CITY SEEKS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE; SANTA CLARITA WANTS SAY ON COUNTY-APPROVED PROJECTS.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Depending on who you talk to, city officials either need to be nicer to Los Angeles County officials or they've been too kind, sitting back as the county approves project after project outside Santa Clarita's limits.

Regardless, city officials have the same goal in mind: They want a sphere of influence that gives them dibs on land outside the city's boundaries and more say in its development.

``We're entitled to a sphere of influence. Legally and morally, we are entitled,'' Councilwoman Jill Klajic said. ``Everyone holds us responsible for what happens out here. The county approves developments and we have to take on the financial burden. We've been trying to be nice, but it hasn't changed (county Supervisor Michael Antonovich).''

In the meantime, however, city officials have decided that if they plan to get what they want from neighboring county developments, they must make friends.

The city has attempted and failed twice to get a sphere of influence, which designates county land as future city territory. The designation must be granted by the Local Agency Formation Commission, an independent agency of government appointees who make land-use decisions.

Though last year the city considered conducting a study to make a third request, the council decided against it, said Jeff Lambert, city planning manager. Instead, city officials will work to improve relations with county officials and landowners before preparing an application next year, he said.

Landowners have fought city control out of fear that the city won't approve projects as readily as the county and that stricter city requirements will cost them more to develop, officials said.

``We told the council we would begin laying the groundwork,'' Lambert said. ``That means working with LAFCO, the county and landowners. We're trying to accomplish what a sphere would do without having a sphere. We want to establish a relationship with the county.''

The city's lack of a sphere of influence outside its boundaries has been a point of contention since Santa Clarita incorporated 10 years ago. City founders originally requested a 200-square-mile area to be named the city of Santa Clarita, but that proposal was rejected, Lambert said. Instead, the city became a 38-square-mile territory, which has since expanded to 45 square miles over the years, he said.

The issue has frustrated city officials because the county has lower standards for development than the city, which may require such things as roads with bicycle paths and specific landscaping.

In addition, most counties in the state follow a general policy of placing large-scale development within city boundaries. Los Angeles County, however, keeps projects in its territory to bring in sales tax, officials said.

``In the state of California, there's been deep financial pressure, and (officials) get into what they refer to as mall wars,'' said Larry Calemine, executive officer for the Los Angeles County LAFCO. ``The county would love the city to annex houses because those are a drain financially. But if it's a regional mall, the county wants to keep it and the city wants it.''

Klajic said the county approves the projects in an attempt to stay afloat financially.

``They've gotten themselves in such deep financial trouble. They take money from developer fees and then they run,'' Klajic said. ``What they end up doing is destroying everything in their path.''

But Lambert cited the proposed Tesoro Del Valle project working its way through the county as an example of how county officials are taking city concerns into account. Developers originally proposed building 3,300 units on the property but reduced it to 1,800 because of input from Antonovich, he said.

With more negotiations, the city may get a scaled-down sphere-of-influence request approved, Lambert said.

Dave Vannatta, planning deputy for Antonovich, sees things differently.

``We would argue that we have always worked with the city - that has always been the case,'' Vannatta said. ``We don't always agree. The city will say they don't always get what they want, and that may very well be the case.''