CHAPTER 1 Title 11 ANNEXATION PROCEDURES
CHAPTER 1
ANNEXATION PROCEDURES
SECTION:
11-1-1: Title
11-1-2: Purpose
11-1-3: Applicability
11-1-4: Application Process and Fees
11-1-5: Concurrent Zoning Classification
11-1-6: Submittal Requirements for Annexations Greater Than Ten (10) Acres
11-1-7: Submittal Requirements for Annexations Less Than Ten (10) Acres
11-1-8: Certification and Review
11-1-9: Notice
11-1-10: Commission Review
11-1-11: Council Review
11-1-1 TITLE.
This title of the Ammon Code shall be and may be known as “The Annexation Ordinance of Ammon,
Idaho,” and may be so cited and pleaded.
11-1-2 PURPOSE.
The City of Ammon finds that the establishment of annexation procedures will promote uniformity and
certainty in annexation applications and that the establishment of annexation procedures will promote
public health, safety and general welfare. This ordinance is intended to encourage collaboration between
property owners and city officials when considering any application for an annexation request in order to
arrive at the most sustainable outcome for the community. The annexation process, as described and
required by this ordinance, is collaborative.
11-1-3 APPLICABILITY.
Any request for an annexation shall be controlled by the provisions of this Title. To the extent the
procedures of this Title conflict with the procedures of Idaho Code §50-222 and other applicable state
statutes, the provisions of state law shall control. If the annexation is initiated by any taxing district,
including the City of Ammon, the provisions of this Chapter shall not govern.
11-1-4 APPLICATION PROCESS AND FEES.
An application for an annexation of real property into the City of Ammon shall be filed with the Ammon
Planning and Zoning Administrator (“Administrator”) by the owner of the real property or by at least
one holder of an interest in real property for which the annexation is proposed. The applicant shall pay
the non-refundable application fee for the proposed annexation, as established by resolution of the City
Council, at the time of the filing of the annexation application. In the event an application for
annexation is approved and an annexation ordinance is adopted, the applicant will be required to pay
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for all costs associated with the filing of the annexation ordinance and the preparation of the legal
description and a map prepared in a draftsmanlike manner that designates the boundaries of annexed
property to be recorded with the county recorder pursuant to state law.
11-1-5 CONCURRENT ZONING CLASSIFICATION.
The City shall concurrently with the application for annexation consider an application for a zoning
classification consistent with the requirements (including notice provisions) and standards of the Official
City Code of the City of Ammon. The City shall not consider any other application by the applicant on
the subject property under the City’s ordinances unless and until the application for annexation has
been approved and an annexation ordinance has been adopted and published in accordance with state
law.
11-1-6 SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNEXATIONS GREATER THAN TEN (10) ACRES.
For annexations involving more than ten (10) or more acres of real property, the application shall
include the following:
A. Application fees established by resolution.
B. A statement of the size of the property in square footage and acres.
C. A description of the proposed project, including the approximate:
1. Number and size of proposed lots
2. Length and location of the proposed water and sewer mains
3. Length and location of proposed streets and alleys
4. Length and location of the proposed sidewalks.
5. Acreage and location of any parks, trails, and/or open spaces.
D. A schematic design of the entire project showing the proposed uses, density, streets, alleys,
easements, and proposed size and location of open spaces and parks.
E. A statement describing how the proposed project complies with specific goals and policies of
the Ammon Comprehensive Plan.
F. A statement describing how the proposed project is compatible with adjacent neighborhoods
within the City of Ammon.
G. A statement describing how the applicable natural resources (e.g., water courses, springs,
streams, wildlife, wildlife migration corridors, and access to public lands) and natural hazards
(e.g., avalanche, floodplains and floodways) are incorporated into proposed project and/or
mitigated.
H. A statement describing what contributions and/or dedications the applicant is willing to make as
part of the proposed annexation.
I. A detailed description of how the annexation will impact the existing municipal infrastructure
and services (e.g., water, sewer, streets, library, police, fire, schools, and parks).
J. A statement of who will maintain the streets, alleys, parks and utilities (privately and publicly
owned utilities) and how the maintenance of the streets, alleys, parks and utilities (privately and
publicly owned utilities) will be funded.
K. A phasing plan showing the proposed dates of construction and completion of phased
construction for infrastructure, streets, alleys, utilities and all other development.
L. Unless not applicable, within the sole discretion of the City, the following studies shall be
submitted if requested by the Administrator, City Engineer, Planning and Zoning Commission, or
the City Council. If these requirements are waived during the application process, they shall be
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required after annexation but prior to submission of any preliminary plat for the subject
property.
1. Traffic Study. A traffic study shall be submitted showing impact on adjacent public
streets that would serve the proposed project and the impact on all public streets within
a three (3) mile radius of the proposed development. The traffic study shall be prepared
and stamped by a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Idaho which has
expertise in traffic studies.
2. Water Study. A water study shall be submitted showing how the development will be
serviced with city water, the impact the development will have on existing groundwater
rights, and the upgrades necessary to the Ammon city water system to fully service the
development. The water study shall be prepared and stamped by a Professional
Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Idaho which has expertise in water studies.
3. Wastewater Study. A wastewater study shall be submitted showing how the
development will be serviced for wastewater, the impact the development will have on
existing wastewater systems, and the upgrades necessary to the Ammon wastewater
system to fully service the development. The wastewater study shall be prepared and
stamped by a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Idaho which has
expertise in wastewater studies.
4. Floodplain Study. If any portion of the proposed annexation is located within a federally
designated floodplain, a Floodplain Study shall be submitting showing how the
development will impact the existing floodplain and how the development will impact
all property owners downstream of the mapped floodplain
5. A Level I environmental study showing the presence of any hazardous waste.
6. A fiscal impact analysis or an updated fiscal impact analysis showing a comprehensive
analysis of the costs and benefits of annexation of the proposed development into the
City of Ammon. The analysis may be submitted at the time of the application for
annexation but no later than when the application is reviewed by the Ammon Planning
and Zoning Commission (“Commission”). The fiscal impact analysis shall be prepared by
a qualified and independent person or firm acceptable by the City Council and in a
format acceptable by the City Council, to determine the proposed annexation’s impact
and to recommend any additional fees paid to the City to compensate for anticipated
costs. Based on the fiscal impact analysis and any other study provided and consulted
during the annexation process, the Council retains the right to require further monetary
or non-monetary contributions for any annexation. The applicant has the right to seek
the City’s approval of such a fiscal impact study at any point in the annexation process.
At the sole discretion of the City Council, the requirement to provide a fiscal impact
analysis may be waived. The fiscal impact analysis may also be termed a cost/benefit
analysis.
11-1-7 SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNEXATIONS LESS THAN TEN (10) ACRES.
For annexations involving less than ten (10) acres of real property, except for application fees, the
Administrator may waive any of the application requirements listed in Section 11-1-6 at their sole and
absolute discretion based on the size, scope, complexity, relevant previous studies, relevant previous
applications, and known impacts of the proposed annexation. The Planning and Zoning Commission and
the City Council may reverse the Administrator’s decision for any waived application items and require
any of the items listed in Section 11-1-6 upon finding that their submittal is required to complete their
review of the annexation application request.
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11-1-8 CERTIFICATION AND REVIEW.
The Planning and Zoning Administrator shall review the application to determine whether the
application is complete. Once the Administrator finds the application complete, the Administrator shall
submit the application for review and comment to the applicable City departments and appointed
recommending boards. Following receipt of comments by the City departments and boards, the
Planning and Zoning Administrator shall schedule a meeting with the Ammon Planning and Zoning
Commission (“Commission”) for review of the application by the Commission.
11-1-9 NOTICE.
Notice of a public hearing shall be provided according to Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 65.
11-1-10 COMMISSION REVIEW.
The Commission shall conduct a public hearing to review the application for annexation. The
Commission shall review the particular facts and circumstances of a proposed annexation for the
purpose of determining the following:
(1) Whether the proposed annexation will be harmonious and in accordance with specific goals
and policies of applicable components of the Ammon Comprehensive Plan; and
(2) Whether the proposed annexation generally complies with the Ammon Comprehensive Plan.
The Commission shall also make a recommendation that the property sought to be annexed should be
zoned as one or more particular zoning districts, as more fully described in the Zoning Ordinance of the
City of Ammon. The Commission shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law relating to the
application’s general compliance with the Ammon Comprehensive Plan and to the Commission’s
recommendation for zoning. The Commission shall forward those findings and conclusions and their
recommendation in writing to the Council and the applicant.
11-1-11 COUNCIL REVIEW.
A. Council Hearing. Upon receipt of the Commission’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, the
Council may, but is not required to, schedule a public hearing to review the application for
annexation. Notice of the public hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as the notice
for a Commission hearing as described in this title. The Council shall have the right to request
further information deemed necessary by the Council at any time during the proceedings.
B. Findings. During the public hearing process of the application for annexation, the Council shall
make its own findings of fact and conclusions of law to determine:
1. Whether the proposed annexation will be harmonious and in accordance with the Ammon
Comprehensive Plan
2. Whether the proposed annexation protects and improves the public health, safety, and
welfare.
3. Whether the proposed annexation will have a negative fiscal impact upon the existing
citizens of Ammon at the time of an annexation and in the future.
If the Council finds general compliance with the Ammon Comprehensive Plan, the Council shall then
consider the application for a zoning classification and consider any and all factors it deems, in its sole
and absolute discretion, important to determine whether an application for annexation shall be granted
or denied. If the Commission made negative findings related to the Comprehensive Plan and therefore
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did not make a recommendation on zoning classification for the property sought to be annexed, but the
Council subsequently made favorable findings related to the Comprehensive Plan and wishes to proceed
with the annexation, the Council shall remand the proceedings to the Commission for its
recommendation on zoning classification.
C. Decision. The Council has the sole and absolute discretionary right to approve, approve with
conditions or deny an application for annexation.
a. Annexation Agreement. The City Council is authorized to require, as a condition of
approval, that the applicant and the City enter into an annexation agreement providing
for the terms and conditions of an approved annexation. The annexation agreement
may include any mitigation measures deemed appropriate by the City Council to
address concerns raised during the application process.
b. Zoning Designation. If the Council elects to approve the application for annexation with
or without conditions, the Council shall also establish the appropriate zoning district(s)
for the annexed property in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance of the City of
Ammon.
D. Reconsideration. Any applicant or aggrieved party shall exhaust all administrative remedies,
including but not limited to Idaho Code §67-6535, following a final decision from the City
Council.
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