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Home My WebLink AboutEA 2025-0047; FARADAY AVENUE MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK ACCESS; Department CommentsCommunity Development Department Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue | Carlsbad, CA 92008 |442-339-2600 Memorandum April 4, 2025 To: Nick Gorman, Associate Engineer From: Alex Alegre, Associate Planner Via Eric Lardy, City Planner Re: EA 2025-0047 – Faraday Avenue Mobility Improvements and Veterans Memorial Park Access Thank you for submitting an Early Assessment for mobility improvements along Faraday Avenue, including access modifications for Veterans Memorial Park. The project proposes traffic calming measures, pedestrian enhancements, raised crosswalks with rapid flashing beacons, curb extensions, left-turn lanes, median modifications, and storm drain improvements to facilitate park access. These improvements aim to enhance safety, reduce speeds, and ensure multimodal access to Veterans Memorial Park. In response to your application, the Planning Division has prepared this comment letter. Please note that the purpose of an Early Assessment is to provide you with direction and comments on the overall concept of your project. This Early Assessment does not represent an in-depth analysis of your project. It is intended to give you feedback on critical issues based upon the information provided in your submittal. This review is based upon the plans, policies, and standards in effect as of the date of this review. Please be aware that at the time of a formal application submittal, new plans, policies, and standards may be in effect and additional issues of concern may be raised through a more specific and detailed review. Planning Division Comments: General Plan, Zoning, Local Coastal Program, and Habitat Management Plan Consistency 1.The project is located entirely within the public right-of-way and, as such, does not have a General Plan nor zoning designation. The General Plan Mobility Element and the Carlsbad Engineering Standards, however, include street classifications that govern development of roadways. The Mobility Element classification of this segment of Faraday Avenue is Employment/Transit Connector, which is intended to connect people to and from the employment areas of the city and is designed to safely move all modes of travel by managing vehicle speeds, enhancing connections to transit, and providing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The proposed mobility improvements align with the following Mobility Element policies: a.Goal 3-G.1: Promote a safe, balanced, cost-effective, multimodal transportation system accommodating vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and transit. b.Policy 3-P.17: Consider innovative design solutions such as traffic calming, high-visibility pedestrian treatments, and traffic signal coordination to improve mobility and safety. c.Policy 3-P.21: Improve safety and accessibility for all travel modes by incorporating pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements into roadway projects. EA 2025-0047 – Faraday Avenue Mobility Improvements and Veterans Memorial Park Access April 4, 2025 Page 2 2. The project is within the Mello II segment of the city’s Local Coastal Program, outside of the appeals and deferred certification areas. 3. The approved Coastal Development Permit for Veterans Memorial Park (CDP2021-0052) included the left-turn lanes proposed with this project but not the additional mobility improvements. 4. The project area is adjacent to conserved habitat identified in the city’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP), and Veterans Memorial Park is specifically referenced in the document. While the proposed improvements are limited to the public right-of-way, potential adjacency considerations (e.g., lighting, erosion control) may warrant review during final design. If the project proposes no impacts to sensitive habitat, no Habitat Management Permit is required. However, proximity to conserved habitat requires project compliance with HMP adjacency standards. Please see “Habitat Management Plan Consistency” below for further information. Coastal Development Permit (CDP) and Parking Considerations 5. Based on CMC 21.04.107, the project may constitute “development” as defined in the Coastal Zone if it impacts access (commonly interpreted as vehicular travel lanes and/or parking) to the coast and/or coastal waters. In order to determine if the project qualifies as “development”, please provide additional information related to the number of on-street parking spaces that will be impacted by the proposed improvements. This will need to be analyzed in conjunction with the number of on-street parking spaces being planned to meet future Veterans Park parking demand. The Veterans Memorial Park CDP (CDP2021-0052) Parking Assessment (Fehr & Peers, June 23, 2021, attached) determined that a total of 205 spaces (105 on-site + 100 on-street) was sufficient to meet the highest anticipated demand of 127 spaces on weekends. To confirm exemption from a CDP, additional parking data is required. The applicant should provide: a. The number of on-street spaces removed. b. The total remaining parking supply (on-site + on-street). c. A comparison of the revised total to the 127-space peak demand threshold. 6. If it can be determined that there are no impacts to coastal access, then the traffic calming and pedestrian improvements themselves will not trigger a CDP. The proposed measures—raised crosswalks, refuge islands, curb extensions, and median modifications—fall within CMC 21.201.060(B)(11) and the 1978 Coastal Commission exclusions for roadway safety improvements that do not expand capacity. Other Considerations 7. For consistency, consider including the bus stop enhancements (bench, concrete pad, and benches at two existing stops) from the Veterans Memorial Park staff report (PC Reso No. 7453, June 15, 2022) on the plans. While not part of this project’s scope, this will clarify planned mobility improvements. CEQA Determination 8. Based on the current scope and available information, the project may qualify for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA (Section 15301 – Existing Facilities), as it involves minor alterations to existing EA 2025-0047 – Faraday Avenue Mobility Improvements and Veterans Memorial Park Access April 4, 2025 Page 3 public infrastructure without expanding capacity. Final determination will depend on future coordination, including evaluation of potential impacts under the city’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP) standards. Habitat Management Plan Consistency 9. The Veterans Memorial Park site is specifically referenced in the city’s approved Habitat Management Plan (HMP) and identified as adjacent to conserved habitat within the Coastal Zone. While the proposed mobility improvements are primarily located within the Faraday Avenue right-of-way, the project is functionally linked to Veterans Memorial Park and may introduce or modify elements subject to HMP review. 10. Based on the current 90% plans, the Planning Division has identified the following potential areas of concern under the HMP Adjacency Standards (Section F.3 of the HMP) that should be further evaluated during final design: a. Lighting: Section F.3.D discourages lighting adjacent to preserve areas unless essential for safety and security. Any proposed lighting should be reviewed for shielding, direction, and type (e.g., low-pressure sodium). b. Erosion Control: Section F.3.B calls for development and implementation of erosion control plans in areas where stormwater discharge or land disturbance may occur near habitat. Revegetation and drainage controls should be considered for any slopes or areas adjacent to the preserve. c. Fire Management: Section F.3.A recommends fuel management occur within the development footprint when adjacent to preserved habitat. Any proposed brush management areas or access routes should avoid encroachment into the preserve. d. Landscaping Restrictions: Section F.3.C prohibits the use of invasive species, including those identified in Table 12 of the HMP, in areas adjacent to the preserve. Final landscape plans should comply with this requirement. e. Fencing and Signs: Section F.3.D recommends limiting fencing and signage to what is necessary for safety and access control, while avoiding impacts to wildlife movement or habitat aesthetics. 11. Final consistency with the HMP will require review and confirmation by the city’s HMP Program Manager, Rosanne Humphrey. Early coordination is recommended to determine whether additional measures are needed to ensure consistency with applicable HMP standards. Fire and Emergency Access 12. The project should ensure that any curb extensions or pedestrian refuge islands do not negatively impact emergency vehicle turning movements. 13. Coordinate with the Fire Department to verify compliance with emergency access standards. EA 2025-0047 – Faraday Avenue Mobility Improvements and Veterans Memorial Park Access April 4, 2025 Page 4 Land Development and Engineering Comments 14.A Preliminary Hydrology Study including map and calculations is required to demonstrate capacity/sizing of proposed and storm drain infrastructure. Show 100-year storm hydrologic calculations to ensure the drainage channel and storm drain proposed are sized to meet City of Carlsbad engineering standards. 15.This project shall utilize City of Carlsbad Survey Control Network established on Record of Survey Map 17271, NAD83, Zone VI, 1991.35 Epoch for horizontal control and NGVD 29 datum for vertical control per City of Carlsbad Engineering Standards. 16.Show the 54” CML&C transmission waterline per CIP 9400-1, shown on 478-5F, sheet G-15 in the plan and on the profile to ensure that any conflicts are addressed. 17.Coordinate with Veterans Park project grading and improvement plans, Dwg. 546-1A and Dwg. 546-1 for surface match in points (in NGVD29) and to ensure no conflicts. Currently it appears that the proposed storm drain lateral may conflict with the water services shown on the Veterans Park Improvement Plans. 18.Please be advised that a more in-depth review of the proposed development will occur if a discretionary permit is required. If the project proceeds without a CDP, Land Development & Engineering will review the final design for compliance with applicable standards as part of the city’s internal review process If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter, please contact Alex Alegre, Associate Planner at 442-339-5268. Sincerely, Alex Alegre Alex Alegre Associate Planner AA:mh cc: Eric Lardy, City Planner Robert Efird, Principal Planner Scott Donnell, Senior Planner Nichole Fine, Senior Engineer Laserfiche, File Copy Enclosures: 1.Veterans Memorial Park Parking Assessment (Fehr & Peers, June 23, 2021)