Wearing the dual hats of the Oakdale Redevelopment Agency, the Oakdale City Council members approved a resolution at the Jan. 19 council meeting to set a March 15 public hearing on the East F Street redevelopment plan.

Last spring the council authorized a resolution designating three areas of Oakdale for further study to determine if these areas qualify as part of the city’s redevelopment plan.

They include a 187-acre parcel along East F Street between the Oakdale Saddle Club and Stearns Road; a 25-acre area along Pedersen Road between East J Street and Sierra Road; and the 80-acre site that contains the Sconza Candy Company.

According to Oakdale City Manager Steve Hallam, the East F Street area was previously developed, but is a classic example of an older, urban highway oriented development that has outlived its usefulness and requires expensive upgrades to replace substandard infrastructure.

The city has been working on the redevelopment plan for approximately 18 months.

Under the plan, the city would use redevelopment fees along with funds provided by property owners to fund public improvements, including water lines, a storm drainage system, correcting sewer system deficiencies, and other highway improvements.

According to the redevelopment plan provided to the council, this would allow improvements to be made as the area was developed by property owners.

Under the East F Street Specific Plan, the area will provide opportunities for commercial and industrial development.

Hallam also said the Pedersen Road parcel would provide excellent sites for the city’s Redevelopment Agency to assist in building new affordable housing.

The Sconza property also qualifies for redevelopment funds to improve areas with outdated equipment, according to Hallam. He said when Hershey’s sold the complex to Sconza there were obsolete vats and tanks that will need to be removed before Sconza is able to utilize the space. Under the redevelopment plan the city is able to use redevelopment funds to assist Sconza with developing the space for expansion, which will be effective in stimulating new economic development and private investment in the facility.

Hallam said the city will send information to the estimated 2,700 addresses located within the redevelopment area.

According to the California Redeployment Association, redevelopment helps to reverse the effects of urban decay by expanding local businesses, creating jobs, building affordable housing, upgrading public infrastructure, and encouraging new development.

Funds are obtained from tax increment funding from those areas that qualify for development, although property owners are not initially required to pay any extra taxes. According to the association, property taxes will increase as the value of individual properties increase, as is the case with all California private property.