After decades of on-again, off-again planning, the Oceanside City Council has voted to permanently ditch a proposal to build the missing section of Melrose Drive into Vista.

Just two months ago, the council approved additional land surveys for the project, often called the Melrose extension. Councilman Chris Rodriguez said at the time that the project was long overdue, and it was time to proceed.

But last week, Rodriguez reversed course, noting the significant opposition to the project he’s heard from residents of his council district. He suggested the city drop the project altogether, saying it would not be worth the estimated construction costs of more than $42 million. The money would be better spent on other projects, such as building another bridge across the San Luis Rey River in the northeastern Oceanside area, he said.

Construction of the 3,000-foot-long Melrose extension between North Santa Fe Avenue and Spur Avenue would provide another link between Oceanside and Vista, and would slice a few minutes off the commute time for many drivers. However, it would also cross a southeast corner of Guajome Regional Park and would require the acquisition of private property through eminent domain.


“I cannot support forcefully taking property through eminent domain,” Rodriguez said.

Council members Esther Sanchez and Ryan Keim both supported a motion by Rodriguez to remove the proposed extension from the circulation element of the city’s General Plan, which would virtually eliminate the chance of its construction.

“I’m very happy to see this,” Sanchez said. “We’ve actually removed this twice before.”

The council voted to eliminate funding for engineering studies needed by the project in 2004, but the project later resurfaced. The nonprofit Preserve Calavera filed a lawsuit challenging environmental studies for the project in 2011, which led to a settlement that set limits on construction.


Building the road now would encourage residential construction in an area that’s unprepared for more development, Sanchez said. Also, the city has no money for the project, and it has other needs that are more important.

About 20 people spoke to the council, all asking the council to abandon the plan.

“It would only be for people traveling through Oceanside, not for people who live in Oceanside,” said resident Linda Walshaw.

Mayor Peter Weiss and Councilman Jack Feller also supported the motion, making it a unanimous vote, even though they said it was a bad idea because the city needs the road.


Anyone who supports removing roads from a city’s circulation plan should forfeit their right to complain about traffic congestion, Weiss said.

The unfinished section of Melrose Drive is one of several key connections that North County cities have chosen not to build, Feller said. In a similar situation, Carlsbad chose not to build its Cannon Road connection east of College Boulevard to Vista.

The missing links increase traffic congestion, add time to commutes, and increase the response time for emergency services for everyone, he said.

