BATS TAKING OVER AT Q-ZAR.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Q-Zar, the Santa Clarita Valley's only laser-tag center, will close its doors this week and be replaced by indoor batting cages.

On Tuesday, the city Planning Commission unanimously issued a minor use permit to Santa Clarita-based Line Drive Baseball Academy, which will feature former Major League Baseball players giving tips to aspiring hitters on batting stances and swings.

Charley Richardson, the owner of the laser-tag center, was evicted after he did not pay rent on the Cinema Drive facility, which hosted a weekly teen dance and dozens of birthday parties.

``Its an unfortunate situation,'' Richardson said.

Richardson, who leased the laser-tag center on a month-to-month basis, said he could not pay the rent after his attempt to sell the business fell apart when the property owner declined to enter into an extended lease with Q-Zar.

The owner then reached a long-term lease agreement with representatives of the Line Drive Baseball Academy, run by Doug Fisher and Brett Barberie, who played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins.

``Baseball is the No. 1 sport in this town, and an indoor facility is needed,'' Barberie said.

With 11 cages and an area for fielding practice, Line Drive will offer one of the largest indoor facilities in the nation, said Tim Crissman, a company representative.

About a dozen young players and their families urged the commissioners to support the baseball academy and to issue the minor use permit, which was opposed by businesses and stores surrounding the facility that were concerned that their sales would suffer with Q-Zar's closure.

Before granting the permit for the batting cages, the commissioners said they hoped Q-Zar will find a new location elsewhere in the Santa Clarita Valley.