Tracy Rural County Fire etc. v. Local Agency Formation etc.

BACKGROUND

Statutory Framework We begin with an overview of the statutory framework in order to place the background facts and procedure in their proper context. The Act “was enacted ‘to encourage “planned, well-ordered, efficient urban development patterns with appropriate consideration of preserving open-space [and agricultural] lands within those patterns” [citation], and to discourage urban sprawl and encourage “the orderly formation and development of local agencies based upon local conditions and circumstances.” ’ [Citation.] A LAFCO is the administrative body within each county that oversees urban development.” (Community Water Coalition v. Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Com. (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 1317, 1323-1324.) In section 56001, the Legislature recognized that, among other things, that “the logical formation and determination of local agency boundaries is an important factor in promoting orderly development and in balancing that development with sometimes competing state interests of discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open-space and prime agricultural lands, and efficiently extending government services.” (§ 56001.) Recognizing that “urban population…