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Home My WebLink AboutEA 2026-0059; LAKESHORE GARDENS HOA WATER PRESSURE STATION; Admin Decision LetterVIA EMAIL AND MAIL Community Development Planning Division ï 1635 Faraday Avenue ï Carlsbad, CA 92008 ï 442-339-2600 Memorandum May 29, 2026 To: From: Via Re: Daniel Zimny, Senior Engineer Alex Patterson, Assistant Planner Eric Lardy, City Planner EA 202 -0059 – Lakeshore Gardens HOA Water Pressure Station Thank you for submitting an Early Assessment for the Lakeshore Gardens HOA Water Pressure Station Project that proposes replacing the existing Lakeshore Gardens potable water pressure reducing station (PRS), originally built in 1972, which currently serves about 190 senior living units. The existing underground vault at Avenida Encinas and San Bartolo—which encloses pressure-reducing valves and metering equipment—is nearing the end of its service life and will be decommissioned. A new vault of similar size will be constructed nearby on the eastern corner of the intersection, requiring an additional easement of approximately 1,200 square feet. The project also includes replacing about 200 feet of existing asbestos cement water main with PVC pipe and installing an additional 200 feet of new pipeline to connect the system. All work will occur within the existing right of way and the proposed new easement on the east side of the street and will maintain the current system capacity, with the community continuing to be served by a single 6-inch connection. 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: 1. General Plan, zoning and Coastal Zone designations for the project site (excluding anything in the ROW, which has no designation) include the following: a. General Plan designation: (R-8) 4-8 units/ac, (L) Local Shopping Center b. Zoning: (RMHP) Residential Mobile Home Park, (C-L) Local Shopping Center c. Coastal Zone: Same designation and zoning as above (the site is not located within the appeals jurisdiction) 6 {'city of Carlsbad EA 2026-0059 – EARLY ASSESMENT FOR LAKESHORE GARDENS HOA WATER PRESSURE STATION May 29, 2026 Page 2 Community Development Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue ï Carlsbad, CA 92008 ï 442-339-2600 2. Based on the information provided at this time, the project does not appear to require a Coastal Development Permit. However, please see the discussion below regarding the required findings for a CDP exemption: a. Planning understands that the project, as currently proposed, would be deemed exempt from requiring a CDP. The project can be considered “repair and maintenance” and exempt from coastal development permit requirements pursuant to Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.201.060(B)(11) and specifically the “Repair, Maintenance and Utility Hookups” document adopted by the Coastal Commission on September 5, 1978. Replacing the older facilities with modern materials will address existing deficiencies and reset the operational lifecycle but will not result in expansion or enlargement of the facility being replaced, as further explained below. b. Section II.B.4 of the 1978 Repair Maintenance and Utility Hookups document provides that “no permit is required for repair or maintenance of existing facilities that do not alter the service capacity, installation of new or increased service to development permitted or exempted under the Coastal Act, placement of additional - facilities on existing poles, or placement of existing facilities underground, provided such undergrounding shall be 'limited to public road or railroad rights-of-way or public utility easements (P.U.E.) and provided there is no removal of major vegetation and the site is restored as close as reasonably possible to its original condition. A permit is required for installation of service to vacant parcels or installation of capacity beyond that needed to serve developments permitted or exempted under the Coastal Act.” The proposed project meets the requirements for an exemption under this description because this project will not be creating or serving any new development or increasing the density of the existing land uses. Further, the project is also entirely within the right of way or previously developed land within an existing or proposed CMWD easement and is not in or adjacent to any sensitive habitat or coastal area, such as a bluff, sandy area, or creek. The proposed vault dimensions, which are 45% larger than the existing vault, reflect current engineering standards and do not constitute or enable an expansion of utility service. c. The last paragraph of Section II.B.4 of the Repair Maintenance and Utility Hookups document states that “a permit is required for grading an undisturbed area of greater than 500 sq. ft., removal of trees exceeding 12 inches dbh or clearing more than 500 sq. ft. of brush or other vegetation unless the Executive Director of the Regional Commission determines the activity does not involve the removal of major vegetation. No permit is required for removal of minor vegetation (e.g., tree trimming) where it interferes with service pipes or lines.” While the submitted project plans fall below these limits, please ensure that any revisions to the project plans do not exceed these requirements. EA 2026-0059 – EARLY ASSESMENT FOR LAKESHORE GARDENS HOA WATER PRESSURE STATION May 29, 2026 Page 3 Community Development Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue ï Carlsbad, CA 92008 ï 442-339-2600 3. Project plans a. Ensure plans are prepared consistent with the requirements identified on Planning Division application form P-2. Among other things, this will require identification of grading quantities (cut, fill, export, import, and remedial). b. Identify proposed location(s) of project staging and show project access. c. Clarify what is meant by the 430’ radius of the proposed CMWD easement. The easement shows a rectangular area of 20’ by 60’. It is not entirely clear where the curved section of the easement is. 4. Landscape Manual a. Current plans indicate that 330 square feet of landscaped area will be replaced in-kind. Note that if the total landscaped area exceeds 500 square feet, project landscape plans will be subject to the requirements of the city’s Landscape Manual. Please coordinate with the Planning Division and Parks & Recreation Department on required plan details and review. 5. Right of Way Permit a. Because the project involves work within the Right of Way, please work with Land Development Engineering to obtain a Right of Way Permit. b. Prior to construction activities, please coordinate with the appropriate departments (Traffic Engineering/LDE) to develop a sufficient traffic control plan to accommodate traffic while the work is being completed. 6. Cultural Resources Report a. The project is located within a High Paleontological Sensitivity Area and a Moderate Architectural Sensitivity Area as identified in the 2017 Tribal, Cultural and Paleontological Guidelines. Although the project is confined exclusively to previously developed areas, the excavation required to construct the new vault and pipes may have potential impacts on cultural resources. Accordingly, please complete a cultural resources report in future project submittals to adequately evaluate potential disturbances to cultural resources. CEQA-Related Comments 7. The proposed project appears to be eligible for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), as the work involves the restoration and rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety. Note that all improvements potentially subject to a Categorical Exemption must demonstrate that none of the exceptions to a Categorical Exemption apply as listed in Guidelines Section 15300.2 and in CMC 19.04.070(C). The cultural resources report discussed in item 6 of this letter will help clarify if an exception applies. 8. As part of the CEQA process, filing of a notice of exemption following project approval is optional pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062. If you want to file a notice, staff recommends filing occur within five days of project approval. Please coordinate with the Planning Department to facilitate filing. A $50.00 filing fee, payable to the San Diego County Clerk’s Office (County Clerk) is required. EA 2026-0059 – EARLY ASSESMENT FOR LAKESHORE GARDENS HOA WATER PRESSURE STATION May 29, 2026 Page 4 Community Development Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue ï Carlsbad, CA 92008 ï 442-339-2600 Land Development Engineering: LDE has reviewed the project and provided no comments at this time. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting to discuss this letter, please contact me at 442-339-5149. Sincerely, Alex Patterson Assistant Planner City of Carlsbad c: Eric Lardy, Assistant Director, Community Development Robert Efird, Principal Planner Scott Donnell, Senior Planner Laserfiche/File Copy Data Entry