Altoona in final steps to annex 800 acres of land near Ankeny. What do residents think?

Altoona is not only growing in population but in size as the city is in the final steps of acquiring more than 800 acres of property.

The city council approved the annexation of 836 acres between Ankeny and Altoona. There are nine residents on the different properties as well as Griffs RV park and agricultural land.

The annexation was within the city’s long-term growth plans, said John Shaw, the community development director for the city of Altoona. However, Altoona has also received multiple annexation requests from property owners.

“The city is taking a very long-term vision to the growth of our community, especially in this area,” Shaw said.

Once the annexation is complete, the land will continue to be used as a mixed-use property. Loren Steenhoek has property adjacent to the annexation, but he would eventually like to have his land included so long as it’s zoned as a light industrial district.

“It’s a path toward peace and quiet in the future,” Steenhoek told the Register. “A light industrial property is very minimally invasive to a neighbor’s property rights. It doesn’t generate a huge amount of traffic or a huge amount of people.”

Some residents on the land have heard Tract, a development company, is looking to buy three plots of land within the annexed area. The company acquires land and develops it for data centers, according to its website.

The city could not confirm that plan because any developer would work directly with the property owners to purchase the land, not the city, Shaw said.

Will property taxes change for residents due to the annexation?

There is a tax benefit for agricultural land, Shaw said, because the city has a lower rate than the county. County taxes for residents on the land will decrease since Altoona will take over services. However, landowners’ total tax bill could eventually increase.

State law allows municipalities like Altoona to use tax abatement to phase in city property taxes over 10 years to ease the transition for landowners. The city will provide a 75% abatement at the start of the transition and gradually decrease it.

The city expects the change to be a wash for most residents. “Obviously, that fluctuates from year to year depending on what the county taxes or city taxes are, but it is pretty similar,” Shaw said.

Amanda Lindstrom opposes the annexation and believes the abatement isn’t sufficient compensation.

“According to the numbers they sent us, it would be about year four or five that our taxes would start going up,” Lindstrom said. “So we’re not even seeing the full 10 years’ worth of deduction.”

Altoona using 80/20 standard for annexation request

Lindstrom’s land wasn’t originally included in the annexation, but revised borders ended up including her property. The city of Altoona is using the 80/20 standard, which only allows objections from 20% or less of residents.

The annexation will have no benefit for her family, Lindstrom said. The family can no longer hunt, their taxes will go up and they will lose out on their rural lifestyle, she said.

“The city has not given us a lot of information on what is going on,” said Lindstrom, who only learned she was included from a neighbor three weeks before the hearing. “The bulk of information we got came from neighbors. So the city doesn’t seem to care.”

By state law, municipalities must notify residents before approval if their land is included in an annexation plan. The notification process is reviewed by the state, along with the city’s entire annexation project.

“Part of their findings is that our application and the process we have done is in order in accordance with the law,” Shaw said in response to Lindstrom’s complaint.

Will anything else change for residents?

Other than slight changes to property taxes, Shaw said there is not much else that will change immediately. Residents within the annexed land will gain access to city services such as the Altoona police and fire departments.

The city of Altoona has already done a sewer project for the area, providing residents access to a newer sanitary sewer connection that was previously unavailable to county residents. Properties in the area currently use an older rural water service, Shaw said. A new water tower was installed in the area by the city.

“This is an area that we are already providing services,” Shaw said. “We have infrastructure in the ground that we have been developing for a number of years. This kind of ends up being the fruition of that work, investment and commitment.”

As development continues in the area, the city will provide larger water mains for fire protection. Plans for a new fire station near the annexed land will allow for full-time fire services as well. The city is responding to growth pressures in the area, Shaw said.

What’s next in the annexation process?

The city council approved the annexation. Now the state must sign off on the deal.

Altoona submitted an application to the City Development Board, which is the governing body that takes action on annexation requests. The board has reviewed and accepted the application.

It will go to a public hearing on April 9. If the board approves the application, there is a 30-day window before it is finalized.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Altoona wants to annex more land near Ankeny. What do residents think?