Bernson Seeks Annexation of Mountain Parcel : Growth: The councilman says the absorption of 13,000 sparsely populated acres near Chatsworth will be a hedge against unbridled development.

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson is proposing that 13,000 acres of rugged, largely unpopulated land north of the Simi Valley Freeway be absorbed by the city of Los Angeles to keep the area free of major developments, a top Bernson aide said Saturday.

Bernson introduced a motion Friday that, if approved by the City Council, would direct city officials to prepare studies needed to begin annexation of the huge territory in an area of the Santa Susana Mountains.

The motion says incorporation is needed “to protect and preserve the scenic quality, wildlife and vegetation of this steep mountainous area” and “to limit any future development in this area to uses and densities which are compatible with its unique natural characteristics.”

Greig Smith, Bernson’s chief deputy, said the move is not designed to preempt any plan to develop the acreage.

“There’s nothing there we’re trying to stop,” he said. “We want to keep it rural and horse-keeping.”

No maps or details defining the area were provided with the motion.

Smith said such specifics will be provided later by Bernson.

Sunshine Canyon Landfill, a privately owned garbage dump that has been criticized by Bernson and many of his Granada Hills constituents, is well outside of the proposed annexation area, Smith said.

The territory that Bernson wants annexed is held by a few large landowners.

It includes a development of estate-sized lots with multimillion-dollar houses and the Indian Springs condominium project, Smith said.

Both of these developments are north of the Simi Valley Freeway near Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Chatsworth area.

“There’s probably less than 100 people living in the area,” he said.

Excluded from the proposed annexation area is the Twin Lakes area.

“Most of the homes in Twin Lakes are substandard and the streets are substandard,” Smith said. “We don’t want them and they don’t want us.”

The boundaries of the area Bernson wants to annex, Smith said, are the ridgeline of the Santa Susana Mountains on the north, the Ventura County line on the west, the Simi Valley Freeway on the south and the existing city boundary on the east.

Several years ago, Bernson initiated the annexation--now accomplished--of about 1,000 acres of land west of Chatsworth and south of the Simi Valley Freeway.

Annexation requires approval by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

The commission, which also oversees the incorporation of cities, has seven members, one of whom is Bernson.

Times staff writer Greg Braxton contributed to this story.