LAGUNA HILLS : City Mulls Annexing North Laguna Hills
The city is studying the possibility of annexing of land north of its border that could bring in an additional $2.5 million annually in tax revenue.
A $17,000 study on the annexation of North Laguna Hills, a community of about 4,000, was approved by the City Council this week.
According to a 1990 study, the unincorporated north Laguna Hills area has a strong sales-tax base that would be expected to bring in at least $2.5 million a year, said Jim Colangelo, chief executive of the Local Agency Formation Commission, a regional planning group that regulates incorporations.
Bolstered by the presence of the Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, with a population of 23,000, already has one of the highest tax bases in the county.
The area being considered by Laguna Hills for annexation is bordered by Irvine on the north, the San Diego Freeway on the east and Paseo de Valencia to the south.
Laguna Hills had attempted to include the unincorporated area within its boundaries during its cityhood drive last year, but LAFCO ruled that north Laguna Hills couldn’t be part of the cityhood campaign because portions of the community aren’t contiguous with Laguna Hills.
Under state law, all land being considered for cityhood must be connected. However, laws regarding annexations are less stringent, requiring only that part of the area under consideration be attached to the city.
City officials say that several community groups and residents have expressed a desire to be linked to Laguna Hills.
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