Santa Paulans interested in future development will be able to offer input when the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) meets next week to consider the development future of two area canyons.
LAFCo, the agency that governs urban boundaries in Ventura County, will consider options on whether or not Adams Canyon and Fagan Canyon will remain in Santa Paula’s sphere-of-influence when they meet January 16. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.
According to the LAFCo Notice of Public Hearing, the commission will “review and/or update the sphere of influence” for the cities of Santa Paula and Simi Valley.
At the December 17 City Council meeting, LAFCo Executive Director Kim Uhlich said LAFCo will consider three options for Santa Paula’s possible expansion areas: eliminating both canyons from the city’s sphere-of-influence, removing only Adams Canyon from the boundary, or making no change to the boundaries. LAFCo has been working with Santa Paula staff since about May on the state mandated update, although council members said at the meeting they were unaware the issue was being addressed.
The so-called state-mandated LAFCo Municipal Services Review for Santa Paula was presented to agency commissioners at their November 14 meeting. LAFCo and city staff met early in December, and the council later asked that a formal request to delay the January 16 hearing be issued by the city.
The city is 4.69 square miles. Including the extended spheres of influence, the city’s potential boundary is 16.85 miles.
Adams Canyon has more than 6,500 acres and Fagan Canyon more than 2,170 acres. Development of both has been controversial, with numerous ballot measures.
After several tries when voters rejected a much larger 2,250 home development and later a scaled back version with questionable financial returns to the city, Adams finally won voter approval for 495 custom home sites, a school and resort/golf course. Voters rejected Fagan’s bid to build 2,147 homes and related amenities, but development discussions continue.
Those seeking information on the issues can research records on file at LAFCo. Written comments can be sent to Ventura LAFCo, c/o Kim Uhlich, Executive Officer, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009-1850.
To obtain a copy of the review visit the LAFCo website for the download:
http://www.ventura.lafco.ca.gov/municipal-service-reviews/. The report is listed under Municipal Service Review Reports 2008-2013 and titled: Nine Ventura County Cities - Accepted November 14, 2012.
