by The Editors on October 1, 2007
For the past 55 years if you wanted to stroll the streets of Carlsbad (or hang out in a public park) with an open container it was perfectly legal. Later this month, according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times, all that is going to change.
For the first time in Carlsbad’s 55-year history, the city will prohibit the possession of open containers of alcohol on sidewalks, streets and other public areas in the downtown, except in fenced “beer garden” areas at street festivals or other special events.
And guess who was behind this new ordinance? Carlsbad’s bar owners. Interesting, huh?
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on September 14, 2007
We knew it would happen, but it’s always fun to watch how these kinds of mall developments get approval from City Council. How’s this for a ringing endorsement:
“I actually think the developer has done a pretty good job on this project,” Councilwoman Julie Nygaard said. “It isn’t perfect … but it has to be (financially) viable. … What you want to do is to create a place where all the little shops can work with the big shops.”
Nice to know that Carlsbad’s City Council continues to get behind commercial developments that are “pretty good” but “aren’t perfect.” Isn’t it?
[Link: North County Times and San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on September 9, 2007
The City of Carlsbad wants to let LNR Property build out a “shopping center” that will feature 12 buildings, including a 44,000-square-foot Stater Bros. grocery store and a 12,000-square-foot Trader Joe’s grocery store, however, thanks to recent changes in the development many residents of Bressi Ranch believe it no longer fits in with the original plan they were sold when they moved in.
Peter Katz moved to Bressi Ranch because he was attracted to its “new urbanist” principles. Katz is a planner and the author of The New Urbanism: Toward an Architecture of Community . . . Katz said he believes the proposals differ with Bressi Ranch’s master plan because the Trader Joe’s and Boys & Girls Club turn their back on the square, putting their main entrances on a parking lot on the other side of their buildings. He said that reduces their interaction with the square.
According to a North County Times story, that difference of opinion may come to a head at the City Council meeting Tuesday night September 11. Watch the fireworks live, online right here.
[Links: San Diego Union Tribune and North County Times]
by The Editors on August 31, 2007
Carlsbad’s anti-development forces will likely shift back into high gear as the Planning Commission meets next Wednesday to discuss the environmental impact report on what’s called The Ponto Beachfront Village Vison Plan.
The plan envisions 180 hotel rooms and 126 time-share condo units in a resort overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon; a 215-room Hilton at Poinsettia Lane and Carlsbad Boulevard; and a third 269-room hotel on Ponto Drive where the storage units stand.. . The plan also proposes 128 attached condominium units in a mixed-use project on Carlsbad Boulevard north of Avenida Encinas.. . . Interspersed would be shops, restaurants and a wetland interpretive park all linked by a trail, and a pedestrian underpass to South Carlsbad State Beach.
Wow, Carlsbad’s stretch of Coast Highway could look just like Newport Beach’s. Joy.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on August 22, 2007
Property owners in the Old Carlsbad area (a.k.a The Barrio) are getting together Thursday August 23, 2007 at 7 PM to discuss being included in Carlsbad Village redevelopment plans according to the North County Times. The meeting will take place at Father Raymond Moore Hall at 3256 Madison Street.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on August 19, 2007
Carlsbad’s Village Improvement Program is looking for board members.
The board will consist of nine members representing various groups. Among the categories are property owners, residents and retail business owners, as well as a representative each from the Carlsbad Village Business Association, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau.
If you know someone who would do a good job guiding the Village of Carlsbad down it’s road to the future, please visit http://friendsofthevillage.blogspot.com for a nomination form. And no, we’re not interested. But thanks anyway.
[Link: Friends of the Village via North County Times]
by The Editors on August 17, 2007
According to the North County Times nearly 500 people attended Mayor Lewis’ State of the City video presentation at the Four Season Aviara Resort on Thursday August 16.
With a hard-driving soundtrack and many quick camera transitions, this year’s 28-minute video offered many shots of the city’s much celebrated golf course, which opened earlier this month. Located on a 400-acre, hilly site along Palomar Airport Road, the course is known for its elegant clubhouse structure and its costly construction price tag. It took more than a dozen years to get to opening day, and city officials estimate the project cost more than $60 million.
Those who missed the live presentation can catch the video in a public showing Monday evening August 20 at 7 p.m. Monday at the Ruby Schulman Auditorium of just watching on on Time Warner Cable’s channel 19 Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 PM where it will run until mid-November.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on August 14, 2007
For politicos from other parts of the country, La Costa Resort and Spa seems to be the destination of choice when traveling on the public’s dime. But lately it’s meant trouble for somel. In Knoxville, Tennessee they’re looking a little more deeply into it.
The Ethics Committee, formed earlier this year as a result of state legislation aimed at cleaning up government after the Tennessee Waltz scandal, also wants Kim Bennett, executive director of the county pension board, to explain the La Costa golf trip. . . Commissioner Chairman Scott Moore and Commissioner Ivan Harmon were among four county representatives on the trip hosted by Wilshire Associates, the county’s pension consultant. . . .The trip included a round of golf, which costs up to $205 per person at La Costa. The foursome’s travel was funded by the county pension board.
Nothing like letting the county pension fund pay a couple rounds at La Costa.
[Link: Knoxnews.com]
by The Editors on August 13, 2007
If you’ve bored on August 16 or would just like an excuse to have lunch at the Four Seasons Aviara, then please join Mayor Claude “Bud” Lewis for his annual State of the City address from 11 AM to 1. Of course, you could just wait four days and watch it all on video August 20 at 7 pm in the Ruby Schulman Auditorium at the Carlsbad Library at 1775 Dove Lane (or at the City website, or on Time Warner Cable channel 19 Monday nights at 8 PM).
Of course, if you want to see it live you’ll have to register in advance by calling (760) 931-8400.
[Link: City of Carlsbad via Clickoncarlsbad]
by The Editors on August 11, 2007
The whole Carlsbad strawberry field issue in the last elections in November was simply too confusing for any level headed resident to figure out. That said, the easiest way to explain it is that the “open space” people won with the passage of Prop. D. Now the new “Prop. D Citizens Liaison Committee” will be conducting “a communitywide assessment process.”
With the first meeting of a new citizens committee Friday morning, Carlsbad launched a six-month process to determine what the future might hold for the privately owned strawberry and flower-growing lands along Cannon Road. “I think we live in an age of very strong opinions based on very superficial knowledge,” said committee member Gary Hill as explanation of why he thought residents should be asked broad questions rather than simply asked what should be done with the strawberry fields.
Hopefully, they’ll build a new skatepark in there somewhere. If they do, then we’re all for it.
[Link: North County Times]
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