If approved, the annexation would increase the land area of Highland (which is presently 7 square miles) by about 0.07 percent; however, the 294 homes would amount to an increase of about 11 percent to the approximately 2,600 homes in the city at present.

Financially, the area would have little overall impact on Highland, Edwards said. He said the area would create an influx of property tax, but that money would be used to provide utility and emergency services. He said the location of the area could offer some strategic advantages for the city's utilities.

Edwards emphasized that Highland will take no action on the issue unless Draper approves Symphony's disconnection petition.

"If they get clearance from Draper and everything is OK, we'll look at it," Edwards said. "But we're not going to go out and pursue them."

There is no set timeline for disconnection and annexation processes, Dobbins said. Each process is subject to public hearings and city council approval. The time it takes to decide such issues depends in large part on how controversial local residents find them, Dobbins said.

---

E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com