Patterson Irrigator

January 7, 2009 Patterson, CA

Polls

Latest Forum Posts

Taking a Knee
unclebuck 15-11-08 13:51

Re:Football
unclebuck 07-10-08 15:24

Re:Football
unclebuck 02-10-08 12:59

Login Form

School board opposes West Park's proposal

Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator /

Wednesday, 21 November 2007

Straight from the board
“I've been around to see promises come and go. I think (this project is) way too big for what the infrastructure can handle.”
— Michele Bays
Patterson Unified School Board trustee

“If you're going to create jobs, it's going to impact our school district, and we get no funds (from the project).”
— Bruce Kelly
Patterson Unified School Board president

The Patterson Unified School Board voted 7-0 on Monday to oppose the development of the Crows Landing Air Facility beyond the base’s established boundaries.

The proposed PCCP West Park development, spearheaded by Gerry Kamilos, would cover a proposed 4,800 acres that stands on and around the former 1,527-acre naval airfield, now owned by Stanislaus County.

Pi Photo File

The project would include an inland rail hub for the Port of Oakland. It would also include a business park and commercial development, as well as possibilities for a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection airfield and for a hospital.

In supporting a resolution against the proposed project Monday, the school board joins Patterson’s and Newman’s city councils and the West Stanislaus Fire Protection District, which also have publicly opposed the project.

Attorney and project spokeswoman Cathy Hallinan of Modesto presented an overview of the project, which would be built out by 2030.

Hallinan said about 23 percent of Stanislaus County residents now work outside the county, and the 37,000 jobs promised by the development would give people the opportunity to work closer to home.

“It offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create new jobs in the area,” Hallinan said. “By 2030, there’s going to be a tremendous shortage of jobs.”

A few supporters spoke in favor of the project.

Local resident Sherry King said it is important for families to spend time together, something supporters say would be a result of the project.

“They deserve to have parents home at a reasonable hour,” King said.

Donna Worley, who lives in Patterson’s Walker Ranch development and hopes to teach at local schools next year, also spoke in favor of the project.

“The county reps are convinced the project is good for the county,” Worley said. “For the life of me I cannot understand why Patterson City Council is opposed to this project. We need the jobs for our graduates. I wonder what they are afraid of. Please do what is right and provide careers for students.”

West Park representative Mike Lynch described the resolution against the project as “a job-killer.”

“The (Stanislaus County) Board of Supervisors has very detailed guidelines and reports on traffic and air quality,” Lynch said. “The city of Patterson is asking you to do this — stop the process before all the reports are done. In April, we are obliged by the board of supervisors to show the plan works.”

By contrast, Patterson City Manager Cleve Morris urged the school board to adopt the resolution. He noted that a recent traffic study done on behalf of West Park found there would be more than 140,000 vehicle trips daily if the project was built out to its full scale. The city is concerned with the size of West Park’s proposal, which is three times bigger than the airfield, and with the use of short-haul rail, he said.

“We are not opposed to the new development of the 1,500 acres given to Stanislaus County,” Morris said.

School board members indicated the project could create lots of challenges for the school district.

Board President Bruce Kelly was concerned because the project is close to Patterson, but would be in the Newman-Crows Landing School District. That means Patterson Unified schools would not get state and developer funds from the project, though the district might be home to children whose families work at West Park.

“If you’re going to create jobs, it’s going to impact our school district, and we get no funds,” Kelly said. “We’re going to be housing a lot of students of people at the job site.”

School board member Barbara Hartsell said she attended informational meetings hosted by Kamilos and asked if West Park workers would be paid wages comparable to Bay Area wages. She said West Park had not given her an answer.

Hartsell was also concerned with the proposed upgraded roadways.

“All the corrections to the roadway system are going to cost money,” Hartsell said. “Where will it come from?”

Dave Santos, a former school board member and member of the West Park opposition group West Side-Patterson Alliance for Community and Environment, said a lot of things have changed since he served on the board, but some things remain the same.

“The decisions you have to make are for the kids,” Santos said. “I don’t see the project being positive in any way.”

In the end, Trustee Michele Bays made the motion to pass the resolution against West Park.

“We kind of voice our opinion of what we think, and we’re never really listened to,” Bays said. “… I’ve been around to see promises come and go. I think (this project is) way too big for what the infrastructure can handle.”

To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Comments (0)