River Farms referendum verified

The San Diego County registrar of voters verified Thursday that enough signatures were collected for a referendum that could overturn the Oceanside City Council's approval of the 585-home North River Farms development.

“I am really proud of all the wonderful volunteers and this amazing community that came together day and night, rain or shine to allow Oceanside citizens a voice in this decision,” said resident Jane Marshall, a City Council candidate and a leading proponent of the referendum.

The City Council approved the 215-acre Integral Communities development on a 3-2 vote Nov. 6, with Esther Sanchez and Ryan Keim opposed.

The city's planning staff and Planning Commission had previously recommended denial, saying it was too many homes and too much traffic for Morro Hills, a farming region with minimum lots of 2.5 acres at Oceanside's northeastern corner near Bonsall, Fallbrook and Camp Pendleton.

“Now the council majority can either listen to their constituents and rescind this vote, or put it on the ballot Nov. 3 and let Oceanside vote,” Marshall said.

Petitioners submitted 12,623 signatures, of which the registrar's office verified 11,623 to reach the required minimum of 9,609 or 10 percent of Oceanside's registered voters. The registrar noted that 2,130 signatures were determined to be invalid, of which 189 were duplicates and four were withdrawn.

“We are incredibly disappointed in this apparent outcome, and that in these extremely uncertain times, the clearly defined economic benefits of this project will be delayed, and subjected to yet another ballot process,” Integral project manager Ninia Hammond said Thursday.

City Clerk Zeb Navarro said the referendum will be on the agenda for the council's next meeting, Wednesday, where attendance will be limited as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments from the public will be limited to email or telephone.