CITY LOOKS TO CANYON FOR PARK; FACILITY SET FOR TOWSLEY.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

The city's 62 acres in Towsley Canyon has been envisioned as a regional park with campgrounds, an amphitheater and trails that lead to the hillsides owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The city's land, along with more than 680 acres of privately owned lots in Towsley Canyon, a rustic area southwest of Santa Clarita, could become part of the city by late summer if the annexation process continues as expected.

The land would be the city's first expansion west of the Golden State Freeway.

``I guess it's the only way to get on that side of the freeway - for the city to buy land over there,'' said Mayor Jan Heidt. ``We'd like it all.''

The city has tried and failed to get a sphere of influence west of the freeway that would give it future control over the area. The Valencia Marketplace shopping center is of particular interest to the city because of the sales-tax revenue it generates, Heidt said.

``Stevenson Ranch people have talked about joining the city, but we don't encourage it,'' Heidt said. ``It wouldn't do us much good to annex homes when we would end up paying for more sheriff's service and other costs. The only benefit is sales tax.''

The first step in the annexation will be to present the proposal to the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, a government agency that oversees annexations and land-use issues.

City officials then will begin the public review process, said Jason Smisko, assistant planner for the city.

``At this point, we're looking to initiate the process with LAFCO in March,'' Smisko said. ``Then we want to share information with residents.''

The city Planning Commission is expected to vote on a recommendation for the annexation in early April, and the City Council is scheduled to vote at its April 28 meeting, Smisko said. LAFCO members probably would vote on the annexation by summer, he said.

City officials have been working on the annexation of the property since Santa Clarita bought the land in 1995 from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for $2 million.

The annexation requires the willingness of surrounding property owners because the city's Towsley land is not contiguous with its boundaries - a condition generally required in land management.

``Most of the property owners are on board with this,'' Smisko said. ``Typically, the city won't annex where an owner doesn't want it.''

The purchase allowed the city to control the property, which was once considered as a location for both a toxic landfill and a dump. The land also was being considered for commercial development similar to the Valencia Marketplace.

The purchase also allowed the conservancy to pay off debts and secure ownership of other canyon land.

The conservancy's 8,000 acres in the area, 2,000 acres of which is owned jointly with the city, is known for its waterfalls, plant life and populations of bobcats, mountain lions, deer and bears. It is all part of Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, and the city land will serve as an entry to the natural recreation area.

The ultimate plan is to link trails along the Santa Clara River through Towsley and East Canyon, ending in O'Melveny Park in Granada Hills.