San Marino : Annexation ‘Sphere’ Erased

Homeowners in an unincorporated county area north of San Marino lost a bid this week to become part of the city.

The Local Agency Formation Commission voted 6 to 1 to remove the unincorporated area from San Marino’s “sphere of influence” at the request of San Marino officials. Supervisor Ed Edelman dissented.

A sphere-of-influence declaration by the commission is the first step toward incorporating a neighborhood into a city. The commission had authorized the linkage in 1983 against the city’s wishes.

However, residents of the Greenwood neighborhood, who wanted to join San Marino, did get some good news. The commission declined to act on an offer by Pasadena to place the neighborhood in its “sphere of influence.” Residents fear that annexation of their 460 homes and 347 apartments to Pasadena could devalue their homes. The area is bounded roughly by Del Mar Boulevard on the north, San Pasqual Street on the south, San Gabriel Boulevard on the east and Greenwood Avenue on the west.