Port Hueneme Expansion Plan Clashes With Tourism Project : Harbor district: Enlarging facility would boost import-export activity, commissioners say. City officials want property for marine center, other development.

The Port of Hueneme, the first stop in Ventura County for thousands of cars and tons of fresh produce, would be expanded by more than 50% under a plan explained to Oxnard Harbor District commissioners Monday.

*

District officials said the port would assume control of about 33 acres now operated by the Navy, which plans to close down its civil engineering laboratory next to the harbor by April.

But before any surplus Navy property can be developed into expanded port facilities, the district must persuade Port Hueneme city officials to forsake long-range plans to build a restaurant, marine center or other tourism-based projects.

“The actual recipient of the property has not been concluded,” said William J. Buenger, general manager of the Oxnard Harbor District. “The re-use plan indicates that best use of the property is port-related.”

*

City officials, however, who are negotiating with the Navy about transferring ownership of the 33 acres, want to use most of the property to attract tourists to a palm tree-lined beachfront.

They envision surrounding the lighthouse with a promenade and restaurant, and building a marine education and fisheries center on much of the land.

As few as six acres would be designated for expanded port facilities under the city’s plan, which was adopted at a City Council meeting earlier this month.

“It’s our goal and objective to make this a win-win situation for the district and the city,” Buenger said. “Obviously, there are some differences of opinion.”

District and city officials have been meeting for weeks over the issue, and Buenger said he hopes an agreement can be reached within a month.

Buenger said the district is most likely to get the property because the Navy would donate the land if it is used for importing and exporting. Other uses would require the city to purchase the property from the federal government.

*

Commissioners on Monday welcomed the presentation by harbor district staff. They predicted booming imports in coming years and said they have companies ready to use the bigger port.

“It allows us to expand in an orderly fashion to accommodate some customers chomping at the bit to do business with the port,” Commissioner Michael A. Plisky said.

“We could certainly use other property not contiguous to the port, but this just makes it a lot more convenient,” he said.

Port Hueneme Mayor Toni Young said Monday that she was surprised the harbor district officials announced the expansion before an agreement has been struck with the city.

But, she said, if the district does have companies lined up to use expanded port facilities, the district is more likely to persuade the city to allow the expansion.

“If all of that is true, the city is more than willing to work with them,” Young said. But, she added, “I don’t understand why they’re going off on their own with this.”

The city shares 5% of the gross receipts of the harbor district, a cut that amounted to about $300,000 last year, Buenger said.