The City Council’s legacy: Derailing redevelopment of the former mill site

It appears as if a once-in-alifetime opportunity to redevelop Fort Bragg’s former mill site into something that promises economic growth and quality jobs may have come and gone.

Over the past several years, Mendocino Railway, the operators of the Skunk Train, purchased portions of the former mill site to support current and future rail operations, and to restore the railway’s historical connection to the land. With these purchases came the first opportunity in 20-years to redevelop the blighted property into something far more promising. A conceptual plan called for growing the community’s hospitality and tourism industry and attracting businesses in the area of technology, energy, and healthcare; new housing, open space, and providing greater public access to beaches and trails.

Unfortunately, thanks to the current Fort Bragg City Council it is now an opportunity lost as they chose not to work in partnership with the railway. Their limited perspective and headstrong objective to stop the conceptional plan is denying the community significant improvements and economic growth.

To make things worse they are wasting taxpayer dollars to fight this purely vindictive battle. Their strategy is twofold; 1) use taxpayer dollars to finance a lawsuit that aims to give the city greater control over the railway’s operations superseding state and federal laws, and 2) lobby federal authorities to deny a federal loan intended to restore the movement of freight and passengers between Fort Bragg and Willits. If they are successful, the combined effect will result in over $21 million not being invested in local jobs and materials, and the railway’s full potential to move passengers and freight will never be realized.

The railway announced this month that they have abandoned its redevelopment plan, but not because the council threatened its bottom line. Rather, it was investors and prospective employers who reached the conclusion that the city council was outright hostile to forward progress and economic opportunity, making any potential redevelopment project on the former mill site virtually impossible so long as they’re in office.

While they may be celebrating at City Hall, some Main Street business owners believe the council failed to consider the broader economic implications of their actions. While Skunk Train passengers spend millions of dollars annually in local shops, restaurants, and hotels, the city continues to deny the value of economic generation. Damages by the city against the railway are mounting and these costly attacks on our operations come as rising inflation and fuel prices are limiting how much tourists are willing to spend on travel and outdoor recreation.

The city council, in particular Mayor Norvell and Vice-Mayor Morsell-Haye, were so focused on derailing the redevelopment project that they never consid

achieved that goal. But for railroad operations, the land will now remain fallow. How is that a win for the city council?

Now, they must consider the political benefits of continuing their frivolous lawsuit and sabotaging schemes. Voting residents should realize that this City Council tends to give more weight to someone living outside of the city limits than to those who live within the boundaries actually paying property taxes. Just look what they’ve done to other well-established businesses or those wishing to start up.

As residents watch the sunset over 300 acres of blighted property sink into the sea, they will be reminded of the council’s colossal failure to act and what could have been. They are unwilling to set aside that the development of ‘railroad’ items is pretty small as compared to the overall project scope. We repeat, but for a very few ‘railroad’ items the entire project is subject to the city’s jurisdiction. Unfortunately, inaction and squandered opportunities will be this city council’s legacy. New leadership on the council is needed to restore trust and to bring real economic opportunity to the city.