Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Property Needs To Be Re-Zoned As City Prepares To Place Industry

By RICKY RAGSDALE

With a quick meeting Wednesday, October 29, the Prescott City Council voted 6-2 to approve the repair of the old armory building.

A second meeting was called by Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor to try to get approval for the project which will house Funshine Industries.

Taylor told council members the area had been measured for an 8-ft. privacy fence around the structure to help alleviate some problems voiced Monday by council member Ann Stockton.

Taylor said he and Prescott-Nevada County Economic Director Chandler Russ talked with Funshine owners about possible problems.

Council members were told by Taylor the only equipment kept outside the building would be a hopper that collected sawdust particles.

Once the construction is completed Funshine may spend up to $30,000 on a front for the building which will face the Shelter Insurance agency of Pete DeWoody.

Funshine's front will feature a wooden deck, a product of the industry, in addition to the outdoor furniture the company will produce.

Stockton again voiced her concerns about the proximity of Park Baptist Church and First Baptist Church.

In addition she said the park is filled all summer long with children and that would put them too close to the industry.

Taylor said there were concerns but they had been handled.

Russ said the company was not planning on working on Sundays and would keep the area clean because the sales offices would be on site and Funshine is dedicated to being a good community neighbor.

Councilman Danny Beavert asked Taylor if the building would be rezoned for the industry.

Taylor said the area was already zoned for commercial business and that was enough to locate Funshine at that site.

Since the meeting officials have learned the old armory is zoned residential.

Russ said by just looking at the zoning map it appears the building was zoned commercial but when you got into reading the boundaries, the commercial zoning ends before reaching the armory.

Prescott's zoning commission will have to meet after notifying landowners within the block about the required zoning change.

The council voted to accept the bid of John McLelland of McLelland Construction for just over $80,000 to put metal siding and a roof on the building.

Stockton and Council member Donna Wingfield voted against the measure.

The plumbing work and the 440 3-phase electrical work will be done by city crews in an effort to keep costs low.

Councilman Dick Bright said the investment appeared solid, since the structure is nearly 11,000 square feet, the project would cost less than $8 a square foot.

Russ pointed out Funshine would probably outgrow the building in five years and could be easily located in the city's industrial park on Highway 200 near Interstate 30.

Bright and other council members recognized the building could be utilized by the city then for a community center - hosting functions for local organizations.

Russ said the vote in favor of the industry would show the state how aggressive Nevada County is in wanting to locate industry.

"We are getting to be known as a determined community in wanting business," Russ said "and this will verify that fact."