Monday afternoon, Nederland moved one step closer to developing land in front of the Southeast Texas Regional Airport.

Last week, Jefferson County commissioners amended an agreement that prohibited any city from annexing airport property. They passed a waiver that will allow Nederland to annex 110 acres along Highway 69.

The city's economic development corporation has been the wanting the land for business development.

The 1960 pact that didn't allow annexation was an agreement among the county, Nederland, Port Arthur and Beaumont.

So all those cities must approve the waiver.

Monday afternoon, Nederland city council approved it. On Tuesday, the Beaumont city council will hold a workshop to discuss the waiver.

Port Arthur Mayor Deloris Prince says the issue will be on that city's agenda November 17th.

Port Arthur has already expressed interest in annexing the airport frontage road along Highway 365.