HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-13; Housing Element Advisory Committee; ; SITE SELECTION STRATEGIESHOUSING ELEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Staff Report
Meeting Date: May 13, 2020
To: Housing Element Advisory Committee Members
From: Scott Donnell, Senior Planner
Staff Contact: Scott Donnell, Senior Planner
Scott.donnell@carlsbadca.gov, 760-602-4618
Subject: Agenda item 3 — Site Selection Strategies in relation to overall General Plan goals and
policies/Carlsbad "smart growth" concept sites (Informational)
Recommended Action
Receive the report on site selection strategies from the City's General Plan besides the Housing Element and
information regarding smart growth sites in Carlsbad.
Executive Summary
The Housing Element is a component of the General Plan; as a result, the Housing Element is consistent with
the vision of the General Plan and is consistent with and supported by goals and policies of the other General
Plan elements. Government Code Section 65300.5 requires that the goals, policies, and objectives and various
accompanying analyses and text of the Housing Element must be reviewed in the context of the rest of the
elements of the general plan. In the Carlsbad General Plan, these other elements include Land Use &
Community Design and Sustainability, among others.
An attached exhibit identifies current General Plan goals and policies that are relevant to housing site
selection from the Land Use & Community Design, Noise, Sustainability, and Housing elements. This policy
framework helps to guide the selection of housing sites and expands upon site selection goals and policies in
the Housing Element alone. It provides the committee a fuller picture of the community's vision for locating
housing.
Review of General Plan goals and policies also shows how they support sites designated on the San Diego
Association of Governments' (SANDAG) Smart Growth Concept Map, which was last updated in 2016.
According to the agency's website:
Smart growth is a compact, efficient, and environmentally -sensitive urban development
pattern. It focuses future growth and infiII development close to jabs, services, and public
facilities to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and preserve open space and natural
resources.
Smart growth is characterized by more compact, higher density development in urbanized
areas throughout the region. These areas are walkable, bike -friendly, near public transit, and
Housing Element Advisory Committee Agenda Item 3
May 13, 2020
Page 2
promote good community design, resulting in housing and transportation choices for those
who live and work in these areas. Smart growth is a compact, efficient, and environmentally -
sensitive urban development pattern. It focuses future growth and infill development close to
jobs, services, and public facilities to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and preserve
open space and natural resources. Smart growth is characterized by more compact, higher
density development in urbanized areas throughout the region. These areas are walkable, bike -
friendly, near public transit, and promote good community design, resulting in housing and
transportation choices for those who live and work in these areas.
An attachment to this staff is excerpts from SANDAG's 2016 Smart Growth Concept Map site descriptions and
Smart Growth Concept Map, which highlights four smart growth areas in the city — Carlsbad Village and the
adjacent Barrio, The Shoppes at Carlsbad (formerly Plaza Camino Real), the Preserve (formerly Quarry Creek),
and the Ponto area.
Finally, and for the committee's information, Government Code Section 65583(c)(8) (a section of state housing
law) specifies that individual elements must include a discussion of how internal consistency within the
General Plan has been achieved and how internal consistency will be maintained throughout the planning
period. If appropriate and warranted by the site selection process, other General Plan elements may need to
be updated concurrently with the housing element to ensure consistency. As part of the Housing Element
Update process, the city will perform a consistency review and propose amendments to other General Plan
elements as necessary.
Public Notification
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for viewing at least 72
hours prior to the meeting date.
Exhibits
1. Table - Site selection strategies in relation to overall General Plan goals and policies
2. Excerpts from SANDAG's 2016 Smart Growth Concept Map site descriptions and concept map an
Exhibit 1
Site selection strategies in relation to overall General Plan goals and policies
General Plan Element/Category
Goal & Policies ("G" indicates goals; "P" indicates
policies)
Land Use & Community Design — Land Use
2-G.1 - Maintain a land use program with
amount, design and arrangement of varied uses
that serve to protect and enhance the character
and image of the city as expressed in the
Carlsbad Community Vision, and balance
development with preservation and
enhancement of open space.
2-G.2 - Promote a diversity of compatible land
uses throughout the city, to enable people to live
close to job locations, adequate and convenient
commercial services, and public support systems
such as transit, parks, schools, and utilities.
2-G.3 - Promote infill development that makes
efficient use of limited land supply, while
ensuring compatibility and integration with
existing uses. Ensure that infill properties develop
with uses and development intensities
supporting a cohesive development pattern.
2-GA - Provide balanced neighborhoods with a
variety of housing types and density ranges to
meet the diverse demographic, economic and
social needs of residents, while ensuring a
cohesive urban form with careful regard for
compatibility.
2-G.5 - Protect the neighborhood atmosphere
and identity of existing residential areas.
Land Use & Community Design — Community
2-G.16 - Enhance Carlsbad's character and image
Character, Design, and Connectedness
as a desirable residential, beach and open -space
oriented community.
2-G.17 - Ensure that the scale and character of
new development is appropriate to the setting
and intended use. Promote development that is
scaled and sited to respect the natural terrain,
where hills, public realm, parks, open space,
trees, and distant vistas, rather than buildings,
dominate the overall landscape, while developing
the Village, Barrio, and commercial and industrial
areas as concentrated urban -scaled nodes.
Land Use & Community Design —The Village
2-G.29 - Maintain and enhance the Village as a
center for residents and visitors with commercial,
residential, dining, civic, cultural, and
entertainment activities.
2-G.30 - Develop a distinct identity for the Village
by encouraging a variety of uses and activities,
Exhibit 1
such as a mix of residential, commercial, office,
restaurants and specialty retail shops, which
traditionally locate in a pedestrian -oriented
downtown area and attract visitors and residents
from across the community by creating a lively,
interesting social environment.
Land Use & Community Design —The Barrio
2-G.31 - Promote rejuvenation of the Barrio while
maintaining its walkable, residential character,
and ensuring that new development enhances
neighborhood quality and character.
Land Use & Community Design — Land Use
2-P.6 - Encourage the provision of lower and
moderate -income housing to meet the objectives
of the Housing Element.
2-P.12 - Encourage residential uses mixed in
conjunction with commercial development on
commercially designated sites and within the
Village, provided that "excess" dwelling units are
available, pursuant to City Council Policy No. 43,
and the findings stated in 2-P.8 are made.
2-P.13 - Encourage medium to higher density
residential uses located in close proximity to
commercial services, employment opportunities
and major transportation corridors.
Land Use & Community Design — McClellan-
2-P.37 - Require new development located in the
Palomar Airport
Airport Influence Area (AIA) to comply with
applicable land use compatibility provisions of
the McClellan —Palomar Airport Land Use
Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) through review and
approval of a site development plan or other
development permit. Unless otherwise approved
by City Council, development proposals must be
consistent or conditionally consistent with
applicable land use compatibility policies with
respect to noise, safety, airspace protection, and
overflight notification, as contained in the
McClellan -Palomar ALUCP. Additionally,
development proposals must meet Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements with
respect to building height as well as the provision
of obstruction lighting when appurtenances are
permitted to penetrate the transitional surface (a
7:1 slope from the runway primary surface).
Consider San Diego County Regional Airport
Authority Airport Land Use Commission
recommendations in the review of development
proposals.
Exhibit 1
Land Use & Community Design — Community
2-P.41 - Ensure that the review of future projects
Character and Design
places a high priority on the compatibility of
adjacent land uses along the interface of
different residential density and non-residential
intensity categories. Special attention should be
given to buffering and transitional methods,
especially, when reviewing properties where
different residential densities or land uses are
involved.
Land Use & Community Design —Village
2-P.70 - Seek an increased presence of both
residents and activity in the Village with new
development, particularly residential, including
residential as part of mixed -use development, as
well as commercial, entertainment and cultural
uses that serve both residents and visitors.
Land Use & Community Design — Barrio
2-P.77 - Promote new investment by allowing
opportunities for medium and high -density infill
residential development, strategically located in
the neighborhood consistent with the Land Use
Map. Ensure that development is designed to
enhance neighborhood quality, character, and
vitality, and is sensitive to historic and cultural
resources.
Land Use & Community Design — Westfield
2-P.85 - Promote redevelopment or reuse of the
Commercial Area
Westfield mall as a vital, community -wide
commercial destination, and encourage a
pedestrian orientation. Leverage the city's
parking -lot ownership to encourage residential
uses to be part of the land use mix.
Land Use & Community Design — Sunny Creek
2-P.86 - Foster development of this site as a mix
Commercial
of multi -family residential dwellings and a local
neighborhood -serving shopping center that
provides daily goods and services for the
surrounding neighborhoods.
a. The location of commercial and residential
uses/land use designations shall be determined
through review and approval of a site
development plan.
b. The area of land utilized for a local shopping
center shall be a minimum of 8 acres in size.
c. A total of 115 dwelling units have been
allocated to the site for growth management
purposes (based on 9.6 acres developed at the
minimum density of 12 dwelling units per acre,
pursuant to Housing Element Appendix B).
d. Residential and commercial uses should be
integrated in a walkable setting.
Exhibit 1
Land Use & Community Design — Ponto/Southern
2-P.89 - Allow development of the Ponto area
Waterfront
with land uses that are consistent with those
envisioned in the Ponto Beachfront Village Vision
Plan.
Noise
5-G.2 - Ensure that new development is
compatible with the noise environment, by
continuing to use potential noise exposure as a
crterion in land use planning.
5-G.4 - Ensure long-term noise compatibility
between the airport and surrounding land use.
Noise — Land Use and Noise Compatibility
5-P.1 - Acceptability of Use Location. Use the
noise and land use compatibility matrix (Table 5-
1) and Future Noise Contours map (Figure 5-3) as
criteria to determine acceptability of a land use,
including the improvement/construction of
streets, railroads, freeways and highways. Do not
permit new noise -sensitive uses —including
schools, hospitals, places of worship, and
homes —where noise levels are "normally
unacceptable" or higher, if alternative locations
are available for the uses in the city.
Sustainability
9-G.2 - Undertake initiatives to enhance
sustainability by reducing the community's
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fostering
green development patterns — including building,
sites, and landscapes.
9-G.3 - Promote energy efficiency and
conservation in the community.
Housing - Housing Opportunities
10-G.2 - New housing developed with diversity of
types, prices, tenures, densities, and locations,
and in sufficient quantity to meet the demand of
anticipated city and regional growth.
10-P.10 - Ensure the availability of sufficient
developable acreage in all residential densities to
accommodate varied housing types to meet
Carlsbad's 2010-2020 Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA), as discussed in Section 10.3
(Resources Available).
10-P.12 - Provide alternative housing
opportunities by encouraging adaptive reuse of
older commercial or industrial buildings.
10-P.13 - Encourage increased integration of
housing with nonresidential development where
appropriate.
Housing— Housing Implementation
10-G.3 - Sufficient new, affordable housing
opportunities in all quadrants of the city to meet
the needs of current lower and moderate income
Exhibit 1
households and those with special needs, and a
fair share proportion of future lower and
moderate income households.
10-P.17 - Any proposed General Plan Amendment
request to increase site densities for purposes of
providing affordable housing, will be evaluated
relative to the proposal's compatibility with
adjacent land uses and proximity to employment
opportunities, urban services or major roads, and
other policies applicable to higher density sites
that are identified in the General Plan Land Use
and Community Design Element.
10-P.19 - Address the unmet housing needs of
the community through new development and
housing that is set aside for lower and moderate
income households consistent with priorities set
by the Housing and Neighborhood Services
Division, in collaboration with the Planning
Division, and as set forth in the city's
Consolidated Plan.
10-P.23 - Consistent with state law, establish
affordable housing development with priority for
receiving water and sewer services when capacity
and supply of such services become an issue.
Exhibit 2
Growth
SMART GROWTH CONCEPT MAP - SITE DESCRIPTIONS
Jurisdiction Location
Existing/Planned
or Potential
(and reason for
Potential)
Smart
Growth Land Use Description
Place Type
Transit Service Description
per San Diego Forward:
p 9
The Regional Plan
Carlsbad C13-1 Carlsbad Village
Existing/Planned
Town Center This smart growth opportunity area consists of (1) the
Existing COASTER
COASTER Station
Carlsbad Village Master Plan and Design Manual (Village
Planned High -Frequency Local Bus
including Village
MP) area at approximately 200 acres; and (2) the City's
(Route 101 to be phased in by 2020)
and Barrio areas
Barrio at approximately 128 acres. The Carlsbad Village
at Grand Avenue
COASTER Station, which provides commuter rail service, is
Planned Rapid Service (Routes 473
and State Street
located in the heart of the Carlsbad Village area at
and 477 to be phased in by 2050)
Grand Avenue and State Street. The Village MP allows
residential development up to 35 units per acre in the core
village area with special emphasis around the COASTER
station. Mixed residential/retail development also is
encouraged. The future residential capacity within the
Village MP area is estimated to be 793 dwelling units.
Additionally included in the smart growth opportunity area
is the Barrio - an area for which the City has approved land
use changes that include provisions for high -density
residential (up to 30 dwelling units/acre), which is similar to
existing allowances in the Village MP. Objectives for the
Barrio area include providing high -density residential
located within convenient walking distance to transit stops.
The City of Carlsbad has begun a comprehensive update to
the Village MP that would expand the plan boundaries to
include the Barrio, with a focus on pedestrian and bicycle
connectivity and other plan enhancements that would
facilitate smart growth and redevelopment.
Existing development in the Village MP and Barrio areas
include low-rise building types. The areas are currently
served with commuter rail and bus transportation service,
with planned phase -in of high -frequency local and rapid
bus service.
Page 5
Existing/Planned
or Potential Smart Transit Service Description
Jurisdiction Location (and reason for Growth Land Use Description per San Diego Forward:
Potential) Place Type The Regional Plan
Carlsbad CB-2 Plaza Camino
(cont'd) Real at State
Route 78 (SR 78)
and El Camino
Real
CB-3
Quarry Creek
Area at Marron
Road and north
of Tamarack
Avenue
Potential Town Center The city approved a specific plan for the Plaza Camino Real
(Requires transit Mall located at the southwest corner of the intersection of
changes) El Camino Real and SR 78, which allows for multi -family
and mixed use residential uses. Potential future residential
or mixed use development could occur adjacent to the
retail structures on the city -owned parking lot area. This
smart growth opportunity area is currently served with
high -frequency local transportation service, and the
recently relocated transit station is located in the western
portion of the opportunity area. Additional light/commuter
rail service exists at the El Camino Real North County
Transit District (NCTD) SPRINTER station at El Camino Real
and Oceanside Boulevard, located approximately 11/2 miles
north of the project site.
Potential Community The City approved the Quarry Creek Master Plan for an
(Requires transit Center approximately 155-acre site. The master plan features the
changes) permanent protection of nearly 60 percent of the site for
open space, while providing for public and community uses
and up to 636 medium and higher density residences
clustered in four neighborhoods. The site is located south
of Marron Road and west of College Avenue, near the
Carlsbad boundary with the City of Oceanside. The
opportunity area is located approximately a quarter mile
south of SR 78 and approximately 1 �/2 miles south of
College Boulevard SPRINTER Station, which provides
light/commuter rail service from Escondido to Oceanside.
The opportunity area also is located within close proximity
to a retail shopping center containing a Wal-Mart anchor
tenant; and, institutional centers that include Tri-City
Hospital (within 3/ mile) and Mira Costa College (within 1
mile). Existing transportation routes provide connecting
service between the College Boulevard SPRINTER Station
and the Quarry Creek area. the area contains significant
cultural, environmental, and habitat resources, and the El
Salto Falls have been designated as a Native American
sacred site.
Planned High -Frequency Local Bus
(Route 302 to be phased in by 2020)
(Town Centers require regional
transit service)
No Qualifying Existing or Planned
Transit
Page 6
Existing/Planned
Smart
Transit Service Description
Jurisdiction
Location
or Potential
(and reason for
Growth
Land Use Description
per San Diego Forward:
p 9
Potential)
Place Type
The Regional Plan
Carlsbad C13-4 Ponto
Potential
Community
This project is part of the former South Carlsbad
Planned High -Frequency Local Bus
(cont'd) Beachfront at
(Requires land use
Center
redevelopment area and consists of a 50-acre site, located
(Route 101 to be phased in by 2020)
Avenida Encinas
change)
west of the San Diego Northern Railroad, south of
Planned Rapid Service (Route 473 to
and Carlsbad
Poinsettia Avenue, and east of Carlsbad Boulevard and
be phased in by 2050)
Boulevard
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground. In June 2005,
the City Council approved a "vision plan" for the area with
a land use mix that combines tourist -serving uses (three
hotels with time share units), a mixed -use core that
provides for town homes, live -work units, mixed
residential/retail development, and a separate townhouse
area having densities up to 23 dwelling units per acre.
Land use changes to implement the "vision plan" are
included as part of the comprehensive General Plan update
program. A light/commuter rail route exists directly east of
this opportunity area and the area with the Poinsettia
COASTER Station approximately 1 �/4 miles to the north.
Page 7
CEANSID
Smart Growth
Opportunity Areas
Existing/ Planned
- Potential
- Metropolitan Center C$
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71® Town Center
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-- Rural Village
- - Special Use Center
Mixed Use Transit Corridor
2050 Transit Network' from
San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan
CQASTER/AMTRAK/Metrolink
- Tro I I ey/SPRINTER
SPRINTER Express
Rapid Transit
Streetcar/Shuttle
High Frequency Local Bus
LocaT Bus
SMART GROWTH CONCEPT MAP
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NORTH COUNTY SUBREGIONAL MAP
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