Opinion ID: 2457391
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Industrial Amendment

Text: In order to trigger the statute, the  territory  to be annexed must  be the site of substantial industrial plant development. It is not enough that it include or involve or embrace an industrial development; it must be the development. This statute has no application in any annexation case wherein an industrial development is included within a larger area or territory annexed in good faith, and in accordance with acceptable principles governing annexation. We hold in this case that while M&D is an industrial development, it is not the territory sought to be annexed, but only a relatively small portion thereof. This holding precludes the application of the industrial amendment; however, the burden is on the municipality to show that the proposed annexation is not unreasonable in consideration of the health, safety and welfare of ... the citizens and property owners of the municipality. (See par. 3, sec. 6-310). With or without the fifth paragraph of Sec. 6-310, factors to be taken into consideration in testing the reasonableness of any annexation ordinance would include: a. the necessity for, or use of, municipal services; b. the present ability and intent of the municipality to render municipal services when and as needed; c. whether the annexation is for the sole purpose of increasing municipal revenue without the ability and intent to benefit the annexed area by rendering municipal services. We test this annexation against these criteria.