ANTONOVICH NAMES CITY PLANNER.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A city planner has been named to succeed David Vannatta, county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's long-time deputy for planning, when he retires next week.

Conal McNamara, a city associate planner for four years who is best known for overseeing enforcement of the controversial sign ordinance, will leave his job in the Santa Clarita Department of Building and Planning Services on March 10, officials said.

``He's definitely going to be missed,'' said city Planning Manager Vince Bertoni. ``We're all proud here that someone as talented as Conal has moved on to such a good opportunity.''

McNamara, 33, will oversee planning, sanitation and Local Agency Formation Commission matters throughout Antonovich's 5th District.

``Mike (Antonovich) is really fortunate to have Conal,'' said Vannatta. ``He's young with a lot of good ideas.''

Vannatta's 37-year career in Los Angeles County regional planning began with a college internship. He managed regional planning for the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys in the county Regional Planning Department from 1977 until 1985, when Antonovich appointed him as a deputy for the 5th District, which spans the Antelope, Santa Clarita and north San Fernando valleys.

Vannatta, 56, father of two grown children, officially retired Jan. 5 as senior planning deputy for Antonovich but has worked when needed until a successor was chosen.

He and his wife, Judy, married for 34 years, plan to begin a cross-country trip next week in their new motor home. Their first stop will be in New Orleans for the end of Mardi Gras celebrations, and then they will visit other parts of the South.

``We plan on seeing things we've never seen, like Nashville and Memphis. We'll go wherever the vehicle takes us,'' said Vannatta.

Mayor Jo Anne Darcy, also a field deputy to Antonovich, said Vannatta has played an important role in regional planning.

``Thirty-seven years is a long time, and he's always been a steady, most consistent worker,'' Darcy said.

``He was one of the people chiefly responsible for creating the county general plan and the updates since then.''

Darcy praised the choice of McNamara as a Vannatta's successor, calling him dedicated, energetic and reasonable in a controversy.

``Conal puts in a lot of time to bring all sides together on an issue,'' added Bertoni. ``In the end, he was able to forge a real alliance'' with business owners who had opposed the sign ordinance.

The city sign ordinance took effect in November after a nine-year delay to give business owners time to prepare. Still, signs at roughly 1,000 businesses remained out of compliance in late 1999. City officials have worked with individual businesses on compromises before issuing citations.

McNamara said he has enjoyed working in Santa Clarita city government. As a city planner, he said, he learned the importance of communication with community residents.

``It's all about building consensus. Some of the most contentious issues are where we learn the most,'' he said.