Brea Jones

Thousands could join city of Chico through annexation

July 29, 2005

Nearly 2,000 people will join the city of Chico Thursday if a county commission decides to annex an island of county land in the west avenues neighborhood. About 400 acres sandwiched between West Eighth Avenue and Lindo Channel are on the agenda for the Butte Local Agency Formation Commission’s meeting Thursday.

Some residents are happy to get city benefits, like voting for the City Council and improved police and fire protection. But one longtime resident said there is no need for annexation into the city.

“I’m happy how it is now,” said Connie Smith, who has lived in Butte County since 1946.

Her house used to be surrounded by seven acres of almonds, but more and more people moved into the county island as Chico grew, she said. Now, 872 parcels fill the west avenues land up for annexation into Chico.

Once annexed, the area will be served by Chico police and fire.

“I don’t see where we really need better service,” she said while standing in the home built by her father-in-law.

Smith is also concerned that joining the city will mean hooking up to the sewer and cutting down a walnut tree that has been in her yard for generations to make room for a wider street and sidewalks.

But Clif Sellers, assistant community development director, said none of those things will happen.

In fact, the city may help maintain the tree, he said.

“We work every way we can to preserve existing trees,” Sellers said.

Other neighborhood fears that annexation will mean residents have to hook up to the city sewer are false, he said.

“We probably have 2,500 residents in the city that are on septic,” he said.

This will only change if the state and regional quality control board approve a Nitrate Action Plan, which would require the removal of septic systems that affect the nitrate level, he said.

In the past three years, Sellers has annexed about 25 islands of unincorporated land into Chico.

“We’re just trying to eliminate those islands and give the same level of service to that community,” Sellers said.

Some islands have two or three parcels; others, like the west avenues annexation, have hundreds.

“Fifteen years ago there was a lot of controversy, but now they’re becoming real routine,” Sellers explained.

Steve Lucas, principal planner for LAFCO, said there wasn’t a lot of opposition during a public workshop last August.

“It’s something that we think is going to be a really good thing,” he said.

If there is no public protest at Thursday’s meeting, Lucas said LAFCO’s recommendation is to approve the annexation.

West avenues resident Cindy Zellick said she is happy about the annexation.

When Zellick joins the city, she said she plans to subdivide and build two extra homes on her property, which is three-quarters of an acre.

Zellick’s house on the corner of Fern and West 12th avenues is already hooked up to the city sewer, and she said joining the city will bring better police and fire.

“Right now it’s just sheriff,” she said.

The thing Zellick most looks forward to about annexation is getting to vote on city issues. As a Butte County resident, Zellick can’t vote for City Council or on city initiatives.

“It’s quite frustrating,” she said.

Staff Intern Brea Jones can be reached at bjones@chicoer.com.