Sunset Beach annexation by Huntington Beach clears hurdle

An Orange County agency has given the OK for Huntington Beach to annex adjacent Sunset Beach, but a conflict looms over new taxes that could be imposed on the small enclave.

The annexation was approved Wednesday by the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission, which has jurisdiction over such boundary issues. The agency’s attorney said there were no legal grounds for denying Huntington Beach’s application, and the commissioners’ vote was unanimous.

But taxation issues have marred the effort. Huntington Beach had indicated that Sunset Beach could benefit from city services without an additional tax burden. But that brought complaints from residents of Huntington Beach. The city reversed its position well into the annexation process, according to the Huntington Beach Independent.

Litigation is now threatened regardless of what position the city takes on taxing Sunset Beach.

Funky, unincorporated Sunset Beach covers 85 acres and has 1,300 residents. The population of Huntington Beach is 201,000. Many Sunset Beach residents have raised concerns about Huntington Beach redeveloping their community in objectionable ways.

Read the complete story on the Sunset Beach annexation at the Huntington Beach Independent.

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-- Britney Barnes in Huntington Beach

Photo: Sunset Beach. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[NG]

keep sunset beach out of the grips of huntington. If incorporation takes place, how can the 1,300 residents stave off the interests of 200,000 from Huntington. Huntington has done everything it make it self a cheesy, bland commercial tourist trap in the past 10 years, while sunset beach has done everything it can to NOT. Huntington Beach should have no say in anything Sunset Beach choose to do, or not to do.