Wealthy Neighborhood Seeks Relief by Joining Lubbock City Limits

LUBBOCK, TX — Colby Norris, treasurer of the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association, addressed the Lubbock City Council, stating that the homeowners association is ready for their neighborhood to be annexed by the city.

The neighborhood, located on the southwest edge of the city limits between Frankford Avenue and Slide Road, features homes valued between $500,000 and $1 million, according to sparse listings on Zillow. Large homes over 4,000 square feet are situated along a maze of streets named as county roads, such as CR 1810. At the center of the development is a clubhouse with tennis courts and a pool.

“Our goal is to be voluntarily annexed,” Norris said.

He explained that the water table has dropped, causing many residents to experience water pressure issues. Additionally, fire coverage by the Lubbock Fire Department would help decrease insurance rates and improve the availability of insurance coverage. Some residents, he noted, are struggling to find insurance underwriters to cover their homes.

In May 2019, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 347 into law, making forced annexations by municipalities illegal. This law has compelled Highland Oaks residents to pursue annexation voluntarily, a process that has proven to be arduous.

The effort to get annexed began in earnest in 2022 when the homeowners first agreed to pursue it. The first of two public hearings took place on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. No one stood up to object to the annexation. A second hearing is scheduled for July 23. Barring any objections, the council will vote to approve or disapprove the annexation in November.

Norris stated that residents have pooled resources to build the required infrastructure for annexation, promising it will cost the city nothing to complete. In return, the City of Lubbock will provide water and sewer utilities as well as fire and police coverage. The city will also gain property tax revenue. At the current rate of 48.0164 cents per $100 valuation, the city will earn roughly $1,800 to $3,000 per house per year in property taxes.

During his remarks to the city council, Norris asked those in the audience in favor of the annexation to stand. Of approximately a third of those present in the chambers, presumably residents of Highland Oaks, all stood in favor. Norris said that in a formal survey of residents in his neighborhood, 83 percent favored annexation.