Mendocino College Foundation buys downtown site for dormitory; several project applications remain incomplete or pending review

Planning staff told the Aug. 13 Planning Commission that Redwood Credit Union sold a property at the southeast corner of Main and Perkins streets to the Mendocino Community College Foundation, which is exploring development of a dormitory on the site.

Jesse Davis, chief planning manager, said the College Foundation is considering a dormitory use and that “a dorm is an appropriate use at that location and it will likely involve some other form of activities on-site whether that’s study space, communal space or . . . restaurants or mixed use activities as well on the first floor.” He explained dormitories are not explicitly defined in Ukiah City code but “function very much as a long term residential stay” and will be evaluated under existing code provisions.

Other project-status updates included:
- 1294 North State Street: an application originally submitted in 2017 (permit number 173069) underwent design-review recommendations and the applicant is making requested revisions — landscaping, pedestrian access and drive-thru configuration — before staff finalizes the file and prepares a staff report. Staff said updated plans were expected later in the week and the item will be scheduled for commission review when the application is completed. (Jesse Davis)
- 1244 South State Street (food truck request): staff received an application in late July for an outdoor commercial activity on a C-2 heavy commercial parcel. Davis noted the city’s zoning code does not yet comprehensively regulate food trucks and that the city expects to address food-truck policies as part of general plan amendments; staff aims to draft that policy by the end of the current fiscal year (June 2026). He said since the application was only recently filed staff had not yet evaluated whether it merits a recommendation to the commission. (Jesse Davis)

Public comment: Pinky Kushner asked whether the listing for 1294 North State was “incomplete” or “plans submitted,” and why a food truck at 1244 South State was being treated as a major development item; staff responded with the status notes above and explained the zoning-designation review process.

Discussion vs. action: these were information and status items; no approvals or denials were taken at the meeting. Staff said the dormitory proposal will follow the city’s permitting process and any discretionary approvals or design-review steps will come before the planning commission or zoning administrator as required.

Next steps: staff will receive revised submittals from the 1294 North State applicant and will schedule the project for commission review once the application is complete. Staff will continue to process the food-truck application and also expects to return a drafted policy on mobile/outdoor food vendors as part of a general-plan amendment process by June 2026.