Mendocino County defeats major developer

[roody]

Source: Mendocino Country

MEASURE A HAS BEEN RESOUNDINGLY DEFEATED
Mendocino County clerk recorder Susan
Ranochak has issued her final preliminary vote
count just after midnight on election eve. With
38 percent of registered voters being counted,
Measure A has lost 62% to 38%. Absent an
outlikely turnout of over 90%, the corporate
sponsored measure to rezone the Masonite site has
been resoundingly defeated.
Developers Diversified Realty of
Beachwood Ohio purchased the property to develop
a shopping center in 2007 knowing it was zoned
industrial. Last year, supervisors voted 3-2 to
scope the Ukiah Valley Area Plan to allow major
buildout of a mixed use shopping, industrial and
residential park there. But two supervisors who
supported the project were not re-elected, and
the company opted to appeal to county voters to
enact its custom designed zoning designation.
They formed a dummy front group of
political wanna bees organized as "Mendocino
County Tomorrow" who were encouraged to lend
their names to DDR's "Mendocino Crossings"
initiative in return for promises of future
support if they chose to run for office.
Then, the company hired a bunch of thugs
from southern California to obtain 10,000 local
signatures on the petition with guile, deception,
intimidation and flattery.

---snip---

At the outset of the campaign, county
supervisors and city councils in Fort Bragg,
Willits and Ukiah urged a no vote on the measure.
At the same time, LAFCO issued a critical report
warning that critical services would be impacted
by the project and the developer would escape
responsibility for the costs. Soon, county staff
did the same. These documents can be viewed at
www.mendocinocountry.com .
Since then, Developers Diversified
donated over $800,000 to its controlled campaign
committee through another front corporation
called Mendocino LLP incorporated in New Jersey.
"Yes on Measure A, citizens to bring jobs, etc"
spent all that money on canvassing, research,
polling, legal, accounting, advertising, graphic
designing, printing and mailing services.
Their ignominious defeat is a national news story.

Read more: www.mendocinocountry.com

[bertman]

1. I wish we could generate this kind of response to attempts to "redefine" the boundaries

of a local water source, Falls Lake, that developers have had their mapmakers draw up for them. Around here the developers usually win.

[roody]

2. DDR lost the supervisors one year ago, so they went for the ballot.

It is always a struggle. They will be back.

[bertman]

3. This is an excellent example for others to follow. Thanks for posting about it. Being

a general contractor I frequently find myself at odds with the local home builders association because they are just about pro-any-kind-of-development-anywhere. Fortunately, we are in an area that has lots of environmental activists so we generate opposition to the worst developments--and sometimes win.

[Peace Patriot]

4. Mendocino has a REAL public radio station. That's one of the reasons that the developers

--who spent nearly $900,000, compared to $92,000 by the opposition*, LOST, big time. Huge vote against them.

Mendocino voters are better-informed than most!

Support KZYX-Philo!

Great credit also to Mendocino Country, and its editor Richard Johnson, who have worked so hard to keep Mendocino citizens informed and activated on vital issues.

Independent media really does make the difference!

Kudos and laurel wreaths to KXYX, Mendocino Country, to all who helped inform the voters, and to the wonderful activists of "NO on Measure A."



--------------------

*(Mendocino County population: 86,000.)

[MBS]

7. great news indeed! n/t

[Peace Patriot]

9. KZYX is correct. (Kxyx is wrong.) nt

[Auggie]

5. Sometimes I am elated to see developers get fucked over

[WhiteTara]

6. they sent mailings on the the average of 3 per week

We were inundated with their slick pr press...glad to see the voters hated the idea as much as I did.

[juno jones]

8. Yay Mendocino!

Beautiful damn county. May you always stay that way!

[raouldukelives]

10. I miss KZYX

Used to listen to "On the Verge" late at night driving home. Someday I'll be moving back to home sweet home.