Opinion ID: 1631438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Purposes of Annexation

Text: This Court commented on the theory and purposes of annexation in City of Kingsport v. State ex rel. Crown Enterprises, Inc., 562 S.W.2d 808 (Tenn. 1978), as follows: The whole theory of annexation is that it is a device by which a municipal corporation may plan for its orderly growth and development. Heavily involved in this is control of fringe area developments and zoning measures to the end that areas of unsafe, unsanitary and substandard housing may not ring the City to the detriment of the City as a whole. In a word, annexation gives a city some control over its own destiny. The preservation of property values, the prevention of the development of incipient slum areas, adequate police protection within a metropolitan area, and the extension of city services to those who are already a part of the city as a practical proposition, are the legitimate concern of any progressive city. (Emphasis supplied) 562 S.W.2d at 814 This reasoning is equally, if not more, viable when dealing with an annexation of an area lying in the growth pattern of a tourist-oriented city. It has a vital concern in guarding against the helter-skelter establishment of commercial activities that may not be in harmony with those already in operation. Indeed, the prevention of incompatible commercial enterprises is a high municipal duty. The failure of a city to extend its corporate boundaries to embrace contiguous areas of growth and development is an abdication of responsibility. The time to annex is in the incipient stage of growth, lest the basic purpose of annexation be frustrated and the public interest suffer by the annexation of substandard areas. Given these considerations, we hold that the ordinance of annexation represents a fair, reasonable and responsible effort by the City of Pigeon Forge to cause its municipal boundaries to keep apace of the growth and development of the city. The basic test must be whether the ordinance is reasonable for the overall well-being of the communities involved. Section 6-310, T.C.A. We find that it is. We declare the ordinance to be valid. In making this declaration we have not overlooked the insistence of the appellants that they neither wanted nor needed the city services and that they had service equal to or exceeding those provided by the city. This is an old and familiar tune. Its factual accuracy is debatable. We do not consider the need for city services to be of controlling significance. True, this is a factor to be taken into consideration along with others, but, as this Court held in City of Kingsport, supra , [t]he whole process of annexation would be frustrated if the city could only annex those properties then in need of city services. 562 S.W.2d at 814. Moreover, this record is replete with testimony showing a need for services provided by the city. A part of the basis for appellants' lack of need lies in the fact that already the city is directly providing some services and the annexed area is the indirect beneficiary of other services stemming from its proximity to the city. The people and property owners of an area proposed for annexation have neither the moral nor legal right to stand aloof from the incorporated community of which they are a de facto part, enjoying most of the benefits, but disclaiming their duty to participate in providing these essential services. Nor do they have the right to block the orderly growth and development of the corporate community. The statutory test is the overall well-being of both the annexing city and the annexed community. This record shows a benefit to both; a detriment to neither. While other factors may be considered, the primary test of the reasonableness of an annexation ordinance must be the planned and orderly growth and development of the city, taking into consideration the characteristics of the existing city and those of the area proposed for annexation. Affirmed. BROCK, C.J., and FONES, COOPER and HARBISON, JJ., concur.