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Newton City Council rejects annexation petition for The Falls development
Summary
The Newton City Council voted against annexing 36.27 acres for a 191-home development called The Falls. Councilors cited prior opposition and safety and traffic concerns; the petition failed after two members voted in favor and three opposed.
At its May 7 meeting, the Newton City Council rejected a petition to annex 36.27 acres known as The Falls, a proposed 191-single-family-home development off Old Conover Startown Road.
Planning Director Randy Williams told the council the owners filed a voluntary, contiguous annexation petition and staff recommended adopting the annexation ordinance with a proposed effective date of July 1, 2024. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
Council Member Ed Sain said, “I have been against this development from the beginning,” and Council Member Roy Johnson said he was concerned about safety because of the additional traffic the development would bring. On the subsequent motion, Council Members Beverly Danner and Mayor Pro Tem John Stiver voted in favor and Council Members Ed Sain, Roy Johnson and Jon McClure voted against; the consideration of annexation for The Falls therefore failed.
The council did not adopt the annexation ordinance, leaving the 36.27-acre parcel outside Newton’s municipal limits. Planning staff had noted a portion of the subdivision is already inside city limits and that the annexation petition included maps, petition materials and a draft ordinance on file with the city clerk.
Because the petition failed at the council level there is no effective annexation date to implement city services or change zoning under city jurisdiction. Any future annexation or revised proposal would require renewed application, public notice and council action.
