SANTAQUIN — The Santaquin City Council on Wednesday approved the annexation of 1,400 acres of unincorporated Utah County land into the northeastern part of the city.

A development group wants to build between 100 and 450 homes on about 300 acres overlooking Utah Valley, said Dennis Marker, Santaquin's city planner.

The rest of the land being incorporated is owned by a handful of farmers and other property owners, a majority of whom signed a petition to become part of the city, Marker said.

"Some of the property owners like the idea of trying to keep things rural and being a part of the lifestyle that Santaquin is promoting," he said.

Santaquin has been working on protecting the rights of farm operations, including having the developers agree to create a separation between the new housing and the farmlands, Marker said. The developers also will create at least one equestrian trail that will provide access to federal and state lands.

Landowners of approximately 175 acres on the most northeastern part of the annexation are not as happy about the decision, Marker said.

A couple of owners did not want to be part of any city, said Susan Farnsworth, the city recorder.

Part of the reason the land was included in the annexation is plans for an interchange there, though it's at least eight years away.

The state still has to approve the annexation, which could happen in about a month, Marker said.

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