The Santa Clarita City Council unanimously approved pre-zoning for the West Creek and West Hills area, which is moving closer towards annexation into Santa Clarita from its current designation as unincorporated Los Angeles County.

The vote approved the pre-zoning of borders for the area, which runs up against Northpark, Copperstone and Tesoro communities. Officials hope to complete the annexation of West Creek and West Hills by November, 2016.

One of the surrounding areas, Copperstone, was annexed in 2014 to Santa Clarita in a separate process. Neither Northpark nor Tesoro will be annexed as part of this move, but will retain the option to annex into Santa Clarita at a later date.

The city council also approved for Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin to file an application with the Local Agency Formation Commission, which would finalize and approve the annexation.

Of the community members surveyed on their opinion of the annexation by the city, about 20 percent responded, 92 percent in favor of the consolidation move.

Current estimates by the city say that approximately 1,018 acres of unincorporated Los Angeles County land will be added to the city with this annexation. The area includes an elementary school, a junior high school and a public park.

Financially, the annexation should not create a net difference in the city budget.