Chamber Supported North River Farms Project Approved!

​The City of Oceanside voted to approve the Chamber supported North River Farms development on November 6th, with Mayor Peter Weiss and Councilmembers Jack Feller and Christopher Rodriguez voting in favor.

“I commend the Council for bold leadership in helping to build a more prosperous City by supporting much needed housing and infrastructure. This project will make a significant contribution to our housing supply and help reduce a substantial RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) gap that only continues to grow. Many employers in Oceanside and surrounding communities face challenges with recruiting and retaining employees because we don’t have enough housing supply,” said Scott Ashton, CEO of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.
 
North River Farms is a farm-based community, in South Morro Hills that will bring 585 homes to the region, funding for our roads and the OUSD, will preserve 40% of the total acreage in agriculture and will introduce San Diego County to its first agrihood. An agrihood weaves together agriculture and community, making a farm-to-table lifestyle possible. This sustainable concept is gaining popularity across the United States and offers an opportunity to put Oceanside on the map as a destination city. With 68-acres of agriculture, an education center, makers space building, bike trails, Oceanside’s first dog park and an outdoor amphitheater this community will be a public asset beyond the community’s boundaries.  
 
South Morro Hills has been working for decades on a plan that has been very slow to take shape. North River Farms proactively incorporates many of the agritourism themes to act as a catalyst for planning to finally occur. At the Council meeting, Mayor Weiss stated, “[i]n regards to the South Morro Hills area there needs to be a balance in how it is ultimately developed, I don’t agree with [the current zoning of] 2.5 acre estate lots spread out across the entire SMH area… and the lack of a current plan should not affect our ability to make a decision tonight.”
 
Collectively, our region and our city face a housing crisis. The range of homes will include those that are attainably priced making a great fit for young families, our work force, seniors looking to downsize, and our military and veterans.  They will offer single story floorplans or plans with master bedrooms downstairs, casitas and larger executive style housing. This will help businesses better recruit and retain employees by increasing our housing supply with a modern, innovative community.
 
Chair-elect of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Debra Allen boasts that “North River Farms thinks outside your typical housing development. It brings us back to a way of life that we are all craving. It will have a farmers market and gathering spaces, but it will also invest millions in infrastructure, widen the College Bridge and will build, staff and equip a new fire station.”
 
Our culture in Oceanside is shifting. We are more proactive and dedicated to saying “yes” to big ideas. For more information about this new and exciting community please visit www.LiveNorthRiverFarms.com