HomeMy WebLinkAboutDI 10-03; Infill Development Regulations; Discussion Item (DI)The City of Carlsbad Planning Division
A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Item No.
P.C. AGENDA OF: December 1, 2010
Application complete date: N/A
Project Planner: Don Neu
Project Engineer: N/A
SUBJECT: PI 10-03 - INFILL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS - Consider making a
request to the City Council that the Planning Commission and Staff be authorized
to prepare recommendations for the creation of regulations for Infill
Development.
I. RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning Commission not request authorization from the City Council to prepare
recommendations for the creation of regulations for Infill Development and permit the issues to
be comprehensively addressed as part of Phase 2 of Envision Carlsbad.
II.PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND
On October 6, 2010 the Planning Commission voted (6-0-1) with Chairperson Douglas absent to
direct the Planning Director to place on a future agenda an item regarding regulation of infill
development. The purpose of the agenda item is for the Planning Commission to discuss
whether to request City Council approval for the commission and staff to prepare
recommendations for the creation of regulations for infill development. The concern expressed
by commissioners was that additional regulations may be necessary to address potential impacts
of development on infill sites and to achieve compatibility with surrounding land uses. Should a
majority of the Planning Commission support pursuing this matter further the item will be
forwarded to the City Manager with a request that it be placed on a City Council Workshop
agenda for consideration.
III. ANALYSIS
As the supply of large areas of undeveloped land in the city continues to shrink the number of
future development projects on infill sites or redevelopment of sites will be a larger part of the
work of the commission and staff. The Planning Commission and staff are well aware of the
challenges of developing many of the remaining undeveloped properties as well as redeveloping
properties in established neighborhoods. Staff believes that modified development standards and
processes may be necessary to better address this issue.
At this time work is underway on Phase 2 of Envision Carlsbad. Phase 2 is the implementation
of the community vision through the updating of the General Plan, Local Coastal Program and
Zoning Ordinance. These planning documents are being updated concurrently to achieve
consistency between goals, policies and regulations. Staff is expecting to address the issues
associated with infill development through the Envision Carlsbad Phase 2 effort. This will allow
the issues to be addressed comprehensively. Adoption of the updated plans and ordinance are
o
DI 10-03 - INFILL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
December 1,2010
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scheduled to be completed by June 2013. Planning staff is now and will continue to devote a
considerable amount of time and resources to Phase 2 of Envision Carlsbad.
The Planning Director recommends that the commission not recommend that the City Council
direct that work be done on the creation of infill development standards as a separate item
outside of Phase 2 of Envision Carlsbad. Work will begin on plan and policy alternatives early
in 2011 as well as interviews with stakeholders regarding zoning ordinance issues. It would not
be an efficient use of resources to be working on infill development regulations outside of the
Envision Carlsbad project. Coordination between both efforts would be critical and may involve
soliciting the participation of the same stakeholders in multiple projects. Given the projects and
programs planning staff is currently working on it is not expected that developing and adopting
infill development regulations separately would occur any earlier than the completion of Phase 2
of Envision Carlsbad.