Good Governance Demands a Sphere of Influence for Santa Clarita

It’s been 12 years since four Santa Clarita Valley communities joined to form a city government that would allow more control over growth, development and tax revenue. To date, one of the biggest goals to elude the city of Santa Clarita is a formal role in influencing development adjacent to its boundaries.

The state Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act provides a way for local governments to achieve orderly growth and development. It particularly addresses how to deal with urbanizing areas and urban sprawl, such as what is happening today in Santa Clarita.

Specifically, this legislation created Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs), which can designate city spheres of influence. These spheres are areas surrounding a city that allow local governments to formally comment on land-use planning adjacent to city boundaries.

Allowing a sphere of influence seems tailor-made for Santa Clarita, a growing city of 148,000 people in approximately 50 square miles, surrounded by unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Since the city’s incorporation, more than 20 communities and developers with proposed communities have requested and been annexed into the city; eight more requests are pending.

Lower standards for new development in the surrounding county area have created a discrepancy in infrastructure and service levels. Residents notice these differences and, wanting more services, especially police protection, and to avoid taxes levied in the unincorporated areas, seek annexation into the city.

They come with a laundry list of wishes and special needs, then want the city to fix things. If Santa Clarita had a formal role in the process before development took place, more consistent and cohesive planning would occur.

In 1989, when Santa Clarita first attempted to obtain a sphere of influence designation, LAFCO declined, saying the city needed to complete its general plan.

In 1991, with a new general plan for the entire valley floor of 256 square miles in hand, Santa Clarita made a second request. It also was denied, based on the city’s recent incorporation and unproven financial record.

Now, with a 10-year-old general plan under one arm and more than 40 awards for financial management, strategic planning and budgeting under the other, Santa Clarita is returning to LAFCO with its third request for a sphere of influence.

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Like the earlier requests, this one envisions a planning area that represents a reasonable, ultimate city boundary. Ideally, this sphere should encompass the 256 square miles of Santa Clarita Valley that already are part of the city’s general plan. However, the city’s humble request is quite a bit smaller.

Artificial government boundaries should not be taken into account when land-use planning decisions are considered. Across the Santa Clarita Valley, community values consistently center on quality schools, public safety and preservation of oak trees, hillsides, ridgelines and the Santa Clara River. Decisions about land use and planning are best made at the local level, with community concerns heard by an easily accessible legislative body that keeps its residents’ interests in the forefront.

The practice of good government dictates that Santa Clarita be granted its long-awaited sphere of influence. Los Angeles County and its LAFCO have a unique opportunity to help implement good governance in a successful new city. It is time to follow the Cortese-Knox Act and let Santa Clarita get on with self-governance.