ANTONOVICH SEES REVENUE IN LAND NEAR JAIL FACILITY : PLAN COULD NET FUNDS FOR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

The good news is that the land envisioned as a convention center, or perhaps a community golf course and resort, has a built-in marketing lure in nearby Castaic Lake and the new Castaic Sports Complex.

The bad news is that the property backs up to Los Angeles County's biggest jail.

Nevertheless, county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich sees a gold mine for the money-troubled Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in about 400 acres of county land on the northern edge of the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center jail.

Antonovich wants the county to put out feelers among hotel and golf course developers to gauge interest in building on the property, which he sees as a way to raise revenue for the department through the lease payments.

``You never know until you ask,'' summed up Victor Rampulla, director of facilities administration for the Sheriff's Department.

Dave Vannatta, Antonovich's planning deputy, said the region is in need of a convention center.

``It would fill a need that everyone believes exists,'' Vannatta said Monday. ``When ever we're up there, meeting with the city or with constituents, that's the No. 1 thing we hear: The Santa Clarita Valley has no place to hold large events.

``The actual need is going to be determined by the response we get.''

Sheriff Sherman Block has agreed to lease unused land that is part of the jail property for development, Vannatta said.

The proximity of the jail and the possibility of inmate escapes shouldn't be a concern, Rampulla said.

``The department has taken a lot of steps to improve security at Pitchess,'' he said. After a series of escapes over the past two years, new security systems were installed and a community warning system was developed.

The Board of Supervisors was set to consider Antonovich's idea Monday, but the supervisor asked for a three-week delay.

The inquiries to developers would simply be exploratory, Rampulla said.

``It's a growing community,'' he said. ``There's a tremendous potential for development.''

Marlee Lauffer, a vice president for the Newhall Land & Farming Co., said her company has considered building a hotel and conference center near Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, but has no definitive plans.

Newhall Land, Lauffer said, would study any proposals submitted to the county for the Pitchess property.