Commercial Center Planned in Oceanside

A proposal unveiled Thursday for a $125-million commercial center that would put hotels, retail shops and an office complex near congested California 78 in Oceanside has already raised residents’ concerns about traffic jams.

The 63-acre site, including nearly 1 million square feet of building space, belongs to the Singh Family Trust, which has joined with San Diego-based McLachlan Investment Co. to develop the ambitious project.

Plans for the Zocalo were officially presented before businessmen at an Oceanside Economic Development Council meeting.

Preliminary plans call for the use of 323,000 square feet for commercial and retail space, 412,000 square feet for professional offices and 158,000 square feet for two business hotels and restaurants, said Ann Gunter, a senior planner with Lightfoot Planning Group.

The private company is representing the developers in their attempt to build the commercial center, which would be bordered by California 78, Interstate 5 and Jefferson Street.

Earlier this week, the plans were shown to neighborhood residents concerned that the project would create a traffic nightmare.

“We have done several traffic studies in an attempt to minimize the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods,” Gunter said. “We believe that it can be done.”

The planning group studies show that the development will generate about 38,700 trips a day and 4,000 trips during peak traffic hour.

The project, however, is a long way from completion, Gunter said. The developers still need to file an environmental impact report, undergo public hearings and obtain zoning changes.

At the earliest, construction could begin in 1991. The project would take 10 years to build, Gunter said.