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Home My WebLink About2025-10-15; Planning Commission; Minutes; Regular SessionCouncil Chamber 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 PLANNING COMMISSION CALL TO ORDER: 5 p.m. ROLL CALL: Meenes, Fitzgerald, Burrows, Merz, Foster, Lafferty, Hubinger PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Planning Commissioner Burrows led the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on Sept. 17, 2025. Motion by Commissioner Lafferty, seconded by Commissioner Merz, to move the approval of the minutes to the end of the meeting. Motion carried, 7/0. Motion by Commissioner Lafferty, seconded by Commissioner Burrows, to move item five to be heard first instead of last. Motion carried unanimously, 7/0. PUBLIC COMMENT: Carlsbad resident Dan Beck expressed his dissatisfaction with, and requested someone contact him regarding the level of traffic and noise in the Carlsbad Village. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: 5.CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE – Receive a presentation regarding the work of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee, the City of Carlsbad Intergovernmental Affairs Program and the city’s recent and ongoing advocacy efforts related to land use planning and development. (Staff Contact: Jason Haber) Recommended Action: Receive the report. City Planner, Eric Lardy, introduced Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Jason Haber and City Council Member, Melanie Burkholder who reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the item. The Commission Received the report. In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry, City Council member Melanie Burkholder, recommended that Intergovernmental Affairs Director, Jason Haber, make a note of Ms. Lafferty’s concerns and Mr. Haber explained that he will be meeting with Planning Staff, including City Planner, Eric Lardy and Commissioner Lafferty’s concerns regarding Historic Preservation will be discussed. Commissioner Lafferty emphasized that that she is advocating for the Mills Act and would like to see that City Council advocate for the Mills Act Program in the Carlsbad community as well. Oct. 15, 2025, 5 p.m. Minutes Oct. 15, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1.2647 JEFFERSON ST. HOMES 2024-0006/PUD 2024-0007/CDP 2024-0036 - Adoption of a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, approving a CEQA exemption determination and approving Carlsbad Tentative Tract Map, Planned Development Permit and Coastal Development Permit to allow the demolition of an existing single-family residence and the development of a 12-unit, three-story, residential condominium project on a 0.34-acre site located at 2647 Jefferson St., within the Mello II segment of the Local Coastal Program and within Local Facilities Management Zone 1. ACTION TYPE: Quasi-Judicial STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Take public input, close the public hearing, and adopt the resolution. PLANNER: Edward Valenzuela ENGINEER: Sanchez City Planner Eric Lardy introduced Senior Planner, Kyle Van Leeuwen, reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the item. (on file in the office of the City Clerk) Chair Meenes opened the duly noticed public hearing at 5:55 p.m. Senior Planner Van Leeuwen requested that the Commission include the addition of Condition No. 59 should they move to approve the item. Condition No. 59 specifies that, prior to the issuance of building permits, the developer shall pay a special or separate sewer connection fee representing the project’s proportionate share of sewer capacity, measured in equivalent dwelling units, for Capital Improvement Program Project No. 2615. In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry, Assistant Utilities Director David Padilla explained that, with the developer requested Density Bonus Law incentive, the developer will only be responsible for replacing 20 feet of the 100 feet of pipe in question and the remaining 80 feet will be replaced as part of the City’s larger asbestos cement pipe replacement program which will be identified in the City’s Water master Plan. Applicant representative and Vice President of Forward Planning, Rincon Homes, Jonathan Frankel spoke on behalf of the project. Assistant City Attorney Dalton Sorich reminded the Commission that, under the Government Code, the City is required to grant the concession or incentive unless it makes a written finding, based on substantial evidence, that the concession or incentive would have a specific adverse impact on public health or safety and that there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid that impact. In response to Mr. Dalton’s remarks, Commissioner Lafferty opined that cutting an asbestos pipe would be a health hazard and she requested documentation as to how this project helps the overall community. Oct. 15, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 3 In response to Commissioner Foster’s inquiry, Assistant Utilities Director David Padilla, explained that that that using the term “cut the pipe” is not accurate and the standard vocabulary in the industry in instances such as this is to ”decouple” these types of pipes, not “cut” them. Senior Planner, Kyle Van Leeuwen further clarified that if the engineering code requires pipes be removed at the couplings, the pipes will not be cut into, but decoupled as required by the engineering standards. Chair Meenes opened the public testimony at 6:37 p.m. Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the public testimony at 6:37 p.m. Commissioner discussion ensued. Motion by Commissioner Foster, seconded by Commissioner Hubinger, to adopt Resolution 7555 based on staff’s recommendation with the addition of condition 59 as noted in staff’s presentation. Motion carried 6/1, (Lafferty - No.). Docusign Envelope ID: 170CA876-DFEA-4E30- 86D6-71F97F581 BAS 2.BARONS MARKET - SDP 2025-0006 (DEV2025-0063) – Adoption of a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, recommending approval of a CEQA exemption determination and a standards modification for increased signage for a Barons Market grocery store to include increased number of wall signs, wall sign area, wall sign letter height, number of monument signs, monument sign area, and monument sign height located at 2800 Roosevelt St. within and Local Facilities Management zone 1. ACTION TYPE: Quasi-Judicial STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Take public input, close the public hearing, and adopt the resolution. PLANNER: Edward Valenzuela ENGINEER: Fine Chair Meenes opened the duly noticed public hearing at 6:52 p.m. City Planner Eric Lardy introduced Senior Planner Edward Valenzuela who reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the item. (on file in the office of the City Clerk) By way of introduction to the project, City Planner, Eric Lardy explained that the Village & Barrio Master Plan (VBMP) is unique as it includes a built-in standards modification process, and for this project, staff has worked with the applicant to develop a proposal that, following the Commission’s recommendation, will proceed to the City Council to determine whether to allow a signage standards modification that balances the VBMP’s intent to encourage vital uses while maintaining the character and setting of the Village & Barrio area. In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s concerns regarding the large monument sign for safety reasons, Senior Planner Edward Valenzuela explained that City Land Development Engineering Oct. 15, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 4 and Transportation Divisions have reviewed the project and the project meets the City’s safety standards. Applicant Representative and President of Barons Market reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the office of the City Clerk) about the project. Commissioner Lafferty expressed her concern regarding the precedent that could be set by allowing a monument sign larger than is dictated by the VBMP standards. Chair Meenes opened the public testimony at 7:20 p.m. Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the public testimony at 7:20 p.m. Motion by Commissioner Burrows, seconded by Commissioner Hubinger, to adopt Resolution 7556 (Lafferty - No). Motion carried 6/1. Docusign Envelope ID: 170CA876-DFEA-4E30-86D6- 71F97F581 BAS Hearing no one else wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the public hearing at 7:37 p.m. Chair Meenes called for a recess at 7:38 p.m. Chair Meenes reconvened the meeting at 7:46 p.m. 3.LAGUNA VIDA - PUD 2024-0005/CDP 2024-0024/MS 2024-0005 (DEV 2024-0025) - Adoption of a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, recommending approval of a CEQA exemption determination and approving Carlsbad Tentative Tract Map, Planned Development Permit and Coastal Development Permit to allow the demolition of an existing single-family residence, a detached garage and a detached park-model trailer, and the construction of four, three-story, detached single-family home condominiums on a 0.31- acre site located at 2618 Jefferson St., within the Mello II Segment of the Local Coastal Program and within Local Facilities Management Zone 1. ACTION TYPE: Quasi-Judicial STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Take public input, close the public hearing, and adopt the resolution. PLANNER: Edward Valenzuela ENGINEER: Sanchez Chair Meenes opened the duly noticed public hearing at 7:47 p.m. City Planner Eric Lardy introduced Senior Planner Edward Valenzuela who reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the item. (on file in the office of the City Clerk) Senior Planner Edward Valenzuela indicated that staff is requesting a new condition, number 52, be added to the conditions of approval for the fee. Mr. Valenzuela added that the condition would read that prior to the issuance of building permits, the developer shall pay a special or Oct. 15, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 5 separate sewer connection fee for the development projects proportionate share of sewer capacity and equivalent dwelling units to be constructed for the Jefferson Street sewer replacement project, Capital Improvement Program Project number 2615. Applicant Representative, Mathew Osterman spoke on behalf of the project. Chair Meenes opened the public testimony at 7:52 p.m. Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the public testimony at 7:52 p.m. In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry, City Planner Eric Lardy explained that planning terminology is not on the agenda but that staff could potentially ask the Habitat Management Plan Administrator to come to a Planning Commission meeting as part of our educational series. Motion by Commissioner Burrows, seconded by Commissioner Fitzgerald, to adopt Resolution 7557 as recommended by staff including the addition of condition number 52 as noted in the presentation by staff. Motion carried, 7/0. Docusign Envelope ID: 170CA876-DFEA-4E30-86D6- 71F97F581 BAS 4.CARLSBAD OCEAN ESTATES (lot 2) - CDP2024-0031 (DEV02030) - Adoption of Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, approving a CEQA exemption determination and a coastal development permit to construct a 5,787 square foot single- family residence and 1,397 square foot attached garage on a 0.36-acre site located at 4332 Adams St. Within the Mello II Segment of the city’s Local Coastal Program and Local Facilities Management Zone 1. ACTION TYPE: Quasi-Judicial STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Take public input, close the public hearing, and adopt the resolution. PLANNER: Edward Valenzuela ENGINEER: Sanchez City Planner Eric Lardy explained that the Commission heard this item already but due to a clerical error on an exhibit and the slides previously presented, this item is presented again today along with an additional materials memo clarifying that the landscape plans in the staff report are indeed correct for this lot. (on file in the office of the City Clerk) Chair Meenes asked if the Commission wanted to hear the presentation again, the Commission chose to proceed with the hearing instead. Chair Meenes opened the public testimony at 8:02 p.m. Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the public testimony at 8:02 p.m. Motion by Commissioner Foster, seconded by Commissioner Burrows, to adopt Resolution 7557. Motion carried, 7/0. Docusign Envelope ID: BB618172-6810-4F5C-8A2A-28E942313E7D. Oct. 15, 2025 Carlsbad City Council Regular Meeting Page 6 Hearing no one wishing to speak, Chair Meenes closed the duly noticed public hearing at 8:04 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:(Continuation of approval of minutes) Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on Sept. 17, 2025. Commissioner Lafferty requested that the meeting minutes be amended to better reflect her comments regarding subterranean parking options. The following will be added to the meeting minutes: “In response to Commissioner Lafferty’s inquiry, Engineering Manager Jason Geldert explained that a Minor Grading permit would need to be obtained for this project and he is unaware of anything precluding the developer from building underground parking” Motion by Commissioner Lafferty seconded by Commissioner Burrows, to approve the meeting minutes as amended. Motion carried, 6/0/1. (Merz – Abstain) COMMISSION COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: Chair Meenes and Commissioner Foster expressed their concern regarding SB 79 and reiterated that they are looking forward to being informed by City staff with the necessary information once it is finalized and becomes available. Commissioner Lafferty indicated that the next Historic Preservation Commission Meeting is Nov. 10, 2025. ANNOUNCEMENTS: This section of the Agenda is designated for announcements to advise the community regarding events that Members of the Planning Commission have been invited to, and may participate in. None. STAFF COMMENTS: City Planner, Eric Lardy, indicated that the next Planning Commission meeting will be held on Nov. 5, 2025 and reviewed the Planning Commission upcoming projects going to City Council. ADJOURNMENT: 8:08 p.m. Cynthia Vigeland Administrative Secretary ynthia Vigeland Administrative Secretary