PLAN HELPS CITY RECOUP LIBRARY COST; COUNTY OFFICIALS ALLOW LEASING OF UNUSED PART.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

The book hasn't closed on negotiations for the new Canyon Country library yet, but county officials have agreed to allow Santa Clarita to recoup some of the $5.1 million it's fronting for the project by leasing unused portions of the facility after its construction.

Although city and Los Angeles County officials aren't expected to hammer out ownership rights to the 17,000-square-foot building for several more months, they have agreed that the new Canyon Country library initially would occupy 10,000 square feet - double its current capacity - and occupy the remaining 7,000 square feet when the library's needs increase.

The city would lease out the unoccupied space until that time and earmark funds for future maintenance, the two parties also have agreed. The county would be responsible for maintaining the inside of the building, while the city will take care of the exterior, officials said.

``The city is planning to lease that space, but so far there's no definite plans yet,'' said city management analyst Ken Striplin, noting that the space could be used as office space for small businesses. ``Whatever business moves in there would have to be compatible to coexist with the library.''

The new free-standing facility, to be located at Shangri La Drive and Soledad Canyon Road, across from the retail center and Edwards Cinema Complex, is expected to open in early 2001 following an 18-month construction schedule.

In the purchase and lease agreement reached with the developer, TCP Management, the developer will provide a turnkey operation that would include all fixtures. The structure will feature an outdoor court yard, stonework and tiles, and water fountains, according to city officials.

In the joint venture, the city offered to front construction costs and receive reimbursement later from the County Library Services Agency. Still being negotiated are the county's repayment schedule, the portion of expenses the city will ultimately pay and ownership of the facility.

Talks between city and county library officials have been amicable and are expected to wrap up in the next few months, Striplin said.

Library staff say that the library needs more room for its older collections, more online reference services and larger meeting rooms to increase its program offerings.

They also say that with the city's increasing population, the library has become overcrowded, and traffic in the area is too heavy for its clientele, as it often is frequented by pedestrians, including children and seniors.

For special functions or events, the old library can handle crowds no larger than 100 people.

Still under design, the new library would be 5,500 square feet larger than the current facility. Besides additional space for new materials, there will be rooms large enough for community functions, including story-time programs for children, as well as meetings and discussion groups for adults.

City planners and library officials said they selected the new site because the shopping center offers ample parking, easier access and lower traffic volume on nearby streets.

Similarly, a Sheriff's Department substation is scheduled to open later this month across the street in the Edwards Cinema Complex.

``It's a good location for those types of services. When you're designing projects like these, you want to make them as pedestrian-friendly as possible,'' Striplin said.