HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 2026-0021; EMERGENCY REPAIR ON NORTH BATIQUITOS INTERCEPTOR SEWER, PONTO AREA; Admin Decision Letter
Community Development Department
Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 442-339-2600
EMERGENCY COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
NOTICE OF DECISION
May 1, 2026
Amanda Flesse, Utilities Director
City of Carlsbad Public Works Division
5950 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008
RE: CDP 2026-0021 (PUB2026-0009) – Emergency Repair on North Batiquitos Interceptor Sewer, Ponto Area
– EMERGENCY PERMIT
The Assistant Director of Community Development has completed a review of the request for an Emergency Coastal
Development Permit to address a damaged segment of the North Batiquitos Interceptor Sewer located within the
Ponto area north of Poinsettia Lane and within the North County Transit District right of way. The emergency
condition was identified during routine maintenance closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection and consists of a
partial collapse at the upper crown of an existing 27-inch vitrified clay pipe, resulting in a void and exposure to
surrounding soils. While no sewage release has occurred, the condition presents a risk of infiltration, blockage,
structural failure, and potential future spill, which could impact public health, nearby infrastructure, and the
surrounding habitat preserve area.
The proposed emergency work is limited to actions necessary to repair the damaged sewer facility and maintain
service. The authorized work includes temporary bypass of sewer flows; site access preparation; trench excavation,
shoring, and dewatering as necessary; removal and replacement of approximately 35 linear feet of damaged pipe
on a like-for-like basis; reconnection to existing pipeline segments; backfilling and compaction; and site restoration.
Construction access will utilize existing utility access points and portions of an adjacent pedestrian trail, which will
be temporarily closed during construction. No expansion of system capacity or upgrades beyond restoration of
existing conditions are proposed. The proposed work is located within the Coastal Zone and within the appealable
jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission.
The proposed action is statutorily exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections 21080(b) (2) and (4) and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15269(b)
and (c), which apply to emergency repairs to publicly owned service facilities necessary to maintain services essential
to public health, safety, or welfare.
The Assistant Director of Community Development APPROVES this request for an Emergency Coastal Development
Permit based upon the following:
Findings:
1. An emergency exists that meets the requirements of Carlsbad Municipal Code 21.201.190 and requires action
more quickly than permitted by the procedures for minor coastal development permits or for regular permits
and the work can and will be completed within thirty days unless otherwise specified by the terms of the permit;
2. The work proposed will be consistent with the requirements of the certified land use plan.
{city of
Carlsbad
CDP 2026-0021 (PUB2026-0009) – Emergency Repair on North Batiquitos Interceptor Sewer, Ponto Area
May 1, 2026
PAGE 2
Community Development Department
Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 442-339-2600
3.The Emergency Coastal Development Permit authorizes those actions necessary to address the immediate
emergency condition. If subsequent evaluation identifies additional habitat impacts or remediation needs
beyond the scope of the emergency repairs, such work shall be subject to the separate Coastal Development
Permit review, as required by Condition Number 2.
Conditions:
1.The Emergency Coastal Development Permit is granted subject to completion of the emergency repair work
estimated to be within 60 days.
2. Submit a formal application for a regular Coastal Development Permit to the City of Carlsbad within 90 days of
this letter for any follow-up or permanent storm drain repair work beyond the scope of this emergency
authorization.
3.Prior to and during construction, the applicant shall coordinate with appropriate resource agencies and
implement biological monitoring, as necessary, to document site conditions and minimize impacts to sensitive
habitat areas, including the Poinsettia Station Vernal Pool Preserve. The subsequent Coastal Development
Permit application shall include documentation of agency coordination and demonstrate compliance with the
city’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP), as applicable.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
ERIC LARDY, AICP Assistant Director of Community Development
EL: AA: cf
Attachment: Public Works Department Letter dated May 1, 2026 (Request for Emergency Coastal Development Permit)
c: Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager Jeff Murphy, Deputy City Manager
Mike Strong, Director of Community Development
Tim Lyons, Assistant City Attorney
Dave Padilla, Assistant Utilities Director
Michael O’Brien, Public Works Superintendent
Rosanne Humphrey, Senior Program Manager
Keri Martinez, Principal Engineer
Sean Diaz, Utilities Senior Engineer
Robb Efird, Principal Planner
Scott Donnell, Senior Planner
Alex Alegre, Associate Planner
File Copy
Data Entry
Public Works Branch
Utilities Department 5950 El Camino Real Carlsbad, CA 92008 442-339-2722 t
May 1, 2026
City of Carlsbad Planning Division
1635 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
SUBJECT: Request for Emergency Coastal Development Permit for sewer pipe segment
repair on the North Batiquitos Interceptor Sewer in the Ponto area
Dear City of Carlsbad Planning Division:
This letter is submitted to request an Emergency Coastal Development Permit (CDP) to proceed
with emergency sewer repair work to a damaged sewer pipeline identified during a recent
routine maintenance video inspection.
Nature of the Emergency
Recent CCTV inspection identified damage to the 27-inch North Batiquitos Interceptor Sewer in
the Ponto area which includes a pipe break in the upper crown of the vitrified clay pipe
segment and is classified by the maintenance inspections as a partial “pipe collapse.” The
damage has resulted in a void in the pipe and exposure to the surrounding compacted soil.
Given the location of this void near the top of the pipe above the normal pipe flowline, sewage
is not currently leaking or spilling. However, if the pipe should experience high flow conditions,
such as infiltration occurring during heavy wet weather event, leakage or spilling could occur
and thus presents a potential risk to public safety, nearby infrastructure, and the surrounding
habitat preservation area, in addition to expensive restoration and fines from various
regulatory and environmental resource agencies. Potential blockage from incoming
surrounding soil through the void, and further failure of the pipe is also possible given the
deficiency in pipe’s integrity.
Cause of the Emergency
The specific cause of the pipeline damage is unknown. Video inspection of the entire segment
of the over 50-year old pipeline indicates expected aging and minor surface cracks and of the
pipe, with this one specific location of pipe collapse. The integrity of the remaining 2,700 linear
feet of this 27-inch pipeline to the north is intact, with some expected, required future
maintenance identified.
Docusign Envelope ID: E9D2F78D-E9D3-498D-B966-08E41FB3BEC8
{city of
Carlsbad
This single pipe damage suggests the possibility of some point loading or impact to the pipe
above grade. No such event or work has been identified as the cause. The pipeline is located
near North County Transit District (NCTD) railway but is over 70- feet east of the nearest spur,
and thus railway operations do not appear to be a factor. There is a 12-inch high pressure SoCal
gas line which crosses the sewer line near the break area and work on this pipeline could
potentially have caused the break. Neither NCTD nor the utility have found permits associated
with recent work. Cautious excavation of the sewer line needs to occur before any cause could
be determined.
No other conditions have been identified, and it is assumed repair to the pipe segment will
eliminate future emergency conditions.
Location of the Emergency
The repair site is on a 27-inch sewer interceptor pipeline that transports sewage from the City’s
southern sewer shed to the Encina Wastewater Treatment Plant located approximately a mile
north of the repair site. This pipeline extends through the NCTD right of way, approximately 70
feet east of the rail spurs. This sewer pipeline is also located with the city‘s Habitat
Management Preserve are known as the Poinsettia Station Vernal Pool Preserve which provides
habitat for seven federally listed plant and animal species. Access to the location of the repair
work is through the city’s Sand Shell sewer lift station via utility access easements located at the
southwest corner of the Waters End Residential Community. The lift station gates will be used
to access the adjacent pedestrian trail and NCTD ROW and the repair location. The pedestrian
trail will need to be utilized for repair work and associated bypass of sewer flow during repair
work and therefore unavailable to the public.
Proposed Remedial, Protective, or Preventive Work
The scope of emergency repair work will include removal and replacement of an approximate
35 linear feet of 27-inch VCP pipe. Prior to pipe repair work, sewer flow will need to be
diverted from this pipe segment via a sewer bypass system which pumps from an upstream
sewer access hole via a temporary bypass pump/piping system to a downstream sewer access
hole located approximately 450 feet downstream (north). The pipeline is located four to five
feet below grade and trench excavation will extend from the nearest manhole approximately
40 feet to the north allowing for connection of the replacement pipe to the nearest pipe joint.
Trench preparation will include installation of a trench shoring system and potentially
dewatering system to safely and properly install the replacement pipe. If needed, a trench
dewatering system will include an onsite tank for settling sediments from pumped groundwater
prior to discharge to the downstream sewer manhole. Specifics on the sequencing soil removal
during trench excavation will be identified by city staff and qualified biologist in recognition of
vernal pool impacts. A designated access area for equipment will be identified as well as
ingress and egress paths for workers and equipment. An onsite biological and cultural monitors
will be required to document the site prior to and throughout the work being performed to
determine the extents of temporary impacts to the preserve area.
Docusign Envelope ID: E9D2F78D-E9D3-498D-B966-08E41FB3BEC8
Staff is coordinating with NCTD, Encina Wastewater Authority, Waters End HOA, SoCAL Gas and
the RWQCB regarding access and potential permitting.
Emergency Circumstances and Justification for Action
City staff is requesting authorization of an emergency CDP to proceed with the repairs. The
damaged pipe requires immediate repair to prevent future sewer leaks and spills resulting in
health, safety and environmental impacts. Delaying repairs could result in more severe impacts,
including sewer spills, sediment blockages, and/or ultimate pipe failure.
Please let me know if additional information or clarification is needed to support this request.
Sincerely,
Amanda L. Flesse, P.E.
Utilities Director
Docusign Envelope ID: E9D2F78D-E9D3-498D-B966-08E41FB3BEC8