Airport doesn't fly with county officials

The decision follows a March advisory referendum in which residents voted by a 2-to-1 margin against county efforts to buy the single-runway airport. The county began negotiations to buy the airport in the community of about 3,000 people in 1983.

The county Aviation Commission last month refused to endorse the voters' decision. The commission, which consists of two members appointed by each supervisor and vigorously pursued the purchase, voted 8-0 to take no position.

But Public Works Department Director Harry W. Stone recommended dropping efforts to buy the airport because election results showed the overtures were unwanted. The Board of Supervisors, which has the final say, accepted the recommendation unanimously and without discussion.

The Annins, a local family that purchased the airport two years after it opened in 1958, want to sell the property. The Regional Planning Commission agreed in January to split the land into 10-acre parcels for residential development.

Located in a narrow canyon surrounded by homes, the airport has fueled controversy for years.

Agua Dulce voted 548 to 287 on the referendum, with 65.5% opposing county acquisition. They were asked, "Should the County of Los Angeles acquire the Agua Dulce Airpark encompassing the operation area of approximately 70 acres and operate it as a public use, general aviation airport?"

The nearest airports are Gen. William J. Fox Airfield in Lancaster and Palmdale Regional Airport, both 15 nautical miles away, and Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, 16 nautical miles away. The county has five airports, including Fox and Whiteman.