Tyler, Bullard Forge ETJ Pact

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously to approve an inter-local agreement with the City of Bullard regarding extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) boundaries after a discussion in executive session at their meeting held Wednesday. The agreement establishes an (ETJ) boundary south of Tyler along U.S. Highway 69 in an area where overlap had occurred following annexations by both cities. An ETJ is an area that is not within the city limits, but is attributed to a particular city for future planning purposes. It is considered a city’s future growth area.

An ETJ is defined by State law and is generally based upon the established city boundaries and population. Because Tyler’s population exceeds 100,000, its ETJ is five miles from the City limits. Bullard’s population of 3,600 results in an ETJ of one-half mile from its city limits. There is a provision in the law, however, that allows cities to enter into inter-local agreements to change the prescribed boundaries.

“To provide for orderly development, particularly along Highway 69, and a mutually agreeable settlement, both cities have agreed upon this ETJ boundary,” commented Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “Occasionally, questions arise about who reached a particular location first. In this case, it was simply a matter of sitting down together to find a solution that was a win-win for both communities.”