going to eliminate our ability to grow," he said in an interview Thursday. "The increase in taxes alone are going to eat us. There is nothing they have to offer us that would make me support this."
Sims and several others that spoke during Tuesday's public hearing are also upset that the council's proposal does not include any residential property.
"They went around and selected the areas that can't have a vote," he said. "They say they did it that way to eliminate pockets, but they've created pockets."
Sims said he'd planned to expand his business by constructing a large showroom for displaying boats and other items for sale, but worry the annexation could suspend progress.
"They'll never give me a permit," he said. "They don't want us to grow, they just want to be able to tell us what to do."
Former state Sen. Fred Dyer, R-St. Charles, operates Lorna Express, a trucking firm also located on North Highway 94. Dyer spoke to the council Tuesday also concerned that city ordinances could limit the use of his property.
"If some of the city ordinances are applied, it could drastically affect my business," he said.
Meanwhile, Brad Goss, an attorney representing Bogey Hills Country Club and ShowMe Aquatics and Fitness, told the council that both would prefer to negotiate a voluntary annexation agreement with the city rather than be included in the involuntary annexation proposal.
The council did not remove the two properties from the plan, but did agree to listen to Goss' proposed negotiations.
ShowMe, a nonprofit organization, recently purchased the vacant Noah's Ark restaurant and motel property on Fifth Street near Interstate 70 to build an aquatic and fitness center. The site includes both city property and unincorporated land.
Jason Lee can be contacted at jasonlee@yourjournal.com
Jason Lee
Of the Suburban Journals
St. Charles Journal
ST. CHARLES
The St. Charles City Council's plan to have voters decide whether the city should annex 10 separate unincorporated areas drew an uproar Tuesday from a long line of affected St. Charles County land and business owners.
The council conducted public hearings Tuesday on each of the 10 areas, which are in various locations adjacent to or surrounded by the city and include mostly commercial, industrial or vacant properties.
At the direction of Tom Ashburn, the city's community development director, the council removed several land parcels from the annexation plan because they were discovered to have people living on them. That decision would allow the annexations to pass with only a simple-majority vote of city residents.
Under state law, involuntary annexations must receive simple-majority approval from both the city's voters and, in a separate election, the voters in the area to be annexed. If no one resides in the area in question, then the annexation would need approval by only the city's voters.
The proposed annexations are part of the council's goal to eliminate "pockets" of unincorporated property near the city.
Council President Rory Riddler, Ward 1, had said the annexation would allow the city to deliver services more efficiently. Riddler has also said several of the properties are "key parcels" that feature "commercial and recreational potential."
The council is expected to vote on whether to approve the bills relating to the proposed annexation during its Jan. 18 meeting. If approved, the city is expected to then file a petition in St. Charles County Circuit Court for a declaratory judgement. Such a judgement would allow the city to place the annexation question before voters during the April 5 election.
Many of those opposing annexation shared common concerns, claiming the change would be of no benefit to their business or property and would only result in higher taxes and more restrictions.
St. Charles Boat & Motor, a boat sales and repair company at 3070 N. Highway 94, is located within one of the proposed areas. Jerry Sims, co-owner of the business, said it's existed at its current unincorporated St. Charles County location for more than 44 years.
Sims cited several issues for opposing the plan, including the expected cost to comply with the city's signage requirements and other business-related ordinances.
"This is going to eliminate our ability to grow," he said in an interview Thursday. "The increase in taxes alone are going to eat us. There is nothing they have to offer us that would make me support this."
Sims and several others that spoke during Tuesday's public hearing are also upset that the council's proposal does not include any residential property.
"They went around and selected the areas that can't have a vote," he said. "They say they did it that way to eliminate pockets, but they've created pockets."
Sims said he'd planned to expand his business by constructing a large showroom for displaying boats and other items for sale, but worry the annexation could suspend progress.
"They'll never give me a permit," he said. "They don't want us to grow, they just want to be able to tell us what to do."
Former state Sen. Fred Dyer, R-St. Charles, operates Lorna Express, a trucking firm also located on North Highway 94. Dyer spoke to the council Tuesday also concerned that city ordinances could limit the use of his property.
"If some of the city ordinances are applied, it could drastically affect my business," he said.
Meanwhile, Brad Goss, an attorney representing Bogey Hills Country Club and ShowMe Aquatics and Fitness, told the council that both would prefer to negotiate a voluntary annexation agreement with the city rather than be included in the involuntary annexation proposal.
The council did not remove the two properties from the plan, but did agree to listen to Goss' proposed negotiations.
ShowMe, a nonprofit organization, recently purchased the vacant Noah's Ark restaurant and motel property on Fifth Street near Interstate 70 to build an aquatic and fitness center. The site includes both city property and unincorporated land.
Jason Lee can be contacted at jasonlee@yourjournal.com