The Reeve of Hanover is calling the friendly annexation with the City of Steinbach a win-win situation.

Steinbach City Council has completed negotiations with council in the RM of Hanover to annex about 7300 acres of land, mostly along Steinbach's western border. Steinbach currently covers just over 6300 acres. Stan Toews says this is the first major annexation since 1979.

Toews notes both sides stand to benefit. First of all, he says Steinbach had completed a growth study indicating the need for more space.

"In return Steinbach is giving up the buffer zone that they had on their development plan," notes Toews. "So Hanover can develop right up to their border."

Toews says Steinbach has also indicated it will work together with Hanover when time comes to expand the boundaries of Mitchell and Blumenort. And, Hanover will also be compensated nearly one million dollars over eight years from Steinbach for the loss in tax revenue.

"These are all win-win situations," he says. "Because if one community grows it benefits everybody."

As a result of the annexation, Steinbach will grow by an additional 160 homes or 570 residents. Toews notes the land they are giving up was not on their radar for development.

"In fact, because of our last Development Plan, Steinbach had a mile and a half buffer, we couldn't develop anything on that land regardless."

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