Posted on Thu, Nov. 03, 2011

In the last several years, discussions about the potential uses for the former Crows Landing Naval Air Station have focused on manufacturing, processing and distribution facilities that would benefit from the site's proximity to Interstate 5 and the potential for short-line rail to the Port of Oakland.

Ag exports often have been cited in the conversations, along with air cargo operations or business start-ups.

So we have to admit we were surprised — in a pleasant way — at the prospective user for West Park Logistics Center that was announced earlier this week. It's not the kind of industry we have much experience with here in the valley — an independent movie and TV studio.

Mare Island Studio sent a letter to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors stating its interest in locating on 415 acres in West Park. It's important to remember that it's nothing like a done deal. But it definitely is an interesting possibility.

The letter from a studio executive was part of a quarterly update to the board on developer Gerry Kamilos' progress on West Park.

The rest of the 41-page report is pretty dry stuff, having to do with the preliminary work for an environmental impact review on the West Park Logistics Center.

The project has shrunk from an original proposal of 4,800 acres to a little under 3,000. The bad economy drove the downsizing, but the smaller size also seems to have reduced some of the opposition because the business park would be centered on the 1,500 acre former airfield and would occupy far less agriculture land. Houses have never been part of Kamilos' proposal, although some skeptics and opponents won't stop thinking that they are.

And, in another major development this week — coverage of which is on Page A-1 today — The Bee learned that Kamilos may have a major investor in the major rail improvements that will be needed to accommodate the freight trains traveling between Oakland and Crows Landing.

Kamilos' revised plans West Park also include, as we reported earlier, a solar farm on 850 acres west of the airfield.

In March, the Board of Supervisors, on a 3-2 vote, gave Kamilos a 15-month extension to put together the project. That means he needs to have a draft EIR ready by June, which leaves a lot of work to be done in a relatively short time for a project as big and as complicated as this one is.

But if the draft EIR is finished by the deadline and if Kamilos gets the next OK to proceed, his project may be able to take advantage of a new state law that fast-tracks lawsuits challenging the environmental review.

There are lots of "ifs" and "maybes" still associated with the West Park proposal, but it remains the best possibility in our county to add large numbers of new jobs.

We continue to be impressed by the long-term commitment that Kamilos has shown to developing West Park, even through this deep and prolonged recession.

And the possibility of a TV-film studio that could employ several thousand people provides a little extra zing to the project.

We look forward to learning more about it.

Previous Bee articles on the project are available at modbee.com/westpark.