COST REVEALED FOR DRAIN HOMEOWNERS COULD PAY UP TO $730 A YEAR.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

QUARTZ HILL - If Quartz Hill property owners approve building a storm drain through their community's downtown, it could cost them between $255 and $730 a year, officials said Wednesday.

Under the proposed assessment district, which encompasses 1,870 parcels on 1,100 acres, property owners would foot 80 percent of the drain's $7.2 million construction cost and Los Angeles County 20 percent.

``The bulk of it will be paid with an assessment district that assesses property owners in Quartz Hill. It will impact you right in your pockets,'' Robin Phillips, a senior civil engineer with the Los Angeles County Public Works Department, told the crowd at a Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Ballots asking Quartz Hill property owners to approve or reject the assessment district will be mailed out beginning Sept. 9. The ballots must be received by the county by Oct. 25.

Each ballot package will include the ballot and information specific to the parcel owned by the property owner, including how much the parcel would be assessed, Phillips said.

The assessments will be based on several factors, including the size and zoning of the parcel and the property's use.

Of the 1,870 parcels, 56 are zoned for commercial use.

Under the plan, commercial property owners would be assessed an average $7,700 to pay for designing and building the system, which can be paid in one lump sum or spread over 20 years at an average cost of $600 a year.

In addition, commercial property owners would have to pay an annual maintenance fee of an average $130 a year for the life of the storm drain or until the system is annexed into a flood-control district.

Residential lots average half an acre. The estimated capital cost would be an average $3,500, or $200 a year for 20 years, plus a $55 annual maintenance fee.

These figures represent average assessments for properties that are improved, Phillips said.

The project, if approved, would begin construction in the spring of 2008 and be completed in the fall of 2008.

Separately, an advisory vote is set for the Nov. 8 ballot that will ask Antelope Valley voters whether they want to add the Antelope Valley to a county flood control district or to create an independent Antelope Valley flood control district.

If a majority of valley voters favor either joining the county flood district or creating a new district, a second formal vote setting the specific annual assessments would be necessary. The second formal vote could be another two to four years away because of the need to determine individual property assessments and carry out other preliminary work, officials said.

If Antelope Valley voters approve joining the county district or creating a new one, the Quartz Hill system will probably be annexed into the larger flood control district, Phillips said.

``We believe we will be able to level the playing field for you. We don't want Quartz Hill residents to be faced with two assessments. That's no fair. You guys stepped up to the plate. You should be rewarded for that,'' Phillips said.

Some people attending the luncheon blamed development in neighboring Lancaster and Palmdale for increased flooding and suggested people other than Quartz Hill residents should help pay for the improvements.

``It's a general benefit for the entire community. It's not a limited few people who live in the immediate area,'' Realtor Bruce Hailstone said. ``It's going to benefit anybody crossing through the area.''

Phillips said after the meeting that the county does not have the legal authority to assess property owners outside its jurisdiction.

Resident Ed Cox said he didn't think the plan will be approved by voters. He owns three parcels totaling nearly two acres and would face an assessment of about $765 a year.

``It's too costly. For me it's unreasonably expensive and fundamentally unfair,'' Cox said.

Cox said the funding formula should be flipped with the county paying 80 percent of the cost and residents the remainder.

The storm drain plan calls for installing a main line ranging between 51 inches to 69 inches in diameter to run down 50th Street West from Avenue N-8 to Avenue K-8, Phillips said.

The project would include 16,000 feet of linear pipe and 30 catch basins, Phillips said.

Dozens of homes, businesses, and garages - even the Quartz Hill library - flooded during two series of storms over 15 days in late December and early January. Residents said more flooding occurred after the last storm when work crews pumped out brimming catch basins to get ready for future rain.

Downtown Quartz Hill gets so much water because it is in the middle of a funnel-shape watershed. The wide top is along the ridge south of Rancho Vista, from Godde Hill Road almost to Highland High School. The narrow funnel opening is at 52nd Street and Avenue K.

The watershed is essentially the boundary of the proposed assessment district, Phillips said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Sandbags line 50th Street West near Avenue M-2 in Quartz Hill this week.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer