PORT HUENEME : Panel OKs Plan to ‘Pre-Zone’ U.S. Land

The Port Hueneme Planning Commission has approved a proposal that would pre-zone federal property within the city, which may be used for private or public development.

The move was spurred by the Department of Community Development in an attempt to pre-zone land occupied by the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center, which covers 1,630 acres--about 57% of the city--to ensure that lands disposed of as excess property by the government become automatically subject to the city’s land-use and zoning powers.

“With the events unfolding in Europe bringing a heightened possibility of that land being ‘excessed’ by the Navy, it’s prudent for us to put an overlay holding zone over all federal properties so we have land-use authority--that’s all we’re trying to do,” Director of Community Development Tom Figg said.

Facilities at the base range from environmental departments to research and development areas, according to Assistant Planner Greg Brown, who said there currently is no zoning for that portion of the city.

“About half of the base is under-utilized and it may be hard for the Navy to justify keeping it in the future,” Brown said.

The City Council will review the commission’s recommendations at its March 21 meeting, before sending the proposal to the Coastal Commission for final review.