HORSE-LAND PLAN DEBATE POSTPONED.

Byline: James Nash Staff Writer

Threatened with a public-notice violation, Los Angeles planning commissioners postponed a vote Thursday on changes to the city's horse-keeping regulations - a delay that drew the ire of scores of horse activists.

Some of the activists claim the proposed changes would open the door to diminishing land and rights for keeping horses - an allegation that city officials deny. Some also accused planning commissioners of trying to duck public feedback on the changes, which they say would mean the death of the equestrian lifestyle in the northwest San Fernando Valley.

``This is the city milking the cow and starving the calf,'' said Jerry England, a horse-keeping activist and former candidate for the Valley city council. ``It's all about power and greed vs. the people.''

The Planning Commission was scheduled to consider a 10-home development at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Chatsworth Street. At the same time, the panel was to look at changes to the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan that strive to create a balance ``between the preservation of horse-keeping areas and the ability to plan for future growth.''

Horse activists said it would be inappropriate, and possibly illegal, to link the small housing development to sweeping changes that could erode horse-keeping rights in an 800-acre swath of the northwest Valley.

In a Nov. 13 letter to the Los Angeles City Council, the Chatsworth Land Preservation Association warned that the Planning Commission would violate the Municipal Code by voting on changes to the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan without adequate public notice.

Commission President Mitchell Menzer said he had no choice but to delay the item.

``There's nothing we can do today on this,'' Manzer told about 70 people who attended the meeting to discuss the horse-keeping rules. ``The best we can do is to postpone this until next Wednesday morning.''

Menzer's statements infuriated several people, who said they had taken time off work and driven from Chatsworth to Van Nuys for the meeting. Some said that by holding the meeting on the day before Thanksgiving, the Planning Commission was excluding members of the public who are leaving town for the holiday.

Menzer said that under city rules, the Planning Commission must vote on the development and changes to the community plan by Dec. 1. Otherwise the matter moves on to the City Council with the equivalent of a yes vote from planning commissioners.

Susan Eskander, secretary of the Chatsworth Land Preservation Association, said the Planning Department set a trap for itself by trying to sneak through changes to the city's horse-keeping rules under the guise of a housing development.

``People everywhere are disheartened over the apparent lack of respect for our community,'' Eskander said.

The proposed changes to the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan includes language that would:

--Place a priority on land where horse-keeping is already present.

--Ensure compatibility between equestrian and other uses in horse- keeping districts.

--Allow further changes to city planning guidelines.

IF YOU GO

--The Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting on proposed changes to horse-keeping regulations for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)