Santa Clarita May Sue L.A. County to Stop Housing Tracts

The Santa Clarita City Council has decided to consider filing a lawsuit to force Los Angeles County to slow development in a fast-growing area outside the city’s borders.

In a unanimous vote Thursday night, council members asked City Atty. Carl Newton to explore a request for a court order to require the county to impose a moratorium on the building of houses in the Bouquet and Seco canyon areas of Saugus until roads can be constructed.

The council’s action came in response to complaints from Santa Clarita residents about traffic congestion and the impact on the city of several large housing developments being built in nearby county territory.

Council members authorized the expenditure of up to $5,000 to research the possible lawsuit.

Councilman Dennis Koontz said that if there is a legal way “to get the county to help solve our traffic problems, we should do it.”

The other members agreed.

‘Worth an Effort’

“It’s worth an effort,” Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy said.

Filing a lawsuit against the county was suggested by Mike Lyons, a Santa Clarita parks and recreation commissioner who lives in the Bouquet Canyon area. Traffic congestion in the area is “horrendous,” he said, and roads are not being built fast enough to handle increased traffic that will be generated by new residents.

“I think the city should sue the county to stop any further development until the situation is resolved,” Lyons said.

Newton said he knew of no legal precedent for a lawsuit of that type.

“Maybe it’s going to be new case law,” Koontz said.

Many in the audience of about 100 applauded loudly after council members voted. “Now, you’ve really started something,” Lyons said.

In other business, moratoriums prohibiting the cutting of oak trees, construction of billboards and development in agricultural zones were extended for 1 year by the council. The moratoriums were enacted last December at the City Council’s first meeting after the city incorporated.

Kyle Kollar, director of community development, said that extension of the ban on oak tree removal will allow the Planning Commission time to review a permanent oak tree preservation ordinance. That measure is being drafted and will be presented to the commission later this month or in early January, Kollar said.

May Ban Billboards

The moratorium on billboards also was extended to give the Planning Commission more time to act. The commission is considering recommending that the City Council ban large billboards and portable signs and require that the condition of existing billboards be upgraded, Kollar said.

The ban on development in areas zoned for agricultural use was aimed at preventing or controlling construction of a controversial power plant by Tenneco Oil Co. in an oil field near Placerita Canyon Road and Sierra Highway. Santa Clarita residents fear the plant may contaminate the area’s air and ground water.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Marian Vogel ruled that Tenneco can build the power plant, but the City Council has asked that she reconsider her decision. A hearing on the council’s request is scheduled for Friday.

Council members refused to comply with a request from Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who asked that the city change its law on a 10 p.m. curfew of minors to conform with a new county ordinance. The county law leaves the curfew at 10 p.m. in unincorporated areas but names several types of places where minors would not be permitted after that hour.

‘Parents Complained’

“Too many parents complained about it,” Darcy said. “They already think we have a Gestapo state.”

Councilwoman Jan Heidt said she objects to the law because the county included areas such as amusement parks to the list of places minors could not frequent after the curfew.

The council declined a request by Heidt that it reconsider a decision to allow the Boys and Girls Club to construct a headquarters and gymnasium in Newhall Park.