Oceanside's Emerging issues and Hot topics - April 2016

Emerging Issues Committee Chair, Bruce Tait, hold a Double Double from the newly opened In-N-Out Burger

​by Amber Ter-Vrugt

Hot Topics! There’s a bunch…
Brian Rupp, Shopoff Realty. Shopoff is developing a handful of projects in North County. In Oceanside they are working on;

• 38-unit town home project on PCH at Moore street in South O
• Park Villas at El Corazon is a proposal for 70 for sale town homes (down from 80), on 5 acres, and is an important piece of the city’s smart growth initiative being so close to the sprinter.  Part of the 465 acre specific plan includes an interest in retail / mixed use development.  After working with the city and the community, Shopoff revised their project, set back the town homes, added a proposal for signage and landscaping to screen the town homes ($2M in additional costs) and added commercial retail space. To accommodate the changes and still make the project pencil, Shopoff is asking for an additional 38 units. The emerging issues committee made a recommendation to the board of directors for the Oceanside Chamber to support the project and the addition of the 38 units.

John Amberson, Transportation Director City of Oceanside. South Coast HWY Vision Plan;

• Smart Growth is important because we cannot sustain growth otherwise
• The South Coast Highway Vision Plan was approved in 2009 and aimed to make it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.  It also made recommendations on zoning to incentivize future development.
• John’s steering committee and residential advisory group believe they have come to a preferred alternative after studying a variety of options and need to receive council support to being environmental studies. Preferred alternative includes;
  • Roundabout at Surf Rider, Civic Center drive and Pier View
  • Signal at Seagaze, and possibly no on street parking at Pier View
• Council workshop is next week, Wednesday at 2pm at City Hall Council Chambers.  Council will be asked to direct staff to begin analysis on two lane / preferred alternative, or direction to hold on the study.
• South O community concerned with traffic through their streets and people circumventing coast highway and speeding through the neighborhoods.

Ted Marioncelli, SANDAG regional plan;

• SANDAG is looking at a new hybrid regional plan where they would increase funding local cities receive, reduce the overall transit percentage and make a few other adjustments to the revenue allcoation…
• SANDAG meets tomorrow (Friday, April 8) at 10am to determine whether or not they will put a half cent sales tax on the ballot to fund the plan. Polling looks favorable thus far.

 
Legislative tid-bits for your reading pleasure...
What’s happening in Washington? 
…Congressman Issa is putting on the pressure with the DOE to meet with So Cal regarding the future of nuclear storage…
 
What’s happening in the State?
…Assemblymember Rocky Chavez has several bills moving forward in the legislature regarding stolen valor, instate tuition issues for military families and veteran farmer incentive act…
…CalChamber job killers have been released…
…the Governor increased minimum wage to $15…
 
What’s happening in Oceanside?
…Lot 23 a 400 unit parking structure wrapped with apartments will start construction in May…
 …1000 more people will be living in downtown in the near future….
…new 4star hotel will hopefully be on the horizon as soon as the litigation is complete…
 
What’s happening at the County?
…25 cities initiative is morphing into opening doors and will support north county homeless issues…
…county is launching a veteran’s community connection program to support veterans in our community 1844-VET-CONX…
 
What’s happening at Mira Costa?
…just took over San Deguito adult school…
…stay tuned, the college may go out for a ballot initiative to raise funds to rebuild facilities…
 
What’s happening at Mainstreet?
…Spring Mixer 4/19 at 5pm at Hello Betty…
 
What’s happening in the chamber?
…Business Expo, April 21st at QLN Conference Center
… Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation at the Pier Amphitheater, May 21st