LAFCO TO VOTE ON CITY'S BID REJECTION LIKELY FOR REQUEST TO EXPAND SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The city's third bid to expand its influence - giving it a say over growth outside the city boundaries - is expected to be rejected today by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

The vote will come less than two weeks after LAFCO released a report recommending that the city of Santa Clarita's influence should not extend beyond its east and west borders. LAFCO is an independent state-mandated agency that oversees municipal boundary changes in the county.

Jeffrey Lambert, director of planning and building services for the city, remained positive Tuesday.

``I'm still hopeful the commission will go beyond the staff's recommendation,'' Lambert said. ``It's an uphill battle. I know that. But I'm a hopeful person.''

The city is seeking to expand its sphere of influence from 47 square miles to approximately 115 square miles, including the area west of the Golden State Freeway and east of the Antelope Valley Freeway.

Rather, the staff recommended an amended sphere of influence smaller than the area requested, encompassing the area north of its current borders to include San Francisquito Creek and all of Saugus.

Larry Calemine, executive officer of LAFCO for Los Angeles County, said that Santa Clarita's application is atypical because of the expanse of land requested - a result of the major growth occurring in the north county. ``It's larger than the typical case,'' Calemine said.

The application has been opposed by both the city and county of Los Angeles, 11 large-scale developers and investors, and Six Flags California, among others - all with interests west of the I-5.

Opponents believe that an expanded sphere is a precursor to annexation to the city of Santa Clarita, and would lead to another layer of government.

``A sphere limits potential decisions by future residents,'' said Marlee Lauffer, spokeswoman for The Newhall Land and Farming Company, the area's largest developer. ``Any decision to incorporate or to stay unincorporated is a decision future residents should make.''

Nevertheless, hundreds of residents in unincorporated areas have supported the sphere.

A sphere would entitle the city to a formal say on development outside its borders in county territory, and is the first formal step toward annexation.

Lambert said, however, that Santa Clarita continues to uphold a 13 1/2- year-old policy against pursuing annexation unless property owners seek it. The county still would have the final say over land-use changes in its jurisdiction.

Many city leaders believe the reason for LAFCO's rejection of the application lies with the influence of the large developers, who opposed the application. More than 40,000 new homes are slated to be built outside the city's boundaries, most west of the I-5.

``The big property owners and land developers call the shots,'' said Keith Pritsker, president of the Stevenson Ranch Town Council. ``This is nothing more or less than an act to disenfranchise the residents of Santa Clarita Valley from deciding on a whole variety of levels what their future will be.''

Calemine wouldn't elaborate on his reasons for recommending a limited sphere. He said in his report that there are adequate public facilities and services to meet the future needs of developing areas.

The city made its first attempt to expand its influence in 1989 - two years after the city was formed. Its request was denied because the city was deemed too young to handle the responsibility.

The second attempt in 1991 was turned down largely because of community opposition to the plan.

But, Lambert said that this time around the city has a compelling argument for a bigger sphere.

``We've addressed the issues why they rejected us the last two times,'' said Lambert, citing overwhelming community support for the proposal, including endorsements by local agencies and school districts.

The city feels it should have legislative control of development and land-use decisions in the unincorporated areas of the county that surround the city, because the growth has directly impacted city residents and services, including crowding the valley's schools, affecting traffic and threatening the environment.

Lambert said that if LAFCO denies the city's application or approves an area smaller than that requested, the options to proceed would be limited.

``We don't know yet what we would do. We would have to get together with the City Council,'' Lambert said.

The LAFCO hearing will take place at 9 a.m. at the county Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles.