OCEANSIDE — The City Council approved the development of 70 townhouses at El Corazon Park to the chagrin of residents present at Wednesday’s meeting. The OK changes the park’s Specific Plan to allow additional homes.
The majority of speakers in support of Park Villa homes identified themselves as realtors, landscape architects and professors who live outside of Oceanside.
Those in support of the project said they saw merit in providing needed housing within a smart growth area, and putting residential development next to abundant retail. They claimed adding 38 more homes would not change the look, feel and environmental impact of the development.
“People need to live and work close to that area,” Linda Gonzales, Oceanside resident and past city council candidate, said. “It’s a good solution to funding what we want to do (to develop the park).”
The townhouses are set to sell for about $600,000. Brian Rupp, senior vice president of development with Shopoff Realty Investors, said target buyers are young professionals, and empty nesters looking to downsize. He added new construction housing is lacking in Oceanside.
“Businesses need new housing,” Rupp said. “The only thing we’re asking is the addition of 38 units.”
Most Oceanside residents who spoke were against the increased number of houses. Residents asked that development plans go back to the drawing board and extra homes be built elsewhere. Many said their dream is for a park that will become the city’s legacy.
“The developer assured us he would comply with the (park) vision, let’s not compromise the plan to one development,” Diane Nygaard, president of Friends of El Corazon, said.
Councilwoman Esther Sanchez shared the backstory of residents’ 16-year fight to keep the land donated to the city to create a 465-acre park.
The Specific Plan spells out how the park will be developed. It earmarks 44 acres for commercial space to finance park maintenance, and includes 300 total live-work dwellings.
Housing was originally envisioned to be second story units above ground floor retail. Modifications were later made to allow housing and retail on the first floor.
The approved development provides 3,000 square feet of commercial space housed in two buildings, and 70 attached townhouses including 22 live-work units on a 5-acre site at the park’s southwest entrance. It brings the total park housing count to 338 units, including 268 units planned for a second site at the east entrance of the park.
The El Corazon Standing Committee and Planning Commission both denied development plans.
Mayor Jim Wood said he approved the plan because the development is on private property within the park.
Councilman Jack Feller said housing is needed for the expected population growth, and hailed it for being in a smart growth area and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The council approved the development plan 3-2, with Sanchez and Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery voting no.
5 comments
What part of “private property” is not clear to everyone? The project proposed is NOT part of the park; it is privately owned land that belongs to the developer, who’s paying to build a road and complying with everything else. As Deputy Mayor Lowery said “So, if we don’t vote for it, the road goes away, the landscaping goes away, the revenue for the city goes away, and the property remains a big pile of dirt.”
I wonder how much money Shopoff Realty “invested” in the political campaigns of the people who are the elected officials in Oceanside. That seems to be their modus operandi; they’re doing it in Carlsbad. I guess this is the model for all developers: Step 1: Bribe local govt Step 2: Get approval for your project Step 3: Screw the locals
the hyper-aggressive,uber-pushy time-share pimps and prostitutes harassing pedestrians at our oceanside pier entrance are scaring away the timid tourists! do these time-share hawkers and hookers all work for mean-spirited jerry kern?
WE ALSO WANT THE IRS TO AUDIT BULLDOZER JIM WOOD AND MEAN-SPIRITED JERRY KERN TO FORCE THEM TO REPORT ALL THE CASH GIFTS AND GRATUITIES THEY RECEIVED FROM DEVELOPER’S LOBBYISTS IN PLAIN BROWN MANILA ENVELOPES AT FRATELLI’S ITALIAN GRILL!
FOR SLOW GROWTH: we must recall BULLDOZER JIM WOOD AND MEAN-SPIRITED JERRY KERN! WE WANT HONEST RECALL ELECTIONS AND WE WANT THEM NOW!
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