Magnolia is working to expand its city limits in January, as five pieces of property have been selected for annexation.

Some portions of land that have been selected for annexation are already in the city limits, but somehow were “blanks, or spots that were bypassed,” according to City Administrator Paul Mendes.

One of the five proposed areas include extending the city limits from Magnolia Church of Christ southwestwardly to include all county baseball fields and the riding arena and south along FM 1774 to Friendship Lane to include the county staging area.

Another area is a tract located northeast of Melton Street between Acker Street, running southeast to Magnolia Ridge. The area is approximately 2,500 feet along Melton Street, 3,000 feet on the southeast side, 3,000 feet on the north side and 1,500 feet on the west side. This property is surrounded on all sides by the city limits.

The third area is a tract on the northwest corner of Magnolia Ridge. The property is 800 feet by 1,000 feet also surrounded by the city limits.

The city sewer plant located on the east side of Nichols Sawmill Road, which is about 400 feet by 800 feet, is another proposed piece of property for annexation.

Finally, a 1,800 feet by 400 feet tract on the south side of Nichols Sawmill Road, known as Anderson’s Horse Auction is a proposed lot for annexation.

Economic Development Coordinator Deborah Rose Miller said the lot extending to Friendship Lane will actually extend the city limits. The remaining four lots exist within the city limits and were never included for reasons undetermined by the City of Magnolia.

Miller said these lots do not expand the population in Magnolia, however, they do incorporate several commercial businesses which would increase the sales tax revenue for the city.

The expansion along FM 1774 to Friendship Lane was proposed to meet the city’s existing expense of $2 million to move the utility lines in order for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to widen FM 1774 and liability of the utility lines. Miller said the city limits will match the TxDOT construction. The widening of FM 1774 will start from 10th Street and continue to Friendship Lane.

These five proposed lots are a part of the “Grow Magnolia” initiative, according to Miller.

“We’re doing what we said we would do − growing Magnolia,” she said.

Magnolia has not annexed property in eight years, according to Miller. Cities are allowed to annex property at a rate of 10 percent of their current size, she added. However, since Magnolia has not annexed in quite some time, she explained that in 2012, the city will be able to grow 30 percent.

The city recently expanded its extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to include 1,100 acres east of the city on FM 1488.

Mendes doesn’t plan for the city to stop there. He said the city is already working with other properties along FM 1488 to voluntarily become part of the ETJ. The city hopes to meet Conroe’s ETJ at the Mostyn Manor Subdivision.

“The intention of this is to keep Conroe from taking viable land,” Mendes explained.

For 2012, Magnolia has established goals and made big plans for continued growth and expansion.

“We have a lot of ideas for 2012,” Miller said. “It just depends on council.”

The first public hearing for the annexation of the five proposed lots will be held at the regular city council meeting Jan. 10.

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