Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the governing body of any third class city with a population of at least fifteen thousand but not more than seventeen thousand inhabitants which is the county seat of a county of the second or fourth classification which has a state university located in such city may annex areas along a road or highway up to two and one-half miles from the existing boundaries of the city for the purpose of promoting economic development through the refurbishing of existing structures and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure and property for the enhancement of community development of an existing airport.