OCEANSIDE — Planning commissioners gave a thumbs-up to a mixed-use, 88-unit condominium project in the historic mission district.
Called Mission Flats, the project at the northeast corner of Douglas Drive and state Route 76 replaces a previously approved 2020 project that would have built 137 apartments.
William Inghram, founder and CEO of Rockwell Land Company, a real estate development firm representing the developer, said market trends led the developer to reduce the project’s size and swap apartments for for-sale condos.
“It was not a suitable asset to be loaned against, and apartments were never a viable option here,” Inghram said.
Of the 88 homes, which will include a mix of three- and four-bedroom units, 13 three-bedroom units will be reserved for moderate-income households. Additionally, 10 of the homes will be live-work units.
The project will divide the homes among 17 buildings with about three to seven units in each. Most homes are arranged around a central courtyard.
All units will have two-car garages, and 20 additional parking spaces will be provided for guests and customers of businesses in the live-work units, bringing the total to 196 spaces.
Although the project invokes state density bonus law by reserving 13 units for moderate-income households, it does not request additional units above the site’s base density. Instead, the developer requested several waivers of development standards and a concession allowing relief from the requirement to evenly distribute the affordable units between three- and four-bedroom homes.
The project is in the Mission San Luis Rey Historic District, which requires its architecture to reflect Spanish-style themes.
Although commissioners unanimously approved the project on Oct. 12, some were concerned about its single access point on Douglas Drive due to heavy traffic congestion and its proximity to Route 76.
“It’s a great design, just a bad place,” said Commissioner Kevin Dodds.
Inghram said the developer looked at other options for adding an entry point elsewhere, including the neighboring shopping center, but found none.
In contrast, Commissioner Tom Morrissey said he thinks entering and exiting the site won’t be as difficult as others anticipate because access is limited to right turns in and out.
“I think this is an amazing project,” he said.
The project will also improve the sidewalks fronting the site to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
