Logan City gained nearly 300 acres of prime real estate along Highway 89/91 when the seven-member Cache County Boundary Commission unanimously sided with landowners who wanted to be rid of their ties to Nibley City.

The request that Logan annex agricultural property between approximately 2000 South and 3200 South was brought by Nibley residents Jay Curtis, Glen Lee Hansen and Dixie Hansen and dozens of other petitioners.

Among the petitioners' complaints was Nibley's attempt to take part of their agricultural land to put in roads for future residential and commercial developments.

"I've put up with everything out there - rumors, condemnations, everything there is," said Glen Lee Hansen.

The majority of property owners in the area signed the petition, and the only party to legally protest it was Nibley City. Saying the annexation area "sticks out like a sore thumb" in Logan's master plan, Nibley City Mayor Gerald Knight argued against it.

"The proposed annexation is not legal. It's unwise and it's unfair," Knight said. "I understand the petitioners' concerns and recognize Nibley City's responsibility to the property owners."

Knight urged the commission to postpone its decision so that Nibley could try to make amends to the landowners, many of whom testified they were incensed by recent development.

Nibley has already invested money on sewer, water and other infrastructure to make way for future commercial development in this neighborhood, Knight said.

But Logan City attorney Kymber Housley, citing Utah Code, said the annexation petition request is legal and Logan is ready and willing to provide services to the landowners, as well as listen to their opinions about future development plans.

"The property owners came to us. They made it clear to us that this goes back many, many years," Housley said. "The property owners have decided to come to Logan. The bottom line is they get to make that choice."

Following the boundary board's vote, Commissioner Kathleen Howell said she's seen this kind of divisive issue before and she expects to see it again.

"It seems every single protest that comes deals with master plans where the cities plan, but they don't involve property owners," she said. "I'm a firm believer that citizens have rights."

abrunson@sltrib.com