THEATER, EATERIES ARE OK'D NEIGHBORS PLAN TO APPEAL PANEL'S APPROVAL TO COUNCIL.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - A new movie theater and three restaurants at the Antelope Valley Mall were approved by the Planning Commission, but opponents from a nearby neighborhood said they would appeal to the City Council.

The commission approved the project Thursday night by a 3-0 vote. Recently appointed commissioners Fred Thompson and Spencer Berg abstained, saying they did not know enough about the project to feel comfortable voting on it.

People who live near the mall's northwest corner said they would ask the City Council to overturn the approval because developmental conditions imposed on the theater and restaurants do not fix their concerns about traffic, noise, crime and glare.

The unincorporated territory to the north and to the west of the mall is a semirural area of homes on large lots, and many of the roads through it are privately owned and maintained, though there are no barriers to through traffic.

A decision on the project had been delayed for a month to allow for a joint review of the project by city staffers and representatives from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's office.

No additional studies will be required for the project from the developer or the city, but the county officials will examine possible measures such as changing speed limits, erecting no-parking signs and ways to keep people from cutting through or loitering in the neighborhood.

``We don't know the answers,'' said Antonovich representative Norm Hickling, who attended the Planning Commission meeting. ``We do know we have an issue.''

The only modification to the project as a result of the discussion was a requirement for a wrought-iron fence between three feet and five feet high to be installed at the corner of Avenue O-8 and 15th Street West. The fence is intended to stop people from cutting through landscaped areas and getting to the rear of the theater.

Neighbors had requested a block wall around the theater to keep trash in and keep people out. The wall would also cut down on glare from theater lights, they said.

``A wrought-iron fence won't stop lighting issues,'' said Betty Sutherland, who represented a group of concerned residents. ``It won't stop people from going over it.''

The block-wall request was denied by the commission, citing concerns about such walls blocking the view of patrolling deputies and being a potential graffiti target.

Planning staffers said the developers of the hotel and a hotel that had been approved last month would be required to refurbish landscaping around the mall and that that would reduce glare.

The 59,249-square-foot Cinemark theater and restaurants, along with a Hilton hotel approved by the commission last month, represent the final build-out of the Antelope Valley Mall, according to Everett Shine, vice president of Forest City Development, the mall's owners.

The 107-room, 70,139-square-foot hotel was approved over objections from nearby residents, who expressed concerns about privacy issues.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com