Ukiah Daily Journal Article: City of Ukiah OKs permit
August 3, 2022: Photos and article by Journalist: By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN | jfrederiksen@ukiahdj.com
City of Ukiah OKs permit for Disaster Resource Center on Airport Park Boulevard. (Director Danilla Sands pointing to photos of UDRNC's team of 30 volunteers.)
With a permit approved by the Ukiah Planning Commission to permanently occupy a former veterinary hospital on Airport Park Boulevard, Danilla Sands of the United Disaster Relief of Northern California said she is now focused on complying with all conditions required by the city of Ukiah.
Sands said Wednesday that to comply with current city codes, the Disaster Resource Center would need to screen its outdoor storage area with solid fencing or a wall, something she said the non-profit does not have the funding to build.
The United Disaster Relief of Northern California center has raised $50,000 toward its goal of buying the building it occupies at 1240 Airport Park Blvd. (Justine Frederiksen – Ukiah Daily Journal)
“We’re trying raise $250,000 to buy our building,” said Sands, explaining that the center is also concerned about not having any items outside due to “thieves that keep cutting the fence, stealing tarps,” and otherwise making it impossible to maintain the carports the center erected for storage.
To solve both problems, she said, the plan now is to pay about $5,000 to install palette racks in the very large warehouse area at the back of the building, therefore bringing all the outdoor items both securely inside, and out of sight.
“It seems like we’re cutting off our nose to spite our face,” Planning Commissioner Mark Hilliker said of the condition to screen the outdoor storage, describing the center that provides clothing, food, batteries and fulfills countless other immediate needs for people displaced by fires as “a viable and useful service. But I don’t want to violate any of our ordinances, either.”
“We acknowledge (requiring the screening) is a hardship, but in order for the use permit to go into place, that condition has to exist,” said Chairwoman Laura Christensen. “But this (center) should continue, because you guys are doing amazing work.”
Last week, the Planning Commission voted to approve a use permit, which Planning Director Craig Schlatter said would replace the temporary emergency permit the center received last year from the city while it was assisting people displaced by the Hopkins Fire.
So far, the center has raised about $50,000 toward purchasing the building, which Sands said has so much to offer, including “air conditioning, heat, lights, running water, and bathrooms! We are so excited about having bathrooms.”
Sands said people wanting to help their efforts to buy the building can drop monetary donations off at the center, located at 1240 Airport Park Blvd., or visit their Facebook page and find links to their PayPal account.
Source: https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2022/08/03/city-of-ukiah-oks-permit-for-disaster-resource-center-on-airport-park-boulevard/
