by The Editors on September 20, 2007
. . . and then Ponto can look just like this! Epic.
At Wednesday night’s Planning Commission meeting, the Ponto Beach Front Vision Plan got thumbs up all around (no surprise) with a few slight alterations according to a story in the North County Times.
It was the second time the commission has backed the document. Two years ago, the group gave its endorsement, but the City Council later ordered an extensive environmental review. The council’s decision came after intense pressure from neighbors and coastal preservationists.
The “modifications” include:
- expanding the buffer zone — a public parkland — along Batiquitos Lagoon. The recommendation calls for a 75-foot buffer area, up significantly from the original footpath area that the plan initially called for;
- mandating underground parking structures unless the developers can show they aren’t feasible;
- requiring trail links and encouraging the state park system to allow public access through its South Carlsbad State Beach campground; and
- putting additional noise mitigation measures on a proposed hotel project in the northern end of the Ponto area.
This will go before the City Council in late October, so there is still time to slow it down.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on September 19, 2007
We knew that the vote on AB# 19,171 was mostly formality, but last night at City Council it official passed with a unanimous vote according to a story on NBCSanDiego.com.
The ordinances go into effect Oct. 25. Anyone who is found to be in violation of the rules faces fines. The exact amounts have not yet been made public.
While trying to logically regulate drunk people is always a losing battle, it’s nice that City Council cares enough to try something.
[Link: NBCSanDiego.com]
by The Editors on September 18, 2007
Our favorite San Diego TV news reporter Rory Devine (along with Alejandro Alejandre behind the camera) are posted up with the KNSD Channel 7/39 live truck on Roosevelt St across from Hennessy’s this afternoon for live coverage of the new entertainment regulations that will most likely be passed tonight by the Carlsbad City Council. Rory, however, was running into the same problems the newspaper reporters have had lately.
“The owners aren’t in, the managers say they’re not authorized to talk, and the customers aren’t even here yet,” she said to her news director.
It must have been a slow news day. And we guess that’s good. For more check out the 6 PM news tonight on KNSD 7/39.
by The Editors on September 18, 2007
When the Carlsbad City Council meets tonight one of the topics they will be discussing is a new set of “entertainment regulations” that hopes to make the Village a little quieter. According to the North County Times the new regulations look a little like this:
- obtain an entertainment license if they serve alcohol and offer entertainment such as live music;
- pay a $200 license fee that would be good for three years;
- have employees trained through a state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board certified program;
- have at least one security guard on the premises;
- close between 2 and 6 a.m.;
- between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., meet a new city noise standard of 65 decibels, up from the initial 60-decibel proposal.
None of it sounds unreasonable, especially when you consider the problems the Village has been having lately.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on September 15, 2007
When the Carlsbad’s Planning Commission meets on Wednesday September 19 at 6 PM they will back on the Ponto express. After postponing a vote on September 5 they are now ready to weigh in on the Ponto Beach Front Vision Plan.
Known formally as the Ponto Beach Front Vision Plan, the document covers a 50-acre region that is mostly owned by three parties — Star Properties of Japan, Wavecrest Resorts of Carlsbad and Ponto Storage owner Dale Schreiber. The area is bordered by Carlsbad Boulevard to the west, the railroad tracks to the east, Batiquitos Lagoon to the south and the Hanover Beach Colony development to the north.
We’re going to go way out on a limb and guess that the plan will get a big thumbs up all around. Good-bye Carlsbad, hello Huntington Beach.
[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 September 7, 2007
According to a story by our favorite North County Times reporter Barbara Henry, Carlsbad’s planning commission decided Wednesday to delay their vote on the controversial Ponto Beachfront Village Vison Plan because they still had “many questions relating to traffic and other topics.”
Their unanimous vote to continue the discussions when they meet Sept. 19 came after four hours of questions, staff presentations and public comment. “I … think we’ve got a plateful tonight, and we should take some time to digest it,” said Commissioner Bill Dominguez. . . Most of the others on the commission agreed, though Commissioner Frank Whitton said he was nearly through with his questions and could make a decision that night.
Hey, as far as we’re concerned the longer this project is stalled the better.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on September 1, 2007
Carlsbad’s new $6 million library complex located on Eureka Place just behind Holiday Park is coming along nicely according to a North County Times story.
Walking around the rough timber frames that mark what will become a $6 million library complex, Deputy Library Director Suzanne Smithson couldn’t stop smiling Friday morning. “This is the first time I’ve been in here in awhile. Pardon me if I seem a little excited,” she told several people as she gave them a tour of the long-planned Carlsbad City Library Learning Center.
For more on the library complex and the programs that will be housed there, read the rest of Barbara Henry’s story by clicking the link below.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on August 30, 2007
At a private, two-hour long meeting Carlsbad City Council decided that if they want to find the right professional City Manger to replace Ray Patchett then they are going to have to hire a professional to find the professional replacement. You know, if they want to be professional about it.
“Generally (finding and hiring) any executive manager is a several-month process,” said Denise Vedder, Carlsbad’s communications manager.
According to the North County Times Barbara Henry Vedder did not include details on exactly when the recruiting process will start and how much it would cost. To add to that Patchett has still not announced exactly when he is leaving.
[Link: North County Times]
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