LEGAL APPEAL IS DECRIED BY CRITICS HORSEBACK RIDERS AMONG PROTESTERS IN CHATSWORTH.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

Secession leaders and candidates for city offices in the new San Fernando Valley city criticized Los Angeles officials Thursday for agreeing to spend public funds on a legal appeal involving a controversial Chatsworth housing development.

``Once the constituents have gone to court and prevailed over a city, why in the world would you agree to appeal, especially when the person who benefits is a wealthy developer?'' said Jerry England, a Chatsworth businessman and activist, who is running for the District 3 council seat in the proposed new Valley city.

``It has our community outraged.''

But Ali Sar, a spokesman for Councilman Hal Bernson, who backed the project in his district, said the city is pursuing the appeal because it wants to retain local jurisdiction over land-use decisions. Since the judge ruled against the city's action on the matter, the city is appealing the judge's ruling, Sar said.

Airport Commission head Ted Stein, the developer, was traveling and was unavailable for comment.

Jeanne Plumb of the Chatsworth Land Preservation Land Association, Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment President Jeff Brain, Valley mayoral candidate Dave Hernandez, District 14 candidate John Ferrero and about 20 community members on horseback held their press conference at Trails End Ranch in Chatsworth.

``It appears that Los Angeles power brokers can no longer tell the difference between public money and their own money,'' Brain said.

``City Council is using public money to pay back Ted Stein just as they used public funds for contributions from the Entertainment Industry Development Corp. and for expenditures on behalf of the anti-secession campaign. It is all one big slush fund to them.''

England added: ``In a new Valley city there will be no big donors that have to be paid back through favors. Our City Council members will be aware of our constituents' desires and use their taxpayer money for fight for them, not the power brokers.''

The Chatsworth Land Preservation Association sued the city, Stein and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which previously owned the property, over approval of Stein's plan for 21 homes on seven acres at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Chatsworth Street.

Opponents argued that the development would clash with the equestrian nature of the area, and that allowing the zoning change would set a dangerous precedent. Under Chatsworth's general plan, Stein would have been able to build 16 houses instead of 21, England said.

The Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that the city had not given adequate consideration to the project's environmental impact.

Opponents believe the appeal should be paid for by Stein, who, as one of Mayor James Hahn's fund-raisers for L.A. United, has raised money to fight the Valley secession campaign, including, England said, a Sept. 9 dinner at Stein's home that raised $500,000.