Oceanside CA is getting an iFly

[PhreeZone 15]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/15/oceanside-indoor-skydiving-ifly/

OCEANSIDE — A new indoor skydiving business being planned in Oceanside will give people the experience of flying without having to jump out of an airplane.

The city’s Planning Commission unanimously approved plans to build a 5,000-square-foot building on Vista Way just east of El Camino Real that would house the iFly Oceanside indoor skydiving center. The building would have a wind tunnel, including four huge fans, that allow people to float on a cushion of air.

Navy veteran Robert Blomsness, who co-owns the franchise, said the business will not only be entertaining but it could be used to teach children science and math lessons. It may also help military and recreational skydivers improve their skills, he said

“It’s really a fun, family activity,” Blomsness said.

The proposed building just north of state Route 78 would stand about 59 feet tall on an vacant lot between a Quality Inn Suites hotel to the west, the El Camino Country Club to the north and an office building on the east. It’s expected to employ about 35 people and generate about $6 million a year in revenue, Blomsness said.

When it’s built, the facility will be the second indoor skydiving operation in San Diego County. An similar iFly location opened in San Diego in Mission Valley last month.

But not all the neighbors are happy.

About a dozen people opposing the project attended Monday’s meeting, saying their neighborhood is the wrong location for the business. Several said the size, design and colors of the building were out of character with the community, while others worried about the traffic, noise and parking.

“We wish the owner well. We wish him success but this particular location in our judgment is unfitting,” said Bert Cross, president of the El Camino Villas II homeowners association, which consists of about 63 homes just north of the property.

Richard Gillette, who has lived in the area since 1979, said he had collected 62 signatures opposing the project. He said the neighbors would likely appeal the commission’s approval to the City Council.

The operators of the country club also expressed concerns that the business would disrupt the “quiet and serenity” of the area.

“We’re concerned for our members and our neighbors,” said Gary Glaser, general manager of the country club. “This type of building, although a wonderful function and great entertainment, could have devastating results of the value of the properties in the neighborhood.”

Glaser and others asked that the building’s design be changed to look more like the surrounding commercial businesses, such as changing the proposed colors of the building that include sky blue and gray.

Commissioner John Scrivener agreed calling the building a “monolith” and asked if the building colors would be changed.

As a condition for the approval, Blomsness agreed to “tone down” the color scheme and increase the amount of trees and landscaping around the building.

Blomsness said that parking and noise should not affect the surrounding community. He said the building will have 35 parking spaces and that number would be sufficient because people coming to the business will have to do so by appointment.

He added that a noise study was conducted showing no significant noise issues. He said the main source of noise would be the fans, which would be completely enclosed within the building and would not be heard outside.

Commission Chairwoman Louise Balma said she liked the building and the project. She only recommended that the owners work with the community to ease some of the concerns.

“I appreciate creative, different, out-of-the-box thinking and that’s what iFly is,” Balma said. “I think that bringing iFly to Oceanside is going to be great not only for the military but the tourists that we want to attract.”
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