CASTAIC WARY OF CITY LIFE ANNEXATION TO BE DISCUSSED WHILE SOME WORK TO KEEP RURAL WAYS.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

CASTAIC - Ask Castaic resident Candy Thorne her thoughts on what annexation to the city of Santa Clarita would mean, and the conversation inevitably turns to the usual complaints of traffic and unabated development in this growing suburb on the edge of Los Angeles County.

``I love Castaic,'' said Thorne, 57, a resident for five years. ``But it's already more than just a truck stop and the lake. That's basically what it's about - another Valencia.''

Santa Clarita city officials have continued to coax commercial and residential tracts west of Interstate 5 into annexing to the city despite ongoing opposition from local town councils in Castaic and Stevenson Ranch. But for many residents in these outlying communities, it really doesn't matter who's in charge if they can retain their quality of life.

``It doesn't matter to me,'' Thorne said. ``I think it's all Santa Clarita, anyway. Castaic is just a community in the valley. ... Home prices are going up. It's a good place to live.''

John Kunak, a member of the Castaic Town Council, fired the latest salvo in this ongoing drama last week when he accused Santa Clarita leaders of soliciting an annexation behind the backs of the Castaic panel members, who are locally elected and advise 5th District County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

If the reverse happened - for example, if somebody, without informing the Santa Clarita City Council, tried to persuade Valencia auto row property owners to secede from the city - ``I would be extremely uncomfortable,'' he said. He confronted the Santa Clarita City Council at a recent meeting.

City officials contended that a local homeowners association initiated a City Hall meeting with Mayor Cameron Smyth and Councilman Bob Kellar in January. An annexation meeting with the Hasley Hills Homeowners Association is scheduled for tonight.

``When we're approached by an HOA group, we're going to present that information,'' Smyth said at the City Council meeting. ``I am not aware of any city-led drive.''

``There is no gun on anybody's head on this matter,'' Kellar added. ``It's a huge welcome mat.''

Kunak said he would prefer holding an open forum where residents could consider three options on the table: remain under Los Angeles County jurisdiction, annex their property to Santa Clarita, or incorporate into a new city including Stevenson Ranch, Westridge and other West Ranch neighborhoods.

Officials including Kellar and City Manager Ken Pulskamp are against incorporation of a new city, saying a competing city could undercut economic development for the entire Santa Clarita Valley.

The new tit-for-tat exchange came after a move by the county earlier this month to stake claims with ``Welcome to Castaic'' road signs - some on property with Valencia mailing addresses.

Though local leaders said the signs were intended to foster community pride, county officials had approved them in November, when the Town Council and city leaders clashed over attempts by Santa Clarita to annex the 1,600-acre Valencia Commerce Center.

Castaic leaders, who claim the business park north of Highway 126 as their own, say it would be a key tax base if the community ever incorporated. Antonovich also stood against the annexation, citing property owners' opposition and siding with The Newhall Land and Farming Company, developing that region.

Political and economic arguments aside, Castaic resident Theresa Morgan, 17, was more concerned about being associated with Valencia - that manicured, master-planned community in Santa Clarita - and what it means for her image.

``You think of Valencia, you think of noses in the air,'' said Morgan, a senior at Valencia High. ``But we're there all the time. Maybe we should be part of the city and get all the benefits.''

But Morgan said her neighbors definitely have pride in Castaic.

``They talk about it all the time,'' she said. ``But with the five people that live here, I don't think it could (form its own city).''

Jan Brown, a resident for 19 years, fears the canyons would be leveled for new homes, which brings more cars and people - the very things she moved to the area to avoid.

``No,'' said Brown, a resident for 19 years. ``We don't want to be part of Santa Clarita. (Developers) are already turning us into a little Valencia. ... Bringing the area to the city of Santa Clarita certainly won't help that.''

Others expect the impossible from city government - such as reining in the community's historic role as a truck stop.

``I would love that,'' said Doyle Wiswell, 72, who has lived in Castaic for about two months. ``We got all these trucks. I'd like to get rid of some of them.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com