Future development of Ingleside Naval Station uncertain

Associated Press

INGLESIDE — Political wrangling and other delays have clouded future development plans for the Ingleside Naval Station, which is scheduled to close in 2010 as part of federal base closures announced two years ago, observers say.

The Port of Corpus Christi will get back most of the base when the Navy pulls out by Sept. 30, 2010. The port is considering leasing its 1,000-acre parcel for continued military use, making it an engineering school or turning it into a homeland security training facility.

But the city of Ingleside retains zoning authority for some of the land, located next to a planned $800 million golf course and residential development, which could be at odds with the port’s plans, officials said.

The base closure is expected to cost the area more than 7,000 jobs, lowering the area’s annual payroll by $278 million, according to a federal base closure impact study from 2005.

Bickering over how to use the land led state legislators to appropriate just $5 million instead of a proposed $20 million in grants to help those affected by base closures, said Rep. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi.

“This antagonism has cost us,” he said. “And I can put a price tag on that.”

In September, the Ingleside Local Redevelopment Authority was formed to help funnel federal money to communities affected by the closure.

The eight member board includes representatives from the city of Ingleside, San Patricio and Nueces counties — but not the port authority.

Port officials have not discussed the base’s future zoning with the city, Ingleside Mayor Pro Tem Stella Hermann said.

“We are a small city but we are very strong and we are trying to do what is the best for the citizens who already live here,” she said. “Now that things are moving along, (the city and the port) have got to sit down and work together.”

Ruben Bonilla, the port authority’s board chairman, said they have stayed out of the local redevelopment authority to avoid government red tape that accompanied the grants.

“This is about local control, and we have the right to exercise the development of the land we own,” Bonilla said.

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Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com

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