FORUM: Now time to redefine Oceanside

By ROCKY CHAVEZ -- Oceanside | Wednesday, December 3, 2008 12:14 AM PST ∞

"When the going gets tough ---- it's the right time to plan ahead!"

As 2008 draws to an end in spectacular economic chaos, we know we have real challenges to meet. However, a time of adversity is often a chance for opportunity.

Oceanside has the ability to do something it has been trying to do for decades ---- redefine and improve itself. A city is largely defined on its businesses, housing and the "character" ---- its look, its people and its "feel." The way a city outlines these components is in a document called the general plan.

The general plan has seven mandatory elements, but a key one with the broadest scope is called the "land use element." The land use element shows where housing, business, industry, open space, natural resources, recreation, educational and public buildings are located, in addition to addressing watersheds, population density and building intensity. This part is also often perceived as being most representative of the city's general plan.

Oceanside is fortunate that in 2007 and 2008, we held community meetings reviewing what type of land use we would like to see on Oceanside Boulevard and Coast Highway. These two major streets are critical to defining Oceanside. Now is the time to solidify the recommendations that were made by the public and experts involved in the process into the general plan land use element that was adopted in 1986.

Much of the discussion of a cement plant on Industry Street centered on the type of land use on and off Oceanside Boulevard. Now is the time, in the calmness of an economic slowdown, to review the land use element and determine what the possibilities are for Oceanside and how we would like to define our city.

On Nov. 19, I added a council item to look specifically at the land use element of our general plan and see how we could incorporate some of the lessons learned in 2007 and 2008 to update a plan written when mullet haircuts and huge shoulder pads were the rage.

In the past 22 years, our world has changed dramatically and we have a new focus on saving water, energy, "greener" building, the importance of trees for both our health and the value they add to our community, and a host of other items not dreamed of in 1986 and certainly not addressed in our land use element. My agenda item focused specifically on trees and art to hopefully jump-start a look at our land use element, as both these components add beauty and value to a city.

I know economic times are hard and that we will be looking for ways to save money.

However, just as we all do with our families in tough economic times, we invest in our children's future through education; a city needs to invest in its future. We need to take a close look at these aspects of our city and start to improve them to allow us to move rapidly forward when the markets turn and people and business will want to invest in Oceanside.

Now is not the time to close the door to ideas and step back from opportunities.

Early next year, the Oceanside City Council will outline its priorities for 2009; I support planning for our future and redirecting this economic challenge into an opportunity to redefine Oceanside.

Rocky Chavez is an Oceanside city councilman.