CITY SEEKS BIGGER 'SPHERE'.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - To bolster support for its proposed sphere-onfluence expansion, the city plans to mail 10,000 letters in coming months - about 9,995 more than originally planned.

The letters - sent by the city Planning Department to households outside the city's borders - will inform residents of Santa Clarita's pending application before the Local Agency Formation Commission. The letters also will explain what the proposal means to residents and why the city needs to expand its legal sphere of influence, said city Associate Planner Jennifer Adamick.

The Planning Department originally wanted to reach residents through newspaper editorials, but Councilman Frank Ferry last week asked that letters also be sent directly to residents in the expanded sphere areas. Other council members agreed.

``The list went from five to 10,000 in a matter of minutes,'' said Adamick, who agreed the public needs to be better informed. ``A lot of people often confuse annexation with what a sphere of influence is. They think we're automatically trying to annex them by applying for this extended sphere.''

For land-use planning in unincorporated county territory, LAFCO accepts a city's formal comments if a project falls within the city's designated sphere of influence. Cities often have spheres that extend beyond their jurisdictional boundaries, but Santa Clarita's sphere presently stops at its borders.

The city has applied to expand its current sphere, from 50 to 115 square miles, in anticipation of future projects outside its borders and several known annexations.

The mass mailing primarily will target neighborhoods in unincorporated Stevenson Ranch and Val Verde, which have the heaviest populations within the city's proposed sphere, plus several smaller neighborhoods outside the city's borders, said Adamick.

City officials also hope the information drive will muster residents' support for the city's LAFCO application, she said.

LAFCO officials expect to rule on Santa Clarita's application for an extended sphere within three to six months, LAFCO Executive Officer Larry Calemine said. Public hearings are expected to begin in about three months.

So far, letters of opposition to the city's LAFCO application include The Newhall Land and Farming Company based in Valencia and Six Flags California, located west of the Golden State Freeway, said Calemine.