OCEANSIDE — A developer has proposed an electric vehicle charging station with a convenience store and up to 51 high-speed charging stalls near Oceanside’s most northerly Interstate 5 exit.
Rove Charging LLC has submitted development plans, applications for conditional use and coastal permits to build the EV charging station at 1591 Coast Highway. The site is home to a tow company near Oceanside Harbor and Camp Pendleton’s main gate.
The proposed project includes a 3,500-square-foot ReCharge by Gelson’s market, a new concept developed through a partnership between Rove Charging and Gelson’s. The Oceanside site would be the second location of its kind, following the flagship location in Santa Ana, which features a 3,000-square-foot store and 40 EV charging stalls.
If approved, the station would have 63 parking stalls, including 51 standard EV stalls, one ambulatory EV stall, eight regular parking stalls, and one ADA-accessible stall. The facility would also offer a lounging area with Wi-Fi, restrooms, and outdoor seating for guests waiting while their vehicles charge.
“We are confident that our proposed project will become an attribute to the City of Oceanside – not only to Oceanside residents driving electric vehicles, but to the many visitors and travelers on the nearby I-5 freeway that require fast, reliable, safe charging with a first-class marketplace (run by Gelson’s) serving a variety of high-quality food, beverage and grocery items,” wrote Matt Stowe, director of entitlements for Rove Charging, in the project’s letter of justification.
According to the developer, vehicles will be able to charge at the station within 15 to 30 minutes fully. The facility will also feature an on-site battery storage system to support the charging station’s electrical grid.
Stowe said the project would complement the use of the surrounding city without creating any conflicts.
“In fact, it will be extremely complimentary, providing the EV driving community with much needed, high-speed charging with associated amenities,” Stowe wrote. “There is no other charging facility nationwide that provides the high-speed charging and associated amenities that Rove offers.”
City Planner Nichole Weedman said the project is still being reviewed. The proposal submitted in November will undergo multiple reviews by city departments before it moves forward.
City staff will provide comments and notes on the proposal, with the developer expected to revise and resubmit the project. Weedman said the process may involve as many as four review cycles, depending on how thoroughly the developer addresses the city’s feedback.
“It will have our support based on their description and justification at this time,” Weedman said. “They’ll be providing EV charging, which is beneficial to our Climate Action Plan goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Weedman also noted that Rove’s partnership with Gelson’s enables the project to operate at the proposed site.
The project aligns with state goals to reduce air pollution and expand the use of zero-emission vehicles. By 2035, all new cars sold in California must be zero-emission.
