More land could be added to Monkey Junction annex proposal

A proposal to annex land in Monkey Junction is getting bigger, much to the dismay of area residents and business owners. For them it means paying more taxes.

Wilmington City Council member Jim Quinn said, “You can’t tell when you leave the city or enter the county, it’s just one big urban area.” That line may soon become less blurry.

Six years ago, Alford Seafood fish cutter Nick Miller said Monkey Junction looked nothing like it does today. “This place is getting way too big for its britches.”

Miller just found out the City of Wilmington is thinking about adding more than 200 acres to the already existing 1,000-plus acre Monkey Junction annexation plan. Both Miller’s business and residence reside in the new acreage. This could mean Miller has to pay city and county taxes.

Miller said he, and other business owners, never asked to be annexed, nor do they want to be; especially during a hard economic time like this.

A legislative study committee in Raleigh met Thursday to suggest residents be allowed to vote before the city forces them to be annexed.

The suggested vote, as well as the additional proposed land, will both be discussed at the City Council meeting on February 3rd.