OCEANSIDE: Study says city should streamline development reviews

OCEANSIDE —- Outdated technology and other inefficiencies in the city’s Development Services Department make it harder than necessary for developers to get their projects approved, according to a recent consultant’s report.

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A draft of the report, by Matrix Consulting Group of Palo Alto, was presented Tuesday to the city’s Economic Development Commission. The company was hired by the city last year to study Oceanside’s building, planning, engineering and fire prevention divisions. All of those divisions fall under the umbrella of development services.

Among more than 200 recommendations, the report states that the city should buy an automated permit system, put more information on the Internet, track the performance of city staff members and update the general plan.

The report also suggests shifting some employees and cutting other positions through attrition.

“It is clear that the level of development activity within Oceanside has decreased,” the report states. “The level of staffing allocated to this service should be adjusted to this reality.”

Before Tuesday’s meeting, Fabio Marchi, a local contractor who says he has been put through the wringer by the city’s staff, led a small demonstration at City Hall to call attention to the report. He said he has been trying for years to convert a single-family home into four apartments, but the city has saddled him with unreasonable conditions.

“What we want is reform,” Marchi said.

His feelings aren’t unique. In three focus groups, Matrix reported, members of the development community criticized Oceanside’s review process as “subjective,” “inconsistent” and “more difficult than most other cities.”

The city paid Matrix $79,500 for the study. The City Council will discuss it in May.

The Economic Development Commission endorsed the report.

“Having taken several projects through the city in years past, I, too, recognize the frustration that has been out there,” Commissioner Jim Schroder said.

Development Services Director George Buell said the city is already making changes, “some big, some small.” The council recently agreed to buy the permitting software, which will let applicants review the status of their projects from home.

“As the study was under way, it became pretty self-evident that we have a lot of room for improvement,” Buell said.