Supermarket Plan Spurs Acton Residents Into Action

Residents of Acton, population 9,000, are angry about plans by Albertson’s to build a supermarket in their rural community.

“We don’t need it and we don’t want it,” said Elizabeth Billet, whose family has lived there 110 years.

More than 200 townsfolk expressed the same sentiment at a community meeting earlier this month. In their first confrontation with Albertson’s representatives, many became so unruly that the meeting was abruptly postponed for three weeks--in hopes that a more civil atmosphere will prevail.

A shocked Albertson’s spokesman apparently became so rattled at the meeting that he repeatedly “turned purple and faced the wall, with his back to the audience,” one witness said. Another said the spokesman lashed back, telling residents that the market “is a done deal,” further angering the crowd.

The turnout--advertised by word of mouth--was so great that many protesters were unable to cram into the community’s tiny Town Hall. Acton is an unincorporated county territory between Santa Clarita and Palmdale, off the Crown Valley Road exit of the Antelope Valley Freeway.

“Everybody wants to just kick them [Albertson’s] in the shins,” said Tim Heath, who runs the meat and deli shop in the town’s funky grocery store, Acton Market. Within days, more than 400 people had lined up at Heath’s counter to sign petitions telling Albertson’s to go away.

“It’s an invasion of our lifestyle,” said Karen Schlickenmyer, a legal analyst among an army of protesters aiming to shoot down the proposal.

Unbeknownst to residents, Albertson’s Inc.’s plans were routinely approved last April by Los Angeles County. Because it was proposed for a commercial zone, the supermarket plan required no special hearing, said Maria Masis, a county regional planning assistant. But, to sell liquor, the chain needs a permit from the county Planning Commission, set to act March 7.

Residents learned about the supermarket deal only after a liquor permit notice was posted. Alarmed and angry, they demanded immediate details.

At the request of county Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Albertson’s agreed to present its plans at a Jan. 15 meeting of the Acton Town Council, a quasi-governmental elected body that advises him.

The development calls for a 40,000-square-foot market, plus a gas station and mini-mart, on a 5 1/2-acre site. It would include parking for 199 vehicles--more than the 170 spaces required by the county, Masis said.

The site, on the southwest corner of Crown Valley Road at Antelope Woods Road, is across the street from a junior and senior high school. The street is often jammed with students and their parents. There are no traffic lights for miles around. The only traffic control is stop signs.

Traffic backs up at freeway on- and offramps during commute periods. Four gas stations, a McDonald’s drive-in and a commercial center are on Crown Valley Road, just north of the freeway.

Since word of the development got out, a dozen or so residents have fired off angry letters to the county. But Masis said the only issue left to decide is the liquor permit. There are four other liquor outlets in town.

“It is unfortunate that Albertson’s didn’t go to [residents] in the onset,” said Conal McNamara, planning deputy to Antonovich. He suggested market officials “go out and inform the community and get their support.”

Jeff Dierck, the Albertson’s representative who took the brunt of criticism at the recent meeting, declined to discuss issues with The Times. He deferred questions to Miguel Gutierrez, Albertson’s Inc.’s district public affairs manager in Buena Park.

Gutierrez said the nationwide chain, which has about 300 locations in Southern California, does extensive research before selecting a site. He said the Acton store will be relatively small, drawing 85% of its customers locally and 15% off the freeway.

Those figures drew hoots at the community meeting from residents who contend that the store will more likely serve freeway travelers to Littlerock and Palmdale.

For decades, the community has supported its only grocery, Acton Market, in the town center on Smith Avenue and Crown Valley Road. With its frontier architecture and boardwalk, the center serves as a throwback to old-fashioned, community camaraderie. Horses tethered alongside pickups in the tiny parking lot are a common sight.

Residents praise Acton Market owner Linda Foote as a key community booster. Plaques on the wall testify to her support of local youth groups. Supermarket opponents say a new store would put the town center’s merchants out of business.

“None of us are getting rich here,” said Heath, who has run the meat counter for 10 years and served the previous owner before that. A supermarket would have to draw heavily on outside traffic to survive, he said.

“This whole place is a mortuary after dark. Even McDonald’s closes at 9,” Heath said.

Residents squashed a similar plan by Ralphs Grocery Co. in 1994, after it was approved by the county two years earlier. “We just kicked them in the shins until they went away,” said Heath, who describes residents as “upper-middle-class people with some smarts.”

Schlickenmyer, who works for the Metropolitan Water District, said residents fear more than just the intrusion of a modern supermarket. “We’re worried about the consequences of development on our resources, particularly our water resources, which are pretty dire.

“We don’t have the infrastructure for all of this,” said Schlickenmyer, who moved from Sylmar three years ago “to get as far out of L.A. as I could.”

Opposition to Albertson’s is not unanimous. A dozen or so residents at the meeting said they would welcome the convenience, but others say they will boycott the market.

In a letter to market officials, Linda Miles wrote, “We consider this proposed commercial development a stake in our rural heart and will make every effort to thwart your store.”

Albertson’s officials will face the community again at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5. The Town Council has booked a larger meeting room--the gymnasium at High Desert Junior High School.