OPEN SPACE PLAN RILES CITY OFFICIALS; NEWHALL LAND PROPOSING COUNTY MANAGEMENT.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Despite repeated requests from Santa Clarita officials that the city be involved, Newhall Land and Farming Company has proposed that ownership of Newhall Ranch's 6,000 acres of open space be turned over to Los Angeles County.

The new proposal would give management of the biological resources in the 4,000 acres of high country and 2,000 acres of river habitat to the Sacramento-based Center for Natural Lands Management, and the county Parks Department would manage recreational activities.

``We feel the Center for Natural Lands Management has a proven track record for managing biological resources,'' said Carol Maglioni, spokeswoman for Newhall Land. ``And the county has a proven track record for managing recreational aspects.''

City officials want Santa Clarita to share ownership of the land with the county and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. A joint powers agency that already exists between the conservancy and the city was recently expanded to allow for county membership.

``Obviously, with this much land next door to us, we should be equal players,'' Councilman Frank Ferry said. ``The city of Santa Clarita and its residents deserve a share.''

But city Planning Director Jeff Lambert acknowledged that the fate of the property lies with the county Board of Supervisors, which is expected to vote on the project in the coming months.

``Our position remains the same,'' Lambert said. ``It should be under (local jurisdiction). Newhall Land is not proposing that. It's not in compliance with our position, but it's not our decision to make - it's the board's to make.''

Dave Vannatta, an aide to Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, said the county is pleased with the proposal.

Newhall Ranch is an expansive project that would bring at least 21,000 homes and 60,000 people to the Santa Clarita Valley between the Golden State Freeway and the Ventura County line. The 6,000 acres is being dedicated as open space to compensate for the massive development.

The project was slated to be considered by the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 27, but the vote has been continued to at least Nov. 24 so that Newhall Land and local agencies can come to agreement on key issues, including the future of the open space.

Newhall Land's new proposal includes more public involvement than its original plan, which would have given the land and management of it to the Center for Natural Lands Management, a private, nonprofit agency.

Under the original plan, the property would revert to Newhall Land if the arrangement failed, but a public easement would remain.

That idea upset city officials, environmentalists and local park enthusiasts, who said that Newhall Land should not be allowed to give the land to a private agency.

Instead, they argued, the land should be a gift to the public.

In addition, some worried that Newhall Land's selection of the Center for Natural Lands Management allowed the company to retain control, or at least oversight.

``We feel this makes sense,'' Maglioni said. ``The property lies entirely within unincorporated Los Angeles County. And we're real comfortable with the record that the Center for Natural Lands Management has. They're willing to work with the county and make the land accessible to the public.''