City limits are more than just imaginary lines and a fancy sign on the edge of town. In southwestern Meade County, that line may move for one community, but a battle is brewing with landowners.
A parcel of land with six homes, an apartment complex, and multiple businesses on the north edge of Piedmont may soon find themselves within that community’s borders.
Opponents of the proposed annexation have raised concern about potential changes to taxing and zoning regulations.
Philip Anderson is the president of the Piedmont City Council. He said he’s concerned these developments could leave the city proper in a situation like when the housing bubble burst in 2008.
“We know that land is really at a premium here in the Piedmont valley, and it’s at a premium because people want to live here, and we understand that," Anderson said. "We don’t want a bunch of spec apartment houses built out here, and then when they can’t pay for them, they go back to the government, promoting all this growth and then the government ends up holding the bag.”
Anderson, who has lived in Piedmont all his life, estimates half of the community is made up of retirees.
He pushed back on the narrative that this is a land grab.
“What we’re trying to do is moderate the population growth," Anderson said. "Now, we’re not trying to keep people from doing what they want with their land, which is the canard that’s out there. They need to realize that with rights comes duties.”
Anderson said given the demographic reality of the community, Piedmont’s government need all the support they can get.
“What we would gain tax-wise is not that much – we’re not doing it for that reason," Anderson said. "We’re doing it to stop the expense side of things. We just spent $8 million dollars to add on to our school. The school was originally built back in 2008, and it was projected to have the capacity to handle the student load until 2030. Didn’t happen.”
The next meeting of the matter will be held at the Piedmont American Legion on Aug. 29.