TERRELL, Texas — Kaufman County staple Ham Orchards has successfully filed its petition to be released from the City of Terrell's Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) after new legislator paved way for property owners to protect themselves from ever-encroaching annexation.
TERRELL, Texas — Kaufman County staple Ham Orchards has successfully filed its petition to be released from the City of Terrell's Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) after new legislator paved way for property owners to protect themselves from ever-encroaching annexation.
Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature passed SB 2038 — a bill sponsored by Representative Keith Bell (R-Forney) that allows landowners to petition for release from a city’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
Ham Orchards, which encompasses an approximate 57-acre tract just east of the Terrell city limits, is one of several, including many land and homeowners, who have already petitioned the City of Terrell for release from their ETJ.
The removal of such requires landowners or their legal representatives to file a petition, with the respective city they are petitioning, that includes their legal description and survey or a picture of the land — information which is available on the Kaufman County Appraisal District's website. Once filed and accepted, the petitioner will be removed from the ETJ within 45 calendar days.
Dale and Judy Ham established Ham Orchards at its current site in 1979 with Dale planting his first 50-tree orchard on the original 23 acres. The next year, Dale planted another 450 trees and the orchard has grown ever year since — now becoming a staple among Kaufman County residents and those who visit from far and wide for their famous peaches.
From its roadside stand decades ago, Ham Orchards has grown to accommodate much more in their farm market store including their Dallas Observer's award-winning homemade ice cream, D-Magazine's Best Peaches, pick-your-own fruit baskets, a bakery, BBQ, and more. Ham Orchards is currently closed for the 2023 season and expected to re-open mid-May 2024.
Forney-based law firm Guest and Gray P.C. confirmed they represented Ham Orchards, and others, in this process.
“Guest and Gray has a history of fighting for residents," Guest and Gray Partner, Scott Gray told inForney.com. "We’ve helped many homeowners avoid annexation, and now we have successfully represented the first landowners in Kaufman County to free themselves from a city’s ETJ."
“We have more petitions ready to go, and we believe many more residents in Terrell, Forney, and Crandall will also qualify.”
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