HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-20; Carlsbad Airport Center Lot 10; Tentative Map (CT) (5)City of Carlsbad
June 15,200O
Mark Morrison
Morrison Brokerage and Associates
1947 Camino Vide Roble
Carlsbad CA 92008
RE: CT 99-20 - PALOMAR HEIGHTS PLAZA - CARLSBAD AIRPORT
CENTER - LOT 10
Dear Mr. Morrison:
The Carlsbad Airport Center Lot 10 project consists of five separate office buildings on Lot 10
within the Carlsbad Airport Center Specific Plan and is adjacent and south of the property, 1947
Camino Vida Roble, managed by yourself. The project has access, and utilities are provided,
from Owens Avenue. The property is constrained by a 200-foot wide SDG&E utility easement
that runs east and west and is on the northerly portion of the site. The City of Carlsbad Planning
Commission approved the project on May 17,200O.
The project was conditioned as follows; “A fire flow system shall be required for this industrial
development and it shall be constructed as a two source system. The developer shall complete
the two source water system by tying into the existing water line north of the subject project. The
water system shall provide fire flow service to one hydrant and to fire sprinkler systems. The
other source shall be provided from Owens Avenue and include a fire hydrant and potable water
system for the subject project.”
There were various reasons for the design of the system. Projects in Carlsbad are required to
provide looped water systems. A looped system provides redundant water supplies, better water
quality, and higher fire flows. In this projects case, a looped system was not feasible with the
design proposed. The development site, being on a cul-de-sac lot, linear in nature, and with a
small buildable area due to the SDG&E easement, did not allow adequate room for a looped water system. To provide a water system to the westerly portion of the site, which is looped (not
placed within the same trench), would require a service line within the SDG&E easement.
SDG&E does not permit utility lines to run in a parallel manner within the easement as they may
conflict with future placement of poles, towers or other utilities. However, perpendicular
crossings are permissible with concurrence from SDG&E.
The site’s only water source is from Owens Avenue. A public water line runs from Owens
Avenue south to an existing line on the southerly side of Palomar Airport Road, which at this
same point goes south to serve the industrial development south of Palomar Airport Road. The
line does not go westerly along the property frontage or this would have been the preferred location to tie into to create a looped system.
Because a looped system could not be accomplished, a two-source system was proposed. A two-
source system would provide the needed fire protection and flows needed for the site. The two
1635 Faraday Avenue l Cartsbad, CA 92008-7314 l (760) 602-4600 l FAX (760) 602-8559
4
CT 99-20 - PALOMAR HE~w-ITS PLAZA - CARLSBAD AIRPORT C, .,iTER - LOT 10
June 14,200O
points would be interconnected privately to create the looped system. The original plan was for a
private looped system which was rejected by the City because of construction inspection
requirements, reliability, maintenance, and emergency repair service concerns. One source is the
service from Owens Avenue, the second from an adjacent property, namely, 1947 Camino Vida
Roble. Camino Vide Roble was chosen because of the existing public water line easements, the
existing hydrant near the edge of the property, and the westerly location of the utility. Properties
off Edison Place were considered but the existing water supply was not far enough west and lines
would be required to parallel the SDG&E easement.
In the event that the Developer cannot secure the easements needed, the City has the ability
condemn the easement. The condemnation would take about three to four months and the
associated costs (legal fees, appraisal, and compensation) would be borne by the Developer. I do
not have an estimate of what the fees would amount to.
Other options available to the developer are; to negotiate with SDG&E to allow parallel lines in
the easement area (This may allow the use of a second line from Owens or a line from Edison
Place to be used); to redesign the project to provide an on site system acceptable to the City. At
this time, I understand that SDG&E has approved the crossing of the easement at the preferred
location.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to call me at (760) 602-4613.
Sincerely, Li!z&z-
Associate Planner
c: Smith Consulting Architects, Carl King, 12220 El Camino Real, San Diego CA 92130
Robert Irish, 11260 El Camino Real, Suite 200, San Diego CA 92 130-2647
Glen Van Peski
Skip Hammann
Chris Decerbo
M&hale Ogawa
Mike Smith
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