VOTERS REJECT ANNEXATION RURAL ACREAGE WON'T BE ADDED TO PALMDALE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - A proposal to add 977 acres to Palmdale's city limits was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in the rural area, according to election results.

With a turnout of 57.4 percent, voters in the area next to the 5,200-home Anaverde master-plan community under construction in southwest Palmdale voted 75-6 to reject joining the city.

Opponents of the annexation said they want to maintain the area's rural atmosphere and felt that being part of the city would add another level of government to deal with.

Palmdale officials said bringing the neighborhood into city boundaries would have allowed for consistent planning and development of the area. Bringing in the area would also have helped give the city more logical boundaries.

The vote won't affect Anaverde or widening Avenue S, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said.

``I would think the closest connection to a government entity is the city,'' said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. ``If they aren't interested, that's fine.''

The area covered by the election held June 8 is bordered by Avenue R-8, Williston Street, Hacienda Drive, 20th Street West, and Calle Grill. The area is scattered with homes but is mostly vacant and is bordered on three sides by city boundaries.

Immediately to the area's west is the 2,000-acre Anaverde project, now in the initial stages of home construction. The project includes the widening of about two miles of Avenue S, which runs through the proposed annexation area.

The June 8 vote was called after more than one-third of the 145 registered voters in the area voiced opposition to being put under city jurisdiction at the October hearing before the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com