TREES SPARED IF CITY AGREES TO CARE FOR THEM.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

PLACERITA - The nearly 100 pepper trees that divide an equestrian neighborhood from busy San Fernando Road can stay, if Santa Clarita officials agree to maintain them under a compromise announced Tuesday by Southern California's prime water supplier.

The 10- to 25-foot-tall trees near Alderbrook Drive in Placerita Canyon were scheduled to be removed this month by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California because the agency said the trees were planted without consent over a water line that serves millions of people in Los Angeles County.

MWD board chairman Wes Bannister said in a prepared statement that the ``non-native trees could stay if the city of Santa Clarita agreed to care for and maintain them and indemnify Metropolitan from any further responsibility and risk.

``If the city agrees, this would be a mutually beneficial settlement for everyone involved,'' Bannister said. ``This would satisfy the local neighbors, meet the needs of the city and cover Metropolitan and 18 million ratepayers.'' Residents of the community opposed the removal, saying the absence of the trees would disrupt the rural tranquillity that first attracted them to the area.

Santa Clarita officials sided with the residents and studies by the city arborist have determined that the trees are at least 40 feet from the pipe and wouldn't be a threat.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the March 22 Santa Clarita City Council meeting.

``From the staff perspective, it looks like a reasonable compromise,'' said Michael Murphy, Santa Clarita's intergovernmental relations officer. ``We had talked to the MWD on a variety of options and that was one of the ones discussed and rejected by them at the time. I'm glad to have learned that we could reach a mutually agreeable compromise that works for the MWD, and works for the community.''

The issue came about when businessman Hank Arklin, who leased 10 acres of MWD property for a storage company in 1985, planted the trees at resident Ann Irvine's request to screen local residents from his business. Santa Clarita city officials brokered the agreement in 1991 and indicated that the trees would remain after Arklin abandoned the property.

The business is now moving, and landlord MWD had insisted that Arklin return the property to its original form. MWD officials say the trees were planted without permission from the agency, which provides water to 18 million customers throughout Southern California.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion on Tuesday by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who asked the board to encourage the MWD to let the trees remain. Bob Muir, spokesman for the MWD, said the water district's decision to submit a compromise to Santa Clarita had nothing to do with Antonovich's motion.

``It was a coincidence,'' Muir said. ``It was among the options we had discussed. This is really just reconfirming what we see as a compromise.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com