Inside UDJ by Editor K.C. Meadows

The local Smart Growth Coalition has decided to sponsor a contest for local residents to come up with good ideas for an industrial use for the Masonite site to convince supervisors that there is a good reason not to rezone the property to commercial and let a big mall go in there. They're also saying they'll be doing their own nationwide search to find an industry willing to come to town.
Coalition spokeswoman and city planning commissioenr Judy Pruden sent out a press release today issuing the challenge and listing a bunch of prizes from local retailers to go to the best ideas. Pruden mentions ideas that have already been raised, including "calls from timber industry leaders for preservation of the site for a timber byproducts business like the former Masonite Co. that will take advantage of the regrowth of the county's forestlands ... numerous suggestions that the site could become a center for alternative energy development, or an incubator for
small scale local industry."
I haven't heard those calls from timber leaders but if they came forward publicly in a big way that might make a difference to supervisors. I still suggest reviving the idea of a meat processing plant for the county which would help preserve our ranching industry here and allow us to market locally grown meats and meat by-products. And yes, I've read the piles of material I've been sent from people who think either A) that killing animals is wrong for any reason or B) are convinced that there's no way a meat processing facility can be done environmentally or humanely or without destroying the pristine nature of this valley. I'm still for a meat processing plant.
If we are looking to maintain heavy industry zoning let's not forget that we have to also be willing to accept heavy industry uses. I hope that when an industry finally does come forward we don't hear complaints that it will, for instance, ruin someone's "viewshed."
Entries must be submitted by January 15, 2008 to the Ukiah Valley Smart Growth Coalition, P.O. Box 597, Ukiah, CA 95482. Questions about the contest can be emailed to smartgrowthuk@yahoo.com.
Here's the list of prizes from local retailers who are against new retail at the site.
Shoefly @ Sox: $75 gift certificate
Mulligan Books: $50 gift certificate
Ukiah Brewing Co: gala dinner for two and two Ukiah Brewing Co. T-shirts
Germain-Robin: bottle of Barrel Select XO brandy
Janet Rosen: 20"x30" acrylic painting, "Valley, April," can be viewed at www.zanshinart.com/FineArt/ValleyApril.jpg
McFadden Farm: 2 cases assorted organic wines
Dragon's Lair: $50 gift certificate
Boutique 120: $50 gift certificate
Mendocino Book Company: $50 gift certificate
Tierra Art Garden Wine: $35 gift certificate
Three Sisters: $30 gift certificate
Schat's Bakery: 1 load of bread every week for a year
Freedom Skate Shop: $50 gift certificate
Dripworks: $50 Row Crop Irrigation Kit
Yokayo Biodiesel: 50 gallons of biodiesel