City of Independence Clarifies Annexation Rumors: What Local Residents Need to Know

The City of Independence has recently responded to rumors about the annexation of properties and its Community Development/Comprehensive Plan. Officials stated that the rumors of the city annexing properties deep into the county are incorrect. This confusion was caused by a mistake on a map in the draft plan, which wrongly showed the City’s Planning Boundary as City Limits. This mistake, found on just one map, is being fixed by the consultant to accurately reflect the city's planning goals.

The city has a history of providing services like water and sanitary sewer outside its boundaries to support regional economic growth. For example, the city has supplied services to Textron and helped Rural Water District #6 with the water supply for the new Bartlett Soy Bean Plant. These efforts aim to promote job creation and benefit the surrounding region.

The draft plan includes a future land use plan map that shows a Planning Boundary. This boundary covers areas currently served or that could be served by the city in the future. The plan, looking ahead to 2050, is designed to guide sustainable development and infrastructure planning. The Planning Boundary is meant for future growth planning and does not suggest immediate annexation plans.

Historically, the city’s comprehensive plans have included extended planning boundaries to allow for future growth. For example, the 1982 Comprehensive Plan also had a General Development Plan map that went beyond the city limits. The current plan maintains this approach to prepare for potential development. It is important for the public to understand that most annexations usually happen at the request of property owners who want city services, and any annexations not next to the city need county approval.

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