Baldwin City Council approves annexation of roughly 31 acres at East 1750 Road

The Baldwin City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 14‑98, annexing approximately 31 acres at East 1750 Road and North 400 Road. Councilmember (S5) moved to approve the annexation and Councilmember (S3) seconded; the final vote was 5–0 in favor.

The petition for annexation was filed on 08/26/2024, staff said, and the applicant told the council there is no immediate timetable to develop the land, describing the annexation as driven by estate‑planning intentions and saying the plat will come to the city after annexation. "The plat will come to the city, after the annexation, but we don't have any specific timetable on when we want to install the water lines or anything like that," the applicant said.

Residents and council members pressed staff and the applicant on utilities and infrastructure. Council discussion noted the parcel likely receives electric service from Evergy; council members said an outside utility can continue to serve properties inside city limits but the city would still collect its 5% franchise fee on utility bills. Council also reminded the room that city ordinances allow septic systems on lots of three acres or larger, and that detailed street and utility plans are addressed later in the platting process.

Doug Sheldon, who identified himself as an owner of nearby land, raised several concerns about whether annexation would bring additional obligations or costs to adjacent property owners and whether the city had been performing maintenance such as mowing frontage. "I'm just I'm concerned about my 40 acres," Sheldon said, asking whether the city might later require him to hook to city services or to pay for curbs and sidewalks. Councilmembers said annexation cannot be forced on property owners and urged residents with specific questions to work with the city administrator so staff can research and return an answer.

Council members described development tools the city can use — including planning commission review, plats, and developer programs such as tax‑reimbursement arrangements — that can require developers to fund streets and infrastructure and preserve city control over land‑use outcomes even after annexation. Several council members said annexing willing parcels preserves the city's ability to plan and does not, by itself, obligate immediate development.

The motion to adopt Ordinance 14‑98 carried on the second reading with an oral roll call. The council recorded the outcome as passes 5–0. The council then moved on to other business, including an executive session on a substation location.