OTTAWA — Ottawa city planners spent a little time Wednesday looking at rezoning the next round of properties in the urban growth area around the city. But they spent more time defending the urban growth area, which has been the focus of complaints by the county commission. City planning and codes director Wynndee Lee will meet with county officials next month. Although people outside the city worry about annexation, Lee said controlling growth in the urban growth area makes annexation less likely. Planning commissioner Jack Maxwell, who lives outside the city and lives in the next part of the urban growth area to be rezoned, said the urban growth area makes sense and that shows that government is working for citizens. Under a deal between the county and city, the city controls planning and zoning in the urban growth area just outside of the city limits. City attorney Bob Bezek said the county originally asked for the deal several years and was developed at the county’s request. Planning commission chair Richard Jackson said the complaints are misinformed.
Thursday, Dec. 29, 4 p.m.
