Forestry Department eyeing proposed Crows Landing air facility

Forestry Department eyeing proposed Crows Landing air facility The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is negotiating to base fire fighting aircraft, flight crews and support staff at the former Crows Landing naval air station, now under development into a 4,500-acre intermodal business complex with a short-haul rail link to the Port of Oakland.
   The FFP air detachment, now based in Hollister, responds to about 150 calls per year. If the move is successful, Stanislaus County officials told the Modesto Bee Wednesday, the Crows Landing facility would be eligible for federal aviation grants that would allow upgrades to the facility's air control tower, runway lighting and fuel tanks.
   Stanislaus County acquired the former U.S. Navy and NASA facility, located in central California about 18 miles south of Modesto, in 2004.
   Sacramento-based developer PCCP West Park was named as the developer of the project earlier this year, beating out Texas-based developer Hillwood in a tight Board of Supervisors vote.
   PCCP's plan calls for a massive intermodal business park to be built around a short-haul rail link with the Port of Oakland. The plan calls for the rail line to be funded by transportation bond money from the state, along with matching funds from local and federal sources in several jurisdictions.