Updated: 05/11/2008
info@ws-pace.org

"...the greatest threat to the West Side of Stanislaus County in its history - Ron Swift."

Click for President's statement – 5-9-08

Meeting report:

Why? 4-22-08  With so many West Side cities and organizations opposed to West Park, why are the Board of Supervisors forcing this project on us?  What moral right do they have to do such a thing? If there were no other options, there might be justification for the common good, that the West Side take the hit for the rest of the county, but most of us see no such reason.  The 1,527 acre Crows Landing base development was a reasonable project and would provide jobs without forcing massive nearby housing growth and other industrialization and commercialization outside our cities.  Instead the board appears ready to force the West Side to absorb the loss of 3,300 acres of prime farmland against the advise of the local farming and resources organizations.  We are also expected to absorb many other adverse impacts such as polluted air and massive traffic problems.

Since the county has approved the next step for West Park, WS-PACE is likely to proceed on the basis that it is unfair to force this project on one area of the county and work to protect West Side citizens any way it can.

NEWS & VIEWS
WS-PACE.org now over 1,150 members strong

Where We Stand
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Newsletter
 

Most of the following are offsite links:

Brentwood housing bust troubles SF Chronicle 5-11-08

Bruce Frohman writes on rail issues 5-9-08

Supervisors vote -- West Side looses 4-22-08

¥Supervisor Jim DeMartini's statement to the board 4-22-08

   West Side Farmers oppose West Park 4-18-08

   West Stanislaus Resource Conservation District opposition letter -- 4-9-08

   Patterson Irrigator Delphia column on train effects to historic downtown Patterson 4-12-08

¥WS-West Side Index articles of interest 4-17-08

PACE.org statement on Tuesday's vote 4-22-08

        Turlock Journal 4-23-08

        Modesto Bee 4-23-08

        Patterson Irrigator 4-23-08

Modesto Bee editorial goes against the West Side 4-20-08

Modesto Bee story re Tuesday 4-22-08  4-20-08

Supervisors April 22nd Agenda link 4-18-08 

        Various agenda report links

Patterson Irrigator has different take on how the supes should vote 4-19-08

Modesto Bee opinion piece re the Alliance by Claude Delphia 4-18-08

Modesto Bee opinion piece explains saving farmland 4-16-08

Critical LA Times editorial on water issues

Patterson Irrigator article on DeMartini/Essapour pretrial

April 22nd Supervisors meeting plan for West Park decision

Article on WS-PACE.org   3-29-08   Patterson Irrigator newspaper.

Modesto Bee report on rail plan worth a look 3-26-08

Global Insight rail plan report   3-26-08

CTC staff report Page 10   3-10-08 (PDF)

Recommendation report   3-10-08 (pdf)

California Transportation Commission (report link)

Beard Land leaves Work Force Alliance letter (PDF)
Bee article on Beard letter   2-27-08 (PDF)

Bee editorial on Alliance problems 3-3-08 (PDF)

WS-PACE.org officers and contacts:

Ron Swift,  209-892-6355
   President

 Claude Delphia,  209-892-5037
   Vice President

 Burta Herger,
   Treasurer

Dale Borman,
    Recording Secretary

 Sandra McDowell,   209-892-6266
    Corresponding Secretary

Wade Bingham

     Member At Large
Ed Maring,
     Member At Large
Dave Santos,
     Member At Large
John Schuler,
     Member At Large

Dr. Peter La Torre, chair
     Fund raising

WS-PACE.org endorsed Stanislaus Measure E which will prevent housing development outside of cities.   See ModBee endorsement.   (Measure won)

Major Modesto Bee article 1-24-08

Modesto Bee West Park
articles as of 1-25-08

WS-PACE.org believes:

       WS-PACE FAQ Sheet

Jobs for Stanislaus County are critical.

A major LA TIMES article about water that puts West Park into question.  Where can they get enough water?

FPPC filings

January 2008 Newsletter

Contact Board of Supervisors

Andal, Kamilos supporter

11-13-07
Potential West Park pollution from horrendous amount of traffic takes shape based on preliminary analysis report recently released.  141,000 trips daily is projected by 2030 causing many area roads to be increased from 2 to 4 lanes.  Major impacts from Hwy 99 to West Side.  Southern end of Sycamore Avenue, four lanes?

Access transportation report HERE.

****  Printable Membership forms pdf  ****

****  Printable Petition form pdf  ****

VARIOUS NEWS ARTICLES AND REPORTS:         

News article about Southern California railroad crossings

SacBee Opinon on I-Bond 11/23/07

Patterson Irrigator Editorial

West Side Index Kamilos report

Modesto Bee: 1st article,  2nd article update

3rd article update 9-16-07

4th article update 9-18-07

Bee editorial 9-18-07

Patterson Irrigator

WS-PACE.org response
 

Proposed bylaws revision
October 10, 2007
at Crows Landing meeting
PDF document

Who is
WS-PACE.org?

In February of 2007, the Stanislaus Board of Supervisors voted to negotiate an exclusive contract with PCCP West Park LLC headed by Gerry Kamilos to develop the Crows Landing air base.

By May a number of us here in Patterson were very concerned about the West Park plan and its impact on the West Side and Patterson, in particular the major use of the railroad to Crows Landing as part of a Port of Oakland intermodal facility for containers.  After talking with a few individuals and hearing others with concerns, Ron Swift and Claude Delphia, with a few other individuals, in particular Sandy McDowell, decided that it was time to form an ad hoc committee to see whether we could work to defeat the West Park plan.

We called a small preliminary group of less than a dozen together and decided to form a committee and later choose the name “West Side – Patterson Alliance for Community & Environment” with a slogan of “Citizens fighting to protect the future of the West Side!”  Thus WS-PACE.org was born in June of this year.  WS-PACE.org is now our official name.

While our current primary goal is to defeat the West Park plan because we believe it is a threat to the West Side way of life and our communities viability, we are also committed to a long term goal of protecting and promoting West Side environmental and political goals and issues.  Many of us feel that the West Side has been the step child of Stanislaus County for too long and now some county leaders want to turn us into their cash cow while our way of life is destroyed.

In just a few short months, we have registered over 400 members and we continue to grow with members both in and out of California.

Financially we’ve raised over $15,000 from individuals and West Side businesses.  While we don’t ask for a donation in order to be a member of WS-PACE, we continue to receive both small and large checks with new member sign-ups.

Up to this point, we have relied on members talent, experience and knowledge to oppose the West Park project.  As our opposition continues and we learn more about the problems with West Park’s proposal, we may decide to seek professional aid or legal advise as our efforts escalate.

Claude Delphia

vice president

October 2007

Simple points:

 v     Kamilos told the board of supervisors he would not go ahead with the project if the short haul intermodal plan with the Port of Oakland wasn’t feasible.

 v     While the Port of Oakland is still interested in the Crows Landing facility long term, they say it must come after they use state bond money to improve their bigger concerns of railroad improvements out of the north Bay Area (Martinez) to point’s north, south and east in the valleys, not through the Altamont Corridor at this time.

 v     This means that West Park isn’t likely to obtain any current state bond money for use in developing their project within the terms of their negotiating agreement with Stanislaus County.  Getting this bond money was a major contingent of Kamilos proposal for the development of the Crows Landing facility.

 v     The basis of the agreement to negotiate with Stanislaus County appears to be no longer valid or feasible based on outside conditions. Without the Port of Oakland there appears to be no feasible partners to make West Park viable.

 v     Why is Kamilos still moving forward when there appears to be no basis for his development as per his agreement with the board of supervisors?  At what point do the board of supervisor have an obligation to cancel the negotiations in order to spare further delay in a finding a viable plan for the Crows Landing air base?

 v     Who will make up for the lost time and jobs if this failed proposal limps along until next spring?

There are too many things that just don't add up...

Here are some of the things to be skeptical about:
Port of Oakland wants Crows Landing inland port.

   From the Modesto Bee, August 26, 2007, p2, the article headline read: “Freight cars may join big rigs in transporting valley's bounty.”
   Part of the article said: “Officials at the Port of Oakland, a key player in the Crows Landing project, are pushing improvements for their long-haul Class I rail partners, the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads.”
   Then on official said: “While port officials support short-haul rail in concept, they aren't ready to commit money to Crows Landing or any other potential inland port.”
   Doesn't this tell us that there is only a small chance of a short haul rail going to Crows Landing? The fact that Crows Landing is 25 miles south of the nearest potential rail intersection would seem to have an impact on that prospect as would the $10m cost just to make the tracks intersection work.

Will the trains stop at Crows Landing base?
   Some West Side residents seem to forget that the train tracks don't stop at Crows Landing.  They go to just short of Los Banos.  Just suppose that 10's of thousands of containers start to be loaded near Los Banos and start rumbling up through Gustine, Newman to Crows Landing.  Think of what that would mean to other West Side communities. At the very least it's clear that there will be extensive new truck traffic along Highway 33.  State Route 152 will also see a big increase in trucks going to I-5 trying for the best route to the so called "inland port" at Crows Landing.

Don't fall into the jobs trap
   All of us want more jobs in Stanislaus County.  But at what cost to our way of life, communities and environment?  And why are so many jobs proposed on a huge track of prime farmland on the Wes Side?
   How many of those who want the jobs over here are aware that there will be no long lasting jobs here for at least 4 years (2011 according to Kamilos projections)?  That will only be the beginning.  The 37,000 jobs Kamilos projects won't be in place until 2021.  Even then there is no way to know whether this will happen for sure or what kind of jobs will be, whether just more warehouse or whether there will be some high tech jobs or better.
   In the meantime, there will be no housing nearby for low income employees.  Once the housing bubble rebounds, the developers will be back to selling houses in excess of $400,000 because those will still appeal to the many Bay Area job housing seekers.
   Essentially this means Stanislaus County will probably be providing jobs for those living in Merced county who will take advantage of the lower level jobs available here.

WS-PACE.org Questions West Park proposal
Patterson Irrigator Ad 7-28-07

What is West Park proposal? 

 A major developer proposes a huge industrial project (4,800 acres, or 7.5 square miles) just south of Patterson on the former Crows Landing air facility property. It would include an intermodal distribution center whereby large cargo containers would be brought by rail from the Port of Oakland over the Altamont and down the West Side through Patterson. The containers would then be off-loaded for nationwide distribution by truck and train.

The location doesn’t make sense

   WS-PACE believes that using the Crows Landing property for such a facility is an ill-conceived plan. The property is 25 miles south of the nearest east-west rail line, and the line down the West Side is one-way, stopping north of Los Banos. Wouldn’t the location be more economically feasible in San Joaquin County near existing rail lines and additional highway arteries? Does Stanislaus County, which owns the Crows Landing property, plan to donate the 1528 acres to the project? Answers are needed.

Sales tax financing?

   The developer states that rail improvements down the West Side would cost some $200 million. If funded with state bond money, at least half of that amount would be required to be matched by non-state sources such as a county-wide sales tax. Subsidies by county residents can’t be the answer.

County revenue issue?

   The developer suggests that a retail site be developed along I-5 at Fink Road where all sales tax revenue would go to Stanislaus County. That would leave Patterson and Newman out of the revenue flow.

Ag land conversion

   The Crows Landing facility is surrounded by some of the world’s best farmland. We refer you to a column by county  Farm Bureau Manager Wayne Zipser elsewhere on this page for further comment.

Where would employees live?

   Stanislaus County needs to expand its employment base, and the West Park developer estimates his project would ultimately provide 24,000 jobs. Would West Side communities be expected to provide housing for such a development? To do so would require a housing boom unlike what we’ve experienced to date. The train-related jobs are likely to go to employees outside the area.

Problems with trains

   We’ve been given various train traffic figures, but  in truth the developer can’t accurately predict rail usage because his development won’t control the tracks. Other industries currently use the West Side line, and the Crows Landing development might add others that contribute to increased traffic. Trains create safety issues (police, fire, ambulance and schools) as the tracks cuts Patterson in half. Future residents with new homes on the city’s east side will be impacted by trains. No fewer than 19 public roads cross the tracks in the 17 miles between the air facility entrance and the Stanislaus County line near Vernalis.

A 7.5-square-mile business park?

   Wow! That’s big. Patterson’s present size is about 6 square miles. We feel most local residents don’t want this area to become another San Jose with a 4800-acre industrial park. We’ve seen the South Bay develop into an industrial/commercial concrete jungle surrounded by costly residential growth. We hope such mistakes won’t be made here. Both Patterson and Newman need to practice smart growth in the coming decades, and not allow this humongous proposed development to throw all growth planning out the window.

Roads and other costs

   The massive development would require staggering traffic and other infrastructure improvements between I-5 and the Hwy. 99 corridor. One proposal is a waste water treatment facility upstream on Salado Creek, which runs through Patterson’s western neighborhoods.

Local traffic problems

   There is little mitigation to local traffic problems in the current plans. Highway 33 would be even more burdened with truck traffic, as would I-5. Employees driving here from Turlock and Modesto would further congest roadways. Road improvements would undoubtedly be needed, but at whose expense?
 

WS-PACE.org officers and contacts: Ron Swift,  209-892-6355    President  Claude Delphia,  209-892-5037    Vice President  Burta Herger,    Treasurer Dale Borman,     Recording Secretary  Sandra McDowell,   209-892-6266     Corresponding Secretary   Wade Bingham      Member At Large Ed Maring,      Member At Large Dave Santos,      Member At Large John Schuler,      Member At Large   Dr. Peter La Torre, chair      Fund raising

WS-PACE.org stands for: West Side – Patterson Alliance for Community & Environment. “Citizens fighting to protect the future of the West Side!” P.O. Box 1044 Phone: 209-892-6266 info@ws-pace.org

Membership & donation form

Our booth at the 2007 Apricot Fiesta

 What WS-PACE plans for the near future:

¨ Continue our efforts to gather information about the proposed Crows Landing project

¨ Work with city, county and state officials who also are gathering information and will be making decisions

¨ Review all public meetings at which the project is discussed

¨ Attend all meetings at which the developer is presenting information

¨ Get additional signers on our petition to the Stanislaus County Board of  Supervisors

¨ Educate West Siders with advertising and newsletters on the impacts of the project

¨ Organize members into an action group

¨ Expand our membership base to include those residing throughout Stanislaus County

¨ Continue our fundraising efforts

¨ Seek the support of other groups who agree with our community-action philosophy

¨ Develop a plan of political action

June 24, 2007    

WS-PACE.org presidents letter,

 A few weeks ago a grass-roots organization was founded on the West Side to closely monitor plans for the former Crows Landing air facility. It’s called West Side-Patterson Alliance for Community and Environment, or WS-PACE.org.

 With by-laws, an executive committee, a bank account and a web site, PACE volunteers have already put in long hours. We are collecting information and monitoring plans of the major Sacramento-area developer who has been given the exclusive opportunity to develop industrial plans for the site. The Board of Supervisors has given him until next April to do so.

 His project is of gigantic proportions – 7.5 square miles, or 4800 acres. That’s triple the size of the former Navy base (1528 acres) and includes over 3000 acres of surrounding prime farmland. By way of comparison, the city of Patterson is just over 3700 acres, including 1200 acres of industrial and residential property that has yet to be developed.

 The footprint of his project comes very close to Patterson’s southern border. The developer’s plans call for cargo containers to be off-loaded from mostly foreign ships onto rail cars at the Port of Oakland, then hauled over the Altamont and down the West Side to the Crows Landing facility. At that point the contents of the containers would be sorted, loaded onto truck rigs, and hauled to various destinations across the United States.

 Other uses for the 7.5 square miles of proposed multi-billion-dollar development have not yet been announced to West Siders. Developer Gerry Kamilos this week refused to divulge information when appearing before the Patterson City Council, yet revealed some of his plans the very next morning to a county committee meeting in Modesto. West Siders need this information to weigh the impact of his project.

 PACE has several major concerns. First is the enormous size of the proposed development, the largest of its type between Bakersfield and the Oregon border. Its impact will surely change the way of life on the West Side as we currently know it.

 The second is the number of trains hauling through the middle of Patterson. With 27 railroad crossings between the county line at Vernalis and the Crows Landing facility, only 10 of which have crossing signals, the trains will have their own impact and seriously impede emergency vehicles.

 In addition there will be hundreds of trucks hauling from the former base daily, as well as workers traveling to and from it, creating their own major impact. Traffic problems currently experienced elsewhere in Stanislaus County would be thrust upon the West Side.

 We want to avoid these problems. Much needs to be done between now and next April to convince our Board of Supervisors of the folly of these plans. We need the backing of everyone who agrees with us to be successful.

 We invite West Siders to do two things – sign a petition to the Board of Supervisors expressing our displeasure, and becoming a member of PACE. We already have nearly 500 names on the petition, and our organization has no membership dues. However, to become a member you must fill out a small form and may do so at Blues Café in downtown Patterson, or contact PACE at P.O. Box 1044, Patterson.

 PACE will soon begin publishing a newsletter to keep members informed. Please join us in a battle against a project that is being thrust upon us.  Submit membership form, click HERE.

Ron Swift, president
WS-PACE