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Huntsville ranks as the 27th largest U.S. city, surpassing Chicago

The Huntsville City Council approved a new land annexation on Thursday, an online report revealed. This decision makes Huntsville the 27th largest city in the nation by land area, surpassing Chicago.

 

New land annexation details

The city annexed nearly 400 acres of land south of Highway 20 and east of I-65, near Arrowhead Landing Road. According to Huntsville’s Manager of Planning, Thomas Nunez, the area will support residential, commercial, and recreational projects. Developers estimate they will build 2,500 to 4,000 residential units over the next 10 to 20 years.

 

Concerns About School Capacity

District 1 Councilmember Michelle Watkins raised concerns about how Huntsville City Schools will manage the influx of students. She stressed that the schools are already under strain.

 

“This places a significant burden on the school district,” Watkins said. “Growth is exciting, but the schools are already stretched too thin. We need to address this now.”

 

Long Travel Distances for Students

The Huntsville City Schools Capital Plan includes a pre-k to 8th-grade school in Limestone County. This is set to open during the 2028-29 academic year. However, the plan does not include a new high school. Watkins highlighted the challenge this creates for families. Students in the annexed area would need to travel over 15 miles, or nearly 30 minutes, to Columbia High School.

 

On Friday, Watkins felt less concerned after discussing the issue with City Council President John Meredith. He assured her that the city is working closely with the school district to find solutions.

 

Meanwhile, Nunez announced that detailed development plans for the area will be released in the coming months.

 

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