LAFCO last year partially rejected Santa Paula’s sphere-of-influence application, banning Adams Canyon and an area west of the city earmarked for future commercial/light industrial uses; one area that made the cut is Fagan Canyon, but when the City of Santa Paula appealed the LAFCO decision and paid for a faster-track reconsideration hearing - which was delayed due to the city crafting a White Paper to address Adams Canyon concerns - the action took all properties off the approval drawing board.Adams Canyon is over 5,000 acres; Fagan Canyon is about half the size. Both are coupled as covering 7,586 acres on the LAFCO meeting agenda. East Area 2 is located just east of Santa Paula and its 26 acres sit north of Highway 126. Also on the LAFCO list is West Area 2, 125 acres slated for commercial/light industrial and located between Highway 126 on the north near the Santa Clara River.
LAFCO hearing on City expansion
December 15, 1999
Santa Paula News
Just in time for Christmas will be a philosophical battle over the future of Santa Paula as a sphere-of-influence reconsideration hearing before the Local Formation Agency Commission a.k.a. LAFCO, will be held on Dec. 15th at a meeting that starts at 9 a.m.
The meeting will be held at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 E. Victoria Ave., Ventura, in the chambers of the County Supervisors.At stake, according to supporters of the city’s General Plan, is new land - specifically Adams Canyon north of Santa Paula - that could be transformed into a upper-priced housing development including golf courses, a hotel and about 10 acres of commercial/retail space.At stake, according to expansion opponents, are negative environmental impacts, traffic, and a dearth of affordable housing, among other concerns targeting Adams Canyon development as outlined in the city’s General Plan.Any new development would have to undergo a rigorous examination when specifics are crafted but widening Santa Paula’s sphere-of-influence is seen as a first step to annexation and development.
