By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – The property on which Chelsea’s new sports complex sits off Shelby County 11 is now in the city limits of Chelsea instead of Pelham following decisions by both cities’ councils over the last few weeks.

On Dec. 15, the Chelsea City Council unanimously approved an annexation request for two parcels of land totaling 104 acres, where the sports complex is being constructed, behind Chelsea High School.

Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven said the outcome was two years in the making.

“It was property we purchased that was incorporated into the city of Pelham, and we have been working to de-annex,” Niven said. “They (Pelham) have been very cordial in helping us get through this process.”

Previously, the land belonged to Pelham, but the Pelham City Council decided to de-annex the parcels pending Chelsea’s de-annexation of a parcel of land to be annexed by Pelham.

The de-annexation and annexation of both properties by Chelsea and Pelham would be mutually beneficial, according to an ordinance detailing the agreement between the cities at a Nov. 16 meeting in Pelham.

Niven wrote the Pelham City Council in October to request the de-annexation of the parcels to be used as the site for the sports complex.

Bids have been awarded for the first phase of the roughly $8 million project, and construction is tentatively scheduled to wrap up in the spring of 2016.

The first phase includes three baseball fields, a concession stand and a parking area.