PUNTA GORDA — One city councilman’s research into Florida laws that allow cities to annex unincorporated areas has resulted in the city asking Charlotte County to let the city annex the 200-acre former Loop development site south of town under a relatively new law — even though that would create isolated unincorporated property.

That law, Florida Statute 171.20, “Annexation by Interlocal Agreement,” would allow the city to get around clauses in other state laws that forbid annexations if they are not contiguous to city boundaries or would create “enclaves” of unincorporated areas.