PARKWAY TO KEEP `MAGIC' IN NAME AUTO DEALERS WITHDRAW REQUEST.

Byline: CONNIE LLANOS  Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- The Santa Clarita Auto Dealers Association will withdraw its request to change the name of Magic Mountain Parkway, a move designed to help draw freeway traffic to the dealerships, officials said Thursday.

The name change for the section of road through the city of Santa Clarita met heavy opposition from community members and county officials, who said the street name had sentimental and financial value because it leads to the theme park that serves as the area's greatest landmark.

``I am overjoyed. No, I am over the moon,'' said Kathy Allie, owner of Magic Mountain Parkway business Cobblestone Cottage.

Allie had gathered almost 1,000 signatures from customers protesting the proposed change.

The auto dealers' plan, scheduled for a public hearing next month, was to increase the visibility of the car dealerships to travelers on Interstate 5.

Officials with the association could not be reached for comment, but city and county officials confirmed the decision.

The dealers are the largest source of local sales tax for the city of Santa Clarita. The city gets 1 percent of local sales tax revenue, $7 million in the second quarter of 2006, the most recent figure available.

City spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said Thursday that city officials had not yet received the letter from the auto dealers association, withdrawing the proposed name change, but she anticipates that the city will not continue its ``exploration of the name change.''

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich expressed his concern with the proposed street name change earlier this week in a letter to Mayor Marsha McLean.

Antonovich, whose district covers the Santa Clarita Valley, called the proposal an insult to the Six Flags California Magic Mountain theme park. Six Flags is trying to sell several of its parks, including Magic Mountain, but it recently announced it would not be sold to a developer who would dismantle the park.

``This is very good news,'' Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell said Thursday.

``We appreciate the auto dealers and their understanding of the significance of the Magic Mountain Parkway designation, for the park and for Santa Clarita Valley.''

The park itself is in county territory.

Among the various conflicts Allie had with the name change, including stifling business expenses, was the auto dealers' distance from the freeway.

``Can you imagine getting off on Auto Mall Parkway, or something like it, and not seeing an auto dealer for more than a mile? It would be too confusing,'' she said.

connie.llanos(at)dailynews.com

[phone]