PORT IMPORTS IMPORTANT CAR PROCESSING DEAL TO REV UP HUENEME'S ROLE.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

OXNARD - The Port of Hueneme is known for serving a niche market in Southern California, and while fruits and vegetables are among the products that arrive at the deep-water harbor, Porsches may soon be coming to port.

Pacific Vehicle Processor is planning to build a facility atop 38 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to Ormond Beach that will house Porsches, Audis and Volkswagens. The Oxnard-based vehicle processor recently inked a $50 million deal with Volkswagen to prepare cars for delivery to dealerships after entering the port. Around half of those cars will arrive by ship from Germany and about half by rail from Mexico.

Though the company has been around for 10 years, Pacific Vehicle Processor's transaction with Volkswagen could double its revenues. James Kilpatrick, PVP's vice president of marketing and development, said the company will be processing around 100,000 more cars if the deal closes. And to accommodate the influx in business, PVP will create 250 new jobs at the facility and around 200 jobs at the port.

``We've done all of the architectural work and now we're just waiting for approval to begin construction on the site,'' said Kilpatrick, who's anticipating completion of the facility by November. ``We're very optimistic that we'll be able to proceed.''

The fate of PVP's project will ultimately be determined by Oxnard city officials. The City Council is meeting today to discuss PVP's plans. PVP's expansion would require an amendment to the Oxnard General Plan and a special-use permit.

``But we haven't made a recommendation yet,'' said Marilyn Miller, planning and environmental services manager for the city of Oxnard.

However, the very location of PVP's new facility could stand in the way of its construction. Local environmentalists are concerned that the facility will have a negative effect on the nearby wetlands.

Jean Harris has been lobbying to protect the Ormond Beach Wetlands for 24 years. She said PVP's new building will obstruct views and eliminate access to the beach. ``We're now even looking at ways to purchase the land so they (PVP) can't build on it,'' she said. The proposed site, owned by the city of Oxnard and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is south of Hueneme Road, close to Perkins Road.

The Greater Oxnard Chamber of Commerce supports the expansion, saying PVP's facility will stimulate the economy and will not be of any detriment to the wetlands. ``We've a taking a position in support of the facility because of the jobs it will create. We obviously are interested in preserving the wetlands and we don't feel PVP's facility will hurt them in any way,'' said Ross Olney, president and chief executive officer of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. ``It's win-win from a business perspective.''

The port, which injects millions of dollars into Oxnard's economy, has been integral to the city's financial success. Olney said there are thousands of cars that come to the port every year that essentially translate to more financial support for the community.

Will Berg, director of marketing and trade zone services for the port, said Hueneme is the ``quintessential niche'' port because of the cargo that comes into the harbor. Coupled with cars, Del Monte, Sunkist and Pacific Fruit import and export fruit through the port.

``And more cars coming in could certainly help the economy,'' Berg said.

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COMPARING LOCAL PORTS

SOURCE: Ports of Hueneme, Long Beach, Los Angeles 

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Pacific Vehicle Processor signed a $50 million deal with Volkswagen to bring German automobiles into the port