Recently in the news it was announced that the corporate headquarters in Atlanta Georgia that has operated the Georgia Pacific Mill Site since the mid-seventies is putting the 430 acre ocean front property up for sale in January 2004. The GP Mill site makes up 40 percent of the usuable land of Fort Bragg within city limits.
Georgia Pacific worked with selected Fort Bragg community members and professional consultants from out of the area to gather information for preliminary proposals for land use. Many of the ideas put forth by the community at the August 2, 2003 meeting for open participation were not reflected in Georgia Pacific’s presentation. Some of the suggestions that were left out of GP’s plans were:

• A community commons, which is different from a park or a promenade;
• A bird sanctuary/marsh similar to the world reknowned and highly successful Arcata Marsh for waste water treatment;
• Emphasis on services for the community such as a Pomo cultural center or youth center;
• Eco-parks learning and demonstration centers, biological remediation, and other responsible and sustainable economic models to provide jobs and economic growth.

GP’s plan emphasized shopping centers, dense residential housing, a resort hotel and more bed and breakfasts. It made one wonder if GP had really looked at the current business culture already established in Fort Bragg which boasts a sucessful shopping downtown climate and a host of exsisting bed and breakfasts and hotels. There are already 800 beds per night available for paying visitors in Fort Bragg alone.

GP’s plans appeared to be ungrounded and made no reference to the estimated population growth and predicted water usage which such proposed development would bring. Some people in the area are already predicting water shortages, similar to Mendocino’s, when downtown residents and businesses have to pay for imported water during the summer months. This shortage is predicted based on current population projections for the area, which do not take into account the proposed massive development of the GP site.

This future picture may also include housing developments on another one-hundred acres - approximately 40 acres to the south and 60 acres to the north - which are nearly contiguous with the GP property. It was obvious that GP has developed the best possible carrot for high-end, big scale developers.

The old time blue collar nature of the town is changing quickly enough as it is. Real Estate has doubled in value in the last five years and local people are already being forced out. Young families, which are the backbone of any thriving community, find it hard to make a way here and many have to leave.

GP’s plans gave a nod toward some low-cost housing, but one has to wonder if corporate developers would find that appealing. And yet, in this community and this county low-cost housing is crucial. The mill has been a source of income, identity and community for Fort Bragg residents since the late 1870’s. Fort Bragg, a small coastal town of 7200 people doesn’t need a corporate inspired real estate scheme, but instead deserves a carefully tailored and integrated vision that comes from the heart of the communityfor its benefit.

One of the controversial aspects of the aftermath that GP is leaving behind is an unknown mystery. This allegedly includes the toxic nature of the milling industry itself, historic toxic spills that may or may not have been completely cleaned up (like the infamous PCB spill in the late 1980’s), and the reputed rumors that GP allowed substantial dumping and burning of imported toxic soils in the incinerators. In addition, diesel fuel #2 (thousands of gallons) and other unknown substances were ostensibly buried in pits known as “ black holes” some of which drained directly into the ocean.

GP has only completed Phase I of the toxic inspections and there has been no remediation reported to date. One can only wonder what will emerge from a more thorough investigation. At the most recent meeting between Fort Bragg citizens and GP, it was hard to believe the spokespeople for GP who referred to the property as being as toxic as your average gas station with “maybe” a few PCBs.

Everyone needs to remember that even though GP created a plan for Fort Bragg, any developer who buys it will not be beholden to follow such a plan. However, it is written within the Fort Bragg General Plan that citizens are required to be consulted as part of the planning process. The city of Fort Bragg is about to hire a consulting firm to create yet another advisory plan for land use which will include comments from the community as required to meet the General Plan. This is an opportunity for the citizens to be empowered and to impact the future outcome of the north coast of California. This is a unique site and a unique opportunity to help craft the future.

We whole heartedly agree with last weeks Press Democrat editorial that emphasized the need for continued responsible guardianship by the Fort Bragg government to safeguard the economically and socially wise outcome for the whole north coast of California and especially for the citizens of Fort Bragg.

Anyone wishing to get involved should call the Fort Bragg City Offices: 961-2823
or the citizens group North Coast Action: 964-3094.
Signed,
Loie Rosenkrantz, Thaïs Mazur, and David Russell: NCA Members