Oceanside reverses denial of long-fought warehouse project

The Oceanside City Council did another unexpected flip Wednesday when it reversed an earlier decision and approved the construction of a warehouse, manufacturing and offices facility on industrial property near the city’s airport.

The switch came after the developer offered new concessions, including a $2.5 million contribution that the City Council can spend as it pleases for parks or capital improvements.

Nearby residents have fought the project proposed on Eddie Jones Way for years over the lights, noise and additional traffic it would bring to the streets that connect to state Route 76 in the San Luis Rey Valley.

The Oceanside Planning Commission unanimously approved the project in February. Residents appealed the decision to the City Council, and on May 21 a majority of the council sided with the residents and overturned the approval on a 3-2 vote with councilmembers Rick Robinson and Peter Weiss opposed.

Finalization of the May 21 decision, usually a routine matter, was scheduled Wednesday as part of the City Council’s consent calendar, a list of items normally approved in a single vote. However, the council pulled the Eddie Jones item for a discussion and a separate vote.

Project applicant Adam Robinson, founder and president of the RPG commercial real estate company, asked the council to reconsider and said RPG was willing to make new concessions in response to community concerns.

The company will further reduce the number of truck bays from the 34 approved by the Planning Commission to 28 bays, he said. The original proposal called for 114.

“Additionally, we are proposing the creation of a $2.5 million public benefit contribution, a flexible resource that could support long overdue park improvements  or help advance capital improvement projects that have been in the queue for years,” Robinson said.

Mayor Esther Sanchez said the previous vote should stand.

“This council should not be bought, and that is what the message is going to be if we change our vote on this project,” Sanchez said.

However, Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa, who supported the appeal in May, voted this time to deny the appeal and approve the project, along with Weiss and Robinson.

Figueroa said he supported the project because of the hundreds of jobs it would bring, along with the money for parks.

A similar situation occurred in May, when Figueroa reversed his decision on whether to fly the rainbow flag at Oceanside City Hall during Pride Month.

Figueroa first was in the three-vote majority that approved the flag’s display. However, weeks later when the matter returned on the consent calendar, Figueroa voted against it along with Robinson and Weiss.