Oceanside approves transit center/condo project

By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer | Friday, September 22, 2006 10:34 AM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- A hotly debated bus transit center and condominium project in northeast Oceanside narrowly received approval Wednesday from the City Council.

Mayor Jim Wood joined Rocky Chavez and Jack Feller in a 3-2 vote in support of the San Luis Rey Transit Center and North River Village project.

The plans call for a bus transfer center for North County Transit District, 106 condominiums and 13,700 square feet of shops and stores on a vacant 9.8-acre piece of property at the southeast corner of Vandegrift Boulevard and North River Road.

The city Planning Commission voted 5-1 against the project in May, and 19 residents expressed concerns about noise, traffic, parking, safety and pollution from the development during the council's three-hour hearing Wednesday.

But a majority of the council members said it was a high-quality project that would improve the neighborhood and increase public transportation options for nearby residents.

"It looks like a nice project that will be much better than what is there now," Wood said. "I think a bus center is needed for the neighborhood."

The Escondido-based Loranda Corp. and the transit district have worked on the project for more than four years.

The transit center will replace the facility in the Wal-Mart shopping center at the intersection of College Boulevard and Highway 76. The new transfer center will feature shade structures, lights, restrooms, benches and space for about 12 buses.

Councilwomen Esther Sanchez and Shari Mackin said they supported a transit center, but there were too many condominiums in the project, and it needed to be redesigned.

Sanchez said she wanted more comprehensive studies done about what effect the project will have on the surrounding neighborhood.

"We all want quality projects, and this is not it," Sanchez said. "It's not compatible with the surrounding neighborhood."

Sanchez and Mackin voted to send the project back to the Planning Commission, which had raised questions in May about the design.

In an attempt to satisfy the commissions concerns, the developer added eight parking spots, gates around the housing, 24-hour security and enhanced walkways.

With the changes, the city's planning staff recommended approval.

"The staff believes the applicant has worked hard to address all the Planning Commission's concerns," said Jerry Hittleman, acting city planner. "It's a well-designed project that conforms to the surrounding area."

But numerous residents from northern Oceanside told the council that the project would add traffic and noise to the neighborhood.

"Please don't turn our gateway to agricultural into the armpit of Oceanside," said resident Barry Reder.

While most of the residents who spoke at the meeting opposed the project, several bus riders said the transfer station was needed.

Chavez said just looking at the number of speakers in favor and against "was disingenuous," because many bus riders probably couldn't get to the meeting.

He said the council needs to look after all its residents, not just the most vocal or those well-off financially.

"This is a quality project and should be supported by all council members," Chavez said. "There is a strong value to public transportation, and we need to protect it."

Resident Ed Lochmoeller said that the existing bus-transfer station at the Wal-Mart shopping center is very confusing, too small and hard to access.

"It's very important to have this transit center," Lochmoeller.

The Oceanside Unified School District strongly supports the project because it has more than 1,700 students in this area, and "many rely on public transportation to get to and from school," said Brian Sullivan, an associate superintendent.

Karen King, executive director of the transit district, said northeastern Oceanside is one of the agency's highest areas of ridership.

She said the transit district can't expand the current transfer station at the Wal-Mart center since that can accommodate only three buses.

In the next 15 years, the proposed facility would have needed space for as many as 12 buses, King said.

"We're trying to provide improved transit service where people use it and want it," said King. "This will be one of our finest, if not the finest, transit center we have."

King stressed that the condominiums and stores will make the transit center a safe, convenient place people will want to go.

Construction of the condominiums and stores should begin in about a year, and the project should be complete about a year later, said Lou Lightfoot, a consultant representing the developer.

The transit district will begin construction on the transit station when it receives all of the funding, King said.

District officials said last year that the project was estimated to cost about $4 million, but the price has probably risen due to increasing construction costs. About $2 million in federal money has already been designated for the project, district officials said.

"This is a significant step forward for residents in that portion of Oceanside," King said. "I can't stress enough the importance of this project."

Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.

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