Neither side got all it wanted in Overland Park’s proposed annexation in southern Johnson County. The opponents wanted the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners to reject the entire annexation; the city was seeking to add 15 square miles to the county’s largest municipality.

The commission’s decision, given the rural setting of the area and pace of development, is reasonable. It allowed the city to take in 8.4 square miles of land close to the advancing urbanization. That will assure the well-regulated growth that Overland Park excels in.

Anyone driving through the area can see that Overland Park, a large factor in Johnson County’s growth of some 10,000 people a year, is edging southward. Literally hundreds of thousands of people want to live in Overland Park, a city often recognized nationally as a well-governed, citizen-friendly place with a low property tax.

The Blue Valley School District is anticipating growth; it has built schools in the area in recent years, and has plans to construct more.

County commissioners see it coming. In recent weeks the board updated a plan for a proposed development, including retail establishments, near U.S. Highway 69 and 199th Street. The project is south of the bulk of the newly annexed area, most of which cuts off at 191st Street.

In fact, that development and a leg of land north of it, between Antioch Road and U.S. 69, was annexed, in effect giving Overland Park a commercial corridor along U.S. 69.

Further, according to the city’s annexation request, there are large amounts of land in the newly annexed area that are owned by developers and other interests. That and land-for-sale signs show that development is in the offing.

The annexation was accepted on a 5-1 vote, an indication there was strong sentiment for the annexation.

The county’s analysis showed the area is in Overland Park’s growth pattern. Sewers, which open the way for development, are imminent within the next few years.

Twenty-five existing platted subdivisions or platted tracts of land, many of which are less than 10 acres, already exist. Currently Overland Park provides some police, fire protection and emergency services there.

On population, about 1,100 people reside in the annexed area, about double the 570 in the section that was not allowed.

It is possible the residents could preserve the rural lifestyle they treasure. Overland Park agreed to “grandfather” in rules that include, among others, keeping farm animals and allowing use of all-terrain vehicles.

The land the commission did not allow to be annexed is farther removed from impending development. Sewers are not expected for at least a decade, and probably longer, officials noted.

There are approximately seven platted subdivisions or platted tracts of land. The area has more rural characteristics, with tracts of 40 acres or more the norm.

The Overland Park City Council is expected to consider the plan Monday night.

That does not necessarily end the issue. The opponents could bring legal action. Legislation has been introduced in the 2008 Kansas Legislature that would allow residents of land in areas slated for annexation to vote on the issue. It would apply before the date of Overland Park’s annexation.

Understandably, the controversy has stirred deep resentment in those who see the annexation as an unwelcome intrusion into their way of life.   

Overland Park can best handle the anger by providing first-class services in its traditional way, if and when the annexation is final.