Former Ukiah Masonite plant retains industrial zoning

<p>A former Masonite manufacturing site will remain zoned industrial under the long-awaited Ukiah Valley Area Plan, adopted by Mendocino County supervisors Tuesday after two decades of fitful debate.</p><p>A majority on the board wants to keep the property available for future industrial uses, which tend to provide better paying jobs.</p><p>But dissenters say industrial development is unlikely and that limiting the property's uses stunts economic opportunity.</p><p>“I just feel it's a big economic mistake,” said Supervisor John Pinches, who cast the only vote voted against adopting the Ukiah Valley Area Plan. It passed 4-1.</p><p>The plan will be incorporated into the county's overall General Plan. It focuses on city of Ukiah boundaries in an effort to provide a more cohesive plan for the valley. It generally is in sync with Ukiah officials' desires, said Supervisor John McCowen. It includes keeping the so-called Lovers Lane property north of Ukiah zoned agricultural rather than changing it to residential.</p><p>Keeping the Masonite property industrial appears to be consistent both with city officials' and voters' wishes. More than 60 percent of voters in 2009 said no to Measure A, which would have allowed Ohio and Texas developers to build up to 800,000 square feet of commercial buildings on 80 acres just north of Ukiah.</p><p>It would have required the county to rezone the former Masonite plant property for mixed-uses and to adopt the developers' plan for the site.</p><p>Despite disagreement on particular points of the Ukiah Valley Area Plan, it was time to move forward, McCowen said following the vote.</p><p>“We often hope all the stakeholders are going to agree to a plan everyone supports. That's just not likely,” he said.</p>