Patterson Irrigator

What: Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors meeting
Where: Supervisors chambers, 1010 10th St., Modesto, basement. If there is not enough room, it will be moved to the Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
When: Tuesday 9 a.m.

Patterson Irrigator

County officials are expecting a big crowd for the decision regarding West Park Tuesday, so they are booking a big venue just in case.

Matters regarding PCCP West Park, a proposed 4,800-acre industrial development for the former Crows Landing naval airfield, could be moved to the Gallo Center for the Arts if there is not enough room in the Stanislaus County board of supervisors chambers.

“I think they’re making history,” said Keith Boggs, Stanislaus County’s deputy executive officer for economic development.

Supervisors will decide whether to accept a quarterly progress report on the development and whether to sign a memorandum of understanding to continue negotiations with developer Gerry Kamilos.

PCCP West Park wants to turn the Crows Landing Air Facility and the surrounding area into a 4,800-acre industrial park that’s connected to the Port of Oakland via a short-haul rail line. A recent study commissioned by West Park predicts the project will generate about 34,000 on-site jobs at build-out in 35 years and about 3,000 construction jobs.

West Park plans have drawn opposition from government agencies on the West Side, with Patterson City Council leading the charge. Detractors claim the increased traffic and loss of farmland will pollute the air and destroy the West Side way of life.

WS-PACE, a local group that’s formed to oppose the project, expects to bring hundreds of opponents to the meeting in which PCCP West Park LLC will go before supervisors and make its final pitch.
Kamilos said a large number of proponents also have signed a petition in favor of the project.

In February 2007, supervisors voted 3-2 to enter an exclusive negotiating period with West Park that will expire Tuesday. If supervisors decide to stick with West Park, the MOU will remain effective for 180 days.

While the MOU would be nonbinding and could be canceled if either party is given 30 days notice, both the county and the developer would be expected to act in good faith.

Boggs said a binding Disposition and Development Agreement with the developer would be ready for supervisors when the airbase is ready to be designated as a redevelopment area. That likely would happen by late summer or early fall.

A draft version of that document, which includes specifics about the lease agreement and costs among other matters, is included in a county staff report with the MOU.

The DDA is expected to be complete before the state-mandated environmental review process is finished.

If supervisors vote to end the partnership with West Park, the county will either look for another private company to develop the base or work with consultant ESA Airports to design the project and getting environmental approvals before seeking a master developer.

A copy of the MOU can be found on the county board of supervisors Web site.

For information: www.stancounty.com/bos/agenda/2008/20080422/PH1000d.pdf

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