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Planning commission recommends against annexing 2.2-acre Highway 501 parcel; case moves to council
Summary
The Conway Planning Commission voted 4-1 on June 5 to recommend denial of an annexation request for about 2.2 acres at 1091 E. Highway 501; the item will be decided by City Council on June 16. The parcel’s applicant said he seeks separate water service and prefers Grand Strand Water and Sewer to city utilities.
The Conway Planning Commission on June 5 recommended that City Council not annex roughly 2.2 acres at 1091 East Highway 501, voting 4-1 to deny the annexation request. The council will consider the matter at its June 16 meeting.
Planning staff told the commission the property — the main portion identified as South Atlantic Monument Company — currently shares a single City of Conway water meter with an adjacent residence on Amber Lane. Staff said state/local rules and the city’s practice require a separate meter when properties use separate services, and that separate service can trigger an annexation request for contiguous parcels owned by the same party. “All surrounding property that is contiguous and owned by the same property owner becomes subject to annexation,” planning staff said during the public hearing.
The applicant, Matt Hudsonwood of 1091 Highway 501 East, told commissioners he was told annexation would be required to obtain water service but said he prefers to receive water directly from Grand Strand Water and Sewer rather than be annexed into the city. “We were told that we would need to annex into the city to be able to get water,” Hudsonwood said. Beverly Marlin, who identified herself as a resident at 150 Amber Lane, said she did not want her property to be annexed.
Commissioners discussed the technical trigger for annexation — the shared meter linked to Amber Lane — and noted the planning commission’s role is to recommend zoning (the proposed zoning on annexation would be Highway Commercial). Planning staff said the parcels are identified in the city’s future land use map and are slated for longer-term inclusion in the Red Hill area plan, but that City Council makes the ultimate annexation determination.
Commissioner [unnamed] moved to deny the annexation request for the approximately 2.2-acre parcel on East Highway 501. The motion passed 4-1. The chair of the commission cast the lone vote in favor of annexation, saying he would “vote for annexation purely to uphold the future land use map.” If Council elects to annex the property, staff recommended that the annexed acreage be zoned Highway Commercial consistent with the future land use map.
The commission’s recommendation and public comments, including the applicant’s stated preference for Grand Strand Water and Sewer, will be forwarded to City Council for final action on June 16.
