Since when does Castaic have a “rural lifestyle?”

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

That seems to be one of the concerns that residents of that community made last night:

Castaic residents are still wary of losing their rural lifestyle and pretty much everyone was concerned about having local representation if the areas were to be annexed into the city of Santa Clarita or incorporating into their own city. At one point, a Castaic school board candidate said that residents in the area have a representative at the County who takes care of their concerns, but that people were unsure what kind of representation they would have if they annexed or incorporated.

So apparently some think Castaic is “rural” in the same way that say, Placerita and Sand Canyon are rural. I dont’ get that; frankly apart from a small part of Castaic (Hasley area and back up into the hills). The rest of Castaic is:

Truck stops
Modern suburban housing
The jail
The upper lake, lower lake, and recreation area
Dingy motels, apartments, and boat shops
Big corporate buildings

No offense to Castaic people, but the layout, development patterns and geography of the place make it anything but “rural” in my eyes. Matter of fact, it seems to me that there are not one, but two Castaics, each of which defy categorization.

But if a rural designation is what it takes to get the folks from Castaic to join us, then so be it. We’ll just have a bunch of “special districts” all around this city where the equestrian oriented folks can feel comfortable.

Comments (10)

CCSeptember 25, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I think their definition of “rural” is having no services whatsoever except diesel fuel and a truck wash. Come to think of it, that pretty much defines every truck stop.

Fred ButlerSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:34 pm

That or they don’t have to contend with any of those meddlesome city ordinances like tying up your dog, or being able to put a manufactured house on your land.

Timothy MyersSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Fred: Stack those doublewides on your lot and put a Camaro in front of every one!

cashSeptember 25, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Don’t forget the hookers!

CCSeptember 25, 2009 at 3:24 pm

I believe they prefer “Cab Lizard”

lvogelSeptember 25, 2009 at 4:06 pm

I’ve only lived in the SCV for 21 years, but I used to go up to Castaic a lot way before then. I remember looking around and thinking, “there’s nothing around here”. Also when I’d visit my brother up at Warm Spings, I thought the same. I believe at one time it was considered rural, but to coin that term now just doesn’t make sense. Wasn’t the SCV ‘rural’ at one time?; for the matter so was the SFV.

SCVTamalemanSeptember 25, 2009 at 8:50 pm

Way to discuss the issues.

spineflower2September 25, 2009 at 9:14 pm

Hasley is as rural as Placerita or Bouquet canyons. And horse people have a knee-jerk reaction to The City encroaching on them.

cashSeptember 26, 2009 at 9:24 am

Seems what we are saying is who care about Castaic! I you want to talk issues, Castaic looks just fine as part of LA county. We already have a CC.

spineflower2September 27, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Things are pretty good right now in Castaic. Antonovich has mellowed as he nears retirement and raises a family, and his STRONG support for Town Councils has really made a diffrerence in local government and County responsiveness. Over my 25 years in this valley, he has not always been on my “good” list, but he is there today. But here’s the thing… he is nearing retirement, and his successor may not have the same ear for TCs. So it is time to think about the next 25 years. ANd I don’t mean next year’s tax bill only. Cities are not businesses geared to maximize profit (well, except for Santa Clarita). It is far more inportant in the long run to have the most responsive government. At-large voting, like Santa Clarita has, means it tales $100K to win against the GOBN, and it means the west side will just be ignored. An independent City means local, west-side representation. Unless the City changes itself (and that will NOT happen until they are FORCED by the threat of a competitive second city), they will continue their moneyed ways, ignoring the westside, except to locate their MRF there. Support the new City on the westside, and you make BOTH the west and the City of SC better.

CCSeptember 25, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I think their definition of “rural” is having no services whatsoever except diesel fuel and a truck wash. Come to think of it, that pretty much defines every truck stop.
Fred ButlerSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:34 pm
That or they don’t have to contend with any of those meddlesome city ordinances like tying up your dog, or being able to put a manufactured house on your land.
Timothy MyersSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Fred: Stack those doublewides on your lot and put a Camaro in front of every one!
cashSeptember 25, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Don’t forget the hookers!
CCSeptember 25, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I believe they prefer “Cab Lizard”
lvogelSeptember 25, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I’ve only lived in the SCV for 21 years, but I used to go up to Castaic a lot way before then. I remember looking around and thinking, “there’s nothing around here”. Also when I’d visit my brother up at Warm Spings, I thought the same. I believe at one time it was considered rural, but to coin that term now just doesn’t make sense. Wasn’t the SCV ‘rural’ at one time?; for the matter so was the SFV.
SCVTamalemanSeptember 25, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Way to discuss the issues.
spineflower2September 25, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hasley is as rural as Placerita or Bouquet canyons. And horse people have a knee-jerk reaction to The City encroaching on them.
cashSeptember 26, 2009 at 9:24 am
Seems what we are saying is who care about Castaic! I you want to talk issues, Castaic looks just fine as part of LA county. We already have a CC.
spineflower2September 27, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Things are pretty good right now in Castaic. Antonovich has mellowed as he nears retirement and raises a family, and his STRONG support for Town Councils has really made a diffrerence in local government and County responsiveness. Over my 25 years in this valley, he has not always been on my “good” list, but he is there today. But here’s the thing… he is nearing retirement, and his successor may not have the same ear for TCs. So it is time to think about the next 25 years. ANd I don’t mean next year’s tax bill only. Cities are not businesses geared to maximize profit (well, except for Santa Clarita). It is far more inportant in the long run to have the most responsive government. At-large voting, like Santa Clarita has, means it tales $100K to win against the GOBN, and it means the west side will just be ignored. An independent City means local, west-side representation. Unless the City changes itself (and that will NOT happen until they are FORCED by the threat of a competitive second city), they will continue their moneyed ways, ignoring the westside, except to locate their MRF there. Support the new City on the westside, and you make BOTH the west and the City of SC better.