The Crossville Planning Commission voted to proceed with a property-owner-initiated annexation approach for several lots on Palmetto Drive after staff presented survey results showing mixed interest among adjacent property owners in city services and sewer.

Staff explained that a property owner had requested annexation to obtain city sewer for four lots and had surveyed neighboring parcels. Survey responses included some owners who asked to be annexed to obtain sewer, others who declined, and several who did not respond. Staff said the parcel group lies outside Crossville city limits but inside the city's urban growth boundary and that recent changes in city policy require annexation where city sewer is to be extended and used by properties outside the city.

Commissioners discussed three options staff presented: (1) corporate/corridor annexation initiated by the city; (2) approval of an outside-city sewer extension paid 100% by the requesting property owner without annexation; or (3) declining to extend sewer. Commissioners noted corridor annexations can create patchwork jurisdictional issues and that corridor annexation would require an established plan to widen or dedicate right of way in some cases. The property owner's survey showed at least two other nearby owners would accept annexation and sewer; other parcels were either opposed or unresponsive.

After discussion about costs and service implications, a commissioner moved to proceed with a quarter annexation (annexing the road and the requesting property) and to obtain an official written annexation request from the owner; another commissioner seconded. The motion passed by voice vote. Commissioners said that if the annexation proceeds the city would accept the road into its maintenance and emergency-service plan and staff would prepare a plan of services and an assessment of needed street work.

Staff said property owners who remain outside the city but later want sewer could request annexation and connect when feasible, at which point they would pay associated tap/connection fees. Commissioners and staff discussed likely costs for low-pressure sewer systems and grinder pumps and noted that interior sewer taps and bills are cheaper for properties inside the city.

The commission asked staff to contact the unresponsive property owners, obtain the official annexation petition from the requesting owner, and prepare the plan of services and street-condition report as part of the annexation process.