Annexation Agreements - Boundary Agreements: Walking a Fine Line into the Future - A Map of the Dangers to the Unwary Land Use Traveler

Abstract

This article examines the potential dangers that may be encountered by inexperienced land use planners. The article begins with a review of statutes and case law involving annexation agreements in Illinois. Next, the author distinguishes the differences between "annexation agreements" and "development agreements." Then the author addresses how to determine whether there has been a boundary agreement, which limits the ability of a municipality to annex a piece of property. The author recommends a statute permitting development agreements and recommends clear linkages between various sections of the code to improve predictability for Illinois land use planners.