Santa Clarita OKs Time Limit on Building Pacts
The Santa Clarita City Council has approved a resolution limiting the duration of development agreements with builders.
Most of the agreements would be limited to seven years. But under the resolution approved Tuesday, the council will have the flexibility to extend the length of the agreements, which guarantee that long-term commercial and residential projects can be completed even if growth-control measures and new development standards are enacted later.
Only a few cities have similar restrictions. A 1979 state law that legalized such agreements does not establish any time limitations, and most cities consider the duration of each contract on a case-by-case basis.
City Councilwoman Jan Heidt, who proposed the limit, said it is necessary because city officials cannot forecast conditions years ahead of time.
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