The Iowa Economic Development Authority City Development Board met on Wednesday to consider the voluntary annexation of 142.18 acres of land in Boone County by the city of Ogden to meet housing needs. The meeting was a public hearing, as not all property owners were in favor of the annexation. The land is adjacent to Ogden, on the city’s southwest side. Five landowners who comprise 131.2 acres of the annexed land consented to the change. Three landowners who make up 10.98 acres of the annexed land did not consent. The non-consenting landowners’ land was included in the annexation to create uniform boundaries and avoid “islands” of land that is not part of the city, according to Iowa Code rule 368.7. After the annexation is complete, Ogden plans to rezone the land from agricultural and industrial to residential and commercial for a potential housing development and commercial space. A 2023 assessment of housing needs in Ogden determined that growth in the city would soon lead to the need for more residential in the area. The annexation was approved unanimously; a unanimous approval was required for the annexation to move forward because some of the property owners are against the change. Typically, four-fifths approval would be needed, but one board seat is vacant. No one was present at the meeting to express opposition to the annexation. The board reviews cities’ requests for boundary changes, approves and denies requests, and maintains records on city development actions.