In late 1973, HRD announced plans to annex its Huntington property to Columbia and the New Town district as part of Kings Contrivance. The land to be annexed amounted to about 500 additional acres that had not been made part of Columbia in 1965, and about 75% of what was to become Huntington. The HRD's plan to add Huntington to the New Town district was part of a larger proposal. Although adding Huntington was not controversial, other parts of the HRD's proposal were, especially its request to increase the number of townhouses and apartments that it was permitted to build in the New Town zone. Lengthy hearings and appeals ensued, and it was not until December 1976 that HRD's request to add Huntington to the New Town district was finally granted.