There have been other projects in Carlsbad that faced an uproar. This time the complaints have ranged from gnatcatchers, to Indian remains, to increased traffic, to competition for mom-and-pop store owners.
Whatever the gripe, those who oppose had better get to a city council member or two by Tuesday, or it’s going to be over. The city council has been mum about their votes, but they have been cushy with the developer for three years.
The Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday will decide whether to approve a Los Angeles developer’s plan to build a 27-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex near the Agua Hedionda lagoon or put it to a public vote next June.
Under state law, the only other option would be to postpone any action until mid-September, but even then the deadline is getting close for deciding on a proposal that has been three years in the making.
Since 2012, developer Rick Caruso — best known for The Grove retail complex near L.A.’s Farmers Market — has been working to craft a plan that would allow him to create a Nordstrom-anchored, coastal-themed retail center on a 203-acre spread of land on the southern side of the lagoon while abiding by a voter-enacted requirement that at least 155 acres be preserved as open space.
Caruso’s 85-15 plan would use only 15 percent of the land for his complex, while preserving 85 percent for open space, including 60 acres for Carlsbad’s landmark strawberry fields and 116 acres for a grass-and-woodland park.
Since January, Caruso’s firm has spent $2.75 million on a grassroots petitioning campaign aimed at collecting enough signatures to put the idea onto the ballot.
After county election officials confirmed last week that enough valid signatures had been turned in, the city council has to decide next week on whether to actually put the measure on the ballot or to simply adopt the measure on their own, in order to save the costs involved in an election.
Opponents of the project, who fear it will bring too much traffic to the area, are hoping for a ballot initiative, since that will give them a better chance to get their message across.
In the meantime, city staffers at next week’s meeting will present their own analysis of the plan, including its impact on traffic.
Living in Carlsbad I run into the Nimbys all the time. The most recent was at the sidelines of a youth soccer game. One lady was trying her best to stump on the traffic issue. (Found out later she lives in South Carlsbad.) I wanted to confront her on some of the “facts” she was bringing up but thought better about it and walked away 30 feet. About 5 minutes later 3 other parents did the same thing and sat by me.
I just don’t get what they’re having problems with. Do these people like driving to Southcoast or UTC to buy things? Do they like shopping at stabby Mcwestfield mall?
In my neighborhood it seems like the crappiest houses always have huge signs complaining about a possible Nordstroms. Why do these people even care they’re obviously not going to shop there. If you don’t like progress take the money you’ve made sitting on your property and move somewhere that better fits with your beliefs and ideals.
Jim, you’ve been crushing it lately. Really good posts.
“Caruso’s firm has spent $2.75 million on a grassroots petitioning campaign…” Funny use of “grass roots.”
Anyway, I’ve been exposed (don’t worry innoculated) to enough city councils to know an in the bag vote. I imagine that the only thing left is a tedious early morning public rant and whether there will be cover votes traded and still pass.
My view; traffic and parking. Everything else is fine. I’d testify that I’d approve as long as Caruso puts up a bond that is forfiet if local intersections drop below LOS “C” as a result of the development.
Thanks – I’ll predict that the crowd on Tuesday at City Hall will be all boomer-age, and the speakers lamenting about how it used to be.
Young people want breweries, coffee huts, and convenience. They will pay more for the crap-shacks around town that boomers haven’t touched in 20-30 years once this project is done. Isn’t that what boomers want?
Those who have a gripe about Caruso dodging the public vote and going straight to the city council can take up their beef with the California Supreme Court.
Contact info here:
The Supreme Court of California is the court of last resort in the courts of the State of California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Decisions are appealed to: Supreme Court of the United States.
Address: 350 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 865-7000
I left out the Carlsbad Company Stores too, the upscale discount mall that was supposed to undercut and devastate all the mom-and-pop stores. It faced as much opposition as Legoland, yet, once established, it has been a fine addition to Carlsbad.
thanks for the shout out, JtR. Took the family on a much needed vacation and I haven’t been checking the blog.
The Mrs is counting the days until Nordstroms opens their doors. Shadash……”Stabby McWestfield”…..priceless. You should print t-shirts with that phrase.
The NIMBYS don’t get it. Preserving open space doesn’t pay the bills. The city of Carlsbad needs new sources of revenues in order to handle all the new housing from both Robertson Ranch and the future development of Cantarini Ranch. All these new residents will require new infrastructure which includes new Fire and Police. Do the NIMBYs want higher taxes instead?
High end retail fits perfectly into that plan to pay for new growth.
If you think the NIMBYs are loony tunes about Agua Hedionda, just wait until they come out against whatever development plan is proposed for the acreage that will be given back to Carlsbad around the power plant.
I wonder how many people know what the word “Hedionda” means in Spanish!?
Hedionda = stinking, filthy, repulsive
LOL!