Lone Tree to annex Park Meadows - Is this legal?

The Denver Post reported on Sunday that the city of Lone Tree plans to annex the Park Meadows shopping mall, effective January 1, 2007, and I have to say that I found this news to be rather interesting.

Some years ago, while serving on the board of directors for the Highlands Ranch Community Association, I listened to Douglas County commissioner Jim Sullivan describe plans for the mall. At that time, the big worry was that Greenwood Village would try to annex the mall, so the county commissioners created an open space corridor that completely encircled it. According to Sullivan, it was supposed to be illegal to annex across such a corridor. Sullivan promised that no city could ever annex the property because of this action.

So, what gives? Did everybody forget about this? Did the open space law get changed? Did the county commissioners renege on their promise? Or is Lone Tree just ignoring the law in the hope that nobody will call attention to this minor detail?

I for one would sure like to know.