ANNEXATION APPLICATION FILED CEMEX SAYS IT WILL OPPOSE MOVE.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Special to the Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - While acknowledging that jurisdiction over the land would not give them authority over mining, city officials have taken steps to annex 1,885 acres in Soledad Canyon, where a mega-mining operation they oppose is planned.

On Tuesday, Santa Clarita planners filed an application with the Local Agency Formation Commission - the agency that oversees municipal boundary changes in Los Angeles County - to annex the undeveloped land, including 906 acres the city owns.

``We are hoping for a smooth, successful annexation,'' said Kai Luoma, a planner. The City Council approved the move Nov. 22.

Mexico-based Cemex, which was granted the right to mine 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 1990, plans to contest the city's application with the LAFCO.

``Cemex intends to make its position clear to LAFCO that annexation of the Soledad Canyon property into the city's municipal boundaries is inappropriate,'' said Kerry Shapiro, the lead attorney for Cemex's Soledad Canyon project. ``The city has previously made public statements to the effect that annexation of the Soledad project is part of a broader plan to block implementation of the project.''

Several years ago, LAFCO denied city officials' attempt to add the mining area to Santa Clarita's sphere of influence as a probable forerunner to annexation. LAFCO's executive director, Larry Calemine, said the agency would take its earlier decision into account as ``one of many factors'' in making a decision about the current application. The agency could approve or reject the application as a whole, or it could selectively approve or deny portions of the city's proposal.

Zoning in the area would allow for residential development, parkland and open space. City planners have said the annexation would have no significant environmental impact.

Cemex and the federal Bureau of Land Management officials contend the city's annexation plan fails to adequately describe the site's mineral resources and Cemex's mining plans.

Jan Bedrosian, a spokeswoman for the bureau, said the BLM is reviewing its options for airing its views to LAFCO.

In a related matter, a federal judge last week rejected the city's claims that federal agencies, including the BLM, failed to perform an adequate environmental analysis before granting Cemex the right to mine.

Judy O'Rourke, [phone]

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com