Commissioners concur with Centerville annexation of 123.25-acre William Drive tract

The Houston County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to concur with the City of Centerville's request to annex 123.25 acres on William Drive, a county-to-city annexation that includes a county-to-city zoning change from County R1 to Centerville R2 and three development stipulations.

The motion, offered by Commissioner Gottwals and seconded by Commissioner Robinson, requires (1) installation of 8-inch water mains throughout the development and along William Drive to connect to the existing county main on Houston Lake Road, (2) a traffic and trip-generation study to ensure county roads can support proposed traffic, and (3) the proposed subdivision streets must connect to county roads wherever existing right-of-way adjoins the development.

The board paused for public comment as a courtesy during the annexation item; no members of the public addressed the commission on this matter. County Attorney Tom Hall clarified that annexation cannot extend beyond the area requested by the owner: a propertyowner must request annexation, and a city cannot unilaterally annex adjoining properties without the owners' consent. Commissioner Gottwals also said he wants to avoid creating situations where denser development is accessed solely through less dense properties and that the developer has agreed to connect to existing stub-outs to avoid that outcome.

Commissioners raised no additional objections and the motion carried unanimously.

The annexation transfers the parcel from county zoning (R1) to Centerville R2 with the stated stipulations; any further development approvals and enforcement will follow applicable city and county permitting processes.