CITY WANTS STRONGER HAND IN PLANNING SEEKS TO SHAPE AREA BEYOND BORDERS.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - City officials must be more proactive in analyzing and shaping housing developments in the unincorporated areas that surround the city, the City Council agreed Tuesday at a study session.

The council members complied a long list of amenities that they want to see included with any new project, commercial or residential, including a specific focus on seizing any opportunities to acquire and preserve open space.

``We have to be more proactive because of our curtailed sphere of influence,'' said Councilman Cameron Smyth. ``We don't have an official seat at the table, so we have to force our way to the table.''

The Los Angeles Local Agency Formation Commission ruled earlier this year that Santa Clarita would not have jurisdiction west of the Golden State (5) Freeway or east of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.

The City Council indicated they would adopt the policy, which also includes standards for grading, density and trails along with architectural guidelines, at a future meeting.

In recent months, officials have touted the city's cordial relationship with county leaders and 5th District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich as the best way to prevent growth in the county from overwhelming Santa Clarita's infrastructure and services without an expanded sphere of influence.

``Several years ago, the relationship between the county and the city was adversarial,'' said Jeff Lambert, the director of planning and building services. ``That's no longer the case.''

The planning process is expected to be streamlined by the adoption of a joint general plan by both the City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Guidelines, which will be used to create the document, are expected to be approved by the council members later this month.

``This process is needed now,'' said Sand Canyon resident Sue Ostrom. ``This can function as a sphere of influence, and maybe a bigger or better one that will be more effective in the long run.''

Mayor Laurene Weste and the other council members urged that the one valley/one vision standards being developed for the general plan be put in place now, rather than waiting until it is adopted in 2002.

``We need to eliminate the disparity,'' Weste said.

The city's general plan generally requires more amenities from developers and holds them to tougher standards than does the county's general plan. For example, projects in the county are more dense than those planned in the city. The new general plan will eliminate that double standard, city and county officials said.

``This process is about consistency and raising the level of quality of development in the Santa Clarita Valley,'' said Millie Jones, a deputy for Antonovich. ``None of us want to see developers pitting the city against the county, or vice versa, again.''