Public to Comment on County Islands Annexation

The public will have a chance to comment on the city’s planned annexation of 71 acres of unincorporated county land near Azusa to move along the Monrovia Nursery development during a Sept. 25 City Council Meeting.

About 60 homes are located in the impacted area around Sierra Madre and Barranca avenues, near the site formerly occupied by the Monrovia Nursery.

The annexation is required as part of construction of a planned 124-home development of 20,000-sq-ft lots, according to city officials. To enforce the low density requirement for the proposed development, the land must be within city limits.

Planning Director Jeff Kugel said last September that the city had only intended to annex portions of unincorporated county islands, but the city’s application for annexation had been denied by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

According to Kugel, city officials were told it was contrary to state law to annex portions of small county islands, and that the city must annex entire portions of unincorporated islands for a successful application.

The planned annexation drew some opposition from residents, dismayed over a previous promise the city made to county residents that their property would not be affected in the annexation process.

“The response has been mixed,” said Doug Boyd, chairman for S.O.S. Glendora, a group made up of concerned residents over the proposed Monrovia Nursery development. “There are about 30 residents who really oppose this, who feel the city has broken its promise not to annex their land.”

But under state law, the annexation is necessary if the development is to move forward, according to city officials.

The public is invited to offer feedback on the proposed annexation Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 116 E. Foothill Blvd., Glendora.