By Jerry Keene, Editor, The Oceansider
Two important developments this week – somewhat interrelated. The ONA Zoning and Planning Review Committee (ZAPR) nears completion of its work on new development standards to shape Oceanside’s future. Meanwhile, in a sign the future won’t wait, the long-vacant garage property on Pacific Avenue has just been listed for sale.
of the property reads:
Lingering legal questions and some big decisions loom as the ONA zoning committee prepares to finalize its recommendations for updates to Oceanside’s zoning rules. The committee plans two more work sessions before submitting its final report for review and a vote by the ONA membership at a Special Meeting scheduled for May 18th. The first Zoom-only workshop takes place on Monday, April 21 at 5 p.m. (tomorrow!) with the second meeting (if needed) set for May 13 at 6 p.m. Here is a link to the ONA Meeting Notice, Agenda & Zoom Link This is a workshop meeting open for public viewing, but limited, if any, public comment.
e group looks to finalize its recommendations for building and design standards to govern “middle housing” structures (triplexes, quadruplexes, townhome clusters and cottage clusters). State law (Senate Bill 406) now requires that such structures be allowed in Oceanside’s residential zone, which was previously limited to single-family homes and duplexes. The committee is also still considering whether to recommend applying comparable size limits and design standards to single-family homes and duplexes. Here is a link to the remaining topics to be addressed:
Finally, committee members anticipate that county Community Development Director Sarah Absher will expand on legal guidance she provided the committee over the past month. That guidance suggested that measures the ONA voted to adopt in 2021 (reducing Oceanside’s maximum building height from 35′ to 30′ and simplifying such height calculations) might run afoul of constitutional constraints on “taking” property without compensation. (It remains unclear whether such guidance also applies to exterior lighting standards that the ONA membership also approved in 2021.) Since the last committee meeting, Manzanita’s community newsletter – Manzanita Today – has reported that their city’s land use consultants have suggested a set of “density” measures that, among other things, would impose a size limit of 2500 square feet on new homes. Because these would seemingly raise the same constitutional “taking” issues, it is likely that this new development will be addressed at tomorrow‘s meeting.
April 21 ONA Zoning/Planning Comm. Meeting – 5 p.m.
Zoom only
May 5 Oceanside Community Club Monthly Potluck – 6 p.m.
Oceanside Community Hall
May 13 (Tentative) ONA Zoning Committee Workshop – 6 p.m.
Zoom only
May 18 ONA Special Mtg on ZAPR Zoning Report – 2 p.m.
Oceanside Community Hall and by Zoom
And that’s the view from Oceanside!
jerrykeene@oceansidernews.com