Oakley City Council considers City Center South properties for new development plan

The Oakley City Council meeting on April 23, 2025, highlighted significant developments regarding the City Center project, with a focus on expanding the planning process to include properties on the South Side of Center Street. This decision comes as the city received an amended application for a master plan development that now involves these additional properties, which were not part of previous discussions.

Council members emphasized the importance of considering these South Side properties to ensure a comprehensive approach to the City Center development. "This doesn't mean it's a formal decision to dispose of them," clarified one council member, stressing that the motion is merely to allow for discussion within the planning commission. The goal is to streamline the planning process and avoid piecemeal decisions that could complicate the overall development.

Richard Bliss, chairman of the planning commission, supported this approach, noting that a recent meeting with developers led to a consensus to incorporate zoning changes into the master plan. "We felt it was smoother and a better overall plan to try to do that," he stated, advocating for a unified strategy that includes all relevant properties.

The council is poised to make a motion to officially include the South Side properties in the planning discussions, which could pave the way for a more cohesive development plan. The anticipation is that with this inclusion, the planning commission can present a clearer vision for the City Center by the next meeting, potentially moving forward with concrete proposals by June.

In addition to the City Center discussions, the council also addressed a request from the Lions Club to place banners at the arena entrances to promote cotton candy sales. This request will require coordination with the rodeo committee to ensure that the signage does not conflict with existing sponsorships, but it reflects ongoing community engagement efforts.

Overall, the meeting underscored Oakley City Council's commitment to inclusive planning and community involvement as they navigate the future of the City Center development.