Reported by Leon Worden, SCVNews.com

The Santa Clarita City Council will consider a staff proposal Tuesday to purchase 17.2 acres of raw, landlocked land in Placerita Canyon and preserve it as permanent open space.

The land is located behind the AES Placerita cogeneration plant and sits near 160 acres of open space that the city already owns in the Quigley Canyon section of Placerita Canyon. The 17.2 acres would help with trail linkages in the rural canyon where horseback riding remains a popular activity – especially if other nearby parcels come available in the future.

“The purchase of this property will enhance the city’s ongoing efforts to preserve open space and provide additional trail opportunities for residents,” a staff report says.

County assessor records show the inholding was last assessed for $20,150 in 2009.

City Parks Director Rick Gould said the city made an offer of $55,000 for the property and the owner, known as the Prince Trust, accepted.

At roughly $3,200 per acre, it’s well under the city’s self-imposed limit of $5,000 per acre for open-space acquisitions. For comparison purposes, the Hart School District agreed to purchase 113 acres of raw land in Romero Canyon from developer Larry Rasmussen for $15,000 per acre.

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The city’s total cost for the 17.2 acres would be $90,000 – including the $55,000 purchase price plus $15,000 for escrow and related fees, and $20,000 to install gates, fencing and signs.

The bulk of the money – $72,0000 – would come from the city’s voter-approved Open Space Preservation District. The remaining $18,000 would come from a contractual services account, essentially covering the cost of the improvements.