Hastings council approves orderly annexation for Pleasant Valley Farms development

The Hastings City Council voted to adopt a joint resolution allowing the orderly annexation of roughly 166 acres for the proposed Pleasant Valley Farms subdivision.

John Hinsman, the city’s community development director, told the council the land sits between 140th Street and Featherstone Road near County Road 42 and that most of the parcel would be included in the annexation while a trucking property and Oakwood Cemetery would be handled separately. Hinsman said the developer envisions about 400 home sites with a mix of single-family houses and townhomes, park areas, trails and a private clubhouse.

The resolution is a cooperative step with Niner Township, Hinsman said, and includes language requested by property owners that delays formal annexation recording until the property transfers to the developer. Hinsman summarized the next steps as an environmental assessment worksheet with traffic and environmental analyses, a 30-day public comment period, neighborhood meetings, platting and rezoning, and statutory notice to property owners within 350 feet at the appropriate stages.

Council Member Layfield moved to adopt the joint resolution; Council Member House seconded and the motion carried on a council voice vote. Hinsman said the township had already taken action at a prior meeting and staff expects the township to consider a slightly revised resolution after language changes requested by property owners.

The approval tonight does not itself change ownership or development entitlements; it authorizes the city to record an annexation at a later date once the property transfers to the developer and the required state recording is completed. Final approval of subdivision plats, rezoning and other land-use entitlements will return to the city in later proceedings, at which time staff expects neighborhood meetings and more detailed review of traffic and utilities.

The council did not set final platting or construction approvals at the meeting; those steps remain subject to the environmental review and subsequent discrete land-use applications.