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Acton Faces A New Threat: Taco Bell

Taco Bell could erode the small-town feel of Acton, leaving it as just another stop on the freeway that travelers pass through to get food and gas before moving on.


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These are the fears of the town council and community members determined to keep the corporate fast food business out of the town.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the L.A. County Regional Planning Commission voted four to one to approve the construction of a Taco Bell in the small,  rural town, prompting heavy backlash from the community.

Curtis Beck, a concerned resident, is one of those in opposition.

“People outside of town want it,” he said, “but we don’t.”

Residents of the town believe that once one corporate entity takes root in the town, it could pave the way for others.

“Once the Taco Bell gets in, all the other places that have been trying will be able to,” said Beck. “Once the dam breaks, it’s over,”

He pointed to several businesses such as Rite Aid and Panda Express, both of which have tried to set up a storefront in the town. Once a Taco Bell is established, these businesses will have an easier time entering the town.

The last two fast food restaurants to open in Acton were a Mcdonald’s in 1991 and a Jack-In-The-Box in 1994

After the Commission approved the new restaurant, a town council meeting was called, where options were discussed among the council members and residents.

Related Story: Quartz Hill Felon Arrested For Starting Brush Fire In Acton

Town council president Christopher Croisdale said that the residents would appeal the ruling and attempt to stop the construction again.

“At the next meeting,” he said, “we’ll bring as many people as we can, even if we have to bring busses in to do it.”

Members of the community sent 10 letters of opposition, three of which were from town council members, to the commission before the hearing to vote on construction.

The Acton town council representatives also presented 132 letters of opposition at the meeting, letters which they felt were not taken into account when the decision was made.

“It felt like a backdoor handshake had been done,” said Croisdale. “It felt like this was just a formality to let us speak, and then they went straight to a vote.”

The county also received 4 letters of approval before hearing, and the applicant, First Street Development presented at the time a petition signed by 78 residents of Acton and it’s surrounding areas that supported the Taco Bell.

Mitch Glaser, Assistant Administrator for the current planning division,  said that the council took all factors into account.  First Street Development claimed in a traffic plan submitted to the commission that traffic in the area would not be significantly affected by the new business.

Glaser said of the opposition, “It’s clear that the town council disagrees.”

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Acton Faces A New Threat: Taco Bell

One comment

  1. This is terrible. “Small town feel” ….feel??? It’s not a small town. Aside from the towns size the people are not at all “small town” folk. They are upper class citizens who make plenty of money and are mostly uptight yuppies I bet a Starbucks would be perfectly fine though, right? …ridiculous

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About Chris McCrory

Chris McCrory is the acting News Director for KHTS Radio. He set up a profile picture in his first week as an intern in 2015, and still isn't sure how to change it. He will graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism in December 2018.