Ukiah staff to send administrative-use-permit and ADU ordinance to council; infrastructure updates include bridge, purple-pipe and utility undergrounding

Ukiah planning staff told the Planning Commission on Aug. 13 that the administrative use permit ordinance and a revised accessory dwelling unit ordinance will be introduced at City Council on Aug. 20, and they provided status updates on several city infrastructure projects.

The planning director, Craig Schlotter, said “that ordinance is going forward as well as the, accessory dwelling unit or ADU ordinance” and that both items were recommended previously by the commission. He also said a historic-preservation workshop originally scheduled for Aug. 7 has been delayed to “probably mid September” while staff finalizes content with the Mendocino County Historical Society.

Why it matters: the AUP and ADU ordinance introductions will set the next formal review steps at council and could change how minor uses and ADUs are processed in Ukiah. Several infrastructure projects described by staff affect traffic, pedestrian access and utility reliability across the city.

Key project updates provided by Chief Planning Manager Jesse Davis included:
- Ackerman Creek / North State Street bridge replacement: completed environmental review in 2016 and construction began in 2024; the replacement will be about 64 feet wide and include two travel lanes, a turn lane, shoulders and sidewalks on both sides, improving pedestrian access along North State Street. (Jesse Davis)
- Talmadge Road corridor: the Department of Public Works has paused comprehensive undergrounding coordination there; work will focus instead on targeted repairs and on the Leslie and Clay Street extension in conjunction with courthouse-area development. (Jesse Davis)
- Purple-pipe reuse project: the city manager’s office reports the most intrusive work is complete and the project is expected to be finished “by the end of the year.” (Jesse Davis)
- Undergrounding electrical transmission/transformer procurement: supply-chain delays slowed wildfire-mitigation undergrounding work; transformers have now been obtained and, per the emergency management officer Tracy Boyle as cited by staff, that work “will now start, in the next few weeks.” (Jesse Davis)

Staff also told commissioners the city currently has no scheduled business for the Aug. 27 meeting and is tentatively looking to cancel that session; the next regular meeting would then be Sept. 10 at 5:15 p.m.

Discussion vs. action: the presentation was informational; staff said ordinances will be introduced to City Council (a separate formal action). Commissioners asked clarifying questions about project timelines and community impacts. No new permits or ordinances were adopted at this meeting.

What’s next: the AUP and ADU ordinances go to City Council for introduction Aug. 20; the historic-preservation workshop will be rescheduled and staff will email commissioners the confirmed date. Staff said construction and utility projects will return in periodic updates to council and the commission as they reach milestones.