Annexation Backers Urge Speedy Review : Growth: The land use agency decides to continue deliberations until Monday on a plan to join Bob Hope’s Jordan and Runkle ranches with Simi Valley.

Entertainer Bob Hope was not present, but it was definitely his show.

More than 200 supporters of a proposal calling for Simi Valley to annex Hope’s Jordan and Runkle ranches urged the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission on Wednesday to conduct a speedy review of the plan.

But after listening to nearly three hours of testimony from 83 speakers, the five-member commission decided to continue its deliberations on the issue until Monday. LAFCO members John K. Flynn and Dorill B. Wright asked for the continuation because they had other meetings to attend and said they would like ample time to discuss the matter before voting on it.

About 100 of the nearly 300 people who attended the meeting were bused in at the expense of Hope and Potomac Investment Associates, which has an option to buy the comedian’s 2,308-acre Jordan Ranch for development.

Most of those in the crowd sported green stickers that read: “Save the Bob Hope 5,700,” a reference to the number of acres that Hope would donate and sell to park agencies if annexation and a 750-unit housing development planned for Jordan Ranch are approved.

Others in the audience, who came from throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties, carried signs or wore T-shirts in support of the annexation proposal.

Simi Valley resident Felipe Vianzon was one of those who took advantage of the free bus ride, coffee and doughnuts to attend Wednesday’s meeting.

“I think it’s a good deal,” Vianzon said of the annexation proposal. “There’s nothing better than preserving open space.”

Although LAFCO traditionally has not reviewed annexation proposals by cities until their general plans have been amended and the necessary environmental impact reports completed, there is no law prohibiting the panel from changing its procedures.

Simi Valley officials said they have requested an early review of the proposal to expand the city’s sphere of influence because the city wants to avoid the lengthy and costly process of amending the city’s General Plan if it appears that the proposal would be turned down.

In addition to Jordan Ranch, Hope has asked Simi Valley to annex 3,600 acres of his Runkle Ranch a few miles northeast of the city. The properties are part of the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountains.

A few of those who attended Wednesday’s meeting spoke against LAFCO’s changing its procedures to review the Hope annexation proposal.

Simi Valley resident Jean Ruecker, who is opposed to annexing Hope’s property, said she is concerned that if LAFCO changes its policies for reviewing land-use proposals, it will set a dangerous precedent.

“Potomac wants special treatment,” Ruecker said. “The question is, ‘Who is going to ask for it next?’ ”

Ventura County Supervisor-elect Maria VanderKolk, whose slow-growth stand spurred Hope and Potomac to attempt to sidestep the Board of Supervisors to get the Jordan development approved, attended the meeting. She said she was not surprised by the large turnout of annexation supporters.

“I think the opportunity of a free ride and a free meal worked in their favor,” said VanderKolk, who reiterated her stand that the Board of Supervisors should be the government agency to decide the fate of the Jordan Ranch development.

“I think it’s wrong for Simi Valley to try to annex,” she said.

Nonetheless, representatives for Hope and Potomac said they were pleased and encouraged by Wednesday’s meeting.

“It’s encouraging to see such an outpouring of support for something that we have worked very hard on and that we are very proud of,” said Fred Maas, vice president of Potomac.

Maas dismissed VanderKolk’s suggestion that the free rides and refreshments contributed to the large showing of supporters.

“The majority of people came on their own,” Maas said.

Robert Braitman, executive director of LAFCO, advised the commission Wednesday that should it agree to Simi Valley’s request for an early review of the annexation proposal, the city would need to submit an environmental impact report before an actual ruling is made.

Although a draft environmental impact report has been completed on the housing development planned for Jordan Ranch, it does not include information about how the project would affect Simi Valley. Braitman said the report would have to be amended before it could be presented to the commission.

Both Maas and Stanley E. Cohen, an attorney for Hope and Potomac, said it would probably take about six weeks to make the necessary changes to the report.

So far, Simi Valley City Councilman Bill Davis, also a candidate for a Ventura County supervisor seat, is the only city official to have publicly endorsed annexation.

Although the four remaining City Council members have not committed to supporting annexation, they have said repeatedly that they are considering it to prevent a garbage dump from being developed at the gateway to the city.

Hope and his attorneys have told the Simi Valley officials that if the city annexed his land, the entertainer would not sell Blind Canyon, part of the Runkle Ranch site, to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to be used as a landfill. A landfill is already at the northwest end of Simi Valley.