City Takes First Step Toward Major Annexation

The Santa Clarita City Council has adopted its first growth-management plan, the first step toward annexing most of the surrounding valley.

Completion late Tuesday of the state-mandated plan, which has been under development for nearly three years, allows the 43-square-mile city to revive its attempt to extend its influence over 160 square miles of unincorporated land in the surrounding Santa Clarita Valley.

The city wants to extend its influence to gain a voice in the debates by the county government over development in the fast-growing region and over Elsmere Canyon, the site of a proposed garbage dump. Two years ago, a state agency rejected Santa Clarita’s “sphere of influence” request--a necessary step toward annexation--saying the city had yet to complete its plan to guide growth in the valley through the year 2010.