2 CITIES' LEADERS DEBATE FAIR SITE.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer Lancaster and Palmdale officials faced off before the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Fair board Thursday to argue about where a new $70 million fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. should be built. Lancaster officials said they have the best site for a new fairgrounds - at the Antelope Valley Freeway The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. It is signed as California State Highway 14 along its length. It connects Greater Los Angeles to the rapidly developing Antelope Valley. and Avenue H. Their Palmdale counterparts argued that more analysis and public comments are needed before a location is selected. Officials from both cities outlined their positions and answered questions at the fair board's regular monthly meeting. Board members returned again and again to the issue of freeway access and visibility. ``Freeway visibility will be a No. 1 priority,'' said board member Jack Seefus, chairman of the committee looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a new fairgrounds site and financing for a move. ``That's what it's going to come down to.'' The fair board took no action and set no timetable for deciding whether to acquire a new fairgrounds site and, if so, where. Consultants in 1994 recommended relocation to a larger site. ``Whatever decision we make, we won't make everybody happy,'' said board member Forrest McElroy. The Palmdale-Lancaster debate came after Lancaster spent $750,000 buying 221 acres from two Asian investment companies last month and announced that 160 acres of the land would be available for a new fairgrounds. That prompted Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford to lobby fair officials to include Palmdale in the search for a new site. Palmdale officials did not make a formal site proposal, but suggested that land could be acquired near Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling and Avenue M on the border of both cities. Palmdale officials argued that it would be more sensible for both cities, the fair and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County to fund a new fairgrounds than to have a partnership limited to the fair and one city. ``There are other sites that have a major part of the infrastructure available for you - other sites that would be supported by the entire community if there is an open discussion,'' said Palmdale City Manager Bob Toone. Lancaster city officials and the fair board have been talking for several years about the consultants' recommendation for a fairgrounds bigger than the 76-acre site at Avenue I and Division Street that has been the fairgrounds for 58 years. The consultants called for 160 acres and new buildings in a proposal that would cost about $70 million in the next 20 years. Amenities considered for the new fairgrounds include an auto racing track, a recreational vehicle park, an equestrian equestrian a rider of horses. park, an off-track betting off-track betting n. Abbr. OTB A system of placing bets away from a racetrack. building, exhibit areas and an enclosed arena with seating for 6,500. The financing would come from at least one city, the fairground's horse-racing income and state government, of which the 50th District Agricultural Association, or local fair organization, is a part. Lancaster has proposed buying the existing fairgrounds for $5 million to $10 million, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. fair board minutes, board member Randy Jaqua, fair manager Dan Jacobs, Lancaster representatives and state fairs and expositions officials. That money could be used to build an equestrian park and auto racing track at the new fairgrounds. The fair's satellite wagering wa·ger n. 1. a. An agreement under which each bettor pledges a certain amount to the other depending on the outcome of an unsettled matter. b. A matter bet on; a gamble. 2. revenue would be used to finance construction of a new watch-and-wager building. A joint-powers agreement between the city of Lancaster The City of Lancaster (2002 population: 133,914) is a local government district with city status in Lancashire, England. Its main town is Lancaster, from which it obtained its city status. Other towns in the district include Morecambe, Heysham, Slyne, and Carnforth. and the fair board would be signed to borrow money from the state Division of Fairs and Expositions to build the enclosed arena. ``There's no secret we would be the buyers of the existing fairgrounds,'' Lancaster City Manager Jim Gilley told the board Thursday. ``Our mayor will present that to the City Council when you indicate you are ready to go forward.'' Lancaster wants to start architectural drawings for the arena by June, according to the minutes. At the board meeting Thursday, Gilley urged board members to make a decision soon. Gilley's wife, JoAnne, sits on the fair board, whose members are appointed by the governor. State Division of Fairs and Expositions officials say JoAnne Gilley should excuse herself from voting on the relocation. She was injured in a traffic accident Tuesday and was absent from the board meeting Thursday. |
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