Many communities have these plans, though they may be old and in need of updating. Some smaller cities use Community Builder Plans in place of comprehensive or land use plans. Community Builder Plans were a tool created by the Iowa Department of Economic Development to assist cities in conducting strategic planning for their communities. IDED no longer requires Community Builder Plans as part of its programs, but communities continue to use and update those plans. A very few communities reported they did not have a zoning ordinance but used a restricted residential ordinance instead.
Many cities have existing boundary or annexation agreement with contiguous cities.
This is more common in central Iowa than other parts of the state. In the cities identified, there are few instances of involuntary annexations. The vast majority of annexations are voluntary. Specifically, of the 183 communities included in the report, only 10 cities were involved in an involuntary annexation. If there is opposition it is generally from residents who do not wish to pay city taxes.