HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-24 The Mendocino Crossings Masonite Mixed Use Specific PlanWHEREAS a request for Ballot Title and Summary for an initiative has been filed with
the Mendocino County Clerk to Amend the Mendocino County General Plan and the Inland
Zoning Code of Mendocino County, and to enact the Mendocino Crossings Mixed-Use Masonite
Specific Plan; and
WHEREAS the Mendocino Crossings Mixed-Use Masonite Specific Plan would allow
approximately 650,000 square feet of commercial development and 150,000 square feet of
residential development on approximately 74 acres north of and in close proximity to the City of
Ukiah; and
WHEREAS the City of Ukiah has reviewed and discussed the Mendocino Crossings
Mixed-Use Masonite Specific Plan; and concludes that build-out of the Masonite site pursuant to
the provision of the Specific Plan could result in potential impacts to the City of Ukiah; and
WHEREAS the potential impacts include:
1) Traffic congestion resulting from the future connection of the Orchard Avenue
Extension to proposed Valley Drive that would serve commercial and residential development
rather than previously assumed industrial development;
2) Traffic congestion associated with the uncertainty of the effectiveness of the 5
additional traffic lights on North State Street proposed as part of the Specific Plan;
3) The cumulative build-out of the greater Ukiah Valley area has already negatively
impacted public safety services within the City of Ukiah. The proposed project increases these
negative impacts on police and fire services. These impacts include increased criminal activity
within the City limits as the daytime population grows, increased traffic congestion and
accidents, decreased traffic safety, and increased demands for emergency medical and fire
services without compensation for law enforcement and fire services;
4) The vague and unsubstantiated claims about water availability in the Specific Plan are
characteristic of the plan as a whole and its failure to promote effective regional planning.
Overall the major elements of the Specific Plan will result in piecemeal planning as opposed to
sound, integrated planning;
5) A threat to the viability of existing retail businesses throughout Mendocino County;
6) Aesthetic impacts resulting from broad and vague design standards, design
guidelines and landscaping guidelines contained in the Specific Plan that provide the property
owner with the decision-making authority. These standards and guidelines ignore the vision for
future development established by valley residents. These vague standards offer no
opportunity for public interaction or participation; and
7) A significant change in community character because of the size, intensity and
magnitude of the project; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Mendocino County expect that all persons and entities
wanting to locate in our communities will respect and follow the same community land use
processes that local businesses and property owners must follow, rather than circumvent those
processes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ukiah strongly
opposes the Mendocino Crossings Mixed Use Masonite Specific Plan and finds as follows:
1. The Mendocino Crossings Mixed-Use Masonite Specific Plan could have potentially
significant adverse impacts on the City of Ukiah's budget, public safety services and
infrastructure, traffic safety and circulation and our small town quality of life.
2. Ordinarily, an Environmental Impact Report would be required for the project to analyze
the potentially significant adverse impacts, advise the public about those impacts, and
develop reasonable and feasible mitigation measures to eliminate the impacts.
3. The Initiative process does not require an Environmental Impact Report and therefore
the potentially significant adverse impacts will not be studied, the public will not be
informed, and a thorough and complete list of mitigation measures will not be prepared
and required for the build-out of the 800,000 square foot Mendocino Crossings Mixed-
Use Masonite Specific Plan area.
4. We urge all citizens to study the Mendocino Crossings Mixed-Use Masonite Specific
Plan to become informed about the potential size, magnitude and intensity of its build-
out and the implications of re-zoning our County's prime industrial site.
5. The City Council has directed staff to participate in the analysis of potential impacts
which Mendocino County's Board of Supervisors has requested related to Election
Code 9111. Results from this inquiry will be made available to the public at regularly
scheduled City Council meetings.
As required by law, no public funds shall be used in the campaign for or against this initiative.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of June 2009, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Landis, Thomas, Crane, Rodin, and Mayor Baldwin
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
PMayor
ATTEST:
1
Linda 0 rt Ci Cl k