FIELD OF DREAMS TO NIGHTMARE SAUGUS FAMILY'S BASEBALL DIAMOND PROVES COSTLY.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The city has spent more than $120,000 in its efforts to force a Saugus family to remove a grassy baseball field from a neighboring parcel they own and restore it to its natural state.

The Von Der Ahe family has spent nearly $50,000 on the matter and must decide whether to reimburse the city's expenses or gamble on taking the case to court, where costs could rise.

"It is a shame that any landowner should be subjected to this type of litigation when the whole intention was merely to help the kids learn the game of baseball," homeowner Charles Von Der Ahe said.

Von Der Ahe built the practice field in a low-lying area beside his home in the Circle J Ranch neighborhood. The youth baseball coach spent roughly $10,000 laying sod and installing pop-up sprinklers -- with nary a backstop, light or bleacher in sight. He laid out bases only during practice.

Neighbors tipped the city in January 2005 that Von Der Ahe was marking out the field, and the city ordered him to stop. Von Der Ahe continued and practices followed.

The city says the land had been designated open space by the original developers of Circle J. The city told Von Der Ahe the field was illegal, disruptive and a violation of city code. He disagreed, providing a sheaf of documents supporting his view.

In August 2005 a judge sided with the city, saying the diamond was not legal in the open space area and ordered Von Der Ahe to remove it. The Von Der Ahes spent roughly $3,000 ripping it out and $35,000 on attorney's fees.

The parties agreed future uses of the lot will be limited and a conservation easement could be created.

Repaying the city's costs is all that remains.

"The city has an obligation to recover and conserve taxpayer funds," said Chandra Spencer, the city's attorney.

The attorney representing the Von Der Ahes said the couple made a settlement proposal to the city, the city countered verbally Wednesday, and the Von Der Ahes are considering their next move. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case would head back to court some time this month.

"I think there's an interest to get this resolved before then if at all possible," said Hunt Braly, the Von Der Ahe's attorney.

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Photo:

(ran in SAC edition only) Charles Von Der Ahe spent about $10,000 to create a practice baseball field on his property in the Circle J Ranch area. The city of Santa Clarita sued to shut down Von Der Ahe's field, and as a result, the landowner had to rip out the grass.

David Crane/Staff Photographer