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| After 6 years, airfield advisory |
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| Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Saturday, 15 September 2007 | |
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"I just don't think this steering committee has any relevance anymore" -Jim DeMartini Supervisor, Stanislaus County MODESTO — A county citizens’ advisory committee that has provided input on developing the Crows Landing Air Facility should consider disbanding — or at least come up with a new mission — members said Wednesday. Committee members debated whether the group had already accomplished its mission when it recommended in January that the county develop the area using a master development proposal by Dallas-based Hillwood. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors instead voted 3-2 in February to go with PCCP West Park, headed by Sacramento-area developer Gerry Kamilos. “This was supposed to be a six- to eight-month assignment,” committee member Tom Burns said. “Now we’ve reached six years.” When the group was set up in November 2000, it was charged as a temporary board “created to brainstorm regarding the future design and development of the air facility,” according to the board of supervisors’ Web site. That facility is a former U.S. Navy airfield nestled between Patterson and Crows Landing that the county aims to turn into an industrial park. West Park’s concept entails developing 4,800 acres on and around the airbase, with an inland port that would ship and receive goods to and from the Port of Oakland by rail. Wednesday’s discussion about the relevance of the steering committee kicked off when Del Puerto Water District manager Bill Harrison, speaking on his own behalf, asked what the group’s purpose is now, after its January recommendation to the board. Several committee members said they had wondered the same thing. “We need a new mission,” said John Evans, who added that he had coincidentally written a letter of resignation earlier that morning. Several people gave different opinions about what that mission should be. Burns said the group could discuss regional planning for county business projects in general, as he did not want business parks to compete with one another. Supervisor Jim DeMartini said the committee could make another recommendation to the board before supervisors decide next year whether to use Kamilos’ proposal, though he felt the committee’s initial decision had been ignored, and it might not be worth it. “I just don’t think this steering committee has any relevance anymore,” DeMartini said. Supervisor Dick Monteith disagreed with DeMartini, saying the intent had been to provide information to the board about the pros and cons of each proposal, not to tell supervisors how they should vote. The board of supervisors Web site says the committee was set up to come up with a project design for an environmental impact report, a general plan amendment and a design concept that would be shared with businesses and developers. However, the group eventually reversed that role, seeking input from industry, said Paul Caruso, a former supervisor and committee chairman, via phone this week. Caruso said the committee has developed a broad base of knowledge over the years and could still help as airfield decisions are made. Committee member Andrew Souza agreed, saying he thought the group had an important historical perspective. He added after the meeting that the group also has an important role in “keeping (Kamilos’) feet to the fire.” Public outreach meetings West Park hosted last month also were a subject of debate Wednesday. “It was a very positive sales job, but I don’t think there was outreach of the county,” Harrison said. Boggs responded that the county is not a partner with West Park and is not responsible for those efforts. Kamilos, meanwhile, mentioned that 246 people showed up to those public outreach meetings throughout the county, and West Park officials are responding to more than 300 response cards and other inquiries they received after the meeting.
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