BUS YARD FOES CALL FOR CHANGE IN PLAN.

Byline: Heather MacDonald  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Angry homeowners pleaded again Wednesday with city officials to scuttle a plan to build a city bus yard near their Canyon Country homes.

``We're going to continue to fight this all the way,'' said Channing Licon, one of the homeowners opposed to the proposal, which has not been approved by the Santa Clarita City Council.

City Councilwoman Laurene Weste said the city is considering paying $8.5 million for 38 acres in the Ruether Avenue Business Park, near Soledad Canyon Road and the proposed Golden Valley Road.

Under this potential deal, the city would use $6.5 million in federal funds to purchase 14 acres for the bus maintenance yard. An additional $2 million in city funds would be used to purchase eight acres to expand the nearby Sports Complex, and the owners of the business park would donate 16 more acres to the city for practice fields and open space.

However, the residents want to see the $25 million bus yard built in the Valencia Industrial Center or on the west side of the Santa Clarita Business Park, which is across the street from the Ruether Avenue Business Park. The bus yard would increase noise, pollution and traffic, while lowering the value of their properties, homeowners said.

The homeowners pressed the city to consider working out a plan that would allow the purchase of 14 acres in the Santa Clarita Business Park for the 150-bus yard, while still expanding the Sports Complex with the additional land purchase and donation. Licon and the other homeowners urged city officials to see whether some agreement could be worked out between the owners of the two business parks to swap the land.

Weste pledged that the proposal would be examined.

City Manager George Caravalho and Anthony Nisich, director of transportation and engineering, visited the Santa Clarita Business Park after the homeowners suggested the plan two weeks ago, and approached Larry Rasmussen, the owner, about purchasing that land. Rasmussen also owns a financial interest in the Ruether Avenue Business Park.

The city has received $13 million so far from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the federal government for the 13-acre yard.

The City Council had been scheduled to direct the city staff to focus on the Canyon Country site at its last meeting, but held off because of the residents' complaints. Councilman Cameron Smyth said he hoped the dispute would be resolved shortly after the first of the year.