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Webster officials consider annexing county-owned property on N.C. 116
By Rose Hooper
Webster's recent move to connect to Sylva may put the two municipalities on opposite sides of an annexation issue.
Webster town board members decided March 18 to proceed with the involuntary annexation of properties bordering the town of Sylva off N.C. 116.
Although Sylva has taken no formal action, its board members have informally discussed annexing those same properties, said Sylva zoning administrator Jim Aust.
Webster's action followed a recommendation by former board member Louise Bedford that the town act on annexation now so it can "control growth in the historic bedroom community."
Webster's action includes the recently-purchased 39 acres owned by the county, five parcels, ranging from .25 acres to 2.03 acres, along Nanny Lane and Griffin Street that border Sylva town limits and two parcels, one at 1.36 acres and another at 2.73 acres, on Buchanan Loop.
The Buchanan Loop properties and a portion of the county property currently lie in Webster's extra-territorial jurisdiction.
In her annexation proposal, Bedford suggested "going all the way up to Sylva town limits, which would mean taking in non-conforming properties as well."
Except for the 39-acre county tract, which will include the new Department of Social Services, all other parcels would have to be 3 acres or less, according to Bedford.
The annexation move would help Webster's tax base, she said.
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