Oh Boy More Unconstrained Fun 12:59PM wrote on Jul 22, 2008 4:39 PM:Hopefully the planners will take a more common sense approach to visioning this time out. What are the solutions to traffic capacity problems on Coast Highway before we make it a local street, what constitutes a visual obstruct or defines a visual corridor before we ban three story buildings or certain trees, how do we acquire property for all the boutique businesses we will want to see, and where is the money or who will pay for all the streetscape improvements and the land use changes that will come out of this effort? We have enough plans in Oceanside that can not be implemented already without adding another.

Pragmatic Approach Required wrote on Jul 22, 2008 5:12 PM:Hopefully this time out the City Planners will take the time to identify the constraints involved in the visioning process. How will the traffic volume on Coast Highway be handled if it is converted to a local access street? What will define a view corridor or ocean vista; will we limit the height of buildings or trees? How will we deal with land use changes and property acquisition for plan implementation? The City has conducted many visioning processes like this in the past, the City has not been able to implement the results because of the fact that or visioning has not even discussed the practical limitations of such an effort. We do not need another wasted effort.

Exciting Opportunity wrote on Jul 22, 2008 7:56 PM:This is great news. Coast Highway can use a facelift and it is great that the city is asking the residents for input. Definitely there are a lot of questions about how to implement the changes, but first things first. You have to have a plan and a to-do list before you can start. So what if it takes a while to implement. At least we'll have the vision and know where we are going. Oceanside is great!

Happy in NC wrote on Jul 22, 2008 8:29 PM:You gotta love Oceanside. The first thing out of the gate and they do it wrong. They award a contract to an LA land Planning Firm. Most San Diego County City would do anything to avoid doing what LA did. Classic!

Jim wrote on Jul 22, 2008 9:22 PM:Adequate free parking to handle the crowds is most important!

Behind the right effort wrote on Jul 22, 2008 9:26 PM:Who would not support a fully integrated, sustainable, green, and walkable community? However, like everything else there will be trade offs for this concept to work. I like everyone else want all of the above, but I have to agree if you cannot fund it you cannot force it to happen. Let’s start with the understanding we will work toward an “implementation plan” with priorities, schedules and most importantly, identifiable resources.

Oh brother wrote on Jul 22, 2008 9:41 PM:Another exercise in frustration? The City didn't listen to all the people in the Oceanside Boulevard Corridor. Why will they listen to you? Restraints MUST be discussed during these sessions and the communities MUST be listened to this time ! ! !

John wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:48 AM:Another sham to prevent citizen objections when they want to develop somehow. I remember a study of El Corazon in 1997 with citizen inputs. Where are we now 11 years later? Studying what we can put on goat hill and selling city park lands? What do they have now? another rock quarry? or maybe even a Walmart with time shares of course.

whats wrong with fun wrote on Jul 23, 2008 1:06 AM:And dreaming is free.

John wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:42 AM:Coast Highway is an embarrassment, and an eye-sore. Even hookers won't walk it, it's that bad! Yet, the city has a "redevelopment area" mapped out to include the ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD EAST of Coast Highway, all the way over to the freeway! WHY? What is the hidden agenda with that? If Coast Highway is going to be re-developed, fine (please get RID OF all the used car lots already!). But leave the residential areas ALONE! They have NOTHING TO DO with Coast Highway!

Freeman wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:19 AM:According to Volzke, Developers will tell the city what's "possible," (read, "Preferable & most profitable" and then as we know - the city will lay down and let them exploit our real estate. So naive...and unfortunate that such a function would take place without a real public vote. The outcome could really affect traffic forever. Developers will walk away with a 25-60% return on their investment (including public funds) just like they did in LA.

All for the developers wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:08 AM:City hall does not care what the people of Oceanside want but they go through the "Task Force, Community Meetings and Charettes" process just to appear democratic. All these meetings have only one goal; " mixed use high buildings". Be careful who you vote for in the next election, Oceanside is on its way to become Miami.

FTM to Happy in NC wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:33 AM:We are glad your Happy in NC - please stay there.

John sayd "hookers won't walk 101" WHAT AN IDIOT! Do you WANT hookers on 101? What's the matter - has redevelopment and stepped up policing ruined your late night fun? Hope your wife knows.

I really wish you out of towners would just SHUT THE HELL UP and mind your own towns and leave Oceanside alone.

Oceanside is improving every day it it just drives you out of towners crazy - you just hate it.

NCT hates it too (actually it scares them) because if there is no bad news in Oceanside the NCT has nothing to report. They will go out of business soon when Oceanside has no crime and no gangs; (coming soon).

Curious wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:58 AM:How many visions do we have to have before something actually gets done?

Payday Loan Haircut wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:24 AM:Let's start by eliminating the payday loan/check cashing stores. There's one almost literally every 150 feet downtown. Then we can eliminate the $5 buzzcut with military ID barber shops, the discount furniture, the used car lots and the dive bars. All of those can move to, I don't know, how about Vista? Then we can replace those with upscale nightlife and shopping, fun cool hip hangouts and other upper-end types of businesses. Oceanside is probably the last el-cheapo SoCal beach town; we should be much higher end than we are today. Elitist? Yep, you betcha. Time to oust the low end people to Vista and Escondido and ignore (not be anti, just ignore) the Marines and get some higher end income in this town. I'm tired of being in the tiny minority.

Asphalt Lover wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:44 AM:I think an asphalt plant and concrete plant are definite options to spruce up this area. Good Luck citizens you will all decide what you want to see just to have your council majority shut you down and take control. Waste of time and money until you get rid of KFC! Don't forget KFC are professional designers and developers that have their BIA buddies backing them. So it would be best to ask Rocky, Jack and Jerr want they want first so it is in agreement with their desires. But ask Jerr nicely so he doesn't call you names on TV.

Missy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:08 PM:Dear John, Yes hookers still walk Hill Street. C'mon down and take a look. And for Asphalt lover, yes, let's put more heavy industry in our core downtown areas. Surely that's what the pople want and the council developer-friendly bank accounts would vote for! Hurray for this farce!

John wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:45 PM:TO: FTM to Happy in NC: Actually hookers on Coast Highway WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT to the excessive used car lots, and empty buildings that exist on Coast Hwy. now! And for the record, I LIVE IN OCEANSIDE, one block in from Coast Hwy, and it is a pathetic entrance of a "main drag" to a coastal town". Yes, HOOKERS WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT! I truly doubt that whatever the over-paid developers will put on to Coast Highway will be. And again, WHY are the "boundries" for this "redevelopment project" going all the way over to Oceanside High School? What do residential neighborhoods have to do with redeveloping a "main drag" of a coastal city?

Is this a joke wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:53 PM:"the City Council awarded a $260,000 contract to a Los Angeles consulting firm"; you have got to admire whoever thought this was a good idea, it took some major nads to recommend an LA firm to plan Coast Highway. What a joke!