MASON CITY – Mason City is set to gain area size for first time since 2005 as the city council will consider annexation of 240 acres near Avenue of Saints on Tuesday.
In a July 18, 2023, memo, staff in city hall is recommending that the city council convene a public hearing regarding the petitions of Nancy P. Wood and Newman Farm, LLC to voluntarily annex to the City of Mason City. Upon closing the public hearing, Staff requests approval of the resolution annexing the properties.
Through the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation, the City was made aware of the planned purchase of property west of and adjacent to the Golden Grain Energy property on 43rd Street SW. The potential developer (New Energy Freedom) will require City water and sanitary sewer service and has asked the current owner to petition to annex into Mason City prior to closing the sale. This approximately 80-acre property is contiguous along its east border to the City limits across the Union Pacific railroad right-of-way. It is located on the north side of 240th Street in the County, which is 43″ Street SW in the city.
The NICEDC also approached the owner on the south side of 240th Street, Newman Farm, LLC, who agreed to voluntarily annex. They own what is just under a quarter section of land (approximately 160 acres) bordering the UPRR and the City limits to the east and the Avenue of the Saints to the south. Their annexation petition also includes the 240th Street right-of-way (which will become 43′ Street SW upon annexation) and the adjoining portion of Nettle Avenue (which will become South Taft Avenue upon annexation). The owners of the Newman Farm property do not currently have development plans. However, with the extension of utilities to serve the New Energy Freedom project, the Newman Farm property becomes more easily developable.
Both annexations are 100 percent voluntary. Such annexations require only approval of a resolution of annexation after the City Council holds a public hearing. If the resolution is approved at the council’s Tuesday night meeting in the library, it is forwarded to the Secretary of State and is complete upon acknowledgement of receipt by the Secretary of State.
This is the first annexation to Mason City since 2005, when the south area between the former City limits and the new Avenue of the Saints was annexed. Staff did contact other property owners in this area to ask if they would be interested in voluntarily annexation, but did not receive any responses.
The properties will be rezoned to Z6-O, Open Industry, after the annexation is complete. This will extend the South Industrial Park to include the newly annexed properties.
There is no impact on the operating budget resulting from this action. Upon annexation, tax revenues from the annexed properties will be collected by the City.
