Oceana residents unhappy with six-story mixed-use development – San Diego Union-Tribune

A 55-and-older Oceanside community of about 1,000 single-story homes built in the 1960s is dissatisfied with its likely new neighbor, a six-story mixed-use “tower” proposed as an access road to El Camino Real .

The Vista Bella project near Oceana would include 73 apartments, four live-work units and commercial space on the ground floor. It would replace an aging two-story office building that now sits on the property at the corner of Vista Bella and Vista Rey streets, between Coastline Baptist Church and a gas station.

More than 200 Oceana residents sent letters to the city opposing the project, with most objecting to the project’s 60-foot height and number of apartments.

“The development plan is shockingly large in scale for a plot of land less than two hectares in size, with or without a density bonus,” said a letter from Rena Wallenius.

“The traffic situation is of the utmost importance to our safety as older residents in the area,” Wallenius said.

Many people walk their dogs, use the buses and go to church in the area, she said. Some residents called the proposed building a “tower” that blocks views, sunlight and sea breezes.

Still, the Oceanside Planning Commission voted 3-1 on Monday to approve the project, with Commissioner Louise Balma voting no. Balma said she agreed with residents’ concerns.

Other commissioners said state laws passed to address the housing crisis don’t give Oceanside a way to stop the project. Cities across California are facing a similar dilemma.

“We have to operate within the law,” Commissioner Jay Malik said, adding that people who want change should contact state lawmakers.

Representatives for the developer said they are doing their best to build much-needed housing within state and local guidelines, which is sometimes a balancing act.

“We try to be very, very sensitive to the community,” said Morgan Gallagher, an Orange County attorney who specializes in real estate.

Under state law, the project qualifies for more apartments than allowed by the city’s zoning code on the parcel, known as a “density bonus,” because 15% of the apartments are reserved for very low-income residents. Although state law allows for a 100% increase, the developer’s request only applies to 50% of the city’s zoning, which would have allowed 51 units on the site.

“We’re in a new era,” said Gary Miller, an architect working on the project. “These new laws have turned housing construction upside down.”

With the 100% density bonus allowed by state law, the developer could build as many as 102 apartments, Miller said.

Research conducted for the project shows it will have little effect on traffic, he said. Vehicle volumes for nearby intersections are expected to remain within city standards.

“What we’re trying to achieve here is a quality project,” Miller said.

The apartments will have 10-foot ceilings and quartz countertops, he said. The studios will be 300 square feet, one bedroom 705 square feet and two bedrooms 1,043 and 1,155 square feet. The four live-work units on the first floor will be 786 square meters in size.

Originally published: Oct 30, 2024 at 11:29am PDT