HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD 2025-0006; IONIS; Admin Decision LetterJuly 16, 2025
Jon Ohlson
2550 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 115
San Diego, CA 92103
SUBJECT: CD 2025-0006 (DEV 2021-0141) -IONIS
{city of
Carlsbad
The City Planner has completed a review of your application for Substantial Conformance, CD 2025-0006,
pursuant to Chapter 21.89 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code (CMC). The substantial conformance review
consists of a minor modification to Site Development Plan SDP 2021-0029 for a 164,833-square foot, 48-
foot-tall research and development (R&D) building located at 2834 Whiptail Loop (APNs 209-120-23, -24),
an 8.37 acre lot in the Oaks North Business Park Specific Plan, SP 211(C). The project was approved by
the Planning Commission on March 1, 2023 pursuant to Planning Commission Resolution No. 7472 and
appealed to the City Council. The City Council denied the appeal and upheld the decision of the Planning
Commission on May 16, 2023, pursuant to City Council Resolution No. 2023-130.
Specifically, the following modifications are proposed:
• Addition of a detached, 12'-8"-tall, 1,044-square-foot non-combustible hazmat accessory
building at rear of property in area of approved parking spaces;
• Addition of a 912-square-foot enclosure for an emergency generator at the rear of the property
in area of approved parking spaces;
• 1,162-square-foot, 17'-11"tall, single-story addition to the rear/east elevation of the R&D
building;
• Removal of 13 parking spaces to accommodate the emergency generator/enclosure and the
hazmat storage building. The removal of 13 parking spaces represents a 3 percent reduction in
the approved number of parking spaces. A total of 413 parking spaces will remain at the subject
site. The parking analysis approved in conjunction with SDP 2021-0029 recommended a minimum
of 316 parking spaces for the IONIS campus, which includes the conference center on the
southeast corner of Gazelle Court and Whiptail Loop (Urban Systems, March 2025). Including the
conference center lot, the parking supply would continue to exceed the projected demand by
276 spaces.
After careful consideration of the request, the City Planner has determined the request meets the
required findings of CMC Section 21.89.080 (effective outside the Coastal Zone on Aug. 20, 2024, by
Ordinance CS-474) listed below and APPROVES this request.
The following findings must be made for a project revision to be determined to be consistent with an
approved discretionary action pursuant to CMC Section 21 .89.080:
1) That the proposed revision provides an architectural style of development that is substantially
consistent with the building forms, building colors, and building materials that were approved as
Community Development Department
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 442-339-2600
CD 2025-0006 (DEV2021-0141)-IONIS
July 16, 2025
Page 2
part of the authorizing discretionary action, in that the proposed structures utilize materials and
colors which complement the approved design for the R&D building.
2) That the proposed revision complies with all relevant development standards and design criteria
and will not result in any health, safety, or welfare impacts, in that the Fire Department approved
the updated Fire Protection Plan prepared for the hazmat storage building and emergency
generator enclosure. In addition, the project remains consistent with the Oaks North Business
Park Specific Plan SP 211(C) and the Zoning Code, including setbacks and parking. Pursuant to
the parking analysis (Urban Systems, March 2025), the minimum recommended number of
spaces for the IONIS conference center and the subject R&D building is 316 spaces and a
combined total of 596 spaces are provided.
3) That the proposed revision is consistent with the density, intensity, or use from what was approved
as part of the authorizing discretionary action, in that the structures and uses substantially
conform with Site Development Plan SDP 2021-0029.
4) That the proposed revision is minor and authorizes a deviation or deviations of no more than 10
percent, provided it is consistent with the authorizing discretionary action and maintains
compliance with all relevant development standards, in that the removal of 13 parking spaces
represents a three percent reduction in parking and the addition of 2,206 square feet of building
area represents a one percent increase in building square footage. Furthermore, the project
complies with all relevant development standards and the reduction in parking does not go
below the minimum recommended number of parking stalls pursuant to the Urban Systems
parking analysis (March 2025).
5) That the proposed revision maintains, in their entirety, all the project conditions required as part
of the authorizing discretionary action as approved by Planning Commission Resolution No. 7472
dated March 1, 2023.
6) That the proposed revision is consistent with the previously evaluated environmental findings and
will not result in any significant environmental impact, and/or require further environmental
review in that the minor additions are within the scope of the previously certified Final Program
Environmental Impact Report (EIR} and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP}
for the Oaks North Business Park Specific Plan (EIR 98-08, State Clearinghouse No. 2000051057),
certified by the City Council on October 8, 2002.
7) That the proposed revision is consistent with the standards set forth in the Village and Barrio
Objective Design Standards or the Citywide Objective Design Standards, as applicable, in that the
proposed project does not propose multifamily development; therefore, the Village and Barrio
ODS and Citywide ODS for multifamily development projects are not applicable to this
substantial conformance review.
Therefore, the City Planner has determined that the application qualifies for a substantial conformance
with the approved permit and approves the changes to the project pursuant to CMC Section 21.89.060.
Community Development Department
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 442-339-2600
CD 2025-0006 (DEV2021-0141) -IONIS
July 16, 2025
Page 3
NOTICE
Please take NOTICE that approval of your project includes the "imposition" of fees, dedications,
reservations, or other exactions hereafter collectively referred to for convenience as "fees/exactions."
You have 90 days from the date of final approval to protest imposition of these fees/exactions. If you
protest them, you must follow the protest procedure set forth in Government Code Section 66020(a), and
file the protest and any other required information with the City Manager for processing in accordance
with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.32 .030. Failure to timely follow that procedure will bar any
subsequent legal action to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul their imposition.
This decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission within ten days of the date of this letter.
Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Planning Division at 1635 Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, along
with a payment of $930. The filing of such appeal within such time limit shall stay the effective date of
the order of the City Planner until such time as a final decision on the appeal is reached. If you have any
questions regarding this matter, please feel to contact Shannon Harker at (442) 339-2621.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
ERIC LARDY, AICP
City Planner
EL:SH:cf
c: Wayne Sanders, IONIS Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010
Ash Puri, Oxford Properties, 101 2nd Street, San Franciso, CA 94105
Shannon Harker, Project Planner
David Rick, Project Engineer
Laserfiche/File Copy
Data Entry
Community Development Department
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 442-339-2600