Opinion ID: 6826017
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Urban Services

Text: Code § 15.1-1041 (b1) (i) requires an annexation court, in determining the best interests of the people to be affected by annexation, to consider the “need for urban services in the area proposed for annexation, the level of services provided in the county, city or town, and the ability of such county, city or town to provide services in the area sought to be annexed.” The section then lists thirteen items for consideration, beginning with sewerage treatment, continuing through public planning, subdivision regulation, and zoning, and ending with street maintenance. The trial court found that “all three of the political subdivisions involved in these cases are providing, and are able to continue to provide, in the foreseeable future, adequate services, as needed,” with respect to the thirteen items listed in Code § 15.1-1041 (b1)(i). Petersburg attacks this finding, alleging that the trial court “failed to consider Petersburg’s superior urban services capability and to determine which jurisdiction is better able to serve the present and future needs of the annexation area.” Furthermore, Petersburg says, the trial court’s finding “is not supported by the evidence in respect to the critical services of public planning, subdivision regulation and zoning.” Citing Rockingham, 224 Va. at 77, 294 S.E.2d at 832, and noting that the residents of the area proposed for annexation “may be content with the existing level of service,” Petersburg opines that “[ujrban areas need urban services irrespective of what the residents may desire.” This statement presumes, of course, that the area proposed for annexation is, or will be in the foreseeable future, an urban area. Interestingly, even Petersburg does not claim that the area proposed for annexation is urban now; as far as the future is concerned, Petersburg says only that “the territory proposed for annexation will experience increasing development in the near future, with a concomitant need for additional urban services.” Furthermore, the Commission said in its report: “[A]n analysis of the areas proposed for annexation reveals that, while experiencing some development pressures, those areas remain sparsely populated. Accordingly, the urban service needs of the [areas proposed for annexation] are limited, and, thus, the provision of such services becomes less critical in the resolution of these annexation issues.” In short, the Commission viewed the need for additional urban services in the areas proposed for annexation as a non-issue. We view the matter the same way.