Wilmington Goal : Access to Water Being Discussed

For the first time since Wilmington community activists began clamoring for access to waterfront property governed by the Port of Los Angeles, port officials have said they are negotiating with one of their tenants to reach that goal.

Sid Robinson, director of planning and research for the port, said Wednesday that Harbor Department officials have proposed that the tenant, Wilmington Liquid Bulk Co., reconfigure its operation to allow the community waterfront access at the foot of Avalon Boulevard.

Wilmington Liquid Bulk operates just east of that site, which has been designated by a planning consultant as the best place for Wilmington to have recreational and commercial development along the harbor. But the company handles some hazardous cargo, and port officials have said repeatedly that the threat of an explosion or some other disaster prevents them from allowing the public nearby.

Residents have demanded that Wilmington Liquid Bulk move and are pushing for zoning changes to force that. The company, though, has a 20-year lease with the port, with 18 years to go. Robinson and other port officials have said repeatedly they are not interested in making the company move.

But under increasing pressure from the community and Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores to make concessions, Robinson disclosed Wednesday that port officials have asked the company to relocate the hazardous cargo segment of its operation far enough from the foot of Avalon Boulevard to allow recreational uses there without endangering the public.

Robinson said the company is studying the proposal.

“It’s in their ballpark now,” he said.

Dick Haney, general manager of Wilmington Liquid Bulk, declined comment. “We have discussions going on with the port and that’s about it,” he said. “There’s been no agreement at all.”

Robinson made his comments during a session of the Los Angeles Planning Commission, which is considering a plan to rezone the port.

Residents have pressed the Wilmington Liquid Bulk issue before the commissioners, asking that the site on which the company operates be rezoned to force Wilmington Liquid Bulk to eventually move. The commission was scheduled to vote on the plan Wednesday, but delayed action until July 26 at the request of the Harbor Department.

Commission President Daniel Garcia said he is especially concerned by possible legal action that Wilmington Liquid Bulk could file against the city if officials force it to move before its lease expires.

A company lawyer has twice raised that issue with commissioners, and Garcia said Wednesday that he wants to know the consequences before voting.

“We don’t make decisions solely on popularity,” Garcia told the residents. “Like it or not, there is an existing lease between the city of Los Angeles and the port and this liquid bulk facility.”