County: Masonite site's future in DDR's hands

[The Light]

Love Ukiah wrote:

<quoted text>Oh well... I still love Ukiah...

Me Too.

[Love Ukiah]

The Light wrote:

<quoted text>Me Too.

Right, straight from Glendale...

[The Light]

Love Ukiah wrote:

<quoted text>Right, straight from Glendale...

Nope, from right here in Ukiah! That is an IP site.

[I agree]

Santa Rosa Mike wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok, I am willing to accept that you lost the election AND the debate. But you are wrong again. It wasn't no growthers that defeated Measure A. If that was what the election was about, Measure A would have won 60-40 instead of lost. The election was about local control, local planning and having a fair process. It was not no growth v. growth, but what kind of growth and where.
Wait. You'll see. When THEY decide the time is right, Costco or Target or whoever will locate at Airport Park Blvd. The City is moving ahead with traffic improvements that have already been budgeted and planned for. And the new North State will be a real boon to that area and will handle the traffic there for the next thirty years. The freeway onramps are scheduled to be rebuilt. THe Orchard Street Bridge is almost finished. The right turn lane at Perkins is going to be built. These are not the hallmarks of a do nothing, no change, no growth attitude. But I will accept your withdrawing from the debate as a tacit admission that you lost.
PS: DDR was still NOT going to build you a Costco or anything else. Wake up and smell the coffee as they say.

I agree. I am tired of the BS from the Yes on A crowd. All the no growth anti-business rhetoric was just that. The BOS just voted to apply for a $2million dollar grant to help the Agwood Mill even though the owner was a loud-mouthed and insulting voice in favor of Measure A. If the BOS was petty and vindictive like "Santa Rosa Mike" they would not have approved the grant application. Maybe they just disagreed with Yes on A because they understood it was not a real sollution to our problems in this valley or in the county. And the people figured it out also.

[MendoMike]

Santa Rosa Mike wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok, I am willing to accept that you lost the election AND the debate.

LOL...No doubt we lost the election, but the "debate?" It's a little early to tell, IMO- and it also depends on what happens to the site. You keep saying I wanted a Costco, but that was secondary to what I feel Mendocino county needs- we need a rezone of the site, because heavy industry will never come here and without a rezone of the site it'll sit as is for a long, long time, and we need a tax revenue sharing agreement between the city and the county.

The situation as it stands now pits the city and the county as competitors, and they should be cooperating in tax collection and planning for development. It's this inability of both bodies of Government that's frustrated me; it seems we can't get a UVP, can't build something as simple as a skate park, and can't fix the potholes on our roads.

Anyway, let's put aside the insults and barbs for a post or two and discuss what YOU feel would be best for the Ukiah Valley. After all, I'm suggesting the city and county have a dialog and cooperate, so maybe we can do the same and exchange ideas on what we want our community to be in ten years. I don't think anyone wants urban sprawl and unchecked growth, and I'd hope no one believes we should ban all development, so the answer is somewhere in the middle.

BTW- my wife is on her way to Liv's as we speak to buy a pair of jeans---I told her she's only contributing money that will probably be used to purchase propeller beanie hats for the Ukiah City Council, but she went anyway.

[Santa Rosa Mike]

MendoMike wrote:

<quoted text>
LOL...No doubt we lost the election, but the "debate?" It's a little early to tell, IMO- and it also depends on what happens to the site. You keep saying I wanted a Costco, but that was secondary to what I feel Mendocino county needs- we need a rezone of the site, because heavy industry will never come here and without a rezone of the site it'll sit as is for a long, long time, and we need a tax revenue sharing agreement between the city and the county.
The situation as it stands now pits the city and the county as competitors, and they should be cooperating in tax collection and planning for development. It's this inability of both bodies of Government that's frustrated me; it seems we can't get a UVP, can't build something as simple as a skate park, and can't fix the potholes on our roads.
Anyway, let's put aside the insults and barbs for a post or two and discuss what YOU feel would be best for the Ukiah Valley. After all, I'm suggesting the city and county have a dialog and cooperate, so maybe we can do the same and exchange ideas on what we want our community to be in ten years. I don't think anyone wants urban sprawl and unchecked growth, and I'd hope no one believes we should ban all development, so the answer is somewhere in the middle.
BTW- my wife is on her way to Liv's as we speak to buy a pair of jeans---I told her she's only contributing money that will probably be used to purchase propeller beanie hats for the Ukiah City Council, but she went anyway.

Ok, I agree we need to have a revenue sharing agreement. That might be the number one most important thing to get us in position to go forward instead of sideways. Think about it: how cooperative will the City and County be if they are in competition with each other for the next sales tax dollar?

I think the City has been ready to make a deal for the last couple of years and has been getting stonewalled by the County. And Measure A did not help. The former Board was in favor of major retail there because it was winner take all for the County. If that had passed there would have been no chance for revenue sharing.

But the problem now is to educate the outlying Supervisors to make them understand it is in everyone's interest to end the competition so we can really work together for planning and econ. development. Instead of working at cross purposes, what if the City and County were working together? So everyone should speak up and let the City Council and Board know that this has to be done without further delay.

Next, there needs to be one plan for how we are going to develop in the Ukiah Valley, not a City Plan and a County Plan. Yes,the UVAP needs to get finished without further delay. Lets agree where the retail goes, where the housing goes, how much we need, how to supply the services and infrastructure, then work to make it happen.

PS: What's wrong with propeller beanie hats?

[The Light]

MendoMike wrote:

<quoted text>
LOL...No doubt we lost the election, but the "debate?" It's a little early to tell, IMO- and it also depends on what happens to the site. You keep saying I wanted a Costco, but that was secondary to what I feel Mendocino county needs- we need a rezone of the site, because heavy industry will never come here and without a rezone of the site it'll sit as is for a long, long time, and we need a tax revenue sharing agreement between the city and the county.
The situation as it stands now pits the city and the county as competitors, and they should be cooperating in tax collection and planning for development. It's this inability of both bodies of Government that's frustrated me; it seems we can't get a UVP, can't build something as simple as a skate park, and can't fix the potholes on our roads.
Anyway, let's put aside the insults and barbs for a post or two and discuss what YOU feel would be best for the Ukiah Valley. After all, I'm suggesting the city and county have a dialog and cooperate, so maybe we can do the same and exchange ideas on what we want our community to be in ten years. I don't think anyone wants urban sprawl and unchecked growth, and I'd hope no one believes we should ban all development, so the answer is somewhere in the middle.
BTW- my wife is on her way to Liv's as we speak to buy a pair of jeans---I told her she's only contributing money that will probably be used to purchase propeller beanie hats for the Ukiah City Council, but she went anyway.

You are absolutely right. Very refreshing and kudos to your wife.
Gotta work today but I'll talk to you later.

[MendoMike]

Well...I found out the forum times out if you get interrupted and take too long to post.:)

Anyways I agree a tax revenue sharing agreement is a priority, and Yer SMRT asked a great question about how we go about getting proactive politically...I don't know because I've been part of the problem through my apathy instead of getting involved and being part of the solution, but I will email John McCowan because that was his concern in the past, and next time I see Johnny Pinces I'll ask him what it'll take to get a revenue sharing agreement in place, and a UVP.

One thing for sure, the election is over so it's time to move on and focus on the things we agree on instead of focusing on what divides us. I plan on being more involved, and also being more involved in a constructive manner, and I hope others do also, regardless of where they stand politically.

But if I have to travel out of the county to seek out those hard to find items- say, a beenie propeller cap- I reserve the right to do so.

[New Horizon]

MendoMike wrote:

and focus on the things we agree on instead of focusing on what divides us. I plan on being more involved, and also being more involved in a constructive manner, and I hope others do also, regardless of where they stand politically.
But if I have to travel out of the county to seek out those hard to find items- say, a beenie propeller cap- I reserve the right to do so.

Mike,

I agree we need to find common groud and move forward. I know you say you don't believe industrial will come back. Do you believe it provides more opportunities for workers than retail?

[CleanUp]

MendoMike wrote:

Well...I found out the forum times out if you get interrupted and take too long to post.:)
Anyways I agree a tax revenue sharing agreement is a priority, and Yer SMRT asked a great question about how we go about getting proactive politically...I don't know because I've been part of the problem through my apathy instead of getting involved and being part of the solution, but I will email John McCowan because that was his concern in the past, and next time I see Johnny Pinces I'll ask him what it'll take to get a revenue sharing agreement in place, and a UVP.
One thing for sure, the election is over so it's time to move on and focus on the things we agree on instead of focusing on what divides us. I plan on being more involved, and also being more involved in a constructive manner, and I hope others do also, regardless of where they stand politically.
But if I have to travel out of the county to seek out those hard to find items- say, a beenie propeller cap- I reserve the right to do so.

Hey Mike, Ok with the beanie propeller caps, we don't want you accosting anyone and getting thrown in jail!
The Masonite site is highly toxic which was and is known by DDR. Perhaps one of the ways to get the junk removed out there is to pursue the environmental cleanup. Nothing can happen there without it anyways and that work will ultimately pave the way to the future development desired. I would think that some brainstorming with John Pinches and others could be interesting in that some involvement by local government would be needed. How about a court order to DDr to clean up the site prior to sale? It is a pulic nuisance/hazard and was when they purchased the site. One would think DDR, in order to sell the property for any value at all would be receptive but don't count on it. The Masonite property is an anchor hanging around their corporate necks so make it weigh more that they can bare. No cleanup, no sale! How about eminent domain over this toxic site to do ,in the public interest, what the owner would not. Upon cleanup the site could be used safely for any purpose we can get it zoned for. Win/Win! And the site will come back into productivity much faster than DDR could ever or would ever do. What do you think? These are rough thoughts.

[MendoMike]

New Horizon wrote:

<quoted text>
Mike,
I agree we need to find common groud and move forward. I know you say you don't believe industrial will come back. Do you believe it provides more opportunities for workers than retail?

Being pro organized labor I'd say yes, industrial type blue collar jobs were the backbone of America. I say "were" because the jobs we lose to the tune of about 150,000 a month are mostly higher paying production blue collar type jobs... the jobs serving coffees at Starbucks aren't going anywhere, so the short answer is yes, production jobs provide careers whereas retail clerk positions are mostly temporary and stop gap. Not that they aren't valued, but I'd prefer to see people in blue collar careers that provide a decent wage and benefits.

However, that doesn't mean you can get a manufacturing tenant at the Masonite site, given that we're so far off the transportation lines and the competition between communities for these types of tenants is so extreme. And even if we could lure a heavy industry tenant up here, would you want it located at the Masonite site or would you prefer it a little bit further out?

[Solar]

MendoMike wrote:

<quoted text>
Being pro organized labor I'd say yes, industrial type blue collar jobs were the backbone of America. I say "were" because the jobs we lose to the tune of about 150,000 a month are mostly higher paying production blue collar type jobs... the jobs serving coffees at Starbucks aren't going anywhere, so the short answer is yes, production jobs provide careers whereas retail clerk positions are mostly temporary and stop gap. Not that they aren't valued, but I'd prefer to see people in blue collar careers that provide a decent wage and benefits.
However, that doesn't mean you can get a manufacturing tenant at the Masonite site, given that we're so far off the transportation lines and the competition between communities for these types of tenants is so extreme. And even if we could lure a heavy industry tenant up here, would you want it located at the Masonite site or would you prefer it a little bit further out?

Hey MendoMike, How about a solar energy farm on the Masonite site? It is well situated for that purpose. It solves the pollution problem and could go a long way towards powering the entire Ukiah Valley. Government grants are available and the tech jobs are great paying and could serve as a springboard to the high paid jobs of the future we all would love to see come here. Soooo instead of sucking power down let's produce it and power our labor base at the same time. Any Interest?

[costcobob]

Costco Girl wrote:

LOL, Catholic ...
.. Socialism I wish topix had spell check

Use FireFox, ditch IE, and all your spell check dreams will come true, not just for topix but all forms on all websites.