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
A proposal to ease up development restrictions in The Village was supported Thursday night by a 4-0 vote of the Carlsbad’s Design Review Board according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
The proposed overhaul of building regulations aims to improve business conditions in the Village and encourage more multifamily residential structures atop retail shops, said Debbie Fountain, the city’s housing and redevelopment director. . . Known for its cosy shops and tree-lined streets, the Village area is centered around Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street. Though famed for its charm, the area hasn’t been a retail powerhouse of late and the city wants to improve sales tax figures. The conflict has been how to improve the area without sacrificing its character.
Unfortunately, easing parking requirements, increasing residential density, and allowing taller buildings isn’t necessarily a good thing for the long-term health of The Village in our mostly uninformed opinion. What is needed most is for the City to build one (or more) public parking structures with spaces that can be shared by all the downtown businesses. But then all that money was probably spent on The Crossings.
[Link: 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 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 18, 2007
The La Costa Greens created by Morrow Development will be hosting it’s “first-phase pricing and model” grand opening real estate feeding frenzy (they hope) on August 25th. If you’re looking for a home that features:
. . . artful designs reminiscent of California’s legendary coastal resort communities, the homes of La Costa Greens reflect time-honored Santa Barbara Mission, Mediterranean, Monterey Ranch and Tuscan styles. . . Blending the tranquility of a fabled romantic past with the liveliness of contemporary coastal California at its finest.
Then this is probably an event you won’t want to miss. Ah, track home heaven.
[Link: La Costa Greens]
by The Editors on August 17, 2007
It’s not called the “land of Gold” for nothing. Terramar’s oceanfront street Tierra Del Oro is experiencing a large construction build out. In fact, of the streets 12 beach-front houses, two have been torn down (one has been rebuilt), another is scheduled for demolition, and a lot that has been empty for years is finally getting built out.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on August 14, 2007
The project application notice on the Burchfield’s Ocean Street residence has been upgraded/vandalized with an interesting stencil. It features a little butterfly in the upper right hand corner and the words: “carlsGOOD” followed by a question mark.
Obviously it’s a play on Carlsbad, but what does it mean? Is it simply someone’s tag? Or a street art project? Is it ironic commentary on a project application notice? Or is it a more general question forcing viewers to ask: “Is Carlsbad a good place to live?” Or is it simply the planning department’s new approval stamp?
We have no idea. If you know what’s going on, please leave a comment.
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]
by The Editors on August 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.
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