Rancho Palos Verdes Rebuffed by L.A. in Annexation Attempt

The Los Angeles City Council, as expected, has sided with a group of property owners and rejected a proposal by Rancho Palos Verdes to annex a narrow, 600-foot-long commercial strip that lies between Western Avenue and the boundary line separating the two cities.

By a 12-0 vote, the council upheld an earlier action by its Planning and Environment Committee to block the annexation because of opposition by owners of the five properties involved. San Pedro-area City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores supported the owners.

The boundary line goes through a shopping center parking lot near Trudie Drive, placing some business signs and parking spaces in Los Angeles while the businesses they serve are in Rancho Palos Verdes.

In moving to annex the small piece of land, Rancho Palos Verdes officials said it is absurd for one shopping center to be in two cities. Officials said the city wants to apply uniform development and sign regulations along the Western business strip. But the property owners, who contend that Rancho Palos Verdes sign controls and other regulations are too restrictive to permit fair competition with Los Angeles businesses just across the street, say they intend to petition for the transfer of the entire Western strip to Los Angeles.