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Huntington Beach to Vote on Annexing Sunset Beach
Photo by Paul!!! via Flickr
Huntington Beach may someday grow by 85 acres if its city council tonight approves a measure that would signal official interest in annexing neighboring Sunset Beach, an unincorporated neighborhood of around 1,200 people -- Sandra Bullock was one its more notable residents in the past -- in Orange County.
If approved, city staff will be directed to "prepare all the necessary documents required for application to the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission for annexation," according to tonight's agenda.
The move does not come without controversy. If Sunset Beach, apparently known as Orange County's marijuana capital, is annexed into Huntington Beach, where medical marijuana dispensaries is outlawed, what happens to all the dispensaries in Sunset Beach? Also, some residents on both sides of the line are concerned with the prospect of higher taxes.
If Sunset Beach is annexed -- and keep in mind, some want to see Sunset Beach incorporated into its own city -- Huntington Beach stands to gain $820,000 for the first couple of years, but the annual amount will decrease to $440,000 when the city would have to take over marine safety measures from the county.
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