by The Editors on December 20, 2007
At a workshop held last night Carlsbad Community Development Director Sandra Holder said that the City’s general plan should be rewritten, according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
“It’s a very old document … it’s time,” Holder said as she discussed why staff members are recommending the overhaul. “The general plan should be a living document — that means it should reflect the current desires of the community.”
Our favorite line:
Several area property owners have been asking the city to create a specific plan for the Barrio that would allow denser buildings. The current standard is six to 11.5 dwelling units per acre depending on the lot’s zoning. The group is proposing a limit of 35 to 40 dwelling units per acre.
Oh yeah, that’s exactly what the Barrio needs: high density. Then we could have the Carlsbadistan Projects.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on December 19, 2007
First, the Carlsbad City Council was worried that many of the bids they got for the Alga Norte Park project were too low, now they’ve voted (4-1 according to the North County Times) to reject all six park construction bids and start the entire process over again.
City staff members had recommended the council’s move, arguing that there were multiple problems with the bids the city received. “We felt it was in the public’s best interest to reject all bids and start over,” said Skip Hammann, the city’s municipal projects director, after the council’s vote. . . . Key among the problems was that the lowest bidder — Consolidated Contracting Services of San Clemente, which bid $29.3 million — didn’t submit all the required information about the subcontractors it would be using, he said.
We’re guessing it’s better to weed out the problems now, than wait until the contractors decide to cut corners on the skateboard park.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on December 18, 2007
According to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune the hearing and site tour that we mentioned on Sunday was a hit with Carlsbadistan residents.
A standing-room only crowd of more than 200 people turned out at a public hearing Monday night to comment on a proposal to replace the 53-year-old Encina Power Station with a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly electricity-generating plant. . . . Carlsbad resident Ted Viola referred to the 95-acre site owned by NRG Energy as “a profit center” and said he was concerned there is no absolute requirement for the company to retire and dismantle the Encina Power Station and its towering 400-foot smokestack.
While we think the smoke stack is the icon of Carlsbadistan, it’s obvious that NRG should be restricted in how many power plants it builds and be held to a plan regarding the old plant if they are allowed to build a new one.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
by The Editors on December 11, 2007
We like the Encina Power Station Smoke stack. But NRG‘s new plans for the location do not require water-cooling or a 400 foot tall stack. But they do require approval from the City of Carlsbad. So what should the City of Carlsbad do about these new plans? According to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times, they’ve decided to spend money on consultants.
. . . the City Council agreed to spend $200,000 on outside consultants to investigate a new Encina power plant proposal that’s been submitted to the state Energy Commission.
Here is some free consultation: we for one are not interested in any NRG plans that call for 100 foot tall smoke stacks. Seriously, who is that going to impress?
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on December 10, 2007
The City of Carlsbad, the organization that seems to love the idea of a desalination plant in the lagoon, is now asking Carlsbadistan residents if they like having the Encina Power Station there at all, according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times. They’ll ask the question in a mailer that is going out this week.
“If you didn’t have (the existing power station) there today, would you put one there or would you put it elsewhere?” said Joe Garuba, who is managing the city’s involvement in the proposal. “We don’t have the answer to that question, but we think it’s an important question to raise.”
Personally, we love the iconic nature of the power station’s 400-foot-tall smoke stack. It’s like mythical, benevolent guardian standing watch over Carlsbadistan and reminding everyone where they are, or how far they are from home. Unfortunately, NRG Energy the station’s owner, has plans to remove the station and the stack and put in a new 520-megawatt plant that would be “not very noticeable.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on December 7, 2007
In a proposal that will be presented to the Carlsbad City Council, Legoland is asking permission to allow up to 275 guests to camp inside the park in 80 to 85 tents, as well as trying to limit the City Council’s power to approve future ride development. The Carlsbad Planning Commission has no problem with it, according to the North County Times.
Park general manager John Jakobsen said the nightly campout sessions would mostly take place during the summer and would only be open to amusement park visitors.
We agree with Commissioner Bill Dominguez when he says that Legoland’s new owner Merlin Entertainments Group — is “really untested at this time.” So now may not be the best time to give the Merlin unchecked freedom in developing the park.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on November 24, 2007
The 65-year-old dam at Lake Calavera that nearly flooded the mobile home park at the Rancho Carlsbad Golf Course in January of 2005, and has “failed inspections by the state Division of Safety of Dams,” is getting a needed upgrade according to a story in the San Diego Union Tribune.
“Although they won’t have it all done by the start of the rainy season, we’re very pleased the city has finally gotten around to putting in the controls and controlling the level of the lake,” said Bill Arnold, president of Rancho Carlsbad’s homeowners association. . . “In 2005 the lake was already full, we got a couple inches of rain and had a near disaster,” Arnold said.
The total cost of the upgrades are being estimated at $6.1 million.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
by The Editors on November 17, 2007
Carlsbad city officials were surprised when they saw the Alga Norte Park project bid from Consolidated Contracting Services of San Clemente because at $29.3 million it was $10 million lower than the next closest bid, according to a story in the North County Times.
The park, which will include a “multi-pool swim complex,” ballfields, playgrounds for kids, and most importantly a skatepark, sits on 33 acres at the corner of Poinsettia and El Camino Real. But why was Consolidated’s bid so low?
. . . an official with the architectural firm that drew up the park plans attributed the low construction bids to a variety of factors. Everything from having good plans to work with to a slumping construction industry helped, said Joniene Swick of Wimmer Yamada & Caughey. . . . The economy could be playing a part, others said. Bids for several recent government projects in San Diego County, including a Highway 52 proposal, have come in lower than expected, said a representative for Associated General Contractors —- a national organization that represents some 1,400 contractors who bid on government projects in the San Diego region.
Hey, as long as the cost savings doesn’t come at the skatepark’s expense (as usually is the case) then we’re all good. We’ll be watching you Consolidated.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on November 17, 2007
While it’s hard to imagine a time when Bud Lewis wasn’t the mayor of Carlsbad, apparently, way back in 1982 Mary Helen Casler was elected a served a four-year term. Casler died last week. She was 87. Her life is celebrated in an article in the North County Times.
As mayor, Casler was known for her work on Carlsbad’s landmark Growth Management Plan, which dictates how many homes and parks are built in Carlsbad to this day, colleagues said. Casler, a retired librarian, also helped establish Carlsbad’s Arts Commission served on the state Coastal Commission.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on November 15, 2007
If a ban on smoking at Carlsbad beaches could raise tax revenue for the city you know the Carlsbad City Council would have been all over it years ago. But seeing as a beach smoking ban is simply a smart, well-reasoned thing to do, the Council has only recently thought about it.
“Apparently, we’re the last one to consider a smoking ban,” Councilman Mark Packard said, mentioning that the Encinitas City Council decided Tuesday to draw up such an ordinance.
According to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times Carlsbad is that last North County city in San Diego County to take action. Bans are already in place in Del Mar, Oceanside and Solana Beach.
But not everyone is in favor of this ban. Mayor Bud Lewis thinks this “smacks of over-regulation,” and Councilwoman Julie Nygaard doesn’t see a “butt-problem” at Carlsbad beaches. Then there’s Police Chief Tom Zoll. He seems to view it as more work:
Enforcement of a smoking ban at the beach won’t be easy — it could require dispatching an officer to walk the beach, he said.
Yes, Chief Zoll, an officer may actually need to get out of his or her car and we know how dangerous that can be.
[Link: North County Times]
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