Fortuna council adopts qualified zone to implement Mill District specific plan

Fortuna City Council on March 3 completed the second reading and adopted an ordinance amending the city zoning map to apply a qualified zone intended to implement the Mill District Specific Plan.

Sherry Mead, community development director, said the qualified zone will allow a broader mix of uses and support a balanced transportation network in the Mill District. "This piece is just changing the zoning to apply that Q qualified zone and then allow more diverse land uses than what normally would have been under the previous zoning," Mead said.

The ordinance was described as the final zoning step to implement the specific plan after the council previously certified an environmental impact report, amended the general plan and approved design guidelines on Feb. 18. The second reading was presented as a single item; staff offered to reopen the earlier presentation if council had questions. With no public comment at the hearing, council members voted to adopt the ordinance by roll call.

The ordinance was recorded in the meeting as Ordinance 2025-773, described in the meeting record as amending section 17.02.0.03 of the municipal code zoning map to adopt the Mill District qualified zone to implement the Mill District Specific Plan. The roll-call record in the transcript shows the three members present voting in favor.

Council members and staff did not add conditions to the ordinance during the March 3 vote. The city previously considered accompanying materials — including the certified environmental review and design guidelines — at an earlier meeting.