Copperas Cove council approves Big Divide annexation after public hearing
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Summary
After a second public hearing, the city council approved Ordinance No. 2026-7 to annex a 36.55-acre tract (Big Divide Investments LLC). A resident raised concerns about utility costs and tax offsets; the applicant said the development is already within the city's CCN water area and the developer expects to pay for sewer upgrades.
The Copperas Cove City Council approved Ordinance No. 2026-7 on Feb. 17 to annex a 36.55-acre tract requested by Big Divide Investments LLC following a required second public hearing.
During the citizen comment period, Daniel Hall of 606 North 17th Street questioned whether the city holds the CCN water rights for the area and asked who would pay for water and sewer service if annexation proceeds. Hall said he was not opposed to development but expressed concern that property tax revenue may not offset service costs, noting that the city had to draw about $1 million from an emergency fund in the prior fiscal year.
At the public hearing, applicant Josh Welch of Welch Development said the whole property is over 300 acres and described the requested annexation as a housekeeping action to bring approximately 36.55 acres into the city limits with the rest of the property. Welch said the area already lies within Copperas Cove's CCN water service area, that water lines run through or adjacent to the property, and that the developer anticipates covering costs for likely sewer upgrades rather than requesting city funds.
City staff said the second hearing was required by the Texas Local Government Code and recommended approval. After the hearing closed, Councilmember Smith moved to approve Ordinance No. 2026-7; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Hale and carried on a voice vote.
What this means: The annexed acreage will be included within city limits and subject to city regulations and utility service policies. The developer's statement that sewer upgrades will be the developer's responsibility was made at the Feb. 17 hearing; the city did not provide final engineering, cost estimates, or a timeline for any sewer or water infrastructure work during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will proceed with ordinance implementation steps and any necessary utility coordination or permitting. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes for the voice vote.
