The Sweetwater Regional Planning Commission on Monday night unanimously approved the proposed boundaries for the residential historic overlay district.

Now the proposed boundaries must go before the City Commission and be passed on two ordinance readings.

The Historic Zoning Commission, Planning Commission and City Commission have all approved the guidelines for the proposed historic residential overlay district.

The Planning Commission spent little time discussing the residential historic overlay district boundaries Monday. Planning and Codes Officer Scott Wilson told planning commissioners that out of 62 letters mailed out to property owners, 21 property owners responded they are in favor of being in an historic district, while 12 had responded they are against it.

Planners also approved a preliminary plat for tri-plex homes in Willow Creek.

However, the bulk of the meeting was spent on preparing to review an annexation study state planner Laura Smith and Wilson prepared and discussing a re-zoning request.

The annexation study is essentially a cost-benefit analysis of annexing about 1,000 acres spread out over nine locations. In other words, would the properties if annexed provide enough revenue to offset the cost of serving them?

The locations in the study include:

200 acres on the west side of Interstate 75 Exit 62, including the Phillips Construction office.

118 acres that include the Dinner Bell at Exit 62

21 acres along North Point Road

253 acres along Murray's Chapel Road and Bilderback Road

Six parcels that make up 14.3 acres off Waymier Road

265 acres than run east of the Sheb Phillips and Copart property along Interstate 75, butting up against the west side of the current city limits.

20 acres back behind Sweetwater Nursing Center and Robbins Street, including a nearly one-mile section of Robbins Street.

Portions along Old Highway 68 to Edgewood Drive, including Pedigo Lumber Co.

50 acres off of New Highway 68, including three parcels in Hidden Brook Subdivision.

The cost or providing utilities, road improvements and services to many of the areas would likely make their annexation not feasible, however the Dinner Bell owner has a strong desire to be annexed.

The study said the 1,000 acres include 192,192 square feet of roadway the Street Department would have to take care of. At current costs, it would total nearly $600,000 to repave that much road, not that it would all need to be paved at once.

It is estimated if all the property were to be annexed, 168 people would be taken into the city limits.

Planning Commission Chairman James Matoy said for the amount of property taxes they would pay, any annexed homeowners would get a great benefit in fire insurance savings and the many city services.

"It's the best money you have ever spent," Matoy said of all the services compared to property taxes.

But Monday was really the first time planners have been able to discuss the study. Any annexations would have to be approved by the City Commission and that would be months down the road.

Wilson told planners that Woody and Wilma Wilson have requested their property located between First United Methodist Church and the hospital be re-zoned from R-3 to R-2. That would allow the large brick home to be used as a bed and breakfast. Because the Wilson home on Church Street is for sale, the belief is the R-3 zoning would increase buyer interest.

The Planning Commission saw no problem with the request and forwarded the request on to the City Commission, which would have to approve the request on two ordinance readings.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat. com | 337-7101