Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Allows St. Peters to Annex Harvestowne Industrial Area
The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District has given the City of St. Peters the go-ahead to complete the annexation of the area known as “Harvestowne.” Harvestowne is an 80-acre area with mostly industrial property and some commercial property along Highway 94.
Harvestowne was the last pocket of property along South Highway 94 in St. Peters that was unincorporated, but it was one of many unincorporated sections of land surrounded by the City. Thousands of county residents and businesses in these unincorporated areas benefit from St. Peters’ services
such as snow removal and street maintenance.
The City of St. Peters is addressing this problem by following existing Missouri laws, and the Harvestowne annexation is its latest success in these efforts. In 1992, the State of Missouri changed its annexation laws
affecting only St. Charles County. This special legislation was enacted applying only to St. Charles County out of the 114 counties in the state. In order to annex property, a St. Charles County municipality must now win two votes: one election by the voters in the City annexing the parcel, and another election of voters inside the annexation property. In all other counties of the state of Missouri, annexations can be approved either by the majority of the combined total of votes in both areas.
Voters in the April 2004 municipal elections approved the annexation of the area. In the fall of 2004, St. Charles Circuit Court Judge William T. Lohmar decided that the results of the April 2004 municipal elections would stand, and allowed the annexation to proceed.
The City sought to annex Harvestowne to protect property values in both Harvestowne and the areas surrounding it through building code enforcement and the zoning process, and more fairly support the City services already being provided.
Annexation will give neighboring St. Peters property owners a chance to voice their opinions at City Hall if there are proposed land use changes in Harvestowne. Enforcement of City building codes will also ensure that all the properties along this very visible stretch of Highway 94 in St. Peters adhere to the same high
standards.
The annexation should be completed in 30-45 days unless the case is further appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Harvestowne area will soon receive St. Peters City services including street maintenance, trash service, timely snow removal, and police patrols.
