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Deukmejian Signs Bill Crucial to 6 S.D. Projects

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Times Staff Writer

Gov. George Deukmejian Monday signed into law a bill by Sen. Jim Ellis (R-San Diego) that could clear the way for six San Diego County developments that had been stalled pending approval of annexation proposals.

The bill, which San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock had urged Deukmejian to veto, affects development proposals of several influential San Diego County landowners whose property lies on the fringe of incorporated areas.

Deukmejian made no comment in signing the measure.

Among affected development proposals is a 150-acre industrial park, the first phase of building on the 3,600-acre Ralphs Ranch. Hedgecock has been a vocal opponent of plans to develop the ranch.

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Besides the six in San Diego County, the measure, which takes effect immediately, also could affect two annexations in Santa Cruz County and one in tiny, rural Sierra County.

The measure will allow Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) to act on any annexation applications submitted before Dec. 31, 1984, even if required “sphere of influence” studies for surrounding cities and special districts have not been completed.

San Diego lagged far behind the rest of the state in completing those long-range planning studies, which define the ultimate potential boundaries of cities and special districts that provide services like trash pickup, sewers and water.

While every other county in the state completed those studies before statutory deadlines this year, with few scattered exceptions, San Diego’s LAFCO completed them for only six of 16 cities and 100 of 170 special districts.

Ellis, who had picked up the bill after Hedgecock persuaded another legislator to drop it, argued during debate on the measure that it is designed to free the unincorporated tracts from the grip of managed-growth forces. He charged City of San Diego officials with intentionally missing the statutory deadlines for the required studies in an attempt to foster “their no-growth strategy.”

Among the developers affected are former supermarket chain chairman Tom Ralphs, former San Diego Chargers owner Eugene Klein and Watt Industries President Joe Davis.

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