Annexation In City Of Shakopee

Press release from the City of Shakopee:

September 4, 2020

What is annexation?

Annexation is the process by which cities bring property into city limits. It is the primary way cities grow.

How does the city decide which land to annex?

The City of Shakopee has an orderly annexation agreement with Jackson Township that lays out a framework for annexing township property into the city. The agreement is intended to ensure the proper expansion of city utilities and infrastructure. Areas for possible annexation are set up as A through F, with A being the first area the city can annex without a property owner’s permission.

How does annexation work?

There are two ways cities can authorize annexation. Property owners can request annexation through a petition process if the property shares at least 50 feet of its boundary with the city.
The city can also initiate property annexation without the consent of the property owner for parcels in which 25 percent of the boundary abuts city limits.

Why does a property need to adjoin Shakopee to be annexed?

Annexation typically includes the extension of municipal sewer and water to the newly annexed properties. Extending these services requires detailed planning, as adding sewer and water lines is very expensive. Also, the city will be providing police and fire service, so adjacency is important. Therefore, it is critical land is annexed in an orderly fashion.

Is there a limit on how much land the city can annex?

Yes, the orderly annexation agreement with Jackson Township allows the city to annex up to 250 acres per year without a property owner’s permission. If a property owner requests annexation, that is not included in the 250 acres. The city does pay a one-time reimbursement to the township for property annexed into city limits to make up for lost tax revenue to the township.

This press release was produced by the City of Shakopee. The views expressed here are the author’s own.