Reduced YC annex' zoning takes form
Yuba City is scaling back a 649-acre annexation after opposition from homeowners who claimed the city is not prepared to serve their area.
The Yuba City Planning Commission is to consider preannexation zoning Wednesday for a 425-acre strip of land west of Harding Road - smaller than an earlier request to bring 649 acres into the city.
Residents in the Wildewood Estates, Wildewood East Estates, Wildewood West Estates and El Margarita Estates subdivisions had been included in the 649-acre annexation.
But 310 residents petitioned the city to take their subdivisions out of the annexation area. The petitions represented 56 percent of the total parcels, according to a petition letter, which noted the residents were prepared to continue opposition, and felt confident they would “prevail in the end.”
“We have nothing against the city,” said Ron Southard, a Leeanne Avenue resident. “At this time, we feel it's in our best interest not to be included.”
City officials noted in a report to the planning commission that the larger annexation would likely be defeated.
The residents' petition said they already have their own mutual water company, plus protection from the Yuba City Fire Department and Sutter County Sheriffs Department. They also believe, according to the petition, that the city is not in a position to adequately serve the 650-acre area - noting a study of the city's preparedness for growth.
A state-mandated review of Yuba City municipal services for the Sutter County Local Agency Formation Commission detailed growth-related problems looming in the city's police staffing, wastewater capacity, drinking water supplies and acreage devoted to parks.
The city has plans to avoid the problems, including police staffing.
LAFCO commissioners tabled the review until Oct. 26 to give new city administrators a chance to look it over.
Wednesday's hearing is one of the first steps toward annexation and would set conditional zoning to be approved by the City Council. The annexation was prompted by Valley Development Co. Inc.'s request to the city to annex just over 32 acres. City planners expanded that request to create more logical boundaries.
The city still wants to map out the 649 acres with a master plan that would lay out roads, schools and facilities.
Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey can be reached at 749-4711. You may e-mail him at jdickey@appeal-democrat.com.
