The Colton City Council was presented by city staff a letter from University Realty LLS (on behalf of the property owner) requesting that the City submit a letter of support to the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (SB LAFCO) to authorize an application for a sphere of influence (“SOI”) amendment that would convert property currently identified within the City of Loma Linda as being in the City of Colton’s sphere of influence. In Government Code Section 56076, an SOI is “a plan for the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local government agency as determined by the commission.” The property is described as approximately 209 acres located east of the City of Colton’s easterly boundary. According to the letter, the property is currently in the City of Loma Linda but cannot be provided services from there. Instead, the requestor believes that the property is more logically served by the City of Colton. Giving the authorization of the letter of support for the SOI amendment is the first step in the process that could lead to the eventual annexation of the property into the City of Colton. As indicated in the letter, submitting a letter of support for the SOI amendment does not necessarily bind the City of Colton into supporting a future annexation or adopting any specific zoning designation or providing any particular services at this time. However though, it does indicate intent by the City to ultimately incorporate this area into its jurisdictional boundaries and to provide municipal services. There will be no California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) action needed or fiscal impact at this time. The current owner of the property listed on the Grant Deed is Loma Linda Land 233 LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (“LLL 233”), University Realty, LLC is authorized to act on behalf of LLL 233 to process an application and related documents to add the subject property to the City of Colton’s sphere of influence, and to remove the subject property from the City of Loma Linda’s sphere of influence.
In the letter to LAFCO to be signed by the Mayor of Colton is the clause that states “We understand that the requested sphere of influence amendment does not change the physical boundaries of Colton or Loma Linda, and no development approvals or entitlements are being addressed as part of this sphere of influence amendment.” Mayor DeLaRosa introduced the item for discussion with the rest of the council and the general public, and thereafter the item passed with no objection by all members to submit a letter of support to LAFCO for a sphere of influence amendment.