LAFCO STAFF REBUFFS EXPANDED SANTA CLARITA INFLUENCE.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The city's bid to expand its influence beyond its east and west borders was rejected for a third time in a report released Friday, disappointing local leaders.

The staff report of the Local Agency Formation Commission recommended that the city's influence expand north of its current borders to include San Francisquito Creek and all of Saugus, but not be allowed to reach west of the Golden State Freeway and east of the Antelope Valley Freeway.

``We won't quit,'' said Mayor Laurene Weste, vowing to oppose the recommendation at the June 13 LAFCO hearing in Los Angeles. ``I can think of no other jurisdiction that is in this predicament. There is no logical reason to deny our request.''

This is the third time the city has tried to secure legislative control of development and land-use decisions in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County that surround the city. Similar bids were rejected in 1989 and 1991.

``LAFCO sent a clear message that Santa Clarita's borders will never move west of the I-5 or east of (State Route) 14,'' said Councilman Frank Ferry. ``I'm very frustrated.''

The city's bid for an expanded sphere of influence was opposed by most landowners and developers in the Santa Clarita Valley, including The Newhall Land and Farming Company, which is developing the 21,000-home Newhall Ranch and 1,700-home Westridge golf course community west of the I-5.

LAFCO is an independent state-mandated agency that oversees municipal boundary changes in the county.

``We're pleased that LAFCO followed our request to exclude our property,'' said Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer. ``This sphere makes sense.''

Ferry blasted the LAFCO report, saying the city needs to enlist Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, and state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, in the fight to control growth outside Santa Clarita's borders.

``We need to look for ways to step over LAFCO, either with litigation or legislative action,'' Ferry said. ``LAFCO has become a political tool manipulated through the lobbying and influence of large landowners.''

More than 40,000 homes are slated to be built outside the city's boundaries, most west of I-5. That growth has crowded the Santa Clarita Valley's schools, taxed the roads and threatened the environment.

``As a matter of fairness we should have a voice over that growth,'' said Councilman Cameron Smyth.

City-sponsored surveys found that a majority of residents supported an expanded sphere of influence, and volunteers collected 10,000 signatures on petitions backing wider influence in the past six months.

Fifth District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich did not support the city's bid for an expanded sphere of influence, saying current residents should not dictate the political future of new neighborhoods.

``I'm not sure what the sphere gets the city,'' said Conal McNamara, Antonovich's planning deputy. ``The city knows they are a partner in every decision. They have a hotline to the county, no matter what the boundaries of their sphere of influence are.''

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(ran in SAC edition only) SPHERE OF INFLUENCE