That's a major problem because Hollister has all but run out of vacant commercial land. And major investors often refuse to look at property that's not inside the city limits and served by city utilities, Lewis said. It is possible to annex land against the property owner's wishes, but Hollister officials don't want to do that, Lewis said. Neither do those in Branson, Adams said. But in a few cases, they've had to.
Involuntary annexations require a ballot issue.
The battle against sprawl While both Branson and Hollister benefit from land annexations, there are often some drawbacks, Lewis said. Sprawl is all about money, said Chris Hall, the county's planning administrator. Someone wants to build a convenience store or a subdivision. Land at the edge of existing development is expensive, so he or she hopscotches out a mile or two along a major highway. The developer may pay for sewer lines to that property that are large enough to handle that development's needs.