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Residents press Blue Ridge council to de-annex recently annexed tracts amid procedural concerns and infrastructure questions
Summary
At a council meeting dominated by public comment, dozens of residents and outside speakers urged the City Council to de-annex two large tracts and keep the land in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, citing alleged procedural errors, infrastructure shortfalls and concerns about the developer's affiliations.
The Blue Ridge City Council heard extended public comment urging the de-annexation of two recently annexed tracts and amendments to de-annexation ordinances to remove references to extraterritorial jurisdiction.
During the meeting the council moved into executive session to consult with the city attorney under Texas Government Code Chapter 551 on proposed ordinances to de-annex properties described as approximately 31.969 acres and 141.254 acres. After reconvening, the council opened public comment and heard from residents, petition organizers and outside activists.
Multiple speakers expressed concern about the process used to annex the land, saying required documents and notices were missing. Carrie Allen, a Blue Ridge resident, said the petition circulated and delivered to the mayor was signed by "roughly 80" city voters and asked the council to remove the properties from the city but not from the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). "The petition that was submitted was requesting the removal of these properties from the city only and not from the ETJ," Allen said.
Several residents said the area does not have sufficient infrastructure or emergency services to support large developments. One resident said water pressure and long emergency response times were already problems. A public commenter who identified themself only as Gabby said, "It seems clear that Blue Ridge citizens do not want a segregated exclusively Muslim community," a comment framed as opposition to the composition of a proposed development.
Morgan Collier, identifying themself as representing Accountability Matters, raised allegations linking a listed manager of a developer entity to social-media posts that praised Hamas and asked why the city had not acted on those reports. "Does the City find it acceptable that a developer is altering records to evade accountability for affiliations with terrorism?" Collier asked during public comment.
Council members proposed and passed at least one amendment removing references to extraterritorial limits from a draft de-annexation ordinance; the motion to amend and remove those references was seconded and recorded as carrying on the record. The transcript shows motions to amend ordinance language and discussion of whether the properties should remain in the ETJ so the city can retain future control over development standards.
Speakers urged the council to act promptly. One commenter cited Texas Local Government Code Section 43.005 and argued that because required disclosures were not made at the time of annexation, the annexations were "null and void." Several speakers asked the council not to defer the decision and to de-annex the properties at the meeting.
The record shows the council was advised in executive session about legal matters connected to the ordinances. The transcript does not include a full roll-call tally for the final de-annexation votes in the excerpt provided. The council instructed staff to proceed with ordinance amendments and vote on de-annexation items; public comments and legal questions were a prominent part of the discussion.
