OMAHA, Neb. (AP) â The Nebraska Supreme Court has, for the first time, ruled that a city may challenge the annexation of land outside its borders if the move infringes on the city’s future growth.
The ruling Friday comes in a lawsuit the city of Springfield filed against the neighboring city of Papillion, which last year annexed an area to its west. Springfield sued, arguing that some of that land had been designated in 1995 as an area of future grown for Springfield.
A Sarpy County District judge dismissed the lawsuit, finding that Springfield didn’t have standing to bring the suit.
But the high court says Springfield can continue with its lawsuit because a 1994 state law allows municipalities to identify land as part of their future growth, giving Springfield standing in the case.