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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - WHITNEY CYN ANNEX (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval ;" Item to be presented by: Vince Bertom CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: February 25, 2003 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH LAFCO FOR ANNEXATION NO. 02-003 FOR THE PROPOSED WHITNEY CANYON ANNEXATION, LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, ALONG THE EASTERLY BOUNDARY OF THE CITY LIMITS EAST OF STATE ROUTE 14, EAST OF THE TERMINUS OF SAN FERNANDO ROAD. DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council to adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to file an annexation application with the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for the proposed Whitney Canyon Annexation No. 02-003 (Master Case No.02-345). BACKGROUND This action authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to file a sphere of influence amendment and annexation application for the Whitney Canyon Annexation. The project site consists of 545.27 acres of undeveloped property located adjacent to the City limits, east of State Route 14, extending east at the terminus of San Fernando Road and into a portion of the Angeles National Forest. On July 23, 2002, the Santa Clarita Watershed Recreation and Conservation Authority (SCWRCA), a joint powers authority between the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, closed escrow on the Whitney Canyon Ranch site. The project area was purchased to provide the public with more open space. On February 11, 2003, the City Council considered and adopted a resolution approving General Plan Amendment 02-003, and a Negative Declaration for the project. Also on February 11, 2003, the ordinance for Prezone 02-003 was read and passed for second reading to February 25, 2003. General Plan Amendment No. 02-003 and Prezone No. 02-003 is a change from the existing RE (Residential I. Agenda Item Estate) designation to OS (Open Space) retaining the MOCA (Mineral/Oil Conservation Area) overlay on the 382.27 -acre western portion of the project site and removal of the MOCA (Mineral/Oil Conservation Area) overlay on the eastern 163 -acre portion to allow for a sphere of influence amendment and annexation of the area. The Cortese -Knox -Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) regulate annexation to the City. Filing the application at this time would initiate the annexation process with LAFCO and allow the project to proceed in a timely manner. FISCAL IMPACT The Santa Clarita Watershed Recreation and Conservation Authority (SCWRCA), a joint powers authority between the City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, is the sole owner of all parcels within the Whitney Canyon Annexation area, and as such already incurs all municipal service expenses for the unincorporated project area. The City Council appropriated $300,000.00 from the General Fund to support general maintenance of the project area. In addition, no direct assessment is levied on the project site by the County of Los Angeles. The Stormwater Utility Drainage Fee assessment process will conclude prior to recordation of the annexation. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Council may choose not to adopt Resolution and not submit application to annex the Whitney Canyon Annexation area. 2. Other direction as determined by the City Council. ATTACHMENTS Resolution Location Map S:\Pbs\annex\Whitney\Annex\arapwhitney