HomeMy WebLinkAbout; 1994 Carlsbad General Plan; Carlsbad General Plan; 1994-09-06General Plan
Approved by
PLANNING COMMISSION
April 20, 1994
Planning Commission Resolution No. 3631
Adopted by
CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL
September 6, 1994
City Council Resolution No. 94-246
This document is printed on recycled paper
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General Plan
QlTycomcL Mayor Claude A. Lewis
Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Stanton Councilmember Ramona Finnila
CouncilmemberAnn Kdchin Councilmember Julie Nygaard
PLANNINGCOMMISSION Qlairperson Peggy Saw
Vice-Chair Kim Welshom
Tom G. Erwin Bailey Noble
MamiBetz Matthew Hall Clarence Schlehuk
City Manager, Ray Patchm
Community Development Director, Marty Orenyak Pfanning Director, Michad J. Holzmi,Uer Senior Pb, Adrienne Landers (Project Manager)
SECI'ION DMDER COLOR
VISION AND INTRODUCTION ................................... White
LANDUSEELEME ............................................. Ivory
CIRCULATION ELEMENT ........................................ Tan
NOISEELEM ENT............................................ Yellow
HOUSING ELEMENT . .(.l-!l?d.a!V! ????I. ............................. Gold
OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENT ....................... Green
PUBLICSAFETY .............................................. Blue
PARKS AND RECREATION ELEMENT . .("P,dFfqC! ?I)!3.). ................. Pink
............................................. ARTSELEMENT Qlerry
P
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Herisage Hall was built in 1926 to hsute the Cangregation of St Pauick's Churchat the u)\tshe3ut comer of Harding Stmt and Oak Avenue. In 1952 the church was moved .QWS the fprct where
City Manager, City C~uncil, Police Depararwrt and Fixe Dcparanent, d as a Couaty branch
liirary. At new City offices were constructed and City deparnnma moycd out, use of the bullAinp
changed hmthtt of city Ha& to the City libmy, to the dddren's hhuy, to a studio forthe Nd
County Balk Finally, in 1979 the sturdy little SUUCMC was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lor, homver, itwas rtrcued from demohion by a codition consisthg of Friends of
the Libmy, the Carlsbad Hismid Society and volunteer building mdcsmcn who arranged for it
to be moved to Magee HLnorical Park With only minor rcpaks, the old church once again became
a public meee place
it became the Ciq's 6m ad;lsininnnvc Ofiks. orathenmfewyearsittcnndashomttodre
Note: information dahd h pan from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Marjorie HowardJones.
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Contents
1. CARLSBAD . THE VISION 1
II. INTRODUCING CARLSBAD ................................................................................. 2
.....................................................................................
111. HOW TO USE THIS GENERAL PLAN ................................................................. 2
A.
B.
C.
D.
THE HORIZON: GETTING THERE ...................................................................................... 2
ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL PIAN ........................................................................ 6
Contents ............................................................................................................................. 6
The Vision .......................................................................................................................... 6
The Elements ..................................................................................................................... 6
What Are Goals, Objectives, and Implementing Policies and Programs? .......................... 6
RELATIONSHIP OF THE GENERAL PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION
MONITORING .................................................................................................................... 7
KEY SUBJECTS - CROSS REFERENCE ........................................................................... 7
1. CARLSBAD - THE VISION
A City whichmtk a brrlonccd variety of
lpnd uses for livingg, businexs, emplopent, rem-
ation. and open pace opportunities.
A Ciw committed to thc ecrwramicgnmth of
prcgtessivt commercial d idamrial businesses
to serve the empiopent, shoppingg, recreation, ad
service needs of its residents.
A City which oflm Meg, attractive
resihtid amas with a wide range of
howingtpes, styk andprice lev-
els in a variety of locmiomr.
A Civ which recqnizes the
valrre of its unique ewlogiaelp
sitionasacwrtpJc&yofkches,
fiagile hgoons, andunpiled
A City which bairmCes arrrtyarr;whichh*-
rk*sliving,p@** d to conserw the pa&y cmd
worhngneedsdxrvices of pmiityofiitrair, water, lpnd
the four sub-communities
wirhin the City.
anti biological msvtmts.
A City which recog-
nizes its own history; which
has pnsrrwd ad integmted
A City which provi&s
adequate public faCiririrs to
preserve the quality of Ii$e of its that history in a Wee of resi-
residents. WiaiandctnnmmiaindcammPrciomcighba-
kXx&
A City which provides a divlersi-
$e4 comprehensive park system that oflers a
wide variety of recreational activities Md park
faciliiies.
A Cirv which rec0gnir;Cs its rdc as a
participant in the solution of rigid isnrcrr.
A Citywhere travelissqfeandeasilyaccom-
mdtedwhether it be bymcrrstmnsit, inanautomo-
bile, on a bicycle or as ape&strian
P8ge 1
If. INTRODUCING
CARLSBAD
The City of corkbgd is a coastal commdy
Ly.atrA intbcnorthwestenr corner ofh Diego caunty,
San Dicgo ad appmxhatdy 90 miles south of down-
citics of Occanside, Vi San Marc~~, and Enciaitas and
a small unincorporated area ofthe County ofSaa Diego
(See Map 1 - "Regional Lacation" and Map 2 - "City
B&CS?.
califipmia, appmximptJy35 miiesnorthofQwntown
townLosAng&. Itsharrsborderswiththeheiacorporated
The City first developed around the turn ofthe
ccnturyasarail stop mtbe sou~sidtofthel3uma
Vista LagoostalungitsllamCfromKarlsbad, Bavaria,
becauseofthequalityoftknineralwatasfibarndinbotb
cities. Fn#nitsinceptiOn,untilwellafter~onas
agenerallawcityin1952,Carlsbadaridairuaquaint
dlagc-by-tbsca. However,followinga&of~-
ati~~inthel%osthecitybcgantogrow~
in areaand population. Fmitsorigud 7.5 squaremiles
ad 7,000 people, dtt City grew to its current 42.2 square
miles and appmumatdy 65,700 people (as of January 1992). AlllandsWithintheCi's&cial,~app~
"sphere of influence", including all unincorporated
"County islands", havcnowbea!annarcd, with the likely
nsultW CarIsbad's incorporsted area will not grow
appreciably in the future. As the cumt boundaries an
now likcly to be the City's ultimate boundaries, future
growth will occur only fhn within.
As of 1993, a little over halfofthe City had been deveiaped. AnothcrquartcroftheCityisinvariousstagcs
ofplannmg,thussettingthertagcforadditionalncar-and
mid-term dcvclopmtnt. Since 1986 Carisbad has been a
"growth management" city in which the major public
capacities sized to stryc atagcted ultimattpopulation
andnumbcrofrcsidentialwits (scctheLandUscElacnt
Eaciliticsart bcingczirdulyp~ financed, andthcir
-- Ill. HOW TO USE THIS
GENERAL PLAN -
A. THE HORIZON: GETTING
I THERE
It is customary for agartral plan to indime the
official future paiod during which it will be m egiict.
Insoxncplansthis~hasadiscrc&bcgbing -
and ad, withthe mdbcingtiaito aspecific "horizrw
year"15or20ycarsiathcftture. Theplantalresthe
position that it cannot anticipate the occds of the commu-
nity beyopldthe horizon yuu* therefore, the plan will
be in &kct only until that time, upon which it wiU have to
be revised in order to have any on-going relevance. -_
Altamtivdy,theplanmaybcdesignateda"build-
out"plan, withouta horiwa year. It is assumedthatthe _.
Page 2
REGIONAL LOCATION MAP
CARLSBAD
I L
MAP1
Dnon 1
CrrY BOUNDARIES
MAP 2
Page 4
Page 5
amadxmt the picture ofthat ideal cadarste, toward
which the city aspins, will have been changed and
nrrproved.
B. ORGANIZATION OF THE
GENERAL PLAN
Contents
The Vision
The Elements
What Are Goals, Objacthm~, and
Implementing Policies and Progrurrci?
Page 6
,
possible, measurable andhe-specific. An objective may
pertain to one particular aspect ofagd or may beone of
seved succcssivestcpstowardthcacWwmmt ofagoal.
Each goal should have one or more specific objectives
describingwbatshould result in tryingtoachievethegoal.
(e.g. "OUSing Element Objective 2.1.: Allow develop-
ment of sufficient new housing to meet Carlsbad's share
of the total regional housing need, as identified in
SANDAG's Regional Housing Nee& Statement, 1991-
f996. Target: Approximately 6.273 units.")
Impkmenting Policies and Programs -
statements articulate measures designed to bring about
attaiamcnt of the objedves and goals. In the Carlsbad
General Plan they range in specificity from generalized
guidelines and principles, to proccdurts, to speclficaction
programs. In measuring tbe progress the City makes
towards its objectives, and, themfore towards its goals, it
is the &cctiveness of these implementing policies and
programs that will be measured.
C. RELATIONSHIP OF THE
GENERAL PLAN AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION
MONITORING
Tht implementation programs amtaimd in each
Element of the General Plan an used as the basis for
preparing the annual rcport to the City Council on the
Plan, as dcscribcd in Section 65400 ofthe Golvrmmcnt
Code. Because many of the individual implementation
actions and programs described in tach Element act as
mitigation for significant cnvimnmmtal impacts result-
ing from development as described m thc General Plan,
theannualrcportcanalsoprovidca~ofmonitoring
the application ofthe mitigation measures as required by
AB 3180. Implementation programs included in the
General Plan should be updated whenever the City's
General Plan is amended or updated to ensure its contin-
ued consistency and usdulness.
status ofthe City's pragnss in implementing theGtnCra1
D. KEY SUBJECTS - CROSS
REFERENCE
saneimportanttopics areaddresscd in the Gcn-
eral Plan in morc than one place, due to the multi-
dimcnsid range of isms associated witb them. For
example the City's general aviation airport is discussed in
the Land Use Element, the Circulation Element, the Noise
Element, and the Public safay Element, each discussion
being conducted in a somewhat dif€erent wntext.
The following matrix has been prepared (See
theuseroftheGcncralPianinlocatingalloftheinfonna-
Tabk I: Matrix ofKcy General Pian Subjects) to assist
tion about a given subject when tbat subject is addressed
in more than one place.
Thehorizonta)axisofthematrixListstheGtneal
Plan sections, including tach of the elamnts, the Vision
and Introductioa, and the appendices. The vertical axis
lists those important topics that are addrcsscd in a sub-
stantivewayinmonthanonclocationofthcGcneralPlan.
At each intersection of a gend plan section with a topic
area, the matrix gives information about the kind of
dirmssion (ifaay) that is contained in the section about
that topic area. Ifa "B appears, the topic is discussed
in the section as background irbonnatiaa; ifa "Go"
appears, the topic is add& in one or moreofthegoals
or objectives of the element; and if an "I" appears, the
topic is addressed in an implementing policy or program.
If the interscuion is blank, then the topic is not discussed
in a substantive way in that section.
Please note that this matrix does not contain an
exhaustive listing of all of the topics addd in the
Carlsbad General Plan. It lists only those major topics
that are add4 in more than one place and only ifthere
is substantive discussion in those places.
Pape 7
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Page 8
I Tabk 1: Matrix of by Gonorrl Pian Subjoctr
Page 9
Page 10
Element
Heritage Hall was built in 1926 to home the congregation of St. Patrick's Church at the southeast
comer of Harding Street and Oak Avenue. In 1952 the church was moved across the street where
it became the City's first administrative offices. Over the next few years it served as home to the
City Manager, City Council, Police Department and Fire Department, and as a County branch
library. As new City offices were constructed and City departments moved out, use of the building
changed from that of City Hall, to the City library, to die children's library, to a studio for the North
County Ballet. Finally, in 1979 the sturdy little structure was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lot; however, it was rescued from demolition by a coalition consisting of Friends of
the Library, the Carlsbad Historical Society and volunteer building tradesmen who arranged for it
to be moved to Magee Historical Park. With only minor repairs, the old church once again became
a public meeting place.
Note: Information derived in part from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Marjorie Howard-Jones.
Contents
I. INTRODUCTION 1
A. Background and Intent 1
B. State Law 1
C. Relationship to Other Elements 1
D. Development Code ., 1
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND USE 2
A. City Form and Function 2
1. Underlying Principles 2
2. Major Factors Affecting Form 2
3. Defining Future City Form and Function 3
B. Growth Management Plan .: 4
C. Land Use Classifications 5
Map 1: Maximum Future Dwelling Units by Quadrant 6
Map 2: General Plan Land Use Map 7
1. Residential 9
Table 1: Quantitative Breakdown of Land Use Map 10
Chart 1 12
Chart 2 ..; 13
Table 2: Allowed Dwelling Units Per Acre 14
2. Community Facilities 16
3. Commercial 16
Table 3: Guidelines for Typical Shopping Centers 17
4. Planned Industrial (PI) 19
5. Government Facilities (G) 19
6. Public Utilities (U) 20
7. Schools 20
8. Open Space and Community Parks (OS) 20
9. Unplanned Areas (UA) 20
10. Transportation Corridor (TC) 21
11. Combination District 21
D. Special Planning Considerations 21
1. Schools 21
Map 3: Schools Districts 23
2. Village 24
3. Coastal Zone Programs 24
4. McClellan-Palomar Airport ..24
Map 4: Local Coastal Program Boundary 25
5. Agriculture 26
6. Regional Issues 26
7. Areas Needing Additional Planning 26
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS 27
Overall Land Use Pattern 27
A. Goals 27
B. Objectives 27
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs ,j.:i 27
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION (continued)
Growth Management and Public Facilities 29
A. Goals 29
B. Objectives 29
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 29
Residential , 31
A. Goals 31
B. Objectives ; 31
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 31
Community Facilities 32
A. Goal 32
B. Objective 33
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 33
Commercial .„. 33
A. Goals 33
B. Objectives 33
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 33
Village 35
A. Goals 35
B. Objective 36
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 36
Industrial ': 36
A. Goal 36
B. Objectives 36
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 36
Agriculture 37
A. Goals 37
B. Objectives 38
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 38
Environmental 38
A. Goal 38
B. Objective 38
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 38
Transportation Corridor 39
A. Goal 39
B. Objectives 39
C. Implementing Policy and Action Program 39
Special Planning Considerations - Airport 39
A. Goal 39
B. Objectives... 39
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 39
Special Planning Considerations - Regional Issues 40
A. Goal 40
B. Objective 40
C. Implementing Policy and Action Program 40
IV. GLOSSARY 41
Land Use Element
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
The Land Use Element is basically concerned
with how and where people will live, work, play
and shop in Carlsbad. It involves providing
sufficient land to meet the needs of the
community over a long-term period, while at the
same time preserving the quality and quantity of
our natural environment. It also involves
establishing the proper relationship between
living areas and nonresidential land uses.
The Land Use Element represents the desirable
pattern for the ultimate development of the City
as can be presently determined. As new
information becomes available, or circumstances
change, this document may require amendment.
Thus the element is not a final picture of the City
in the future, but an expression of what is desired
for the future based on present knowledge and
circumstances, and as such is part of a
continuous planning process.
This element also addresses the provision of
adequate public facilities necessary to serve the
land uses identified in the General Plan. These
facilities include, but are not limited to, city
administration, library, wastewater treatment,
parks, drainage, circulation, fire service, schools,
sewer collection, water distribution and open
space. It is a basic principle of the General Plan
that areas planned for residential, commercial or
industrial use will not be put to such a use, nor
zone changes or subdivision approvals consid-
ered, until the City can be assured that all
necessary public facilities for the area to be
developed can and will be available concurrent
with need.
B. STATE LAW
A Land Use Element is required by State law
(Government Code Section 65302(a)). Under the
State law, it is required to designate the proposed
general distribution and general location and
extent of the uses of the land for housing,
business, industry, open space, including
agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and
enjoyment of scenic beauty, education, public
buildings and grounds, solid and liquid waste
disposal facilities, and other categories of public
and private uses of land. The Land Use Element
should also include a statement of the standards
of population density and building intensity
recommended for the various districts and other
territory covered by the plan.
The Land Use Element consists of both a
narrative (written goals, objectives and imple-
menting policies and action programs) and a
graphic portrayal of land uses (Land Use Map).
Both of these constitute the Land Use Element
and represent the "Land Use Plan" for the City of
Carlsbad. Neither should be amended without
considering the impact on the-other.
State law also permits the Land Use Element to
address other subjects which relate to the
physical development of the City. In this regard,
Carlsbad's Land Use Element contains its pro-
gram for managing the future growth which will
occur in the City. This program is directed
primarily at ensuring that an adequate level of
public facilities will be provided at all times.
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
In differing degrees all of the elements of the
General Plan contain goals and policies which
relate to the Land Use Element. The Land Use
Element has the broadest scope of all the
elements and plays the central role of correlating
all land use issues into a set of coherent
development policies. All of the other elements
contain policies, implementation measures and
mapped information which relate to the Land Use
Element in terms of establishing development
procedures and modifying land use forms, and
intensities based on distinct physical features in
the City. Therefore, each element of the General
Plan must be referred to for a complete
understanding of the purposes, intentions and
development requirements embodied in the Land
Use Element. It is the policy of the City that the
Land Use Element be consistent with and further
the goals of all other elements of the General
Plan.
D. DEVELOPMENT CODE
Carlsbad's codes governing development include
the Zoning Ordinance, the Environmental Protec-
tion Procedures Ordinance, the Subdivision
Amended September 13,2005 ~Page1
Land Use Element
Ordinance and the Uniform Building Code.
These Codes regulate development as follows:
1. The Zoning Ordinance (Carlsbad Municipal
Code, Title 21) - This ordinance implements the
General Plan by regulating the distribution and
intensity of land uses in such categories as
residential, commercial, and industrial. Written
regulations establish standards for minimum lot
size; building height and setback limits; fence
heights; parking; and other development param-
eters within each land use. In the event of an
inconsistency between the Zoning Ordinance and
the General Plan, the General Plan shall prevail
and the Zoning Ordinance shall be amended
within a reasonable time so that it is consistent
with the General Plan as amended. (Government
Code Section 65860(c).
2. Environmental Protection Procedures
(Carlsbad Municipal Code, Title 19) - This
ordinance implements the California Environmen-
tal Quality Act and is intended to provide for
enhancement and protection of the environment
within the City by establishing principles, criteria,
and procedures for evaluation of the environ-
mental impact of public and private projects.
3. The Subdivision Ordinance (Carlsbad
Municipal Code, Title 20) - This ordinance
implements Section 66410 of the Government
Code (the State Subdivision Map Act). Both set
the procedures which regulate the division of land
into smaller parcels. Both the General Plan and
the Carlsbad Subdivision Ordinance govern the
design of the subdivision, the size of its lots, and
the types of improvements that will be required as
conditions of approval.
4. The Uniform Building Code (Carlsbad
Municipal Code, Title 18) - The purpose of this
code is to provide standards to safeguard health,
property and public welfare by regulating the
design, construction, occupancy, and location of
buildings within the City. This code is recom-
mended to the state by the International
Conference of Building Officials, adopted by the
State and then adopted by local jurisdictions. A
new code is published every three years with
addenda published annually. As part of the local
ordinance, the Carlsbad Building Code includes
the uniform mechanical, plumbing and electrical
codes. All residential, industrial and commercial
development must conform to the provisions of
these codes.
"The intent of the land use plan is
to provide a full-service, balanced
community where the needs of all
the residents can be provided for,
yet still have a cohesive urban
form."
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE
LAND USE PLAN
A. CITY FORM AND FUNCTION
1. UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES
The underlying principle of Carlsbad's "land use
plan" is that the City will develop as a balanced
community with a full range and variety of land
uses. Although remaining primarily residential in
nature, the City will provide places to shop, to
participate in recreational activities, to enjoy
nature, for both local and regional employment
opportunities, and to experience the City's cultural
amenities. The plan encourages a variety of
housing types and densities to serve the needs of
all income groups and lifestyles. It encourages a
strong, viable economic base. It attempts to
balance urban land uses with environmental
features and open space.
2. MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING FORM
Carlsbad's future development pattern, like its
historical development, will be influenced signifi-
cantly by three major factors.
Factor 1: Land Forms
Carlsbad's native land form, like much of the
Southern California coastal area, consists of an
uplifted coastal plain across which east-west
trending drainages have cut systems of alter-
nating mesas separated by'riparian valleys and
canyons. At the ocean, the mesas terminate in
Page 2 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
coastal bluffs and the major drainages have
formed lagoons. The low areas and mesa slopes
offer many constraints to development, arising
not only from the frequently difficult soils and
steep topography, but also from the presence of
wet-land and riparian habitats which provide
homes to a range of sensitive plant and animal
species.
Two of the lagoons, Buena Vista and Batiquitos,
and their associated east-west trending drain-
ages, form the northerly and southerly bounda-
ries, respectively, of the City. The third lagoon,
Agua Hedionda, effectively divides the City into
north and south sectors.
The upland areas and mesas, being less con-
strained, are more hospitable to development.
Factor 2: Airport and Nonresidential Corridor
McClellan-Palomar Airport, which completed con-
struction in March, 1959, was built atop the mesa
just south of the Agua Hedionda valley and
lagoon. Oriented to take advantage of the on-
shore winds, the runway lies on an east-west
axis. The associated glide path, crash hazard,
and noise impact areas around the airport signif-
icantly influence the type and intensity of develop-
ment across the entire central area of the City.
This area of influence extends generally in a
broad band east and west of the runway, and, to
a lesser degree, north and south of the airport.
For reasons of health and safety, residential
development and most institutional land uses
(hospitals, schools, etc.) must be precluded from
this area of airport influence. The result is that
lands surrounding the .airport can be utilized
principally only for industrial and supporting com-
mercial development.
This nonresidential corridor extends beyond the
actual influence of the airport, all the way to the
ocean and the mouth of the Agua Hedionda
Lagoon. The extension comes about due to the
proximity of the airport's influence area to the
640-acre utility corridor owned by the San Diego
Gas and Electric Company for the Encina Power
Plant and its associated major transmission right-
of-way along the southerly shore of the Agua
Hedionda Lagoon. Land within this ownership
may be used only for industrial-scale utility
functions and open space.
Factor 3: Regional Employment Center
As a result of the nonresidential nature required
of the lands surrounding the airport, Carlsbad has
designated and zoned most of these lands for
industrial and, to a lesser degree, office develop-
ment. The size of the affected acreage is very
substantial, with the result that Carlsbad has
created one of the largest inventories of aggre-
gated industrial land and, correspondingly, one of
the largest potential employment generators in
North San Diego County. When fully developed,
this generator will provide jobs not only in
Carlsbad, but in the entire region as well. This
role as regional employment generator will
increasingly have major implications for the City's
identity, its role in the region, and its future
development patterns.
3. DEFINING FUTURE CITY FORM AND
FUNCTION
The above factors shape, and to a degree, limit
the type of urban form that future Carlsbad may
have. Due to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon (and its
drainage), the airport and its influence area, and
the power plant with its transmission rights-of-
way, the City is effectively divided into northerly
and southerly residential sectors. Further, the
geographical center of the City is the airport,
flanked easterly and westerly by a major Indus-
trial, employment-generating corridor.
These facts suggest that the future development
of Carlsbad cannot easily be based upon a
traditional model utilizing a "downtown" com-
mercial core (located in the Village) surrounded
by residential areas and outlying industrial areas.
Rather, a more appropriate model, and the model
upon which the Land Use Plan of this General
Plan is based, is one of a centralized employment
core (the airport/industrial corridor) supporting
and supported by several adjoining residential
communities, each of which is, and will continue
to be, relatively self-contained, developing with its
own special identity and character.
Within the larger defining context described
above, the location and definition of these
residential communities will be further determined
by:
Amended September 13,2005 Page3
Land Use Element
° Secondary landform features (drainages,
open space corridors, proximity to the coast,
etc.);
° Their spatial relationship to major transpor-
tation corridors;
° Their location with regard to major public
facilities (community parks and schools');
» Prior development history (for existing com-
munities like the Village and La Costa); and
° The master plan development process
(especially in the southerly half of the city).
The plan calls for these residential communities
to be designed and developed, and to function as
relatively self-contained entities in terms of com-
munity services, yet simultaneously to contribute
to the city-as-a-whole. Sufficient land is (or will
be, in newer areas) identified and associated with
each community to support a balance of neigh-
borhood commercial and social services.
Through its growth management plan the City will
continue to assure the provision of the full range
of basic public services. In addition to offering its
special character to the larger city, each
community may also provide special or unique
services or amenities (a regional shopping center,
a multi-mode transportation center, a major
recreation facility, for example). In particular,
those neighborhoods adjacent to the central
employment core around the airport should
provide residences and both general and
specialized support services to the employees
and enterprises of the core.
In addition to lending definition to the boundaries
of the several communities, the landform of the
City also provides Carlsbad with truly magnificent
scenic and environmental resources. In particu-
lar, the lagoons, riparian valleys and canyons,
and sage and chaparral-covered hillsides
bequeath to the City a wealth of environmental
riches. However, with this legacy comes the
challenge and responsibility to- husband and to
protect these environmental resources at the
same time that they are integrated into the future
development pattern of the City. To this end, the
Land Use Plan calls for a comprehensive and
aggressive environmental resource management
and open space preservation program (see the
Open Space and Conservation Element). One of
the major defining characteristics of the City form
called for by the plan is an extensive network of
interconnected greenways, wildlife corridors,
parks, trails, and environmental preserves.
B. GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN
"AH necessary public facilities... will
be constructed or are guaranteed
to be constructed concurrently with
the need for them..."
The transition period between what the City is
today and what the ultimate, desired character of
the City will be is most critical. An area of primary
concern is the capability of the City to adequately
serve growth as it occurs. To ensure that ade-
quate public facilities and services are
guaranteed at all times as growth occurs, the City
developed a Growth Management Program which
was subsequently ratified by Carlsbad voters in
November, 1986. This program establishes
citywide, quadrant, and Local Facilities Manage-
ment Zones performance standards for eleven
public facilities. The eleven public facilities
addressed are city administration, library, waste-
water treatment, parks, drainage, circulation, fire,
open space, schools, sewer collection, and water
distribution. The program requires that the appro-
priate public facilities must be available in
conformance with the adopted performance
standards in an area when new development
occurs. Unless each of these eleven public
facility standards have been complied with, no
new development can occur.
Compliance is planned for and provided through
a three-tiered or phased planning process:
Citywide Facilities and Improvements Plan -
which adopted eleven public facility performance
standards, defined the boundaries of twenty-five
local facility management zones, and detailed
existing public facilities and projected the ultimate
public facility needs.
Local Facilities Management Plans - are prepared
in each of the twenty-five zones and implement
the provisions of the Growth Management Pro-
gram. Plans for zones 1-6 were prepared by the
City because these areas were highly urban-ized,
and there were no large undeveloped lands under
a single ownership. Remaining zone plans will be
prepared by property owners and then approved
by the City within each zone. These plans phase
all development and public facilities needs in ac-
cordance with the adopted performance stan-
Page4 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
dards, provide a detailed financing mechanism to
ensure public facilities can be provided, are re-
viewed by City staff for accuracy, and are ap-
proved by the City Council after a public hearing.
Individual Projects - must comply with the
provisions of the Local Facilities Management
Plans, as well as implement provisions of the
Citywide plan. The third phase of the program
includes the review of individual projects to
ensure compliance with all performance stan-
dards prior to the approval of any development
permits.
The Citywide Facilities and Improvements Plan,
adopted in 1986, made an ESTIMATE of the
number of dwelling units that could be built as a
result of the application of the density ranges in
the Land Use Element to individual projects. For
the entire City at buildout, the ESTIMATE was
54,600 dwelling units or an ESTIMATED
population of 135,000.
The purpose of this estimate was to provide an
approximate ultimate number of future dwelling
units and population citywide and for each
quadrant for facility planning purposes. The
City's Capital Improvement Plan, Growth
Management Plan, and public facilities plans are
all based on this estimate. To ensure that all
necessary public facilities will be available
concurrent with the need to serve new
development, it was necessary to set a limit on
the number of future residential dwelling units
which can be constructed in the City based on the
estimate. The City determined the maximum
number of future dwelling units which could be
constructed in the four quadrants along El
Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. The
maximum number of future dwelling units which
may be constructed or approved in each quadrant
after November 4,1986, is as follows: Northwest
Quadrant 5,844; Northeast Quadrant 6,166;
Southwest Quadrant 10,667; Southwest
Quadrant 10,801. (Map 1: Maximum Future
Dwelling Units by Quadrant).
When the Growth Management Program was
ratified by Carlsbad citizens through an initiative,
the voters mandated that the City not approve
any General Plan amendment, zone change,
tentative subdivision map or other discretionary
approval which could result in future residential
development above the limit in any quadrant.
This mandate will remain in effect unless
changed by a majority vote of the Carlsbad
electorate.
C. LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS
The land use classifications described herein and
shown graphically on the Land Use Map (Map 2:
General Plan Land Use Map) represent existing
and expected land uses in the City at some future
period of time, at total buildout of the City. The
purpose of the Land Use Map is to serve as a
diagram to graphically display the type, arrange-
ment and relation of land uses planned in the
City. It is not intended to be used to legally define
or measure parcels of land. Table 1: Quantita-
tive Breakdown of Land Use Map is a quantitative
breakdown of the Land Use Map in approximate
gross acres. Charts 1 and 2 provide a more
visual representation of the number of acres
designated for each land use category. The
following are the land use classifications repre-
sented on the Land Use Map:
RESIDENTIAL
Low Density (RL) (0-1.5 dwelling units per
acre)
Low-Medium Density (RLM) (0-4 dwelling
units per acre)
Medium Density (RM) (4-8 dwelling units per
acre)
Medium-High Density (RMH) (8-15 dwelling
units per acre)
High Density (RH) (15-23 dwelling units per
acre)
COMMUNITY FACILITIES (CF)
COMMERCIAL
Local Shopping Center (L)
Regional Commercial (R)
Tourist/Recreation Commercial (TR)
The Village (V)
Office and Related Commercial (O)
PLANNED INDUSTRIAL (PI)
GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES (G)
PUBLIC UTILITIES (U)
Amended September 13,2005 Page5
Land Use Element
ORTHWES
5,844
SOUTHEAST
10,801i SOUTHWEST
MAXIMUM FUTURE
DWELLING UNITS
BY QUADRANT
MAPI
Page 6 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
SCHOOLS
Elementary
Junior High
High School
Continuation
Private
OPEN SPACE & COMMUNITY PARKS
(OS)
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR (TC)
UNPLANNED AREAS (UA)
COMBINATION DISTRICT
Within each land use designation, there exists the
potential for certain unique land uses for which
there are no specific designations. Such uses
may include, but are not limited to churches, or
hospitals. These and other unique types of uses
cannot be automatically placed within any
"A City which provides for a
variety of housing types and
density ranges to meet the
diverse economic and social
requirements of residents..."
particular land use classification and must be
reviewed on an individual site basis through the
conditional use permit process (Title 21, Chapter
21.42, Carlsbad Municipal Code).
Discussed below are descriptions of the land use
classifications including population density and
building intensity permitted within each classifi-
cation.
1. RESIDENTIAL
Density is the unit of measure used to compare
and describe the intensity of residential land use.
Different categories of density constitute policy
statements used in establishing the public facility
requirements for each area. Density allocations
are not intended to specifically identify building
types but rather intensity of use. The City's goals
regarding the need for specific types of residential
housing are contained in the Housing Element.
That element should be referred to for more
detailed information regarding the housing needs
of the community and an integrated set of goals,
policies and programs to assist the community in
meeting those needs.
Five ranges of residential density, as shown
below, have been incorporated into the General
Plan. Each of these categories is implemented
by one or more zone classifications that contains
specific site development standards. The City
also has a specific mobilehome park zoning
classification although individual mobilehomes
are permitted in any residential land use
classification.
Notwithstanding the density provisions and intent
of each residential land use designation, as
specified below, a one-family dwelling shall be
permitted on any legal lot that existed as of
October 28, 2004, and which is designated and
zoned for residential use. Any proposal to
subdivide land or construct more than one
dwelling shall be subject to the density and intent
of the underlying residential land use designation.
a. Low Density (RL): Low density residential
areas intended to be developed with one-
family dwellings on parcels one-half acre or
larger at a density between 0 to 1.5 units per
acre. On sites containing sensitive biological
resource, as identified in the Carlsbad Habitat
Management Plan, development other than
one-family dwellings may be approved with a
planned development permit, subject to the
density range of this designation..
b. Low-Medium Density (RLM1: Low-medium
density residential areas intended to be
developed with one-family dwellings at a
density between 0 to 4 dwelling units per
acre. On sites containing sensitive biological
resources, as identified in the Carlsbad
Habitat Management Plan, development other
than one-family dwellings may be approved
with a planned development permit, subject to
the density range of this designation.
c. Medium-Density (RM): Medium density
residential areas intended to be developed
with one-family dwellings, two-family
dwellings and multiple-family dwellings at a
density between 4 to 8 dwelling units per
acre.
Amended September 13, 2005 Page 9
Land Use Element
Page: of 2
TABLE 1
QUANTITATIVE BREAKDOWN OF EXISTING LAND USE MAP
LAND USE
RESIDENTIAL
Low Density
Low-Medium Density
Medium Density
Medium-High Density
High Density
NON-RESIDENTIAL
Intensive Regional Retail
Extensive Regional Retail
Regional Service
Community Commercial
Neighborhood Commercial
Travel Services
Central Business District
Recreational Commercial
Professional Office
Planned Industrial
Non-Residential Reserve
PVRS/C/TS/U
Pl/0
TS/C
MIXED USE
RM/0
RMHAS
RH/O
RH/C/0
OTHER
Schools
Governmental
Designated Open Space
Public Utilities
Roads and Railroad
Public Rights-of-Way
TOTAL CITY AREA
TOTAL ACRES
(GROSS}
i4,m
1,798
8,382
2,681
1,096
237
4434
119
78
28
222
66
170
70
142
221
2,169
515
87
180
67
144
62
33i
47
6,316
513
273
4.257
158
1.079
36
24,788
% OF TOTAL
(GROSS)
57
7
34
11
4
1
17
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
9
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
25
2
1
17
1
4
0
10O*
% OF LAND
USE (GROSS)
12
59
19
8
2
3
2
1
5
0
1
0
1
1
14
3
1
1
0
43
23
1
33
8
4
67
3
17
1
Source: These numbers are based on information from 21 adopted Local Facilities Management Zone
Plans and information from San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for the four remaining
zone plans. These figures are subject to revision upon amendment to these approved zone plans
and/or approval of die remaining four zone plans. Numbers will be updated as the General Plan is
updated.
* Totals have been rounded off" to the nearest whole number; zone indicate areas of less than an acre.
TABLE 1
The above figures are from 1994.
Page 10 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
Page 2 of 2
TABLE 1
QUANTITATIVE BREAKDOWN OF PROPOSED LAND USE MAP
LAND USE
RESIDENTIAL
Low Density
Low-Medium Density
Medium Density
Medium-High Density
High Density
NON-RESIDENTIAL
Regional Commercial
Community Commercial
Neighborhood Commercial
Village
Tourist-Recreation/Commercial
Professional Office
Planned Industrial
Unplanned Areas
PI/O
T-R/C
MKEDUSE
RM/O
RMH/T-R
RH/02
RH/C/O
OTHER
Schools
Governmental
Designated Open Space
Public Utilities
Roads and Railroad
Public Rights-of-Way
TOTAL Cmr AREA
TOTAL ACRES
(GROSS)
14,194
1,798
8,382
2,681
1,096
237
4,134
224
304
66
70
313
221
2,174
515
180
67
144
62
33
2
47
6^16
513
273
4,257
158
1,079
36
24,788
% OF TOTAL
(GROSS)
57
7
34
11
4
1 '
17
1
1
0
011
9
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
25
2
1
17
1
4
0
100*
% OF LAND
USE (GROSS)
12
;59
19
8
2
5
7
2
2
8
5
53
12
4
2
43
23
1
33
8
4
67
3
17
1
Source: These numbers are based on information from 21 adopted Local Facilities Management Zone
Plans and information from San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for the four remaining
zone plans. These figures are subject to revision upon amendment to these approved zone plans
and/or approval of the remaining four zone plans. Numbers will be -updated as the General Plan is
updated.
^Totals have been rounded off n> the nc i indiaiE kreu of leu than an acre.
TABLE 1
The above figures are from 1994.
Amended March 27,2001 Page 11
Land Use Element
OVER-ALL LAND USE ACRES
R«id«ntMl Otlwr
RESIDENTIAL LAND USE ACRES
High
CHART1
The above figures are from 1994.
Page 12 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
NON-RESIDENTIAL LAND USE ACRES
"OTHER" LAND USE ACRES
School.GovOTvrwnt*! D..ig. O.S. Ro*d* 4 R.R. Public R.O.W.i
CHART 2
The above figures are from 1994.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 13
Land Use Element
d. Medium-High Density (RMH): Medium-high
density residential areas intended to be
developed with two-family dwellings and
multiple-family dwellings, as well as one-
family dwellings (developed as two or more
detached units on one lot) at a density
between 8 to 15 dwelling units per'acre.
Development of one-family dwellings on
individual lots may be approved with a
planned development permit, subject to the
density range of this designation.
e. High Density fRH): High-density residential
areas intended to be developed with two-
family and multiple-family dwellings, as well
as one-family dwellings (developed as two or
more detached units on one lot) at a density
between 15 to 23 dwelling units per acre.
Certain areas of the City designated for planned
communities may have several residential desig-
nations or combinations of residential designa-
tions. To accommodate good design and plan-
ning, as well as environmental and topographical
factors, planned communities shall be controlled
by a master plan.
As part of the City's Growth Management Plan, a
dwelling unit limitation was established for each
quadrant of the City. The City shall not approve
any general plan amendment, zone change,
tentative subdivision map or other discretionary
approval for a development that could result in the
development above the limit in any quadrant. To
ensure that development does not exceed the
limit, the following growth management control
points are established for the Land Use Element
density ranges.
The City shall not approve any residential
development at a density that exceeds the growth
management control point for the applicable
density range without making the following
findings:
a. That the project will provide sufficient
additional public facilities for the density in
excess of the control point to ensure that the
adequacy of the City's public facilities plans
will not be adversely impacted.
b. That there have been sufficient developments
approved in the quadrant at densities below
the control point so the approval will not result
in exceeding the quadrant limit.
c.All necessary public facilities required by the
City's Growth Management Program will be
constructed, or are guaranteed to be
constructed, concurrently with the need for
them created by this development and in
compliance with the adopted City standards.
Table 2:
ALLOWED DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE
General Plan
Land Use
Designation
RL
RLM
RM
RMH
RH
Minimum
0
0
4
8
15 -
Growth
Management
Control Point
1.0
3.2
6.0
11.5
19.0
Maximum
1.5
4.0
8.0
15.0
23.0
The residential land use designations indicate
MAXIMUM development unit yields. To meet the
General Plan goals and objectives, including, but
not limited to population goals and environmental
considerations, the ACTUAL yield may be less
than maximum potentials, but not less than the
minimum density of the underlying land use
designation; except, density may be approved
below the minimum of the density range in the
following circumstances:
a. When a single, one-family dwelling is
constructed on a legal lot that existed as of
October 28, 2004.
b. When a single, one-family dwelling is
constructed on a lot that was created by
consolidating two legal nonconforming lots
into one lot (this only applies to lots that are
nonconforming in lot area).
c. When a legal lot is developed with one or
more residential units that existed as of
October 28, 2004; provided, the existing units
are to remain and it is not feasible to
construct the number of additional units
needed to meet the minimum density without
requiring the removal of the existing units.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section
65863, the City shall not by administrative, quasi-
judicial, or legislative action, reduce, require or
permit the reduction of residential density on any
parcel to a density below that which was utilized
by the California Department of Housing and
Community Development in determining
compliance with housing element law, unless, the
Page 14 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
City makes written findings supported by
substantial evidence of both of the following:
a. The reduction is consistent with the adopted
general plan, including the housing element.
b. The remaining sites identified in the housing
element are adequate to accommodate the
City's share of the regional housing need
pursuant to Government Code Section 65584.
If a reduction in residential density for any parcel
would result in the remaining sites identified in the
housing element not being adequate to
accommodate the City's share of the regional
housing need, the City may reduce the density on
that parcel provided it identifies sufficient
additional, adequate, and available sites with an
equal or greater residential density so that there is
no net loss of residential unit capacity.
The City shall be solely responsible for
compliance with Government Code Section
65863, unless a project applicant requests in his
or her initial application, as submitted, a density
that would result in the remaining sites in the
housing element not being adequate to
accommodate the City's share of the regional
housing need. In that case, the City may require
the project applicant to comply with Government
Code Section 65863. For the purposes of
determining or requiring compliance with
Government Code Section 65863, the submission
of an application does not depend on the
application being deemed complete or being
accepted by the City.
Government Code Section 65863 does not apply
to parcels that, prior to January 1, 2003, were
either 1) subject to a development agreement, or
2) parcels for which an application for a
subdivision map had been submitted.
Residential density shall be determined based on
a number of dwelling units per developable acre
of property. The following lands are considered
to be undevelopable and shall be excluded from
density calculations:
a. Beaches;
b. Permanent bodies of water;
c. Floodways;
d. Slopes with an inclination of greater than
40%;
e. Significant wetlands;
f. Significant riparian woodland habitats;
g. Land subject to major power transmission
easements;
h. Land upon which other significant envir-
onmental features as determined by the
environmental review process for a project
are located; and
i. Railroad track beds.
No residential development shall occur on the
lands listed above; however, the City Council may
permit limited development of such property, if
when considering the property as a whole, the
prohibition against development would constitute
an unconstitutional deprivation of property.
Development on slopes with an inclination of 25%
to 40% shall be permitted if designed to minimize
the grading and comply with the slope develop-
ment provisions of the hillside ordinance and the
Carlsbad Local Coastal Program. However, only
50% of the area shall be used for density
calculations.
In instances where a property owner is preserving
a significant amount of open space land beyond
what would normally be required by city
ordinances for purposes of environmental
enhancement, compliance with the Habitat
Management Plan or otherwise leaving
developable property in its natural condition, the
City shall consider allowing the density or
development potential of the property being
preserved to be transferred to another portion of
the property or another distinct property. In these
instances, the density/development potential of
the property being left in open space shall be
reserved for and used on the remainder of the
land owned by the property owner, or through a
negotiated agree-ment with the City, may be
transferred to land owned by another property
owner.
All legally existing R-2 lots, as of December 1,
1986, may be developed with a two-family
residence regardless of the density allowed by
their General Plan designation if they can comply
with all applicable development standards in
effect at the time of their development and if the
following findings can be made:
a. That the project will provide sufficient
additional public facilities for the density in
excess of the control point to ensure that the
Amended September 13,2005 Page 15
Land Use Element Ill
adequacy of the City's public facilities plans
will not be adversely impacted;
b. That there have been sufficient developments
approved in the quadrant at densities below
the control point to cover the units in the pro-
ject above the control point so the approval
will not result in exceeding the quadrant limit;
and
c. All necessary public facilities required by this
chapter will be constructed, or are guaranteed
to be constructed, concurrently with the need
for them created by this development and in
compliance with the adopted City standards.
There are exceptional cases where the base zone
is consistent with the land use designation but
would permit a slightly higher yield than that
recommended in the low and low-medium density
residential classifications. In those exceptional
cases, the City may find that the project is
consistent with this element if: a) the project is
compatible with the objectives, policies, general
land uses and programs expressed herein, b) all of
the necessary infrastructure is in place to support
the project, and c) the proposed density does not
exceed the maximum density allowed at the top of
the range by more than an additional 25%.
Affordable Housing - Density Increases
The City recognizes that the feasibility of
providing housing affordable to lower-income
families is dependent upon the ability to achieve
residential densities higher than allowed by the
underlying land use designation. Therefore, it is
necessary to consider development of housing
projects containing lower-income affordable
housing units at densities that may exceed the
ranges and growth management control points
indicated above. The density which may be
approved for those projects which include
affordable housing shall be determined on an
individual project proposal basis, and may be
independent of the residential land use
designation of the site, subject to the criteria listed
under Residential, Implementing Policies and
Programs, C.3.
2. COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Facilities for child care providers, places of worship,
senior citizens, charities, and a range of other
community-serving activities are not traditional
residential, industrial, or commercial land uses.
Nevertheless, these activities and land uses are
important and traditional members of any vital and
fully functioning community. Because the organiza-
tions which pursue these activities are often non-
profit or quasi-for-profit, their financial resources are
often limited. The land within large-scale
developments planned and marketed for upscale
homes, shopping centers, and industrial campuses
is very often not affordable to these organizations,
making it likely that these types of facilities cannot
be easily incorporated into the community. The
development of large new residential communities
through new master plans "and specific plans
creates an additional need for these community
facilities uses in close proximity to the new
residences.
The purpose of the Community Facilities land use
designation is to assure that some land within
communities, especially new master plan and
specific plan areas, is identified and set aside solely
for these types of uses, specifically with the
objective that market forces will ensure that the
land so designated will remain affordable to the
organizations which build and operate these special
community facilities. Further, once the land is set
aside, there is a need to guarantee that it does not
revert to other uses before the community is
sufficiently developed to make use of and provide
financial support for the community facilities. To
these ends, specific objectives and policies have
been set out for community facilities uses.
3. COMMERCIAL
Commercial development within Carlsbad can be
defined by five principal categories: local
shopping center, regional commercial, travel/
recreation, Village, and office and related
commercial.
In general, retail development in Carlsbad should
occur in discrete shopping centers, as opposed to
more generalized retail districts or linear strip
commercial patterns along streets. This general
plan uses the following definition of a shopping
center:
Definition - "Shopping Center" after Urban
Land Institute, 1947, as amended):
...a group of architecturally unified com-
mercial establishments, numbering at least
Page 16 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
three, built on a site that is planned,
developed, owned, and managed as an
operating unit related to its location, size,
and type of shops to the trade area that it
"A City which provides for the
development of compatible,
conveniently located commercial
centers..."
serves. The unit provides on-site parking in
definite relationship to the types and total
size of the stores...
An exception to the general rule that retail
development should occur in discrete shopping
centers is the Village area of the City. As is
described in more detail below, this area reflects
the "downtown" heart of old Carlsbad, much of
which is today contained within a formal
redevelopment district. Retail development within
the Village should continue the historical pattern
of individual establishments within a commercial
district.
In prior versions of this General Plan, the City
recognized two types of local shopping centers:
neighborhood and community. In 2001, however,
these two categories were merged into a single
category called "local shopping center." The
typical characteristics of local and regional
shopping centers are shown in the following Table
3: Guidelines for Typical Shopping Centers. Both
types are described in more detail in the following
sections.
Table 3: GUIDELINES FOR TYPICAL SHOPPING CENTERS
Typical
Shopping Center
Characteristics
Trade Area Focus
Anchor Tenants
(examples)
Secondary Tenants
(examples)
Site Size (acres)
Gross Lease Area
Primary Trade Area
Drive Time, at Buildout
Primary Trade Area
Radius
Primary Trade Area
Population
Local Shopping
Center
Required of All Local
Shopping Centers
Local daily goods and
services
Supermarket, drug store
Restaurant, bank, real
estate, personal
grooming, small retail,
fast food, gas station,
cleaners, video rental
8-20
60,000 -150,000 (sq.ft.)
5-10 minutes
1 .5 miles
10,000 - 40,000 people
Possible Option, Depending on
Site and Special Approvals
Local, plus goods and services
provided by community-serving
tenants
Community-serving tenants,
such as value department
store, chain apparel store,
volume specialty store, home
improvement center, multiplex
cinema
Apparel, specialty retail,
restaurant, specialty
automotive, sporting goods
To 30
Up to 400,000 (sq. ft.)
10 -20 minutes
3-5 miles
40,000 - 150,000 people
Regional Shopping
Center
Regional
Full-line department stores (2
or more), factory outlet
center, "power center" of
several high-volume specialty
stores.
Full range of specialty retail,
restaurants, entertainment
30-100
300,000 to 1.5 million (sq. ft.)
20 - 30 minutes
8 -12 miles
150,000-1- people
Amended September 13,2005 Page 17
Land Use Element
Tenant composition and the type of anchor
tenant are the main identifiers of a shopping
center type. An anchor tenant may be an
individual tenant or a group of like uses that
function as an anchor tenant. For example, a
combination of gourmet food shop, delicatessen
meat market, and green grocery might function in
lieu of a supermarket. A food service cluster,
several restaurants, and a cinema complex may
function as other anchor tenants. Tenant
composition and the characteristics of the
leading tenants define a commercial center type.
Although building area, site size, trade area size,
etc. are influential, they are not the primary
factors in determining a center type.
Notwithstanding the last statement, the concept
of a shopping center's trade area is important for
other reasons such as the economic viability of
the center, the amount of competition it will
experience, and, consequently, determining the
optimal spatial distribution of shopping centers
within a community. The trade area is the
geographic area that provides the majority of
steady customers necessary to support a
shopping center. The boundaries of a trade area
are determined by a number of variables,
including the type of center, the size of the
anchor tenant, the site's accessibility, geographic
barriers, the location of competing facilities and,
very importantly, driving time and distance (See
Table 3: Guidelines for Typical Shopping
Centers). Consequently, trade areas can vary
widely in shape, size, and configuration. In
general, the closer potential customers are to a
site the more likely they are to patronize it. The
number of persons residing within the trade area
(and their related purchasing power) must be of
a sufficient size for the center to be economically
viable. When the trade areas of centers overlap
then competition may exist between the centers
and the purchasing power of the residents will be
shared between the centers. The desired
number and location of shopping centers,
especially local shopping centers, depends upon
a number of factors (detailed later) that relate to
"fitting" together the trade areas of potential sites
and making policy decisions about the amount of
gaps and overlaps that should exist between the
trade areas.
a. Local Shopping Center (L): The local
shopping center designation allows shopping
centers that include elements of the
traditional neighborhood center and, under
some circumstances, elements of the
traditional community shopping center.
Each local shopping center must contain the
anchor tenants and secondary tenants that
service the daily needs and convenience of
local neighborhoods. These tenants include
retail businesses, small offices, and a variety
of services. The most common anchor
tenant is a supermarket, although a large
drugstore or combination of supermarket and
drugstore may also serve. Secondary
tenants can include small offices (for banks,
insurance, real estate and other services);
personal grooming providers (like beauty
parlors, barbershops, and nail salons),
laundromats, cleaners, small retail stores,
sit-down and fast food restaurants, and gas
stations, among others. Typical charac-
teristics of sites for these centers are given in
Table 3: Guidelines for Shopping Centers.
While all sites with the designation Local
Shopping Center must provide neighborhood
goods and services, they may be authorized
also to have anchor tenants that are more
traditionally described as community-serving
in nature. These community commercial
tenants typically offer either a larger range of
goods and services and/or a higher degree
of specialization of goods and services.
Often the floor area is greater than is that of
stores that offer neighborhood goods and
services and their trade area is larger in size
and includes a larger population. These
tenants may include value department stores
(i.e., Target, K-mart), warehouse/club stores
(i.e., Home Depot, Costco), chain apparel
stores (i.e., Ross, Marshall's), a variety of
large-volume specialty-goods stores (i.e.,
Staples, Comp USA, Good Guys) and
multiplex cinemas. When these types of
anchor tenants are included in the shopping
center, additional types of secondary tenants
may also be included, such as restaurants
and specialty retail goods. Some local
shopping centers may also include quasi-
public or public facilities, such as a city
library or U.S. Post Office.
Local shopping center uses are generally
located within a convenient walking and/or
bicycling distance from intended customers
and should be linked with surrounding
neighborhoods by pedestrian and/or bicycle
Page 18 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
access. Landscaped buffers should be
provided around the project site between
neighborhood commercial uses and other
uses to ensure compatibility. All buildings
should be low-rise and should include
architectural/design features to be compat-
ible with the neighborhood. Permitted uses
and building intensities should be compatible
with surrounding land uses.
b. Regional Commercial (R): Regional
commercial centers provide shopping goods,
general merchandise, automobile sales,
apparel, furniture, and home furnishing in full
depth and variety. Two or more department
stores are typically the major anchors of a
regional shopping center, while other stores
supplement and complement the various
department store lines. New forms of
regional centers may include such
developments as outlet centers with an
aggregation of factory outlet stores where
there are no specific anchor tenants although
such centers are regional and enjoy a strong
tourist trade. Regional centers draw
customers from outside the City and
generate interregional traffic. For this
reason, such centers are customarily located
on a site that is easily visible as well as
accessible from interchange points between
highways and freeways. Local shopping
centers may be adjunct to regional centers to
also serve the daily convenience needs of
customers utilizing the larger shopping
center. A group of convenience stores,
service facilities, business and professional
offices are also often associated with a
regional center. Some of these may be
incorporated in the center itself, or arranged
at the periphery in the immediate area.
c. Travel/Recreation Commercial (TR): This
land use category designates areas for
visitor attractions and commercial uses that
serve the travel and recreational needs of
tourists, residents, as well as employees of
business and industrial centers. Such uses
may include, but are not limited to, hotels
and motels, restaurants, recreation facilities,
museums, travel support services, and
specialty retail uses catering to tourists.
Travel/recreation commercial uses are
generally located near major transportation
corridors or recreational and resort areas
such as spas, hotels, beaches or lagoons.
Travel/recreation commercial uses should be
compatible with and designed to protect
surrounding properties, should ensure safe
traffic circulation and should promote
economically viable tourist-oriented areas of
the City.
d. Village (V): The Village addresses land
uses located in the heart of "old" Carlsbad in
the area commonly referred to as the
"downtown." Permitted land uses may
include retail stores, offices, financial
institutions, restaurants and tourist-serving
facilities. Residential uses can be
intermixed throughout the area. The Village
is designated as a redevelopment area and
is regulated by the Carlsbad Village Area
Redevelopment Plan and the Village Design
Guidelines Manual.
e. Office and Related Commercial (O): This
classification designates areas that are
compatible with and environmentally suited
for office and professional uses, as well as
related commercial uses. This designation is
especially appropriate for medical office use.
Office and related commercial land use can
be used as buffers between retail com-
mercial areas and residential uses.
4. PLANNED INDUSTRIAL (PI)
Planned Industrial land uses include those areas
currently used for, proposed as, or adjacent to
industrial development, including manufacturing,
warehousing, storage, research and develop-
ment, and utility use. Agricultural and outdoor
recreation uses on lots of one acre or more are
considered to be a proper interim use for
industrially designated areas.
5. GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES (G)
This classification of land use designates areas
currently being used for major governmental
facilities by agencies such as the city, county,
state, or federal government. Facilities within
this category may include uses such as civic
buildings, libraries, maintenance yards, police
and fire stations and airports (McClellan-Palomar
Airport^. Smaller facilities, such as branch
libraries, may be found in other land use
designations, such as commercial, and are not
shown on the land use map.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 19
Land Use Element
The largest facility within this classification is the
McClellan-Palomar Airport located at the center
of the City. The airport, owned and operated by
San Diego County, serves as a major general
aviation facility for northern San Diego County.
More detailed discussions related to the airport
may be found under Special Planning Considera-
tions, as well as in the Noise, Circulation, and
Public Safety Elements.
6. PUBLIC UTILITIES (U)
This category of land use designates areas, both
existing and proposed, either being used or
which may be considered for use for public or
quasi-public functions.
Primary functions include such things as the
generation of electrical energy, treatment of
waste water, public agency maintenance storage
and operating facilities, or other primary utility
functions designed to serve all or a substantial
portion of the community. Sites identified with a
"U" designation indicate that the City is studying
or may in the future evaluate the location of a
utility facility which could be located within a one
kilometer radius of the designations on a site for
such a facility. Specific siting for such facilities
shall be accomplished only by a change of zone,
and an approved Precise Development Plan
adopted by ordinance and approved only after
fully noticed public hearings.
7. SCHOOLS
This land use classification represents both
existing and proposed school sites necessary to
serve the ultimate planning area. Sites are
designated as elementary, junior high, high
school, continuation school, and private school
facilities. For additional discussion see Special
Planning Considerations A. Schools.
8. OPEN SPACE & COMMUNITY PARKS
(OS)
The Land Use Map shows the generalized
boundaries of constrained lands and presently
designated open space, including existing parks
and special resource areas. It is not intended
that the map show all future open space. The
Open Space and Conservation Element of the
General Plan divides the broad definition of open
space into the following five categories:
a. Open Space for Preservation of Natural
Resources
b. Open Space for Managed Production of
Resources
c. Open Space for Outdoor Recreation
d. Open Space for Aesthetic, Cultural and
Educational Purposes
e. Open Space for Public Health and Safety.
The Open Space and Conservation Element also
includes goals, policies, and objectives regarding
open space planning protection, obtaining open
space, special resource protection, trail/green-
way system, promoting agriculture, fire risk
manage-ment, air quality preservation, water
quality, protection and historical and cultural
preservation. Please refer to that element for a
more detailed description of open space and the
goals, policies and standards pertaining thereto.
Parks are considered a subset of Open Space.
The Parks and Recreation Element delineates
three categories of parkland including community
parks, special resource areas, and special use
areas. Community parks are intended to provide
diversified activity, both active and passive, to
meet the broader recreational needs of several
surrounding neighborhoods. The Land Use Map
indicates specific locations for existing and
proposed community park sites. Proposed park
sites are anticipated to be dedicated and
developed in conjunction with surrounding
development. Please refer to the Parks and
Recreation Element for more detailed information
regarding community park sites, facilities, and
programs.
9. UNPLANNED AREAS (UA)
This classification of land use indicates areas
where planning for future land uses has not been
completed or plans for development have not
been formalized. Until such planning has
occurred and the land is redesignated, land uses
will be determined through the zoning ordinance
designations of Exclusive Agriculture, Planned
Community, or Limited Control. Because some
unplanned areas are located in proximity to
McClellan-Palomar Airport, it has been deter-
mined that they are not appropriate for
residential development. Agricultural and other
interim, nonresidential land uses are encouraged
Page 20 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
in such areas until their ultimate land use
designations can be definitely established.
Master Plan properties under the Planned
Community zone may utilize the UA designation
to reserve land for future planning, however,
such areas will require amendment to the master
plan as well as all other actions necessary to
redesignate the land.
10. TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR (TC)
This classification is applied to certain major
transportation corridors such as the I-5 Freeway,
and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
and its right-of-way. Land uses that would be
compatible with the corridors would be temporary
and low-intensity in nature, such as passive
parks, open space, or agriculture. In this way,
corridors would remain scenic and remain avail-
able for future transportation needs. The Land
Use Map also shows the general location of all
future Circulation Element arterials. The Circula-
tion Element should be referred to for more
specific information regarding these roadways.
11. COMBINATION DISTRICT
Some areas of the City are suitable for more
than one land use classification. The land use
map identifies these areas as Combination Dis-
tricts. Often multiple designations are assigned
to areas in the early planning stages when it is
unclear what the most appropriate land use
designation may be or where the boundaries of
such designations should be located. The desig-
nation as Combination District requires additional
comprehensive planning and necessitates ap-
proval of a specific plan prior to development of
25 acres or more and approval of a site devel-
opment plan for areas of less than 25 acres.
BOUNDARY DEFINITION
BETWEEN LAND USE
CLASSIFICATIONS
It is the intent of the Land Use Map to show the
general outlines of various land use classifi-
cations. The boundaries are not intended to be
precise legal boundaries. When uncertainty
does exist as to the precise boundary lines of
various land uses identified on the map, such
lines shall be interpreted in the following manner:
a. Where boundaries appear to follow the
centertine of a street or highway, boundaries
shall be construed to follow such lines;
b. Where boundaries appear to follow owner-
ship boundary lines, boundaries shall be
construed to follow such lines;
c. Where boundaries appear to follow topog-
raphic features such as valleys or ridgelines,
boundaries shall be construed to follow such
features; and
d. Where boundaries appear to reflect environ-
mental and resource management consid-
erations, boundaries shall be con-strued in a
manner which is consistent with the consid-
erations that the boundary reflects.
If the application of the above guidelines does
not resolve the uncertainty or if the Planning Di-
rector or the affected property owner considers
the result to be inappropriate, the matter may be
referred to the Planning Commission for deci-
sion. The Planning Commission shall resolve
the uncertainty in accord with all of the provisions
of applicable specific and general plans. The
decision of the Planning Commission may be
appealed to the City Council in accord with the
usual procedures.
D. SPECIAL PLANNING CONSIDERA-
TIONS
1. SCHOOLS
Schools sites have the potential to function as a
number of existing and future land uses.
Accordingly, they have several designations
throughout the General Plan, as follows:
a. Sites delineated on the Land Use Map with
precise boundaries represent existing
schools or confirmed school sites. Sites that
are shown with a circular symbol represent
approximate future sites to be confirmed by
respective school districts at time of
development. These designations are
considered to be "floating" and are not
considered to be specific to a particular
parcel, but rather indicate a general vicinity.
The City is served by four school districts as
listed below and shown on Map 3: School
Districts.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 21
Land Use Element
in.
iv.
Carlsbad Unified School District
Encinitas Union Elementary School
District
San Dieguito Union High School District
San Marcos Unified School District.
the City would then designate the site as open
space.
b. Some school sites are also included in the
Parks and Recreation Element as park sites
because the City has joint use agreements
with the school districts to utilize some of
their school playgrounds as recreation
facilities.
School locations are determined by the
appropriate school district and are based on
"service areas" for each school site within a
district. Service areas are designated for each of
the school locations based on generation factors,
school sizes, and maximum travel distance. A
substantial change in one school location would
necessitate revision of locations throughout that
school district.
At the time of subdivision review for an area in
which a "floating" school site is shown, the
following procedures are necessary to determine
the ultimate location of the school:
1. The City must inform the appropriate school
district that a development application has
been filed within the district.
2. The district must notify the City whether or
not it wants to initiate action to proceed with
acquisition of a school site in the proposed
subdivision.
3. The district must notify the City whether or
not it will be able to provide schools either
through existing or proposed facilities
(commonly called a "will-serve" letter).
If the school district determines the "floating
school site" is not necessary, the school site
designation shall revert to the adjacent land use
designation.
If an existing school site is determined by the
relevant school district to be surplus, then the
site shall be designated with the previous
General Plan land use designation, or a land use
designation compatible with adjacent uses,
unless the City exercises its option to purchase
the property to utilize as a park. If this occurred,
Page 22 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
(""I CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
r~1EWCINITAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT &
!__JSAN DIEGUITO HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
MAPS
Amended September 13, 2005 Page 23
Land Use Element
2. VILLAGE
The Village, located in the "downtown" section of
Carlsbad, has been established as a redevelop-
ment project area. A Redevelopment Master
Plan with Implementing Strategies along with the
present Village Design Guidelines Manual guide
all development in the Village. These documents
provide an overall development strategy to
create a strong identity for the Village, revitalize
the area, enhance the economic potential of the
Village and establish specific site development
standards. The intent of the master plan is to
preserve the village character of the area by
creating a pedestrian scale environment of
specialty shops, services, and restaurants
complemented by residential and mixed-use
development. The Redevelopment Master Plan
should be referred to for more detailed informa-
tion. Additional redevelopment project areas
may be established in other areas of the City in
the future.
3. COASTAL ZONE PROGRAMS
In 1972, California voters approved Proposition
20 which led to the enactment of the State law
(California Coastal Act of 1976) which regulates
any development within California's Coastal
Zone. The Coastal Act requires that individual
jurisdictions adopt Local Coastal Programs
(LCP) to implement the State law at a local level.
Carlsbad's Local Coastal Program is consistent
with the General Plan, but it is a separate docu-
ment containing separate land use policies and
implementation measures which must also be
complied with in addition to the General Plan.
Approximately one-third of the City is located
within the Coastal Zone. The City's coastal zone
has been divided into six segments and each
segment is regulated by separate LCP's (See
Map 4: Local Coastal Program Boundary). The
boundaries of the City's Coastal Zone which
were established by the State are depicted on
the Land Use Map.
Almost every conceivable type of development
proposal within the Coastal Zone from removal of
natural vegetation to the construction of huge
master planned communities, requires the
approval of a Coastal Development Permit
(CDP) in addition to any other permits or
entitlements. The land use policies, programs
and regulations of the relevant LCP shall be
referred to in addition to the General Plan, the
Municipal Code and other pertinent regulations
for guiding land use and development within the
Coastal Zone. Although the City has adopted
LCP segments for all of its Coastal Zone, it only
has authority to issue Coastal Development
Permits within the Redevelopment segment. In
the remaining five segments the California
Coastal Commission currently retains Coastal
Development Permit authority. Carlsbad is
actively pursuing the lengthy task of effectively
implementing the five LCP segments in order to
transfer permit authority to the City.
In those circumstances where an issue is not
addressed by the Local Coastal Program Land
Use Plan, but is addressed by the City of
Carlsbad General Plan, no coastal development
permit, or exemption may be granted unless the
project considered is found by the appropriate
authority to be consistent with the City of
Carlsbad General Plan. In those circumstances
where an issue is addressed by both the Local
Coastal Program Land Use Plan and the City of
Carlsbad General Plan, the terms of the Local
Coastal Program Land Use Plan shall prevail.
4. McCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT
McClellan-Palomar Airport, a county-owned
facility, is regulated by the Comprehensive Land
Use Plan, McClellan-Palomar (CLUP) prepared
by the San Diego Association of Governments
(SANDAG). This is a state-required, long-range
master plan, updated every five years, that
reflects the anticipated growth of the airport over
at least the next 20 years. The intent is "to
provide for the orderly growth of each public
airport and ... [to] safeguard the general welfare
of the inhabitants within the vicinity of the airport
and the public in general" (Section 21675, Public
Utility Code). As required by State law,
Carlsbad's General Plan must comply with the
Airport's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. If the
City chooses to overrule a finding of the Airport
Land Use Commission as stated in the CLUP, it
may do so by a two-thirds vote if it makes a
specific finding that the General Plan and the
CLUP are consistent.
To limit noise impacts on noise sensitive land
uses, the City has designated areas surrounding
the Airport for predominately planned industrial
uses. To accomplish this, a significant amount of
Page 24 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
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Local Coastal Program Boundary
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MAP 4
Amended September 13,2005 Page 25
Land Use Element
nonresidential land has been designated on the
plan, possibly exceeding what is needed to serve
and accommodate future residential uses located
exclusively in Carlsbad. As such, future re-
designation of planned residential areas to non-
residential uses to accommodate future airport
growth would not be supported. (Also see UA
designations.)
5. AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is an important resource in Carlsbad.
The City's agricultural policies are intended to
support agricultural activities while planning for
the possible future transition of the land to more
urban uses consistent with the policies of the
General Plan and the Carlsbad Local Coastal
Program (LCP).
The City's LCP protects agricultural lands from
the premature conversion to more urban land
uses by establishing programs which require
mitigation for conversion of agricultural property
to urban uses. It also has established methods
to benefit agriculture in the community by
providing financial assistance through cash
programs.
While the City encourages agriculture, it recog-
nizes the potential problems associated with ag-
ricultural land use. For example, to prevent the
destruction of sensitive wild and archaeological
resources, clearing and grubbing of natural areas
for agriculture requires a permit and environ-
mental review. Also, the City encourages con-
servation techniques in agricultural activities to
reduce soil erosion and water usage.
6. REGIONAL ISSUES
As a member of the San Diego Association of
Governments (SANDAG), the City is participating
with other cities in the county to develop a
Regional Growth Management Strategy. This
effort recognizes the fact, that as separate
entities, each city cannot solve region-wide
issues. Together, however, a strategy can be
developed to establish a framework for a
"regional community" with an improved quality of
life. Carlsbad recognizes its role as a participant
in this effort which focuses on the following nine
important environmental and economic factors:
a. Air Quality
b. Transportation System and Demand
Management
c. Water
d. Sewage Treatment
e. Sensitive Lands Preservation and Open
Space Protection
f. Solid Waste Management
g. Hazardous Waste Management
h. Housing
i. Economic Prosperity.
7. AREAS NEEDING ADDITIONAL
PLANNING
For a variety of reasons, there are areas within
the City that have unresolved land use
considerations which should be addressed prior
to the occurrence of a significant amount of
further development. The City has planned for
these areas on a General Plan level but due to
their unique characteristics they will require a
more specific level of planning review to ensure
that such characteristics are addressed compre-
hensively. More specific levels of review may
include such mechanisms as specific plans, site
development plans, special studies, or overlay
zones. Locations that have been identified as
having unresolved planning considerations are
discussed briefly below for determination at a
future time. Other areas may be identified in the
future as also requiring additional review.
a. BARRIO
The Barrio, located generally south of Carlsbad
Village Drive, north of Tamarack Avenue,
between 1-5 and the AT&SF Railroad, has served
as a focus of activity for Carlsbad's Hispanic
community for many years. This area of the City
is included within the "Barrio Community Design
and Land Use Plan" which is currently being
prepared. This document will be a compre-
hensive plan for the area and will address
neighborhood concerns of revitalizing the Barrio,
creating a cultural focus, and enhancing
economic development for this segment of the
community. The land use plan will propose
specific development and land uses for the
Barrio which will, after adoption, be integrated
into the General Plan.
Page 26 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
b. BUENA VISTA CREEK WATERSHED
Buena Vista Lagoon, located along the northern
city limits, is an important coastal, freshwater
lagoon in Southern California. It is fed by Buena
Vista Creek and its watershed which extends
through the eastern city limits to the cities of
Oceanside and Vista. The manner in which this
corridor develops is important for five major
reasons. First, the watershed supports sensitive
resources including wetlands and riparian
habitat, as well as the wildlife species typically
associated with these areas. Second, existing
land uses and zoning designations may not be
appropriate or compatible to protect these
resources. Third, urbanization in the watershed
has the potential to accelerate sedimentation into
Buena Vista Lagoon (see Buena Vista Lagoon
Watershed Sediment Control Plan). Fourth, there
are significant traffic issues along this corridor
related to Highway 78 on- and off-ramps, El
Camino Real, Rancho Del Oro overpass, and
Marron Road. Fifth, the burgeoning urbanization
along this corridor has the potential to severely
degrade the aesthetic worth of this valuable
resource area. Due to the sensitivity of this area,
the City may want to examine the feasibility of
requiring a comprehensive plan addressing
preservation and development within the Buena
Vista Creek Watershed.
all such uses, type, amount, design and
arrangement serve to protect and enhance
the environment, character and image of
the City.
A.3 A City which provides for land uses which
through their arrangement, location and
size, support and enhance the economic
viability of the community.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To create a distinctive sense of place and
identity for each community and neighbor-
hood of the City through the development
and arrangement of various land use
components.
B.2 To create a visual form for the community,
that is pleasing to the eye, rich in variety,
highly identifiable, reflecting cultural and
environmental values of the residents.
B.3 To provide for the social and economic
needs of the community in conjunction with
permitted land uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES & ACTION
PROGRAMS
OVERALL LAND USE PATTERN
A. GOALS
A.1 A City which preserves and enhances the
environment, character and image of itself
as a desirable residential, beach and open
space oriented community.
A.2 A City which provides for an orderly balance
of both public and private land uses within
convenient and compatible locations
throughout the community and ensures that
C.1 Arrange land uses so that they preserve
community identity and are orderly,
functionally efficient, healthful, convenient
to the public and aesthetically pleasing.
C.2 Establish development standards for all
land use categories that will preserve
natural features and characteristics,
especially those within rural, coastal and/or
hillside areas.
C.3 Ensure that the review of future projects
places a high priority on the compatibility of
adjacent land uses along the interface of
different density categories. Special
attention should be given to buffering and
transitional methods, especially, when
reviewing properties where different
residential densities or land uses are
involved.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 27
Land Use Element
C.4 Encourage clustering when it is done in a
way that is compatible with existing,
adjacent development.
C.5 Enter into discussions and negotiations with
other cities, the county, or responsible
agencies when prospective developments
in their areas are incompatible with adjacent
Carlsbad areas in regards to land uses,
density, type of dwellings or zoning.
Attention should be given to the use of
transitional methods to ensure compatibility.
C.6 Review the architecture of buildings with the
focus on ensuring the quality and integrity
of design and enhancement of the
character of each neighborhood.
C.7 Evaluate each application for development
of property with regard to the following
specific criteria:
1. Site design quality which may be
indicated by the harmony of the
proposed buildings in terms of size,
height and location, with respect to
existing neighboring development.
2. Site design quality which may be indi-
cated by the amount and character of
landscaping and screening.
3. Site design quality which may be indi-
cated by the arrangement of the site for
efficiency of circulation, or on-site and
off-site traffic safety, privacy, etc.
4. The provision of public and/or private
usable open space and/or pathways
designated in the Open Space and
Parks and Recreation Elements.
5. Contributions to and extensions of
existing systems of foot or bicycle
paths, equestrian trails, and the
greenbelts provided for in the
Circulation, Parks and Recreation and
Open Space Elements of the General
Plan.
6. Compliance with the performance
standards of the Growth Management
Plan.
C.8
C.9
7. Development proposals which are de-
signed to provide safe, easy pedestrian
and bicycle linkages to nearby trans-
portation corridors.
8. The provision of housing affordable to
lower and/or moderate income house-
holds.
9. Policies and programs outlined in Local
Coastal Programs where applicable.
Provide for a sufficient diversity of land
uses so that schools,, parks and recrea-
tional areas, churches and neighborhood
shopping centers are available in close
proximity to each resident of the City.
Consider the social, economic and physi-
cal impacts on the community when im-
plementing the Land Use Element.
C.10 Encourage and promote the establishment
of childcare facilities in safe and conven-
ient locations throughout the community to
accommodate the growing demand for
childcare in the community caused by
demographic, economic and social forces.
C.11 Restrict buildings used for large public
assembly, including, but not limited to
schools, theaters, auditoriums and high
density residential development, to those
areas which are relatively safe from
unexpected seismic activity and hazardous
geological conditions.
C.12 Develop and retain open space in all
categories of land use.
C.13 Pursuant to Section 65400{b) of the
Government Code, the Planning Commis-
sion shall do both of the following:
1. Investigate and make recommendations
to the City Council regarding rea-
sonable and practical means for imple-
menting the general plan or element of
the general plan, so that it will serve as
an effective guide for orderly growth
and development, preservation and
conservation of open-space land and
natural resources, and the efficient
expenditure of public funds relating to
the subjects addressed in the general
plan.
Page 28 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
2. Provide an annual report, by October 1
of each year, to the City Council, the
Office of Planning and Research, and
the Department of Housing and
Community Development regarding:
(a) The status of the plan and
progress in its implementation, in-
cluding the progress in meeting its
share of regional housing needs
determined pursuant to Section 65584
and local efforts to remove govern-
mental constraints to the maintenance,
improvement, and development of
housing pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (c) of Section 65583.
(b) The degree to which its approved
general plan complies with the
guidelines developed and adopted
pursuant to Section 65040.2, and the
date of the last revision to the general
plan.
C.14 Develop a periodic five year plan to
thoroughly review the General Plan and
revise the document as necessary.
C.15 Develop a program establishing policies
and procedures for amending both
mandatory and optional elements of the
General Plan.
C.16 Amend Title 21 of the Carlsbad Municipal
Code (zoning ordinance and map), as
necessary, to be consistent with the
approved land use revisions of the General
Plan and General Plan Land Use Map.
C.17 Amend the Local Coastal Programs, as
required, to be consistent with the updated
General Plan, or amend the General Plan
to be consistent with the Local Coastal
Program.
C.18 Update the adopted Local Facilities
Management Plans to reflect relevant
changes mandated by the General Plan
Update.
C.19 Conduct a comprehensive review of
General Plan boundary lines when
improved technology becomes available
so that boundary lines follow Assessor
property lines as closely as possible. In
addition, where General Plan boundary
lines split an individual parcel into two or
more sections, the boundary line shall be
located as accurately as possible based on
mapping done at the time of project
approval.
C.20 Update and revise all maps affected by the
General Plan Update to reflect all land use
changes.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND
PUBLIC FACILITIES
A. GOALS
A.1 A City which ensures the timely provision
of adequate public facilities and services to
preserve the quality of life of residents.
A.2 A City which maintains a system of public
facilities adequate for the projected popu-
lation.
A.3 A City that responsibly deals with the
disposal of solid and liquid waste.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To develop programs which would cor-
relate the ultimate density and projected
population with the service capabilities of
the City.
B.2 To achieve waste stream diversion goals
of 25% by 1995, and 50% by the year
2000 pursuant to the City's Source
Reduction and Recycling Program.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Permit the approval of discretionary ac-
tions and the development of land only
after adequate provision has been made
for public facilities and services.
C.2 Require compliance with the following
public facility performance standards,
adopted September 23, 1986, to ensure
Amended September 13,2005 Page 29
Land Use Element
that adequate public facilities are provided
prior to or concurrent with development:
PUBLIC FACILITY AND SERVICE
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
City Administration Facilities
1,500 square feet per 1,000 population
must be scheduled for construction within
a five year period.
Library
800 square feet per 1,000 population must
be scheduled for construction within a five
year period.
Wastewater Treatment Capacity
Sewer plant capacity is adequate for at
least a five-year period.
Parks
Three acres of community park or special
use park per 1,000 population within the
Park District, must be scheduled for
construction within a five year period.
Drainage
Drainage facilities must be provided as re-
quired by the City concurrent with devel-
opment.
Circulation
No road segment or intersection in the
zone nor any road segment or intersection
out of the zone which is impacted by
development in the zone shall be projected
to exceed a service level C during off-peak
hours, nor service level D during peak
hours. Impacted means where 20% or
more of the traffic generated by the local
facilities management zone will use the
road segment or intersection.
Fire
No more than 1,500 dwelling units outside
of a five minute response time.
Open Space
Fifteen percent of the total land area in the
zone exclusive of environmentally con-
strained non-developable land must be set
aside for permanent open space and must
be available concurrent with development.
Schools
School capacity to meet projected
enrollment within the zone as determined
by the appropriate school district must be
provided prior to projected occupancy.
Sewer Collection System
Trunk line capacity to meet demand as
determined by the appropriate sewer
district must be provided concurrent with
development.
Water Distribution System
Line capacity to meet demand as
determined by the appropriate water
district must be provided concurrent with
development. A minimum 10 day average
storage capacity must be provided
concurrent with development.
C.3 Ensure that funding for necessary public
service and facilities is guaranteed prior to
any development approvals.
C.4 Coordinate the type, location, and amount
of growth in the City with the City's Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) to ensure that
adequate funding is available to provide
service and facilities.
C.5 Prioritize the funding of projects in the
Capital Improvement Program to provide
facilities and services to infill areas in the
City or areas where existing deficiencies
exist.
C.6 Maintain the Growth Monitoring Program
which gives the City the ability to measure
its public service requirements against the
rate of physical growth. This information
should be used when considering develop-
mental requests and will allow the City to
set its own direction for growth and
establish priorities for capital improvement
funding.
C.7 The City Council or the Planning
Commission shall not find that all
necessary public facilities will be available
concurrent with need as required by the
Public Facilities Element and the City's
Growth Management Plan unless the
provision of such facilities is guaranteed.
In guaranteeing that the facilities will be
provided emphasis shall be given to
ensuring good traffic circulation, schools,
Page 30 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
parks, libraries, open space and
recreational amenities. Public facilities
may be added. The City Council shall not
materially reduce public facilities without
making corresponding reductions in
residential densities.
C.8 Ensure that the dwelling unit limitation of
the City's Growth Management Plan is
adhered to by annual monitoring and
reporting. The City shall not approve any
management and sewage disposal
capacity.
C.10 Manage the disposal or recycling of solid
waste and sewage within the City.
C.11 Cooperate with other cities in the region to
site and operate both landfill and recycling
facilities.
C.12 Continue to phase in all practical forms of
mandatory recycling, to the extent
possible.
RESIDENTIAL
A. GOALS
A.1 A City which provides for a variety of
housing types and density ranges to meet
the diverse economic and social require-
ments of residents, yet still ensures a
cohesive urban form with careful regard for
compatibility while retaining the present
predominance of single family residences.
A.2 A City with neighborhoods that have a
sense of community where residents
including children, the disabled and the
elderly feel safe and comfortable traveling
to daily destinations; where homes and
trees line the streets; where central
gathering places create focal points; and
where recreation areas are provided for a
variety of age groups.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To achieve a variety of safe, attractive
housing in all economic ranges throughout
the City.
General Plan amendment, zone change,
tentative subdivision map or other
discretionary approval for a development
which could result in development above
the limit. The City Council shall not
materially reduce public facilities without
making corresponding reductions in
residential densities.
C.9 Cooperate with other jurisdictions to
ensure the timely provision of solid waste
B.2 To preserve the neighborhood atmos-
phere and identity of-existing residential
areas.
B.3 To offer safe, attractive residential areas
with a wide range of housing types, styles
and price levels in a variety of locations.
B.4 To ensure that new master planned com-
munities and residential specific plans
contribute to a balanced community by
providing, within the development, ade-
quate areas to meet some social/human
service needs such as sites for worship,
daycare, youth and senior citizen activities,
etc.
B.5 To ensure that new development is
designed with the focus on residents
instead of the automobile by providing:
pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets;
walkways to common destinations such as
schools, parks and stores; homes that
exhibit visual diversity, pedestrian-scale
and prominence to the street; and
recreation amenities for a variety of age
groups.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Encourage the provision of low and
moderate income dwelling units to meet
the objectives of the City's Housing
Element.
C.2 Allow density increases, above the
maximum residential densities permitted
by the General Plan, to enable the
development of lower-income affordable
housing, through the processing of a site
development plan. Any site development
Amended September 13,2005 Page 31
Land Use Element
plan application request to increase
residential densities (either above the
Growth Management Control Point or
upper end of the residential density
range(s)), for purposes of providing lower-
income affordable housing, shall be
evaluated relative to: (a) the proposal's
compatibility with adjacent land uses; (b)
the adequacy of public facilities; and (c)
the project site being located in proximity
to a minimum of one of the following: a
freeway or major roadway, a commercial
center, employment opportunities, a city
park or open space, or a commuter rail or
transit center.
C.3 Consider density and development right
transfers in instances where a property
owner is preserving open space in excess
of normal city requirements or complying
with the city's Habitat Management Plan.
C.4 Limit medium and higher density resi-
dential developments to those areas where
they are compatible with the adjacent land
uses, and where adequate and convenient
commercial services and public support
systems such as streets, parking, parks,
schools and utilities are, or will be,
adequate to serve them.
C.5 Locate multi-family uses near commercial
centers, employment centers, and major
transportation corridors.
C.6 Encourage cluster-type housing and other
innovative housing design that provides
adequate open space areas around multi-
family developments, especially when lo-
cated adjacent to commercial or industrial
development.
C.7 Locate higher density residential uses in
close proximity to open space, community
facilities, and other amenities.
C.8 Consider high and medium high density
residential areas only where existing or
proposed public facilities can accom-
modate the increased population.
C.9 Coordinate provision of peripheral open
areas in adjoining residential develop-
ments to maximize the benefit of the open
space.
C.10 Encourage a variety of residential accom-
modations and amenities in commercial
areas to increase the advantages of "close
in" living and convenient shopping.
C.11 Require new residential development to
provide pedestrian and bicycle linkages,
when feasible, which connect with nearby
community centers, parks, schools, points
of interest, major transportation corridors
and the proposed Carlsbad Trail System.
C.12 Require new master planned develop-
ments and residential specific plans of
over 100 acres to provide usable acres to
be designated for community facilities such
as daycare, worship, youth and senior
citizen activities. The exact amount of land
will be determined by a future amendment
to the Planned Community Zone.
C.13 Introduce programs to revitalize all
residential areas which are deteriorating or
have a high potential of becoming deterio-
rated.
C.14 Ensure that all hillside development is
designed to preserve the visual quality of
the pre-existing topography.
C.15 Consider residential development, which
houses employees of businesses located
in the PM zone, when it can be designed
to be a compatible use as an integral part
of an industrial park.
C.16 Require new subdivisions to create a
unique sense of identity and community
through quality architecture, street design,
gathering places, recreation areas and
landscaping.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. GOAL
A City which provides land for child daycare
facilities, places of worship^'and other community
services facilities.
Page 32 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
B. OBJECTIVE
B.1 Require new and, as appropriate, existing
master plan developments and residential
specific plan developments to provide us-
able acres to be designated for community
facilities such as child daycare, worship,
youth and senior citizen activities, and
other appropriate uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Require new and, as appropriate, existing
master plan developments and residential
specific plan developments to provide land
for a child daycare use and other commu-
nity facilities uses.
C.2 Require that community facilities sites be
reserved for a sufficient time period to al-
low development of surrounding residential
uses which would support those commu-
nity facilities uses.
C.3 Require that community facilities sites be
located within the master plan or residen-
tial specific plan to most effectively serve
the residents of the master plan or resi-
dential specific plan.
C.4 Amend the City's Municipal Code to create
a Community Facilities zone to identify
those uses which will be allowed in the
community facilities area and to establish
development standards for community
facilities uses.
COMMERCIAL
A. GOALS
A.1 A City that achieves a healthy and diverse
economic base by creating a climate for
economic growth and stability to attract
quality commercial development to serve
the employment, shopping, recreation, and
service needs of Carlsbad residents.
A.2 A City that provides for the development of
compatible, conveniently located local
shopping centers.
A.3 A City that promotes economic develop-
ment strategies, for commercial, industrial,
office and tourist-oriented land uses.
A.4 A City that promotes recreational and
tourist-oriented land uses which serve
visitors, employees of the industrial and
business centers, as well as residents of
the city.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To limit the amount of new commercial
land use designations to that which
provides for basic commercial service to all
areas of the City without creating undue
overlaps in trade areas, consistent with the
prime concept and image of the
community as a desirable residential, open
space community.
B.2 To ensure that all residential areas are
adequately served by commercial areas in
terms of daily shopping needs which
include convenience goods, food, and
personal services. "Adequately served"
means no residential area is outside the
primary trade area of the nearest local
shopping center.
B.3 To establish and maintain commercial
development standards to address
landscaping, parking, signs, and site and
building design, to ensure that all existing
and future commercial developments are
compatible with surrounding land uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Applications for the re-designation of land
to shopping center uses shall be
accompanied by a conceptual develop-
ment plan of the site and a market study
that demonstrates the economic viability of
using the land in the way being requested.
Such studies shall give due consideration
to existing and future sites that may
compete within shared trade areas.
C.2 Utilize the following guidelines to
determine the appropriate spatial
distribution of new sites for local shopping
centers and to assign associated zoning.
Amended September 13, 2005 Page 33
Land Use Element
In some instances it may not be possible
to implement all of these guidelines fully
and some degree of flexibility in their
application may be required.
1. New master plans and residential
specific plans and other large
development proposals shall evaluate
whether there is a need to include a
local shopping center within the
development, consistent with these
guidelines.
2. Locate local shopping centers so that,
wherever possible, they are centrally
located within their primary trade
areas.
3. As a convention, the primary trade
areas of existing and proposed local
shopping centers may be defined in
terms of the time patrons typically
experience traveling to the center. The
range of travel times for local shopping
centers is given in Table 3: Guidelines
for Typical Shopping Centers. Any
city-wide analysis used to establish the
spatial distribution of centers should
consider a typical travel time, the
current or built-out condition of the City
and whether the travel being modeled
occurs "on peak" or "off peak" travel
hours, together with other factors that
may be appropriate.
4. Citywide, trade areas of centers should
abut one another as much as is
possible, so as to result in minimal
gaps and overlaps. This assures that
all areas of the City will have
"coverage" by a center, while reducing
the propensity for over-commercializa-
tion (See Goal B.1)
5. Generally, local shopping centers
should not be located directly within
the residential neighborhoods they
serve, but, rather, on the peripheries of
the neighborhoods, along or near
major streets or future extensions of
major streets.
6. New sites for local shopping centers
should not be located along El Camino
Real, so as to minimize the
commercialization of this scenic road-
way.
7. The population within the trade area at
buildout should be of a size that the
center would be economically viable,
considering other existing and future
centers.
8. Consider intersection spacing and
other circulation criteria to assure safe,
and functional access to the center.
Good locations ..will be readily
accessed from principal travel routes
and have several entrances. (Sites
located along primary arterials may
have difficulty meeting this guideline.)
C.3 Build, and operate local shopping centers
in such a way as to complement but not
conflict with adjoining residential areas.
This shall be accomplished by:
1. Controlling lights, signage, and hours
of operation to avoid adversely im-
pacting surrounding uses.
2. Requiring adequate landscaped
buffers between commercial and
residential uses.
3. Providing bicycle and pedestrian links
between proposed local commercial
centers and surrounding residential
uses.
C.4 Comprehensively design all commercial
centers to address common ingress and
egress, adequate off-street parking and
loading facilities. Each center should be
easily accessible by pedestrians, bicy-
clists, and automobiles to nearby
residential development.
C.5 Ensure that commercial architecture
emphasizes establishing community
identity while presenting tasteful, dignified
and visually appealing designs compatible
with their surroundings.
C.6 When "community" tenants (see Table 3,
earlier) are included in a local shopping
center, they must be fully integrated into
Page 34 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
the overall function and design of the
center, including the architecture, internal
circulation and landscaping. The inclusion
of such tenants should complement, not
supplant the principal function of the
center, which is to provide local goods and
services.
1. No community "anchor" tenant may be
built as a stand-alone building. It must
share (or appear to share) walls and its
building facade with other tenants in the
center.
2. Neither community "anchor" tenants
nor secondary tenants may feature
corporate architecture or logos (excluding
signs).
C.7 Ensure that all commercial development
provides a variety of courtyards and
pedestrian ways, bicycle trails, landscaped
parking lots, and the use of harmonious
architecture in the construction of
buildings.
C.8 Permit the phasing of commercial projects
to allow initial development and expansion
in response to demographic and economic
changes. Site designs should illustrate the
ultimate development of the property
and/or demonstrate their ability to
coordinate and integrate with surrounding
development.
C.9 Outdoor storage of goods and products in
shopping centers is not allowed.
Temporary exceptions may be allowed for
display and sale of traditional, seasonal
items such as Christmas trees, pumpkins,
and similar merchandise. In these
exceptions, both adequate parking and
safe internal circulation (vehicle,
pedestrian, and bicycle) is to be
maintained.
C.10 Encourage commercial recreation or
tourist destination facilities, as long as they
protect the residential character of the
community and the opportunity of local
residents to enjoy (in a safe, attractive and
convenient manner) the continued use of
the beach, local transportation, and
parking facilities.
C.11 Orient travel/recreation commercial areas
along the I-5 corridor, in the Village, or
near resort/recreation areas.
C.12 Revise Section 21.29.030 of the Zoning
Ordinance (Commercial Tourist Zone,
Permitted Uses and Structures) to more
accurately reflect the intent of the
Travel/Recreation Commercial general
plan designation to serve the traveling
public, visitors to the city, as well as
employees of business and industrial
centers.
C.13 Review parking requirements for com-
mercial areas on a periodic basis to ensure
adequate parking and to address identified
parking problems.
C.14 Strip commercial development (defined as
retail development outside of a shopping
center) shall be discouraged in all areas of
the City other than the Village.
C.15 Amend Municipal Code Title 21 (zoning
regulations) to create a new zoning district
appropriate for the Local Shopping Center
land use class. The new zone should
establish allowed land uses, development
standards, together with design guidelines
to assure that shopping centers meet the
objectives and policies set out herein.
Create a new "planned shopping center"
permit that will apply to all new shopping
centers and major remodels of existing
shopping centers, with the City Council as
the decision-maker.
VILLAGE
A. GOALS
A.1 A City which preserves, enhances, and
maintains the Village as a place for living,
working, shopping, recreation, civic and
cultural functions while retaining the village
atmosphere and pedestrian scale.
A.2 A City which creates a distinct identity for
the Village by encouraging activities that
traditionally locate in a pedestrian-oriented
downtown area, including offices,
restaurants, and specialty retail shops.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 35
Land Use Element
A.3 A City which encourages new economic
development in the Village and near
transportation corridors to attract additional
tourist-oriented uses and to also retain and
increase resident-serving uses.
A.4 A City that encourages a variety of
complementary uses such as a
combination of residential and commercial
uses to generate pedestrian activity and
create a lively, interesting social
environment and a profitable business
setting.
B. OBJECTIVE
To implement the Redevelopment Plan by
developing a comprehensive plan to address the
unique residential and commercial needs of this
segment of the community.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Provide a variety of commercial and tourist
recreational activities in the Village,
especially close to the beach, in
connection with special entertainment
facilities, restaurants and other uses which
will foster the community concept.
C.2 Support land uses around the intersection
of Walnut Avenue and Roosevelt Street
that preserve and support the ethnic
heritage of the area. The appropriate land
uses to accomplish this shall be
determined in conjunction with the
completion of the Redevelopment Master
Plan and the Community Design and Land
Use Plan for the Barrio.
C.3 Attempt to acquire additional parking areas
in the Village and beach area.
C.4 Seek ways of strengthening existing
establishments through facade and
streetscape improvements, upgraded
public and private landscaping and
aesthetically-upgraded signage.
C.5 Promote inclusion of housing oppor-
• tunities in the Village as part of a mixed-
use concept.
INDUSTRIAL
A. GOAL
A City which develops an industrial base of light,
pollution-free industries of such magnitude as
will provide a reasonable tax base and a balance
of opportunities for employment of local
residents.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To provide industrial lands which can
accommodate a wide range of industrial
uses, including those of relatively high
intensity, while minimizing negative
impacts to surrounding land uses.
B.2 To provide and protect industrial lands for
the development of communities of high
technology, research and development
industries and related uses set in campus
or park-like settings.
B.3 To provide and protect industrial lands
which can accommodate a wide range of
moder-ate to low intensity industrial uses
capable of being located adjacent to
residential areas with minimal buffering
and attenuation measures.
B.4 To concentrate new industrial uses within
the present boundaries of the industrial
corridor as shown on the Land Use Plan.
B.5 To encourage planned industrial parks as
the preferred method of accommodating
industrial uses.
B.6 To ensure that planned industrial parks
serve the commercial needs of employees
by providing commercial development
sites within each park.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
ACTION PROGRAMS
AND
C.1 Limit the amount of new industrial land
uses to those which can feasibly be
supported by desirable environmental
quality standards and the current growth
rate of the trade area and the City. Protect
Page 36 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
these areas from encroachment by
incompatible land uses.
C.2 Limit general industrial development within
the community to those areas and uses
with adequate transportation access.
These areas should be appropriate to and
compatible with surrounding land uses
including the residential community.
C.3 Provide for industrial sites that are large
enough and level enough to permit ample
space to meet on-site development
standards as well as areas for expansion.
C.4 Concentrate more intense industrial uses
in those areas least desirable for
residential development - in the general
area of the flight path corridor of
McClellan-Palomar Airport.
C.5 Protect the integrity and promote the
identity of industrial districts by bounding
them by significant physical features such
as primary streets, streams and railroads.
C.6 Ensure that the physical development of
industrial areas recognizes the need for
compatibility among the industrial
establishments involved and does not
permit incompatible uses.
C.7 Recognize that the existing boundaries of
the industrial corridor along Palomar
Airport Road reflect the impact of the
present size and operation of the airport
especially as it relates to residential type
uses. Therefore, no expansion of the
boundaries of the airport should be
considered, without authorization by a
majority of the Carlsbad electorate as
required by Carlsbad Municipal Code
Section 21.53.015.
C.8 Require new industrial specific plans to
provide, within the proposed development,
a commercial site designed to serve the
commercial needs of the occupants of the
business park. Such a site should be
located generally at the intersection of
prime, major or secondary arterials in
consolidated centers. At least one corner
of one such intersection must be
developed as commercial unless the
applicant can show why another nearby
site is better.
C.9 Allow, by conditional use permit, ancillary
commercial, office and recreational uses
when clearly oriented to support industrial
developments and their populations.
These include but are not limited to
commercial services, conference facilities,
daycare centers, recreation facilities and
short-term lodging.
C.10 Require new industrial development to be
located in modern,, attractive, well-
designed and landscaped industrial parks
in which each site adequately provides for
internal traffic, parking, loading, storage,
and other operational needs.
C.11 Regulate industrial land uses on the basis
of performance standards, including, but
not limited to, noise, emissions, and traffic.
C.12 Control nuisance factors (noise, smoke,
dust, odor and glare) and do not permit
them to exceed city, state and federal
standards.
C.13 Require private industrial developers to
provide for the recreational needs of
employees working in the industrial area.
C.14 Screen all storage, assembly, and
equipment areas completely from view.
Mechanical equipment, vents, stacks,
apparatus, antennae and other
appurtenant items should be incorporated
into the total design of structures in a
visually attractive manner or should be
entirely enclosed and screened from view.
C.15 Analyze the feasibility of zone changes to
redesignate the Commercial Manu-
facturing Zone and the Manufacturing
Zone as Planned Industrial Zones.
AGRICULTURE
A. GOALS
A.1 A City which prevents the premature
elimination of agricultural land and
preserves said lands wherever possible.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 37
Land Use Element
A.2 A City which supports agriculture while
planning for possible transition to urban
uses.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To permit agricultural land uses throughout
the City.
B.2 To conserve the largest possible amount
of undeveloped land suitable for
agricultural purposes, through the willing
compliance of affected parties.
B.3 To develop measures to ensure the
compatibility of agricultural production and
adjacent land uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Support and utilize all measures available,
including the Williamson Act, to reduce the
financial burdens on agricultural land, not
only to prevent premature development,
but also to encourage its continued use for
agricultural purposes.
C.2 Participate with neighboring cities and
communities in projects leading to
preservation of agricultural resources and
other types of open space along mutual
sphere of influence boundaries.
C.3 Consider the acquisition of lands or prop-
erty rights for permanent agricultural uses
through methods or means such as trusts,
foundations, and city-wide assessment
districts.
C.4 Attempt to preserve the flower fields or
lands east of I-5 to the first ridgeline
between Cannon Road and Palomar
Airport Road, through whatever method
created and most advantageous to the City
of Carlsbad.
C.5 Buffer agriculture from more intensive
urban land uses with mutually compatible
intermediate land uses.
C.6 Encourage soil and water conservation
techniques in agricultural activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL
A. GOAL
A City which protects and conserves natural
resources, fragile ecological areas, unique
natural assets and historically significant features
of the community.
B. OBJECTIVE
To establish the preservation of the natural
habitat of the rivers, riverbanks, streams, bays,
lagoons, estuaries, marshes, beaches, lakes,
shorelines and canyons and other areas
containing rare and unique biological resources
as a high priority.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Preserve Buena Vista Lagoon and Bati-
quitos Lagoon as visual resources and
wildlife preserves.
C.2 Ensure that slope disturbance does not
result in substantial damage or alteration
to major significant wildlife habitat or
significant native vegetation areas unless
they present a fire hazard as determined
by the Fire Marshal.
C.3 Ensure that grading for building pads and
roadways is accomplished in a manner
that maintains the appearance of natural
hillsides.
C.4 Relate the density and intensity of
development on hillsides to the slope of
the land to preserve the integrity of
hillsides.
C.5 Limit future development adjacent to the
lagoons and beach in such a manner so as
to provide to the greatest extent feasible
the physical and visual accessibility to
these resources for public use and
enjoyment.
C.6 Ensure the preservation and maintenance
of the unique environmental resources of
Page 38 Amended September 13,2005
Land Use Element
the Agua Hedionda Lagoon while providing
for a balance of public and private land
uses through implementation of the Agua
Hedionda Land Use Plan.
C.7 Require comprehensive environmental
review in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for all
projects that have the potential to impact
natural resources or environmental fea-
tures.
C.8 Require that the construction of all projects
be monitored to ensure that environmental
conditions and mitigating measures are
fully implemented and are successful.
C.9 Implement to the greatest extent feasible
the natural resource protection policies of
the Local Coastal Program.
C.10 Utilize the goals, objectives and imple-
menting policies of the Open Space Ele-
ment regarding environmental resources
that should be protected as open space.
C.11 Participate in programs that restore and
enhance the City's degraded natural re-
sources.
C.12 Implement the Batiquitos Lagoon En-
hancement Plan.
C.13 Implement the Habitat Management Plan
in order to protect rare and unique
biological resources with the city so as to
preserve wildlife habitats.
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
A. GOAL
A City which supports the improvement and
modernization of railroad facilities within Carls-
bad and the region.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To support the installation and operation of
a commuter rail system in Carlsbad.
B.2 To encourage the use o£«the excess
railroad right-of-way for landscaping,
parking facilities, recreation areas, trails
and similar uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICY AND
ACTION PROGRAM
Adopt a comprehensive plan addressing the
design and location of future commuter rail
stations as well as methods of improving the
appearance and public use of the railroad right-
of-way.
SPECIAL PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS-AIRPORT
A. GOAL
A City which maintains land use compatibility
between McClellan-Palomar Airport and sur-
rounding land uses.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To encourage the continued operation of
McClellan-Palomar Airport as a general
aviation airport.
B.2 To prohibit the expansion of McClellan-
Palomar Airport unless approved by a
majority vote of the Carlsbad electorate.
(Section 21.53.015, Carlsbad Municipal
Code.)
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Require all parcels of land located in the
Airport Influence Area to receive discre-
tionary approval as follows: all parcels
must process either a site development
plan, planned industrial permit, or other
discretionary permit. Unless otherwise ap-
proved by City Council, development pro-
posals must be in compliance with the
noise standards of the Comprehensive
Land Use Plan (CLUP) and meet FAA re-
quirements 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).
Amended September 13,2005 Page 39
Land Use Element
Consider County Airport Land Use Com-
mission recommendations in the review of
development proposals.
C.2 Coordinate with the San Diego Associ-
ation of Governments and the Federal
Aviation Administration to protect public
health, safety and welfare by ensuring the
orderly operation of the Airport and the
adoption of land use measures that mini-
mize the public's exposure to excessive
noise and safety hazards within areas
around the airport.
SPECIAL PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS-REGIONAL
ISSUES
A. GOAL
A City which participates with other cities in the
County, through the San Diego Association of
Governments, in working towards the solution of
regional issues.
B. OBJECTIVE
To participate with other cities in the County in
developing a Regional Growth Management
Strategy.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICY AND
ACTION PROGRAM
Implement the policies of the Regional Growth
Management Strategy when the program is
adopted by the City.
Page 40 Amended September 13, 2005
, Land Use Element
IV. GLOSSARY
AGUA HEDIONDA LAND USE PLAN
BEACH AREA OVERLAY
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
(CEQA)
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (PLAN) (CIP)
CEQA
CIP
CITYWIDE FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS PLAN
CLUSTERING/CLUSTER-TYPE HOUSING
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP)
DEFENSIBLE SPACE
The Local Coastal Plan for the area surrounding
Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Special zoning regulations affecting parking,
height and processing requirements for residen-
tially zoned property in the area bounded by the
Pacific Ocean, the AT&SF Railroad, Buena
Vista Lagoon and Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Requires the assessment of projects for envi-
ronmental effects, establishes procedures for
preparing and processing environmental docu-
ments and includes requirements for the moni-
toring of environmental mitigation conditions
placed on a project.
A city's governmental budget that programs
public facilities to fit its fiscal capability some
years into the future. Capital improvement pro-
grams are usually projected five years in ad-
vance and should be updated annually, so as to
provide a link to the annual budgeting process.
See California Environmental Quality Act.
See Capital Improvement Program.
A plan which identifies the public facilities which
will be needed when the City is completely de-
veloped.
Development patterns in which the uses are
grouped or "clustered" through a density trans-
fer, rather than spread evenly throughout a par-
cel as in conventional lot-by-lot development. A
zoning ordinance may authorize such develop-
ment by permitting smaller lot sizes if a speci-
fied portion of the land is kept in permanent
open space either through public dedication or
through creation of a homeowners association.
A use that may locate in certain zones provided
it will not be detrimental to the public health,
safety, and welfare and will not impair the integ-
rity and character of the zone. The Planning
Commission approves subject to conditions and
each application is considered on its own
merits.
Concept of urban space designed to inhibit
crime by utilizing the proprietary concerns of
residents. Key ingredients in designing defen-
Amended September 13, 2005 Page 41
Land Use Element
DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS
GMP
GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM/PLAN (GMP)
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ZONE
HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN
LCP
LFMP
LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM (PLAN) (LCP)
LOCAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PLAN (LFMP)
sible space include: improving the natural ca-
pability of residents to visually survey the public
areas of their residential environment; enhanc-
ing spheres of territorial influence within which
residents can easily adopt proprietary attitude;
and, enhancing safety through the strategic
geographic locations of intensively used com-
munity facilities.
A density increase of at least 25% over the
otherwise maximum allowable residential
density under the applicable zoning and land
use.
Open space lands which are constrained or
prohibited from development including beaches,
lagoons, wetlands, other permanent water
bodies, riparian habitats and steep slopes.
See Growth Management Plan.
A comprehensive approach to land use planning
now and in the future. It links residential, com-
mercial and industrial development directly to
the availability of public services and facilities. It
sets limits on the total number of housing units
to be built and increases the total amount of
open space to be preserved in the City.
A geographically-defined area in the City, the
boundaries of which were based upon logical
facilities and improvements planning relation-
ships. Under the City's Growth Management
Plan, there are 25 zones and a plan for facilities
and improvements is required for each zone
before development can occur.
A comprehensive, citywide program which
identifies how the city can preserve the diversity
of natural habitats and protect rare and unique
biological resources.
See Local Coastal Program.
See Local Facilities Management Plan.
A specifically prepared land use plan for the
portion of the City located within the Coastal
boundaries as defined by the State Coastal Act.
The plan must address the protection of coastal
resources and public access to the coastline.
Shows how and when the following facilities and
improvements necessary to accommodate de-
velopment within the zone will be installed or
Page 42 Amended September 13, 2005
Land Use Element
MASTER PLAN
MULTI-FAMILY
PD
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD)
PUBLIC FACILITIES
REDEVELOPMENT
RIGHT-OF-WAY
SANDAG
SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
(SANDAG)
SDP
SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SDP)
SPECIFIC PLAN
financed: city administrative facilities, library,
wastewater treatment, parks, drainage, circula-
tion, fire facilities, open space, schools, sewer
facilities and water facilities.
A plan that supplements and provides more
detail to the General Plan and the Land Use
Element as it applies to a large piece of land in
the City.
A residential structure or building that contains
more than one dwelling, unit or home.
See Planned Development. .
A contained development, often with a mixture
of housing types and densities, in which the
subdivision and zoning controls are applied to
the project as a whole rather than to individual
lots as in most subdivisions. Therefore, densi-
ties are calculated for the entire development,
usually permitting a trade-off between clustering
of houses and provision of common open
space.
Uses or structures that provide services to the
public such as a library, city hall, fire station,
police station, park, traffic signal or major street.
An area of the City which is officially designated
for rehabilitation or redevelopment because
some or all of the buildings are old and often
substandard.
The area of land which has been dedicated for
public use for transportation purposes (i.e., a
street, freeway or railroad).
See San Diego Association of Governments.
The regional planning agency for the San Diego
Region of which Carlsbad is a member agency.
See Site Development Plan.
A plan showing uses and structures proposed
for a parcel of land.
Similar to a master plan. A plan adopted by the
City to implement its General Plan for desig-
nated areas. It contains the locations and stan-
dards for land use densities, streets, and other
public facilities in greater detail than the General
Plan and the Land Use Plan.
Amended September 13,2005 Page 43
Land Use Element
STRIP COMMERCIAL
TENTATIVE SUBDIVISION MAP
UNACCEPTABLE RISK
VARIANCE
A conglomeration of commercial development
extending along both sides of a major street
leading out of the center of a city. In zoning
terms, a strip zone may refer to a district
consisting of a ribbon of highway commercial
uses fronting both sides of a major arterial
route.
A proposal to subdivide land into five or more
lots or units. A final map which conforms to the
tentative map completes the subdivision
process.
Level of risk above which specific action by
government is deemed to be necessary to
protect life and property.
A device which grants a property owner relief
from certain provisions of a zoning ordinance
when because of the particular physical
surroundings, shape, or topographical condition
of the property, compliance would result in a
particular hardship upon the owner, as
distinguished from a mere inconvenience or a
desire to enhance an investment. A variance
may be granted, for example, to reduce yard or
setback requirements, or the number of parking
or loading spaces. Authority to decide
variances is usually vested in the Planning
Commission.
Page 44 Amended September 13, 2005
t
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.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Contents
1 . INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1
1 B . STATE LAW .........................................................................................................................
C . RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ELEMENTS ............................................................................ 1 D . THE CITY OF CARLSBAD SRTING 2
E . CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ................................................................................. 2
A . BACKGROUND AND INTENT .............................................................................................. 1
...................................................................................
II . GOALS. OBJECTIVES. AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION PRO-
GRAMS ...................................................................................................................... 4
STREETS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL ....................................................................................... 4
A . Goals ............................................................................................................................... 4
8 . Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 4
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................... 4
ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION .................................................................... 5
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ 5
B . Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 5
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................... 6
AIR TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................... 7
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ 7
C . Implementing Poky and Action Program ....................................................................... 7
PUBLIC UTILITY AND STORM DRAINAGE FACILITIES .......................................................... 7
A . Goals ............................................................................................................................... 7
B . Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 7
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................... 7
SCENIC ROADWAYS ................................................................................................................ 8
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ 8
B . Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 8
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................... 8
REGIONAL CIRCULATION CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................................... 9
A . Goals ............................................................................................................................... 9
B . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 10
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 10
B . Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 7
111 . CIRCULATION PLAN NOTES ............................................................................ 10
IV . MAPS .................................................................................................................. 11
Map 1: CIRCULATION PLAN .................................................................................................. 11
Map 2: BICYCLE ROUTES ..................................................................................................... 12
Map 3: HIGH PRESSURE GAS & PETROLEUM MAINS ........................................................ 13
.
V . FIGURES ............................................................................................................. 14
Figure 1: STREET DESIGN STANDARDS .............................................................................. 14 .
..
VI . GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................ 15
1. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
The Circulation Element for the City of -bad
is a comprehensive plan for the circulation of people,
tions,andserVices. Theprimaryfocusofthedocumentis
to provide for the safe and &CiCnt movement of people
and goods within the City and to provide for public access
to all existing and future land uses identified in the Land
Use Element of the General Plan. It also idnrtifies how
transportation systems will link with sumunw juris-
dictions and be coordinattd with regional transportation
plans.
g~,energy,-,scwagt,--,~=-
To ensure that circulation facilities are provided
concurrent withtheiinead,the City hasackptalnumerous
policies, programs and ordinances, including the Growth
ManagementProgram. haddition,new~onsbave
mandated compliance with the requirements of the Cali-
fornia Clean Air Act and Federal Clean Water Acts.
Thesenewstateandf~~~~~~p1~~-
tation of both a Transpoxtation Demand Management
Program and Stonn Water Quality Mauagement Pro-
gram, respectively. The Circulation Element incorpo-
rates policies and action plans to implement these new
ManagementProgr;un.
requirements tog& with rcquircments of the Growth
The city contains many scenic and historical
areastraverscdbyexistingandpraposedroadways. From
an aesthetic, environmental and historical perqxchve, it
is important to preserve as much of the natural qualities of
these areas as possible in order to maintain the distinctive
character of the City. In previous versions ofthe General
Plan, the City maintained a separate Scenic Roadways
Element to ~lishthetask of prtscrving aad enhanc-
&the scenic suallty ofthe city. chaagesto state law in
1981 elimimed the mandatory inclusion of a Scenic
Roadways Element within the General Plan. In an effort
to reduce the number and complexity ofelements within
the City's Gcncral Plan, the goals, objectives, policies and
action phns ~~cctssary to preserve the scenic quality of
roadways within the City have been retained, but have
been incorporated intothe Circulation Element.
The circulation Element includes several maps
and graphics. Street classificati~ used m carlsbad,
described accordmg to their function and the amount of
tdic they carry, are shown m Table 1 : Street Classifica-
tions. The Circulation Plan is illustratd on Map 1. The
Street Design Standards used by the City are shown on
Figure 1. Bicycle Routes and High Pressure Gas and
PmleumMains are shown onMap 2 andMap 3.
B. STATE LAW
A Circulation Elcmcnt is required by State law
(GovMnmcnt Code Section 65032(b)) and must consist of
"the general location and extent of existmg and proposed
mjor thoroughfart, transportation routes, terminals,
and other local public utilities and Etcilities, all condated
with the Land Use Element of the General Plan". The
Circulation Eianmt must state tbe overall goals, objec-
City and specifically address issues rehq to major
local public utilities and facilities. The City of Carlsbad's
sit, bicycle and pedestrian routes and faciiities, railroads
and light rail transit, air travel, parlung, transportation
demandmanagemcnfaadvehicularandpedestriansafcty.
tives aad policies coIIcc1piD8 the circulation needs of the
thm~,~xtationroutes,termin;llsandoth~
Circulati~n Elanent also addrtsses ~SSUCS of public tran-
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
The Circulation Element is most closely related
to, and is a reflection of, the Land Use Element of the
General Plan. The circulation Plan was developed in
conjunctionwithcomputcrizedtrafficmodel~andanaly-
sisutdmngtheprojectedctedlanduses ContamdinCarlshad's
LandUseElementaswellaslandustplansofsu~g
communities. ThemostrecentmodelingeffortfortheCity
of Carlsbad was condllctcd in 1990 by the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG) using the
TranPlan computer program. Results of the modeling
effort indicate that the proposed Circulation Plan um-
tained in this document will adequately serve the proposed
land uses.
The comprehensive nature of the Circulation
Element requires that it relate to and correlate with all
Page 1
other elemcms of the Gcntral Plan includmg the Noise,
Ho~in&qxnspaccandc~on,ParksandRcc-
reation, and Public Safkty Elements. All thcsc tltments
address vafious aspCcts ofthe circulatiosl systan and
together they providc the basic policies and guidellnts fbr
the development of a safk, dicicnt and atsthttically
pleasing transportation network. Thst elanents should
be referred to for more detailed discussion. For example,
the public facilities discussed in the Circulation Element
arealsodiscussedintheLandUseElem~. It isthepolicy
of the City of Carlsbad that the Circulation Element be
consistent with all other elanents of the General Plan.
D. THE CITY OF CARLSBAD
SETTING
Thtdomiaantnaturalandmamnadcfiiahucsin
carls~whichcstablishthefiameworkwithinwhi&the
circulation nctwork must -on, include the Pacific
ocean to thewcsg the three natural lago0nS artcnding
fiomthe ocean tothe interior ofthe City,& steep bills and
Nv, Highway 78 alargtknorthtrn boundary, tk Coast
Highway, the AT&SF railroad and Intcrstar 5. These
Erom the interior portion. There arc threemajor, exist@
WhichrunsnorrhandswtbthroUghthercntnoftheCity,
the center of the City, and Rancho Santa Fe Road which runsalongthesouthanandcasttrlyboundaryof~City.
In addition, Carlsbad has a general aviation commuter
airport located in the central portion of the City adjacent
to the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and El
Camino Real. Guals, objectives, and policies and pro-
element, but arc also discussed in the Land Use Element.
canyo~ls which punctuate tht eastcm haif Of the mu-
featurcsall seneto scpaatcthe coastal portion ofthe city
arterial roach in tht City, incl- El camiao Real
Palomar Airport Road which runs cast and west through
gmm related to air tansportation arc included in this
Givcnthe cxkting tapographic conmaim, the
plan to take advantage ofthe natural landform ftaturcs
City has developed an lntcgrated land use and circulation
and the existing transportation facilities. A major chal-
lenge for the City in the future will be to complete the
remaining roadway segments of the Circulation Element
in a timely manner within a ciimatc of increasingly strict
cnviromncasalgui~. ?h:CitymustalSofindways
to rchctkoristing circulation nctworlc inthe deweloped
portions ofthe cityto acconnmodatt lncrcascd redcvtlop-
mcnt activity and the dmlopment of surroundrng corn-
munitics. F~,itis~tfiatthcCltycircUlation
system is apart ofthe larger regid, state, and national
tmmpomim systems. As su& tbc City circulation
systan will ccmtinue to be infld by the demands
placed upon it by largcrtrausportarion systcm needs.
E. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM -
ThecxnwmdJ 'on of unbuilt circulation element
roads and public utilities will be brought about through a
combiaatianofcoastnrctionactivitiesundertalsenbythe
dcvelopmntcommunrty andthccityofcarlsbad.Tbc
guiding thane for the constn~ction of the circul;ltion
element infiastnrcture is the provision offacilities prior to
or tmcumnt with theneed hr such f8cilities. To this end
the City bas established the Growth Management Pro-
gram, the Capital Improvancnt Program and a develop-
pact fees and dind developer construction of public road
mcllt cwctioll pr~gram coa~istiag of public Wty im-
and utility improvamnts.
ThtGrowthManag~Programestablishes --
minimum standards for the provision of basic public
infrastructure including circulation element roads, sewer
collection, sewer -t, watcr distribution and flood
wntrol. In addition, the Growth Managancnt Program
requires the prepadon of Local Facilities Mylaganent
Plans to ~lsufc that the public facility standards arc met
through buildout fbr cach of thc 25 local facility zones.
-
-
For the most part, roads and public utilities will
be constructed as a condition of development activity in
accardaocc with the dictates ofhe Growth Managamnt
Program.Whcrcaparbcularfaciiitycxauisthcfinancial
capability of any one devcloptr or the med for the facility
cannot be attributedto a single development, the City, and
various utility districts within the City, have established
facility impact fees to generate the revenues needed to
financcconstructionofthost facilities. Thtstimpact fees
combined with direct developer construction activities
Page 2
: TABLE 1: SrIREET CLASSIFICATIONS 8
8
8
B
B
8 Stree!&
8 * provide immediate access to adjoining p’0ptkS
E * cany a minimum amount of traffic (estimated average daily trips: 500 maximum)
8 CoUector Streea
: * provide immediate access to adjoining properties
: * generally carry light to moderate traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips: 500 to 5,000)
* are designed to discourage through-traffic
B
8
8
* serve as the connecting link for traffic between local and arkrial streets
m
8 * provide no access or limited access to adjacent properties * serve as a major connecting link for traffic between hal and arterial streets
B * ca.rry moderate traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips: 5,000 to 10,000)
econdarv Arte m
8 : * provide limited access to adjacent properties
8 * have two traffic lanes in each direction with a painted median
* serve to move traffic between collector streets and larger artcrials or the freeways
* cany moderate traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips: 10,000 to 20,000)
8
8
8 * prohibit access to adjacent properties unless no other alternative exists : * provide intra-city circulation and connections to freeways and regional roads * have a minimum of two traffic lanes in each direction with a raised median : * carry moderate to heavy traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips: 20,000 to 40,000)
B
Arterials:
* prohibit access to adjacent properties unless no other alternative exists
B
8
8
B
8
8
B
8
B
B
8
8
8
B
B
8
8
8
8
8
8
B
8
8
8
8
B
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
B
B
B
8
8
8
8
B
B
8
8
8
8
B 8
8
B
8
m
B * provide for regional and intra-hty circulation and connections to freeways and other regional roads: * carry very heavy traffic volumes (estimated average daily trips: 40,000 or more) 8
888B888888888888888B8888BB8B88888~888888B888888B88~8B88888BB888~B
Page 3
will assure completion 0fthcmajOrity.ofthe circulation
element nawork. The nmainiag portion of the nchvork
for which the Iltcd is notattributablcto future develop-
ment, must be fiaanced through other local, regional and
federal fundmg sources. An example ofonc such Eacility
is the improvemeat of Carkbad Vie Drive west of
Interstatc5whichwillbefundcdthfoughredevclopmmt
tax increment bonds.
Tigforthecollstnrctionofthemissingcircu-
lation clcmcnt links is, for the most part, a function of
development activity. Fortbosc fkilitics hanccdfhrwgb
facility impact fets or other fundiag sources, th;: City
prepares on a yearly basis a Capital Improvement Pro-
gram (CIFJ). The cIPcstablisbesthenextytar's cnnstnlc-
tion program and also outlines the five year and buildout
improvement needs for the City. The CIP must balance
the availability of revenues with the various competing
needs for public facility construction. Taken as a whole,
the Capital Improvemeat Program, Growth Managancnt
Programanddcvciopmentdonprogramwillassurc
timely completion of the circulation element faciiities as
needed by the residents of Carisbad aud sunounding
communities.
II. GOALS, OBJECTIVES,
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS
STREETS AND TRAFFIC
CONTROL
A. Goals
A.2 A City with an adupate circulation &-
structure to servt the projected population.
A3 A City with a unnpnbcnsivc network of
roads which provide appropriate access to all land uses.
A.4 A City with properly maintained, smooth
functioaiag andsafktraffic control systems.
B. Objectives
B.1 TO pnrvide ~ircUlation bh-
structure concurrent with or prior to the actual dcmand
for such Edities.
B.2 To design streets for the safe and cfliicient
movement ofpeople, goods and semias withio and
through the City in tht most mvi-entally sound and
aesthetically pleasing manner possible.
B.3 To maintain a clear and consistent set of
standards for the design and cmstmctian of roads and
ttdiCcontroldcvicts.
B.4 To create a priority list fir the coastruction
of new traf€ic signals.
B.5 To provide sa&, a&q~ and at&actively
landscaped parking Wtiqs.
B.6 TO impl-t and ng~larly update -1-
opcr fte programs for financing of circulation facilities.
B.7 To enhance the dc value of property
and improve the economic competitiveness of the City
through the construction of wcll&signed, efficient, and
cost effective transportation facilities.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C.l Require new dcvclopment to comply with
tbc adoptad (septcmbcf 23,1986) Growth Managanat
@nnana standards for circulation facilities.
Page 4
1-
C.2Establishanctworkoftruckroutestbrougb-
outthc Citytoprovideforthesafimovantntoftr
tdEc in rcsidcntial, school and donal axeas.
andoutofcanmad . uwtswhilt~ciagconflictswith
C.3 Usethc street design standards ccmtaincd in
this element (Figure 1 : Street Design Standards) as guide-
lines for what is rcasmable and desirable. Allow varia-
tions to occur in accordance with established City policy
regarding engineering standards variances.
C.4 Minimize the number ofacccss points to
major and prime arterials to cnhancc the functioning of
these strcxts as throughways.
C.5 Use good road dcsign practice to minimkc
therlllmberof intersections and oshtroonflicting~c
movements.
C.6 Use good road design pactice to minimkc
noise on adjacent land uses.
c.7 Provide trafIic control devices along all
roadway segments and at intemeztim.
C.8 Provide for the safk movcmcnt of tra€iic and
pedestnansarormdallraadandutility~ctionpmjccts.
C.9PurmeTrausnetanddcrtherrcgional, stateand
federal fundrng sources to financc regional roads and
transportation facilities.
C.10 Provide patcr flexibility in the design
standards for hillside roads to mkhkgradmgandvisual
impacts.
C.11 Intcrcormcctaadsynchnmtheopcration
of traffic signals along artrrial streets, whacver fiasiblt.
C. 12 Prcpare andmaintlin aTdc Signal Quali-
ficationListtoncommardprioriticsfortheconstruction
of new trafIic signals.
C.13 Establish and mahain an officd street
naming and addressing plan to remove conflicts, duplica-
tioQanduncertainty.
C.14 Enamage joint publidprivatc efforts to
improve parking and circulation in developed areas.
C.15 Encourage incnascd public parkang in the
Village and bcach areas of the City.
C.16 Require new development to construct all
roadwaysnccdcdtoscrvcthcpraposcddevelopmcntprior
to or concurrent Withthe circulation needs created by the
dCVClOpmCllt.
C. 17 Coodma& * theplanningandcOnstructionof
ncw roads withexistiag roads in adjoining neighbohwds.
C.18 Require new development to dedicate and
improve all public rights-of-way for circulation facilities
needed to serve development.
ALTERNATIVE MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION
A. Goal
ACitywhichpromotcs, encourages,andaccom-
mo&tes a variety of transportation modes as alternatives
to the automobile.
B. Objectives
B. 1 TO provide infr;istructur~ and Eacilitie~ ne^-
essary to accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, and other
non-automobile modes of transportation.
B .2 To reduce the number and severity of vehicu-
lar, bicycle and pedcstnan-related accidents.
B.3 To prioritize firture sidewalk construction.
Page 5 ,
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
c.1 Encuulagc the canshucb. 'un of sidewalks
along all public roadways with special emphasis given to
gmeratorssuchas~ls,canmcrcialcentcrs,transpor-
tation Eaclities, public buildings, beacks ad parks.
ColIcctors, arterials,andycaswithllighpedestnantraf€ic
c.2Encoulagepedcstnaacirculationin~-
cial aftas through the provision of ammi- parking
facilities, incrtascd sidcwalk.widths, pcdcstrian-oricnted
building designs, landrscaping, strat lightxng and strcet
fillniture.
c.3 Design ped#tnanspa#sandcirculation in
nlationshiptolauclwesandavailableparkingfbrallncw
construction and rcdcvclopmmt projects.
C.4 Link public sidtwallrs to tbe network of
public and private trail systans.
c.5Providefirrhaadicapped~toandalong
public sidewalks and along as much of the trail systean as
feasible.
C.6 Install sidewaIks and trail systans within
existing andnew industrial dmlopmcnts.
C.7~schoddtoimp~~
programs for pcdcstrians and bicyclists within the public
school system.
C.8 Mainsaina Tdc Safkty Cormnission com-
posed of carlsbad citizrens fbr the purpose of studying
OllUnUMh 'om tothe City Council rqprdhgmeasures to
promote and improve traf6c and pcdcsbian safity.
matters oftraffic anlipsdeJtnan Jafety and making rec-
c.9Emplayimpravcdt.raf€iccontrol dcvictsand
monitorpolictaccidcntreportstoincrtastpcdwtnanand
bicyclist safity.
c.10 Prepare and maintain an in- of all
missingaudinannplctesidcwalksegmemwidrintheCity
-
fbr tbe purpose of piow lFuture sidcwak amstmc-
ticnl. -
c.11 coordtante * tk bcsrtion of bicycle routes
WiththeParhdRcCrartlon * Elunent and the Open spact-i- Elanent.
C.13Dcvtlopandimplaneatanployerinccntive
programs to ea#lurase the placanent of smkgic bicycle
nient bicycle Erciliries.
storage lockers, and the amshuctim of safi and conve-
_.
C.14 Dcsign bicycle mutes in acumhcc with
thc''BikcRouteStaadards"chapttr1OOOoftbeStateof
California Highway Design Manual.
C. 15 Improve bicyck access to bcacb arcas.
-
C.16 Rcvitw, periodically, tk Circuiation Elc-
mcnt Bicycle Route Map and nvisc, as accessary, to
rcflcctcxistingrogdwayamditi~andchangcdland -
uses.
C.17 coordmate WiththeSanD~Asrociation --
ofGovcrnmtnts(SANDAG)anddreN~rthCourrtyT~-
sit District (NCTD) on tbe installarian of any new trolley
or light rail transit systans. -
C.18 Provide to bus, pedestrian and
bicycle routes firom any llcw tight rail commuter transit -
Eacility.
C.19 Encourage passive and active usc of the
railroad nght+f-way as trail linkage and bicycle path-
MY.
-
-.
c.20 Plan anlicooduwe * parlcdride facilities
with CALMS, NCTD and SANDAG. --
C.21 Encourage commuter usage of buses,
carpoolsandMnpoolstbroughacombinationofanploya
inccntives,publiccdu~~programsandconstnrctionof -
Page 6
I
safe, convenient and aesthetically pleasing transfer facili-
ties.
C.22 Encourage the expansion of bus service and
new routes into developing or redeveloping areas of the
Clty
AIR TRANSPORTATION
A. Goal
A City which balances the needs of the existing
general aviation airport withtheneeds ofthecitizens ofthe
City.
B. Objectives
B.l To encourage the continued operation of
McClellan-Palomar Airport as a general aviation airport.
B.2 To prohibit the expansion of McClellan-
Palomar Airport unless approved by a majority vote of
Carlsbad electorate as required by the Carlsbad Munici-
pal Code Section 21.53.015.
C. Implementing Policy and Action
Program
Coordinate with the San Diego Association of
Governments and the Federal Aviation Adrmnistration to
protect public health, safety and welfare by ensuring the
orderly operation of the A~rport and the adoption of land
use measures that minimize the public’s exposure to
excessive noise and safety hazards within areas around the
airport.
PUBLIC UTILITY AND STORM
DRAINAGE FACILITIES
A. Goals
A.l A City with a comprehensive network of
utilities and storm drainage facilities which provide ap-
propriate public utility and flood control st~ces to all
land uses.
A.2 A City in which the public utility and storm
drainage infrastructure are constructed concumnt with or
prior to the actual demand for such facilities.
B. Objectives
B.l To maintain a clear and consistent set of
standards for the design and construction of public utili-
ties.
B.2 To implement and regularly update devel-
oper fee programs for the financing of public utility and
storm draiie facilities.
B.3 To enhance the economic value of property
and improve the economic competitiveness of the City
through the construction of well designed, efficient and
cost effective public utility and storm drainage kcilities.
B.4 To maintain current master plans for the
expansion of local public facilities for sewer, potable
water, reclaimed water and stonn drainage.
B.5 To comply with all federal, state and local
laws and regulations regarding the preservation and en-
hancement of water quality.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C.l Require new development to construct all
public facilities needed toservetheproposcddevelopment
prior to or concurrent with the circulation needs created by
the development.
C.2 Dcvelop, and update periodically, a set of
standards for the design and construction of public utili-
ties.
C.3 Coordinate the planning and construction of
public utilities with existing public utilities in adjoining
Page 7
neighborhoods.
C.5 Infibrm the public and catmctors of the
danger involved, and& nc#ssary preuwtions that must
be taken when working on or near, pipelincs or utility
transmission lines.
C.6 Monitor the adequacy of public utilities as an
integralpartoftheGrowthManaguncntPlanandPublic
Facilities Management Systan.
c.7 Ensure developer donnance with all
adopted public utilrty and stonn drabage master plirns
and adopted ordiaanccs rcgardingtbc provision of public
utility and storm drarnagc facibcs.
C.8 Ensure contitlllcd cooWon betwcen the
City and special utility districts and public utility wmpa-
nies operating in Carlsbad.
C.9 Develop and implement a program of “Best
Management Practices” for the tlimination and reduction
of pollutants which entcr into and/or arc transported
withln stormdrainage Eacilities.
C.10 Rcvicw and update, on a regular basis,
mastef plans for the expansion of local public facilities for
sewer, potable water, rcciaimed water and stom drain-
age-
SCENIC ROADWAYS
A Goal
A City whichprescms andcubanas tht visual,
environmental andhistorical charactcnstr ‘a ofthc local
community through sensitive plannrng and design of
transportation and utility corridors.
B. Objectives
B.l To abncc the scenic, envirOnmcntal and
historical quality of roadways in conjunction with the
and R#xcatian Elements of the Gtncral Plan.
circulatioq opcn space and constnation, and Parks
B.2 To establish a routemap identifLing existing
and film salic roadway, railroad aad utility corridors
within the City.
B.3 To coasickr a system of routes and special
&aments to incrtaSt thc enjoymart of and opportunities
for rcmational and cultural pursuits and tourism in
Carlsbad.
B.4Toprovideaproctssforthctstablishmcntof
convenient and safk scenic routes to major recreational
areas ad points of historic, scenic or cultural signifi-
cance.
B.5 To pmvick multiple rccrcatkd uses, such
asbhys,roadsidtrcstsandob~onpoints,when
appropriate, on lands within and adjacent to designated
scenic comdors, and provide a mcans of coordinating
scenic madways with other transportation and recre-
ational opportunities within the City.
B.6 To provide a means of ahancing scenic
roadways and making them identifiable to the traveling
public.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Implement the policies, standards and guide-
linescontaidwithinbrtcarisbadSccnicCorridorGuick- lints.
C.2 Establish fwr categories of scenic comdors
Page 8
and designate streets to be included within those catege
ries as follows:
Communitv Theme Corridor6 - connect
Carlsbad with adjacent municipalities and present the
City of Carlsbad to persons entering and passing through
the community. Community Therm Corridors include:
El Camino Real
Carlsbad Boulevard
Palomar Airport Road
La Costa Avenue
Melrose Drive
Communitv Scenic Corridors - interconnect
major subareas of the present and pIanned Carlsbad
community. community scenic corridor5 include:
College Boulevard
Cannon Road
Carlsbad Village Drive
Faraday Avenue
Interstate 5
La Costa Avenue
Olivenhain RoadlRancbo Santa Fe Road
Poinsettia LandCarrillo Way
Natural Open SDace and Recreation Corri- dors -offer spectacular views ofwaterscapes, landforms,
wildlife and the Pacific Ocean. Natural Open Space and
Recreation Corridors include:
Adams Streetlpark Drive
Batiquitos Drive
Jefferson Street (portion adjacent to Buena Vista
Lagoon)
Railroad Corridor -prmamtkCityofCarlsbad
to people passing through the City by rail. The only
Railroad Corridor is:
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
C.3 Review and update periodically the list of
roadways designated as scenic corridors.
C.4utilizeandupdatcthecriteMfordesignating
scenicroadwaysandselcctingcommunityidcntityentries
outlined in the Carlsbad Scenic Corridor Guidehes
Manual.
C.5 Include roadways as sccnic routes which
provide significant views of the ocean, lagoons, open
space lands, back countq and urban activity.
C.6 Enhance and preserve the natural and devel-
oped environmemts along each designated scenic route.
C.7 Approveprojects adjacentto El Camino Real
only if the proposed project is consistent with the El
Camin0 Real Corridor Development Standards.
C.8 Coordinate the piannmg, design and imple-
mentation of designated scenic comdors with the Plan-
ning, Engineering, Parks and Recreation and Utilities and
Maintenance Departments.
C.9 Coordinate the scenic corridor propam with
the State, County and adjacent cities wherever possible.
C.10 Review the nd to establish additional
special overlay zones along designated scenic corridors
and initiate the appropriate rezoning if an overlay zone is
warranted.
C. 11 Develop guidelines to improve the visual
quality of the corridor adjacent to the Atchison Topeka
and Santa Fe Railway.
C.12 Seek kcial assistance from federal and
state sources whenever possible to assist in the implemen-
tation ofthe scenic roadways program.
REGIONAL CIRCULATION
CONSIDERATIONS
A. Goals
A.l A City with a modern public utility and
transportationsystrmbaseduponinte~~programsfor
Page 9
the management of air quality, water quality and land
resources.
A.2 A City with a transportation system which
helps minimize air pollution and traffic congestion and
supports commerce and economic development.
A.3 A City which participates with other cities in
the County, through the San Diego Association of Gov-
ernments, in working toward the solution of regional
transportation issues.
B. Objectives
B . 1 To develop programs and strategies for Trans-
portation Demand Management consistent with the San
Diego Regional Air Quality Strategy.
9.2 To participate with other cities in the County
in developing the Regional Growth Management Strategy
which addresses air quality, transportation system man-
agement, and transportation demand management for San
Diego County on a ‘‘regional community” basis.
9.3 To comply with all fcderal, state and local
laws and regulations regarding the preservation and en-
hancement of air quality.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Implement thepoliciesofthe Regional Growth
Management Strategy when the program is adopted by the
City.
C.2 Encourage the inclusion of onsite or nearby
amenities such as day care facilities, dry cleaners and
conveniencestoreswithinresidential andindustrial projects
to reduce vehicular trips.
C.3 Coordinate with CALTRANS as develop-
ment proceeds and CALTRANS funds become available
to ensure that the capacity of odoff ramps is adequate.
C.4 Consider noise impacts in the design of road
systems and give special consideration to those road
corridors in scenic or noise sensitive arcas.
111. CIRCULATION PLAN
NOTES
Several areas of the Circulation Plan require
further explanation of the City’s intent. As a result, the
followmg notes are provided to clarify the plan.
A. Rancho Del O~Q - Classified as a secondary
arterial roadway only if a freeway interchange with SR78
is provided. If an interchange is not provided, this
roadway is not to be included in the plan.
B. Tamarack Avenue - Classified as a modified
collector street between Carlsbad Boulevard and Skyline
Road. An 80-foot right-of-way west of Jefferson to
Carlsbad Boulevard should be maintained. Secondary
arterial standards should be maintained between Jefferson
Street and Adams Street.
C . Avenida Enciw - The City might downgrade
the southernmost link ofthis roadway (between Lakeshore
Gardens Mobile Home Park and Carlsbad Boulevard) to
a collector street if a master plan for the immediate area
indicates low intensity development. Such downgrading
should not require an amendment to this element.
D. Leucadia Boulevard Extension - The City
should support and encourage adjoining jurisdictions to
extend Leucadia Boulevard from Interstate 5 to El Camino
Real.
E. Melrose Drive - The City should support and
encourage adjoining jurisdictions to extend Mclrose Drive
from the Carlsbad city limits south to an appropriate
connection. Melrose shall maintain its classification as a
prime arterial north of Rancho Santa Fe Road. South of
Rancho Santa Fe Road, Melrose may be built to second-
ary or modified standards without an amendment to th~s
element but should preserve adequate right-of-way to
construct a full width major arterial road.
Page 10
CIRCULATION PLAN
MAP 1
Page 11
BICYCLE ROUTES
MAP 2
Page 12
CIRCULATION PLAN
- FREEWAY - PRIME ARTERIAL - MAJOR ARTERIAL - SECONDARY ARTERIAL
COLLECTOR STREET ----
I
Amended 05l2012003
MAP 1 Page 13
STREET DESIGN STANDARDS
*FOR CDNTROUED CdLLECTCR. R/W = 68'
AND CURB-TO-CURB WOTH MUST BE 48'
' FOR CUL-DE-SACS. R/W UAY BE REDUCED TO
56' AND CURB-19-CURB MOTH TO 36' I KEY
R/W = RIGHT OF WAY
DL = PROPERTY LINE
' These Jlustrotlons represent tvplcol cross secttons of the
streets OescriDed in the ilrculot8on Element Tnev ore not 8nteneM lo reoresmf oosoiute stonmas = CENTER LINE
Page 14
- VI. GLOSSARY
ARTERIAL -
AVERAGE DAILY TRIPS (ADT)
I
An arterial street provides for the movement of
large amounts of traffic. It canies traffic from
collector streets to other collectors, arterials or
freeways.
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) is an average 24-
hour traffic volume at a given location for some
period of time less than a year. While an AADT
is for a full year, an ADT may be measured for
six months, a season, a month, a week, or as
little as two days. An ADT is a valid number
only for the period over which it was measured.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (CAL"S)
The state agency in charge of transportation
planning, construction and maintenance of the
state's highway system.
See California Department of Transportation.
-
-
CALTRANS
-
CIP
~- DESIGNATED SCENIC CORRIDOR
- CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM A city's governmental budget that programs
public facilities to fit its fiscal capability some
years into the future. Capital improvement
programs are usually projected five years in
advance and should be updated annually, so as to
provide a link to the annual budgeting process.
(Plan) (CIP)
GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT
RIGHT-OF-WAY -
See Capital Improvement Program
A roadway that has been subjected to all of the
steps contained in the Scenic Roadway Element
to qualify as a scenic corridor which is found to
possess scenic or historical amenities worthy of
preservation, and which is implemented by the
adoption of a Specific Plan and overlay zoning.
An airport classified by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) as a general utility facility
serving mainly aircraft with a maximum gross
takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, light
propeller-driven, turboprop, and business jet
general aviation aircraft.
The area of land which has been dedicated for
public use for transportation purposes (i.e. a
street, freeway or railroad).
Page 15
ROADWAY A strip of land which is covered by a street,
lar transportation. public thoroughfare or fratway used for vehicu- -_
SWAG
SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERN-
MENTS (SANDAG)
Sec San Diego Association of Governments.
The regional planning agency for the San Diego
Region of which Carlsbad is a member agency.
-
SCENIC CORRIDOR - The bands of land generally adjacent to the
scenic roadway right-of-way that complete the
visual a~pcarance and integrity of the total
composition of the scenic roadway. The bound-
aries of the scenic comdor may coincide with
the boundaries of the visual corridor but arc usually lcss. The following list includes future
routes, as designated on the adopted Circulation
Element of the General Plan, that the staff feels,
when constructed, may qualify to be added to
the 'Master List". When considering future
improvement plans for these routes, the City
should consider the potential scenic and historic
-
-_
-.
-
amenities along these routes: I_
1. Cannon Road - from Interstate 5 to El camino Real. I
2. Batiquitos Drive - from Poinsettia Lane to El
Camino Rd.
3. Melrose Drive - along the right-of-way
throughout the City of Carlsbad.
4. Poinsettia LandAlga Road - from Carlsbad
Boulevard to future alignment of Melrose Drive.
5. Park Drive - from intersection with Kelly
A comprehensive set of strategies designed to
influence travel behavior with respect to mode,
time, frequencc, route, or distance in order to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
roads, highways, and public transit Services. Principal strategy mcaSurtS involve, but arc not
limited to, ridesharing and alternative work hours. -
_-
-
Drive to its terminus. -
TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGE-
MENT mw -.
-"
Page 16
7
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGE
MENT (TSM)
A process that addresses ways to improve overall
transportation system performance through a
variety of lowcost management actions which
fostcr more efficient use of existing transporta-
tion systems. TSM is an umbrella term for
parking management and traffic management,
and transit management.
7
Page 17
L
I
7
7
1
Heritage HaIlwas built in 1926 to house the congreba ofst Paaick's Church at the uluthtut
comer 0fH.rdingSarctrmd Oak Avenue h 1952 &e church was moved .QOIS the sueetwbexe
City Manager, Coynciz Policc Depamnmt ardi Firc Deparanmt, and as a Corrruybrsnch li?muy. As new City offices were connnrcted and Civ depamnmo moved out, use of the building
changed from that 0f-?h& to tk *library, to thc Childrm'S m, to 8 Stdb forthe Nd
County Ballet. Finally, in 1979 the sturdy little stn~cfure was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking however, hums d from dcmiolition by a codhbn conkting of Friends of the Unary, the Carkbad iihxkal Societyand volubeerbuilding nadennen who uranged for ir
to be moved to Magee HiRoiicrl Puk. Withoniymiaorrcpairr, the old church om again bectrec
a public meeting place
itbecametheChy'sfiatabhimme 0- ~theacnfewyearritsenndashomctothc
Note: information derired in pm frorn SEEKERS Ob "E SPRING, by Marjorie HowardJones.
7
c
c
7
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Contents
1
1 B . STATE LAW .........................................................................................................................
C . RELATIONSHIP TOOTHER ELEMENTS ............................................................................ 1
1 . INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................
A . BACKGROUND AND INTENT .............................................................................................. 1
II . SOURCES OF NOISE ........................................................................................... 2
A . CIRCULATION ...................................................................................................................... 2 1 . Roads 2 ..............................................................................................................................
2 . Airport .............................................................................................................................. 2
3 . Rail ..................................................................................................................................
B . LAND USE ............................................................................................................................ C . OTHER MOBILE SOURCES ................................................................................................
1 . Off Road Motorcycle Noise ..............................................................................................
2 . Motor Boat .......................................................................................................................
3 . Modified Vehicle Exhaust System ...................................................................................
111 . NOISE CONTOUR MAPS .....................................................................................
IV . GOALS. OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION PRO-
GRAMS ......................................................................................................................
GENERAL .................................................................................................................................
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................
B . Objectives .......................................................................................................................
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ...................................................................
LAND USE ................................................................................................................................
A . Goals ...............................................................................................................................
B . Objectives .......................................................................................................................
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ...................................................................
CIRCULATION ..........................................................................................................................
ROADS ................................................................................................................................
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................
B . Objective .........................................................................................................................
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ...................................................................
AIRPORT .............................................................................................................................
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................
B . Objectives .......................................................................................................................
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ...................................................................
RAIL .....................................................................................................................................
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ B . Objective ......................................................................................................................... C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ...................................................................
EMPLOYMENT .........................................................................................................................
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ B . Objectives .......................................................................................................................
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5 5
5
6
6
6
6
0
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
9
9
9
9
9
9 . C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs .......................................................... 10
V. MAPS 11 ...................................................................................................................
Map 1:
Map 2:
Map 3:
EXISTING NOISE EXPOSURE CONTOUR MAP (1990) ................................... 1 1
FUTURE NOISE EXPOSURE CONTOUR MAP (2010) ...................................... 12
AIRPORT NOISE CONTOUR MAP .......................... : ............................................ 13 -
VI. GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................... 15
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
The goal of the Noise Element is to achieve and
maintain an environment which is free fiomobjectionable,
excessive or harmful noise.
The Noise Element
- Identifies and defines existing and future envi-
ronmental noise levels from sources of noise within or
adjacent to the City of Carlsbad by means of Noise
Contour maps.
- Establishes goals, objectives and policies to
mitigate these noise impacts.
- Provides policies and action programs to imple-
ment the Goals and Objectives.
“The Goal of the Noise Element is to
achieve and maintain an environment
which is free from objectionabIe, a-
cessive or harmful noise. ’’
B. STATE LAW
Section 65302(f) of California‘s Planning and
Zoning Laws requires a Noise Element which identifies
and appraises noise problems in the community. The
Noise Element shall recognize the guidelines established
by the Ofice of Noise Control in the State Depanment of
Health Services and shall analyze and quantifi, to the
extent practicable, as determined by the legislative body,
current and projected noise levels for all of the following
sources :
I. Highways and frwways;
2. Primary arterial and major local streets;
3. Passenger and freight online raild opera-
tions and ground rapid transit systems;
4. Commercial, general aviation, heliport, helis-
top, and military airport operations, aircraft overflights,
jet engine test stands, and all other ground facilities and
maintenance functions related to airport operation;
5. Local industrial plants, including, but not
limited to, railroad classification yards; and
6. Other ground stationary noise sources identi-
fied by local agencies as contributing to the community
noise environment.
Noise contours shall be shown for all of these
sources and stated in terms of community noise equivalent
level (CNEL) or day-night average level (Ldn). The noise
contours shall be prepared on the basis of noise monitor-
ing or following generally accepted noise modeling tech-
niques forthe various sources identified in paragraphs (1)
to (6), inclusive. The noise contours shall be used as a
guide for establishing a pattern of land uses m the Land
Use Element that minimizes the exposure of community
residents to excessive noise.
The Noise Element shall include implementation
measures and possible soiutionsthat address existing and
foreseeable noise problems, if any. The adopted Noise
Element shall serve as a guideline for compliance with the
state’s Noise Insulation Standards.
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
The Noise Element is correlated with the Land
Use, Circulation, and Housing Elements of the General
Plan. The Land Use Element is related to the Noise
Element in that noise can have a significant impact on land
use. The Circulation Element is related to the Noise
Element in that the majority of the noise created in
Carlsbad is created by trains, planes or automobiles. The
Housing Element relates to the Noise Element by promot-
ing desirable residential environments which buffer exist-
Page 1
1
ing and future residents from undesirablenoise impacts.
Consistent with state law, it is the policy of the City that
the Noise Element be consistent with all General Plan
Elements.
II. SOURCES c"= NOISE
A. CIRCULATION
1. ROADS
Roadway trafficnoiseis themost extensivenoise
problem facedby Carlsbad. Barring any dramaticchanges
in truck or automobile usage patterns, it is tikelythat the
amount of traffic in Carlsbad will grow with the City's
population. New development is occurring adjacent to
major roadways throughout the City. Unless precaution-
ary measures are taken, serious noise problems could
result.
"Roadway traffic noise is the mosf
extensive noise problem faced by I Carlsbad "
V&cdarnoisehasthree main wmponentsources:
engineltransmission noise, exhaust noise and tire noise.
The intensity of noise emissions from any given vehicle
will vary with its size and other factors, such as speed,
acceleration, bralung, roadway grade and conditions of
theroadwaysurface. Thusabusydowntownarterial with
stop and go traffic is often noisier than an open highway
with comparable traffic volumes.
Noise contours have been prepared for all Circu- lation Element roadways in Carlsbad as shown on the
current and future noise exposure maps (See Map 1 :
Existing Noise Exposure Contour Map and Map 2:
Future NoiseExposure Contour Map).
Interstate 5 has the greatest existing and pro-
jected roadway noise emissions. In addition, 1-5 impacts
the greatest number of existing dwellings. There are a
considerable number ofexisting single hnilyand multi-
family dwellings which are impacted by freeway noise
levels in excess of 65 dBA CNEL. For these existing
dwellings, noise attenuation is difficult. Construction of
solid barriers along the freeway is possible, but costmay
be prohibitive. The City can, however, educate property owners astot)lem~odsofinsulatingeldstingresidential units from freeway noise through the use of barriers and
insulation materials. The City's"Deve1opmentReview:
Noise Gudelines ManuaI" is a useful reference.
While other routes within the City have a lesser
impactthandoes1-5, many roads willstillhavesignificant
noise impact potential and new projects should therefore
be subject to noise impact evaluation.
It is important that new development fronting on
majorroadwaysbewmpatiblewiththerecommen~ons
of this element. The action plan section of this element
contains the measures intended to avert future problems
caused by traffic noise.
2. AIRPORT
McClellan-Palomar Airport is presently operat-
ing as a general aviation facility and is located west ofEl
Camino Real, just north of Palomar Airport Road in the
City of Carlsbad. The airport's current annual operahon
ofapproximately 235,000 aircraft is expected toincrease
at the airport's ultimate buildout condition to approxi-
mately334,OOO. Ingeneral, landin theimmediatevicinity
ofthe airport or under the take off or landing approach is
subject to noise levels which are unsuitable for residential
development, schools, hospitals and other similar noise
sensitive uses. Projected noise contours around the air-
port are provided in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(CLUP) for McClellan-Palomar Airport and have been
included in this Element (See Map 3: Airport Noise
Contour Map). In 1989 the FAA began a detailed noise
study for McClellan-Palomar Airport. The findings of
this study have been published in the proposed 1992 Part
150Studyfortheairport, whichiscurrentlyunderreview
as part of its adoption process. However, all new devel-
opment in the vicinity of the airport should continue to be
rewewed to ensure compliance with thenoise standards
Page 2
containfd in this clement and the approvcd Comprthcn-
sive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for McCleIlan-Palomar
Airport.
The Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for
McClellan-Palomar Avport is to be a long-range master
plan fortheairport. As stated in State Publicutilrty Code
Section 21675, "The Commission plan sball include and
shall be based on a long-range master plan or an
layout plan, as determined by the Division of Aeronautics
of the Department of Transportaton, that reflects the
anticipated growth ofthe airport during at lcast the next 20
years." Forpurposes ofGcneralPlanLandUseplanrung,
andlackingfurtherinfonnatiogtheCityofCarlsbadmust
assume that the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)
for McCleUan-Palomar Auport is a longmgc master
plan updated every five years, that reflects antiapatd
growth for the airport for pt 1- the next twenty (20)
years.
3. RAIL
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fc (ATBtsF)
Railroad runs parallel tothe coastlincthrough its 6 1/2
mile length in Carlsbad. Thc railroad right+f-way is 100
feet wide throughout most ofthc area south &Tamarack
Avenueandcxpandsto200fcctinwi~asittnve~north
of Tamarack through the downtown beach area and
central business district.
Currently AMTRACK operatcs several daily
passenger trains between San Diego and Los Angcles.
Additionally, a number of fk&t trains pass through
Carlsbad daily, some idler 5 P.M. These cveaing and
nighttimefrcighttrainsarcofparticularconcernbecause
they run duringthchaurswhcn peqlearcmore sensitive
to noise. By the end of 1993, it is projected that a
commuter rail will mu at lcast four daily trips from
Occanside to San Diego with two stops m Carlsbad.
the City at high speed.
ultimately, up to 20 commuter trains my travel through
ThcrearcJcveralsourcesoflailroadnoist. The
majority of the noise emanates hthe locamotive (and
U
its component systans, such as olhaust devices and
train wheels. Thc rhythrmc clacktng noise emitted by
trains rcsuh frosn €iiction of the wheel at rail joints.
Roughness on eithcrthe rail or wheel can also contribute
toiamased noise emissions.
coolmgfans)andfromthe~onbetwccnthtdand
safetydevictssuchaswarning~dwig-
wags witb bells uscd at grade crossings can contribute
significantly to railroad noise. The State of California
Public utilities Commission requires these warning sig-
nasastrainsapproachgradccrossingstowammorists
andpedtstnaos.
1'54 combinedprogram of noise miti- 1
lgating design and building sound in-1
sulation will help control future noise Ip roblems near the railroad ''
For &sting residentiaI units, noise reduction is a
problem. Itisoffcn~cultandcxpcnsivetoinstallsound
inmlatioolrnatcrialsoncxistingstructurcs. Als0,theState
Uniform Buildmg Code standards for sound insulation
apply dy to new structures. Construction of noise
noise levels significantly. However, the railroad right-of-
way is owned by the ATgtSF Raihad, whose collsent
structed. Also cost and atsthctic impact may be prohibi-
tive factors in the wnstruction of noise barriers.
bani- al~q the droad right-of-way muld attenuate
would be necessary before any barrier couM be con-
ThC Land USC Elgntnt Of the Gartnl Plan dts-
ignates a substantial amount of land bordering along the
railroad right-of-way for residential use. New residential
dcvclopmmt and nonresidential development will occur
adjaccnt tothc railroad.
Thc City dots have the ability to rcgulatt site designandquircsswndinsulationforncwdtvclopmcnt
in the vicinity of the railroad. A wmbined program of
misemitigathgdcsignand buildingsoundinsulationwill
help wntrol future noise problems near the railroad.
Page 3
U
New projects shouldmaximizethephysical sepa-
ration of suuctures fhm the railroad tracks. Additionally,
project design should stress the orientation of units away
fiom the railroad, limiting or acoustically designing win-
dow openings onto therightsf-way, and construction of noise baniers such as solid walls, earthen berms, or bed
wall combinations.
ingnon-noise sensitive uses such as parking areas, main-
tenancefacilities,andutilityareas bemeenthesourceand
the receiver, using non-noise sensitivestructures, such as
a garage, to shield noise sensitive areas; and, orienting
buildings to shield outdoor spaces from a noise source.
Theseandothernoisemitigariontechniquesarediscussed
in more detail in the City’s Noise Guidelines Manual available in the Planning Department.
B. LAND USE C. OTHER MOBILE SOURCES
To agreat extent, the future ambient noise levels
of the City will be determined by the type. intensity and
location offbture land uses. Future noise levels will also
be fiected by the construction of new roadways to serve
new development and by land uses that generate noise.
Noise levels may affect the desirability or livability of a
community. Noise may also negatively impact the eco-
nomicviability ofacommunitybyreducingthe desirabil-
iry of an area as a place to live, work, play, or shop. For
these reasons, noise continues to be an important consid-
eration ofthe City in fbture land use planning.
“TO agreat extent, the future ambient
noise levels of the City will be deter-
mined by the type, intensity and loca-
tion of future land uses.”
~~~~~
Some land uses are more compatible with higher
noise levels than are others. For example, schools,
hospitals, churches and residences aregenerally consid-
ered more sensitive to noise intrusion than are commercial
or industrial activities. To respond to the sensitivity of
certain land uses to higher noise levels, this element
includes policies toreducenoise impacts onnoise-sensi-
tive uses suchas residences.
It may be appropriate to develop noise-sensitive
uses such as residences, hospitals, or churches in noisy
areas. In these instances, it is important that the proper
measures are used to reduce noise impacts. In all cases
sensitivesite plan design is to be used as the first method
to reduce noise impacts on a project. Sensitive site plan design measures will include, for example, lncreasingthe
distance between the noise source and the receiver; plac-
1. OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLE NOISE
Motorcyclenoisehask~ aproblemm Carlsbad.
In particular, complaints have been registered against
recreational use of dirt bikes or two-cycle engine motor-
cycles. The Police Department continues to enforce the
prohibition of motorized off-road vehicles within the
City, except as permitted at the Carlsbad Raceway.
Local jurisdictions have the authority to control
loud or faulty mufflers, horn blowing, off-road vehicles
and vehicle speed. Although noise limits may be set for
off-road vehicles, they are rarely necessary since statutes
against trespassing nearly always apply.
Most trail bikes are not outfitted with the neces-
sary lights, fenders, mufflers, spark arresters or baffles
required by law. Consequently they are not licensed and
cannot be legally operated on public streets. Connnued
policeenforcement againsttheseunlicensedvehicles v. dd
likely reduce motorcyclenoiseon public streets.
2. MOTOR BOAT
This noise problem does not affect very many of
Carlsbad’s residents. However, in response to noise
complaints, thecity has adoptedamaximumspeed lunit
for boats on the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and has pur-
chased a boat for enforcement. The reduction in speed
does reduce noise somewhat. If further control appears
warranted, the City should consider setting curfe wsonthe
use of the lagoon or limit the types of boats which could
use the lagoon.
Page 4
3. MODIFIED VEHICLE EXHAUST
SYSTEM
Vehicles operating on city streets which have
faulty or modified exhaust systems can cause significant
local noise impacts, especially when operated in a “hot
rod” manner. Continued enforcement ofthe vehicle code
is encouraged in order to control this conmbutor to noise
pollution.
111. NOISE CONTOUR MAPS
The noise contour maps contained herein, show
1 990 and 20 10 noise contours for the following transpor-
tation systems (See Maps 1 : Existing Noise Exposure
ContourMap (1 990)andMap2: FutureNoiseExposure
Map (201 0):
(1) interstate 5
(2) StateHighway 78
(3) CircdationElementRoadwaysofthe Carlsbad
General Plan
(4) Rail
(5) McClellan-Palomar Airport
Substantial changes in traffic patterns or the
availability of new noise contour data may indicate the
need for revisionsofttuselement. Consequently, thenoise
contours contained in dus element should be reviewed and
revised periodically.
Noise levels for McClellan-Palomar Airport are
expressed in temofCommunity NoiseEquivalent Level
(CNEL), measuredat5 dB incrememandaremapped for
the range of 55 to 75 dBA CNEL. Noise levels for
freeways, prime arterials and the railroad are expressed as
CNEL down to the 60 dBA. All other transportation
modes shown on the contour map areexpressed as CNEL
down tothe 55 @A. Community NoiseEquivalent Level
(CNEL) is based upon A-weighted noise level, number or
duration ofnoise events, and timeofoccurrence through-
out the 24 hour day. The CNEL measurement weights
noise occurrences in the evening and nighmme greater
than those in the dayhme. Please refer to the Carlsbad
“NoiseGrude~esManual“~rmorelnformatianregard-
ing CNEL and general noise science.
The auport’s projected noisecontours identified
in the adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan for
McClellan-Palomir Airport are included in this element
(See Map 3 : Auport Noise Contour Map).
IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS
GENERAL
A. GOAL
A City which is free from excessive, objection-
able, or harmful noise.
6. OBJECTIVES
B. 1 Tocreateanongoing noiseidentificationand
control program.
B.2 To control harmful or undesirable noise.
B.3 To protect the hearing and well being of
Carlsbad residents and visitors.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Control harmful or undesirable sounds
through the planning and regulatory process with empha-
si s on noi sen and- use compati b i I ity p I anning .
C.2 Review all development proposals, both
publicand private, for consistency withthepoliciesofthis
element.
Page 5
@J
c.3 Review existing Ctty ordinances which
relatetonoise control for compkbility with the goals and
policies ofthis Element.
C.4 Cormnuetoenfenforcebuildmgdestoensun
adquatesound insulation between dwellings and toen-
sureadequrrtcsoundinsulationofintenor areas fiom loud
external noise sources. The City shall continue to enforce
project conditions ofapproval related to noise control.
C.5 Attempt to control noise primarily at its
source. Where this is not feasible, controls dong the
transmission path ofthenoise should be required.
C.6 Control noise generated through its own
functions and activities and minimize noise impacts re-
sulting fiom City-sponsored or approved activities.
C. 7 Review City operations to make sure that
noise generated by construction, maintenance activities,
and meet sweeping minimize significant adverse noise
ItvelS.
C.8 Periodically review thenoise contours con-
tained in this element. Substantial changes in traffic
patterns or the availability ofnew noise contour data may
indicate the need for revisions.
C.9 Participate in noise control and hearing
conservation programs in all appropriate work environ-
ments owned, operated, or otherwise under the control
of the City.
LAND USE
A. GOALS
A. 1 A City where land uses are not significantly impacted by noise.
A.2 A City with indusmal and commercial land
uses wtuch do not produce significantly adverse noise
impacts.
-
A.3 A City which controls mobile sources of
noise to help assure that mobile noise sources do not
substantially contribute to the noise environment.
B. OBJECTIVES
B. 1 To achieve noise compatibility between in-
dustridcommercial andsunoun~iandusesmdachieve
an acceptablenoiseenvironment in industridcommercial
areas.
B.2 To achieve noise impact compatibility be-
tween land uses through the land use planning/develop-
ment review process.
B.3 To actively control mobilenoise violations.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C. 1 Encourage the development of compatible
land uses in areas which are subject to excessive noise
levels.
C.2 Develop specific noise standards for use in
reviewing noise sensitive development.
C.3 Require the use of project design techniques,
such as, increasing the distance between thenoisesource
and the receiver; placing non-noise sensitive uses such as
parking areas, maintenance facilities, and utility areas
between the source and the receiver; using non-sensitive
structures, such as a garage, to shield noise sensitive
areas; and, orienting buildings to shield outdoor spaces
from anoise source to minimize noise impacts during any
discretionary reviewofa residential orothernoisesensi-
tiveproject.
C.4 ContinuetoenforcetheStateMotorVehicle
Codeasitappliestoexcessivenoise. TheCarkbadPolice
Department should continue to reduce the number of
Page 6
excessively noisy vehicles on city streets. The Depm-
ment should also continue to deter persons from
operating their motor vehicles in a noisy manner.
C.5 Enforce the policy of the City that sixty
(60) &A CNEL IS the extenor noise level to which all
residennal wts should be mingated 65 dBA CNEL
is the maximum noise level to which residennal units
subject to noise from McClellan-Palomar Airport
should be permitted Addinonal disclosure actions
(easements, deed restrictions, recorded nonce, etc.)
may be required of developerdsellers of noise im-
pacted residential units
For residential properties identified as requiring
anoise study, astudy shall be prepared by an acoustical
professional. This study shall document the projected
maximum extenor noise level and mitigate the projected
exterior noise level to amaximum allowablenoise level as
identified in this policy.
Interior noise levels should be mitigated to 45
dB A CNEL when openings totheextenor ofthe residence
are open or closed. If openings are required to be closed
to meet the interior noise standard, then mechanical
ventilation shall beprovided.
If the acoustical study shows that exterior noise
levels cannot be mitigated to the level allowableas iden-
tified in this policy or less, the development should not be
approved without one or more of the following findings:
( 1) Changes or alterations have been required in,
or incorporated into, the project which avoidor substan-
tially lessen the significant environmental effect (noise).
(2) Changes or alterations to avoid or substan-
tially lessen the significant environmental effect (noise)
are wih the responsibility and jurisdiction of another
publicagencyandnottheCityofCarlsbad. Such changes
have beenadopted bysuchotheragencyorcanandshould
be adopted by such other agency.
(3) Specific economic, social, or other consid-
erations make infeasible the mitigation measures or
project alternatives to avoid or substantially lessen the
significant environmental effect (noise).
If a project is approved with exterior noise
levels exceeding the level allowable pursuant to th~s
policy, all purchasers of the impacted property shall be
notified in writing prior to purchase, and by deed
disclosure in writing, that the property they are purchas-
ing is, or will be, noise impacted and does meet
Carlsbad noise standards for residential property.
Notwithstanding project approval, no residen-
tial interior CNEL should exceed 45 dBA.
C.6 Require that a “Noise” Study be submit-
ted with all discretionary applications for residential
projects of five or more single family dwelling units or
any multiple family dwelling units located within or
500-feet beyond the 60 dBA CNEL noise contour lines
as shown on Map 2. Future Noise Exposure Contour
Map.
C.7 Enforce the policy of the City that site
design techniques such as increasing the distance
between the noise source and the receiver; placing non-
noise sensitive uses such as parking areas, maintenance
facilities and utility areas between the source and the
receiver; using non-noise sensitive structures, such as
a garage, to shield noise-sensitive areas; and orienting
buildings to shield outdoor spaces from a noise source,
be the first tool used to mitigate noise impacts on noise
sensitive land uses rather than the construction of walls
or berms.
C.8 Recognize that mitigation of existmg or
future noise impacts from Circulation Element road-
ways, AT&SF railroad or McClellan-Palomar Airport
for existing or future development within the City,
shall not be funded by the City. However, the City
Page 7
shall assist applicants with the processing of necessary
permits for mitigating noise on pnvate property,
which permits may include right-of-way permits,
encroachment permits, retaining wall permits and
zoning variances. The City shall also assist property
owners in the establishment of assessment districts, to
fund noise mitigation improvements, in accordance
with established City policies and procedures.
C.9 Discourage the exclusive use of noise walls
in excess of 6 feet in height as mitigation for noise
dong Circulation Element roadways.
C. 10 Utilize natural barriers such as site topog-
raphy or constructed earthen berms to mitigate noise on
a project. When noise walls are determined to be the
only feasible solunon to noise mitigation, then the
walls shall be designed to limit aesthetic impacts.
When over-height walls are necessary to mitigate
noise, a bendwall combination with heavy landscap-
ing, a terraced wall heavily landscaped, or other similar
innovative wall design technique shall be used to
minimize visual impacts.
CIRCULATION
A. GOAL
To provide a roadway system that does not subject surrounding land uses to significantly adverse
noise levels.
B. OBJECTIVE
To design and manage all roadways to maintain acceptable noise levels.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C. 1 Take measures to reduce traffic noise on
streets throughout Carisbad. This will include contin-
ued enforcement of applicable sections of the Califor-
nia Vehicle Code regardmg equipment andor opera-
tion of motor vehicles.
C.2 Consider noise impacts in the design of
road systems and give special consideration to those
road corridors in scenic or noise sensitive areas.
C.3 Review traffic flow systems and synchro-
nize signalization, wherever possible to avoid traffic
stops and starts, which produce excessive noise, and to
adjust naffic flow to achieve noise levels acceptable to
surrounding areas.
C.4 Apply the residential noise policies of this
element in the review ofproposals for the construction or
improvement of any roadway, railroad, transit system or
other noise producing facility.
AIRPORT
A. GOAL
A City that achieves long-term compatibility
between the airport and surrounding land use.
6. OBJECTIVES
B. 1 Tomini~noiseimpactsoncityresidents,
the City has planned for non-residential land uses within
the 65 dBA CNEL Noise Contour ofMcClellan-Palomar
Airpon,asshOwnonMap3: AirportNoiseContourMap.
B.2 To develop and enforce programs dealing
with airpon noise disclosure, avigation easements and
noise control that provide for noise compatibility with
surrounding land uses.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C. 1 Encourage the development of compatible
land uses and restrict incompatible land uses surround-
ing airport facilities.
Page 8
U
e
C.2 Utilize the noise standards contained in
the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for
McClellan-Palomar Aport (on file in the Planning
Department). However, the City reserves the right to
deviate from the CLUP as provided for in State Public
Utilities Code Section 21676.
C.3 Recognize that procedures for the abate-
ment of aircraft noise have been identified in the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for McClellan-
Palomar hrpon. The City expects the widespread
dissemination of, and pilot adherence to, the adopted
procedures.
C.4 Expectthe airportto control we whilethe
City shall conuol land-use thus sharing responsibility for
acheving and maintaining long-term noisdand-use com-
patibility in the vicinity of McClellan-Palomar Airport.
C. 5 Discourage the development of residential
projects with exterior noise levels in excess of 65 dBA
CNEL as caused by airpodaircraft operations. The
City recognizes that noise levels of 65 dBA CNEL, as
caused by aircraft operations, are generally incompat-
ible with developments of residential uses and such
developments should not be permitted within the 65
dBA CNEL Airport Noise Contour (See Map 3:
Airport Noise Contour Map). However, if residential
projects are approved, the City will require Avigation
Easements to be placed over lots within new residential
development projects located within the 65 dBA
CNEL noise contour as mapped on Map 3: Airport
Noise Contour Map.
RAIL
B. OBJECTIVE
To develop, maintain and manage a mitiga-
tion program for railroad noise.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C. 1 Apply the residential noise policies of thrs
Element inthereview and approval ofthe constructionor
improvement of railroad facilities.
C.2 Apply the noise mitigation guidelines of
the Noise Guidelines Manual (on file in the Planning
Department) to all proposed development within the
60 dBA CNEL Noise Contour line as depicted on Map
2: Future Noise Exposure Contour Map.
EMPLOYMENT
A. GOAL
A City with healthy and productive work environ-
ments that do not cause hearing damage or other adverse
noise related health impacts to workers in the City of
Carlsbad.
B. OBJECTIVES
B. 1 To promote an ongoing noise control and
hearing conservation program for the work environment.
B.2Topromote hearingconservationinthemrk-
place.
A. GOAL B.3 To encourage that all business entities
operating in the City comply with all occupational Health
and Safety laws, rules andlor regulations established by Noise from railroad travel through Carlsbad is authorized city, county, state or federal agencies. not disruptive to adjacent land uses and activities.
Page 9
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.l Participate in noise control and hearing
conservation programs in all appropriate work environ-
ments owned, operated, or otherwise under the control
of the City.
C.2 Promote that all persons responsible for
operation of noiseproducing equipment or processes,
exercise reasonable care to minimize casual noise expo-
sure to unprotected workers or passers-by to reduce risk
of hearing damage.
C.3 Encourage and assist its employees in
identifying and abating potential noise hazards on
City- owned or controlled property.
Page 10
I . .......- -. . . __.
,- VI. GLOSSARY
AMBIENT NOISE
- AVIGATION EASEMENT
- CNEL
COMMUNITY NOISE
- EQUIVALENT LEVEL
c DECIBEL (dB)
A-WEIGHTED DECIBEL (dBA)
r_
- EASEMENT
-
The composite of all sounds near and far for any
environment. Ambient noise levels are generally
averaged for given periods of time.
An air rights easement which protects air lanes
around the airport.
See Community Noise Equivalent Level.
A technique used in the State of California for
quantifying aircraft and community noise levels.
CNEL is based on A-weighted noise measure-
ments, in which both the magnitude of noise and
frequency of occurrence are measured. It incor-
porates factors of amplitude and the pitch of
noise, hearing sensitivity of the human ear,
duration of noise, and time of day penalty
factors. The CNEL measure weights nighttime
and evening noise occurrences greater than
daytime ones,
A unit for measuring the relative loudness of
sounds equal approximately to the smallest
degree of difference of loudness ordinarily
detectable by the human ear.
An A-weighted decibel compensates for the
hearing sensitivity of humans by discriminating
against the lower frequencies according to an
approximate relationship to the sensitivity of the
human ear.
A grant of one or more of the property rights by
the property owner to and/or for the use by the
public, corporation, city, county or another
person or entity.
FREQUENCY The number of sound waves occurring within a
Hertz. The human ear perceives differences in
frequency as changes in pitch; the higher the
frequency, the higher the pitch.
7 given length of time. Frequency is expressed in
-
. .-
Page 15
NOISE
NOISE SENSITJVE LAND USES
A loud, discordant or disagreeable sound.
Those land uses which are particularly affected
by excessive noise, including residences, motels,
hotels, public meeting rooms, schools, churches,
.
libraries, hospital, parks, recreation areas, etc. .-
Page 16
Heritage Hall was built in 1926 to house the congnganon of St Pa&ck's Church at the southeast comer of Harding Street and Oak Avenue. In 1952 the church was movcd across the street wh
it became the ws fint administrative offices. Over the nun few years it served as home to the
City Manager, City Council, Police Department and Fire Department, and as a County branch
liirary. As new City offices were constructed and City departments moved out, use of the building
changed from that of Ciq Hall, to the City iibrary, to the children's library, to a studio for the North
County Ballet Finally, in 1979 the study little suumre was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lot; however, it was rescued from demolition by a coalition consisting of Friends of
the Libmy, the Carlsbad Historical Society and volunteer building tradesmen who anangcd for it to be moved to Map Historical Park With only minor repain, the old church once again became
a public meekg place.
Note: Information daived m pan from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Marjorie Howard Jones.
I999 HOUSING ELEMENT
CITY OF CARLSBAD
May 2000
Housing Commission - recommended approval on May 11,2000 (5-0)
HC Resolution No. 2000-002 (Housing Element only)
Planning Commission - recommended approval on May 17,2000 (7-0)
PC Resolutions No. 4777 (Negative Declaration) and 4778 (Housing Element)
City Council - approved on July 11, 2000 (5-0)
CC Resolution No. 2000-224 (Negative Declaration and Housing Element)
State Department of Housing and Community Development notified Carlsbad of their
approvaI/certification of the Element on December 1. 2000.
1999 Housincl Element
Contents
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 .. i . Background ............................................................................................ 1
Executive Summary ............................................................................... 3
State Housing Law ................................................................................. 5
Regional Share Housing Needs Assessment ........................................ 7
Relationship to Other Elements ........................................................... 11
vii . Public Participation .............................................................................. 13
ii .
iv .
v . Self-Certification for San Diego Jurisdictions ......................................... 9
vi .
... .. 111 .
SECTION ONE . HOUSING NEEDS AND INVENTORY ........................ 15
A .
B .
C .
D .
Population ............................................................................................ 15
1 . Population Trends ......................................................................... 15
2 . Population by Age ......................................................................... 16
3 . Population by Ethnicity .................................................................. 17
4 . Employment .................................................................................. 18
Households .......................................................................................... 19
1 . Household Composition and Size ................................................. 19
2 . Overcrowding ................................................................................ 20
3 . Income ........................................................................................... 21
4 . Special Needs ............................................................................... 21
b . Persons with Disabilities ......................................................... 22
c .
d . Single-Parent Households ...................................................... 23
e . Homeless ................................................................................ 23
f . Farm Workers ......................................................................... 26
g . Military ..................................................................................... 27
h . Students .................................................................................. 27
Existing Housing Stock ........................................................................ 28
1 . Housing Unit Type ......................................................................... 28
2 . Tenure ........................................................................................... 28
3 . Vacancy ......................................................................................... 30
4 . Age and Condition ......................................................................... 30
5 . Cost of Housing ............................................................................. 31
6 . At-Risk Units .................................................................................. 33
7 . Coastal Zone Housing ................................................................... 34
Future Housing Stock ........................................................................... 34
1 .. .Vacant Residential Land ............................................................... 35
2 . Underutilized Areas ....................................................................... 35
3 . Non-Residential Zones .................................................................. 36
4 . Summary of Residential Potential ................................................. 36
5 . Quantified Housing Objectives ...................................................... 40
a . Elderly ..................................................................................... 21
Large Households ................................................................... 23
.. ..
1 May. 2000
t 1999 Housina Element
SECTION TWO . HOUSING CONSTRAINTS AND MITIGATING .......................................................................................... 42 OPPORTU N IT1 ES
A Governmental Constraints 42 . ...................................................................
1 . Land Use Control Constraints ....................................................... 42
General Plan Policies .............................................................. 42
Zoning Designations. and Areas of Special Interest ................ 43
Growth Management Program ................................................ 46
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 52
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 53
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 53
Building, Electrical and Plumbing Codes ....................................... 53
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 53
Code Enforcement Programs ........................................................ 54
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 54
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 54
Infrastructure Improvements. Exactions and Fees ........................ 55
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 55
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 55
California Environmental .Quality Act ............................................. 55 a . Constraints .............................................................................. 55
Mitigating Opportunities ................................... : ...................... 56
California Coastal Act and Regulations ......................................... 56
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 56
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 56
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 57
a . Constraints ............................................................................... 58
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 59
Non-Governmental Constraints .................................................... ...... 59 1 . Financing .................................................................................. 59
a . Constraints ............................................................................... 59
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 61
a .
b .
c .
d Redevelopment Plan 50
e Permit Processing 50
2 . Open Space and Habitat Preservation .......................................... 53
b .
. ............................................................... . ...................................................................
e .
3 .
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 54
4 .
b .
5 .
b .
6 .
b .
7 .
b .
8 . Article XXXlV - California Constitution ........................................... 57
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 57
9 . City Staffing Levels ........................................................................ 58
b .
B . ....
i . Availability and Use of Public Financing ............................. 60
ii . Rates .................................................................................. 60
i . Mortgage Revenue Bonds .................................................. 61
ii . Public Financing .................................................................. 61
iii . Low Income Permanent Financing ..................................... 62
iv . Community Reinvestment Act ............................................. 62
vi . CDBG Funds ............................................. : ......................... 63
b .
v . Redevelopment Set-Aside Funds ....................................... 63
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1999 Housina Element
C .
D .
2 .
3 .
Cost of Land ................................................................................... 63
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 63
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 63
i . Imminent DomainIFriendly Condemnation .......................... 64
ii . Land Banking ...................................................................... 64
iii . GovernmentlPublic Land .................................................... 65
iv . Constrained Acreage .......................................................... 65
Cost of Construction ...................................................................... 65
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 65
i . Labor ................................................................................... 65
ii . Construction Costs .............................................................. 65
Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 65
i . Factory Built Housing/Manufactured Housing ...................... 66
ii. Development Standards ..................................................... 66
iii . Construction Management .................................................. 66
b .
. Environmental Constraints ...... : ............................................................ 66
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
Endangered Species and Sensitive Habitats ................................ 67
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 67
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 69
Water Supply ................................................................................. 70
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 70
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 70
Topography ..................t................................................................ 70
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 70
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 71
McClellan/Palomar Airport ............................................................. 71
a . Constraints .............................................................................. 71
b . Mitigating Opportunities .......................................................... 72
Energy Conservation ........................................................................... 72
SECTION THREE . HOUSING GOALS. OBJECTIVES. POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS ........................................................................................... 73
A . Fiscal Caveat ....................................................................................... 73
B . Summary of Goals ............................................................................... 73
C . Goals. Objectives. Policies and Programs ........................................... 74
1 . Goal 1 (Presehration) .............................................................. : ..... 74
2 . Goal 2 (Quantity and Diversity of Housing Stock) ......................... 78
3 . Goal 3 (Groups with Special Needs. Including Low and
Moderate Income Households) ..................................................... 81
4 . Goal 4 (Housing. Jobs. Work Force Balance) ............................... 93
5 . Goal 5 (Resource Conservation) ................................................... 93
6 . Goal 6 (Open and Fair Housing Opportunities) ............................. 94
APPENDICES (Under separate cover)
APPENDIX A . Review of 1990 Housing Element .......... : ........................ A-1
3 May. 2000
1 . Summary of Housing Production ................................................. A-1
2 . Review of Programs and Proposed Revisions ............................ A-2
a .
b .
d .
e .
f .
9- h .
i .
k .
C .
j .
APPENDIX B . Review of lnclusionary Housing Program ........................ B-1
1 . Summary of Program .................................................................. B-1
2 . Summary of Housing Impact Fees .............................................. B-2
3 . Summary of Housing Production ................................................. 6.3 .
Calavera Hills Master Plan Aviara Master Plan ..................... 6-5
Kelly Ranch Master Plan ....................................................... B-5
Terraces at Sunny Creek Specific Plan ................................ B-5
Poinsettia Properties Specific Plan ............ 1 .......................... 8-5
Rancho Carrillo Master Plan ................................................. 8-7
Poinsettia Shores Master Plan .............................................. B-7
Aviara Master Plan ................................................................ 6-8
Green Valley Master Plan ..................................................... 6-9
Arroyo La Costa Master Plan .............................................. B-10
Other Qualified Subdivisions ............................................... B-10
Zone 20 Specific Plan ........................................................... B-6
4 . Summary of Housing Trust Fund ............................................... B-11
5 . Future lnclusionary Housing ...................................................... 6-12
6 . Redevelopment Set-Aside Funds .............................................. B-13
APPENDIX C . Maps ............................................................................... C-1
APPENDIX D . Pertinent City Ordinances ............................................... D-1
APPENDIX E . Summary of Zoning Regulations ..................................... E-1
APPENDIX F . State Housing Law .......................................................... F-1
APPENDIX G . SANDAG’s Housing Element . Self-Certification Report:
Implementation of Pilot Program for the San Diego
Region. dated June. 1998 ............................................... G-1
APPENDIX H . 1999 Consolidated Funding Plan .................................... H-1
APPENDIX I . 1998 . 1999 Annual Housing Report .................................. 1.1
APPENDIX J . Development Fee Schedule ............................................... J-1
APPENDIX K . Public Notices. Mailing List. Survey Forms ....................... K-1
May. 2000 4
1999 Housine' Element
List of Tables
Table 1 . State Law Compliance Guide .............................................................. 5
Table 2 . Income Group Definitions by Annual Household Income .................... 7
Table 3 . Annual Income Limits . San Diego Region . 1999 .............................. 8
Table 4 . Regional Share Housing Needs Assessment ..................................... 8
Table 6 . Population Trends ............................................................................. 16
Table 7 . Population Trends by Age . 1990 . 1998 ........................................... 17
Table 8 . Population Trends by Ethnicity . 1988 . 1998 ................................... 17
Table 5 . Self-Certification Housing Performance Objectives ........................... 10
Table 9 . Carlsbad Employment by Industry .................................................... 18
Table 10 . Median Hourly Wages . Selected San Diego County Occupations . 19
Table 11 . Number of Households by Size . Carlsbad and Region . 1998 ....... 20
Table 12 . Trends in Households . Carlsbad and Region . 1990 . 2005 .......... 20
Table 13 . Overcrowded Dwelling Units . Carlsbad and Region . 1998 ........... 21
Table 14 . Househdd Income . Carlsbad and Region . 1998 .......................... 21
Households . Carlsbad and Region . 1998 ..................................... 23
Table 17 . North County Emergency Shelters .................................................. 24
Table 18 . North County Transitional Shelters ................................................. 25
Table 19 . North County Day Shelters .............................................................. 25
Table 15 . Work Disability Status by Age . San Diego Region ......................... 22
Table 16 . Single-Parent Households . Number and Percentage of Total
Table 20 . North County Case Management Services ..................................... 26
Table 21 . Type of Housing Units . Carlsbad . 1990 . 1998 ............................. 28
Table 22 . Housing Tenure Trends . Carlsbad and Region . 1980 . 1998 ....... 28
Table 24 . Tenure of Large Households . Carlsbad & Region . 1998 .............. 29
Table 25 . Tenure of Overcrowded Households . Carlsbad & Region . 1998 .. 29
Table 23 . Tenure of Elderly Households . Carlsbad & Region . 1998 ............. 29
Table 26 . Tenure of Overpaying Households . Carlsbad & Region . 1998 ..... 29
Table 27 . Vacancy Rate Trends . Carlsbad and Region . 1990 . 1998 ........... 30
Table 28 . Year Housing Built . Carlsbad and Region . 1998 .......................... 31
Table 31 . Coastal Zone Development . 1991 . 1998 ...................................... 34
Facility Plans . 1998 ........................................................................ 37
the 1999-2004 Housing Cycle ......................................................... 37
Table 29 . Housing Cost Indexes . Selected Metro Areas ............................... 32
Table 30 . Average Rents per Square Foot . San Diego Region ..................... 32
Table 32 . Total Vacant Residential Lands by General Plan Designation ........ 35
Table 33 . Total Residential Acreage in Zones Without Approved
Table 34 . Total Residential Development Potential on Vacant Lands for
5 May. 2000
Table 35 . Comparison of Housing Goals. Quantified Objectives . Housing
Units by Income Group .................................................................... 39
Table 36 . Quantified Objectives by Income Group and Method ...................... 40
Table 37 . General Plan Residential Density Ranges ...................................... 43
Table 38 - Zones Allowing Residential Development by Right ......................... 43
Table 39 - Zones Conditionally Allowing Residential Uses ............................... 45
Table 40 - Special Areas and Overlay Zones ................................................... 45
Table 41 - Discretionary Reviews for Residential Projects ............................... 51
Table 42 - San Diego County Mortgage Rates - 12/29/98 ............................... 60
Table 43 - Money Rates ................................................................................... 61
Table 44 - Flora and Fauna Species in Carlsbad ............................................. 67
(From this point forward . under separate cover)
Table 45 . Total Housing Constructed . Carlsbad . 1990 . 1998 ...................... A-I
Table 46 . Affordable Housing Projects Under Construction ............................ A-2
Table 47 . Housing Impact Fees Collected from Inception of lnclusionary
Ordinance to 1/1/99 ......................................................................... 8-2
Table 48 . Calavera Hills Master Plan Development Summary ........................ B-5
Table 49 . Zone 20 Specific Plan Development Summary ............................... B-6
Table 50 . Rancho Carrillo Master Plan Development Summary ..................... 8-7
Table 51 . Poinsettia Shores Master Plan Development Summary .................. 8-8
Table 52 . Aviara Master Plan Development Summary .................................... B-8
Table 53 . Approved Residential Subdivisions Outside of Master Plans/
Specific Plans . Development Summary ....................................... B-10
Table 54 . Summary of Housing Trust Fund . as of 1/1/99 ............................ 8-12
Table 55 . Developing and Planned lnclusionary Housing Projects ............... B-12
Table 56 . LMIHF Expenditure Plan ............................................................... B-14
Table 57 - Housing Production ...................................................................... B-15
May. 2000 6
1999 Housina Element
List of Maps
Map A . Potential Areas for Emergency and Transitional Shelters .................... 39
Map B . Status of Local Facilities Management Plans ...................................... 49
(From this point forward . under separate cover)
Map C . Location of Master Plans and Residential Specific Plans ................... 6-4
Map D . City of Carlsbad General Plan Map .................................................... C-1
Map E . City of Carlsbad Zoning Map ................................ ............................. C-3
Map F . Regulatory Constraints Map ................................................................ C-5
Map G - Potential Areas for Emergency and Transitional Shelters .................. C-7
Map H - Location of Master Plans and Residential Specific Plans ................... C-9
7 May. 2000
1999 Housinq Element
INTRODUCTION
i. BACKGROUND
The City of Carlsbad, California, was incorporated in 1952 and encompasses 42
square miles of coastal North San Diego County. Carlsbad is surrounded by the
incorporated cities of Oceanside, Vista,. San Marcos and Encinitas, as well as some
unincorporated portions of San Diego County.
Carlsbad derives its name from its natural mineral springs, which are similar in
taste and composition to the famous mineral springs in the former Karlsbad, Bohemia
(now known as Karlovy Vary, Chech Republic). In keeping with the name derivation,
Carlsbad has continued to pursue a “village by the sea” atmosphere and appearance,
especially in the downtown area.
Over the last 20 years, a large amount of industrial and office developments in
the vicinity of the McClellan/Palomar airport have added a high-tech and progressive
business component to Carlsbad. The City is located in a prime business location,
along the Interstate 5 corridor between Los AngeledOrange County and San Diego, and
the access provided by the local airport and commuter rail stations augment existing
and future business opportunities.
Also in the last 20 to 25 years, Carlsbad annexed many contiguous County
areas, such as La Costa, rapidly increasing growth and population. This rapid growth
caused the City to generate a growth management program that tied development to the
provision of facilities and services and set maximum dwelling unit counts for the City’s
buildout. This growth management program was ratified by the voters in 1986 and
allowed Carlsbad to continue to grow while still providing adequate infrastructure and
protecting sensitive natural resources.
With the exception of its mild, Mediterranean climate, Carlsbad is physically quite
diverse. Within the City limits are three lagoons (Buena Vista, Agua ,Hedionda and
Batiquitos), over six miles of sand and cobble beaches, and varied topography reaching
peak elevations of between 725 and 825 feet. Carlsbad is also home to a fresh water
lake (Lake Calavera) as well as large stands of native scrub and chaparral habitat.
With regard to regional services and attractions, Carlsbad is unique among the
coastal North San Diego County jurisdictions. Besides being home to the
McClellan/Palomar airport, Carlsbad contains a regional waste water treatment plant
and an electrical generating power plant. Visitors and tourists are attracted to Carlsbad
not only for the beaches and physical scenery, but also for such opportunities as the
Plaza Camino Real regional mall, Car Country Carlsbad auto sales park and the
LEGOLAND Carlsbad theme park.
As Carlsbad develops in accordance with the City’s General Plan, the various
components of a well-balanced community, including housing opportunities, will take
shape upon the landscape and continue the City’s local and regional significance.
1 May, 2000
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1999 Housincl Element
.. 11. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Of the eight state-required elements of the General Plan, the Housing Element is
the most regulated and reviewed, signifying the state-wide importance of providing
adequate housing opportunities for all income levels, including those individuals with
special needs.
This element is arranged into three sections: Section One: Housing Needs and
lnventory addresses the housing supply and demand by summarizing the population
and employment trends in the City and/or region, as well as providing an inventory of
the existing and potential housing stock. This section also includes the City’s regional
share allocation.
Section Two: Constraints and Opportunities explores the various governmental,
non-governmental, and environmental constraints to maintaining existing housing and
providing future housing and the mitigating opportunities afforded by the Housing
Element policies and programs. This section also discusses the opportunities for energy
conservation in the development of housing.
After assessing the housing needs, available inventory and constraints, Section
Three: Goals, Objectives and Programs outlines the policies, objectives and programs
for providing adequate housing opportunities to meet the anticipated needs.
In addition to the above-referenced sections, the Housing Element contains
several appendices. These appendices, listed in the table of contents, include such
items as a review of the 1990 Housing Element, a review of the City’s lnclusionary
Housing Program, pertinent maps and ordinances, the City’s Consolidated Plan, a
current development fee schedule for development permits, and public notices and
survey forms.
e
3 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
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1999 Housinq Element
iii. STATE HOUSING LAW
The requirements for Housing Elements are contained in Sections 65580 to
65589 of the State of California Government Code. This legislation requires each
jurisdiction in California to: 1) identify and analyze the existing and projected housing
needs and, 2) list goals, policies, objectives, resources and programs for the
preservation, improvement and development of housing. To facilitate review of this
Housing Element by the California Housing .and Community Development Department,
the table below lists the required contents of Housing Elements and identifies where the
contents may be found in this element.
TABLE 1 - STATE LAW COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Requirement
Section 65583
(a) Needs Assessment, Inventory of ConstraintslResources
(1 ) Population and employment trends
(2) Household and housing stock characteristics
(3) Land inventory and analysis of infrastructure
(4) Governmental constraints
(5) Non-governmental constraints
(6) Special housing needs:
Female heads of households
Large households
Overcrowding
Farm workers
Elderly
Persons with Disabilities
Homeless
Military
Students
(7) Energy conservation
(8) Preservation of assisted housing
(b) Statement of Goals, Quantified Objectives and Policies
(c) Five-year Housing Program
(1 ) Adequate sites
(2) Assist development of affordable housing
(3) Remove governmental constraints
(4) Conserve existing housing stock
(5) Promote equal access to housing
(6) Preservation of assisted housing
(d) Public Participation
15- 19
19 - 21,28 - 31
34 - 40
41 - 55
55 - 67
21 -28
23
22 - 23
20
27
21 -22
22
23 - 26
27
28
67
33
69 - 91
69 -91
34 - 40
69 - 91
69 - 91
69 - 91
69 -91
69 - 91
13
5 May, 2000
1999 Housincl Element
TABLE 1 - STATE LAW COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Requirement Page(s)
7-8 Section 65584
(1) Regional Housing Needs Assessment (SANDAG)
The review of Housing Elements and their revisions typically occurs on five-year
cycles. These revision cycles occur over different five-year periods for different
governments within California. For those local governments in the jurisdiction of the San
Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the first revision cycle ended on July 1,
1985 and the second revision cycle ended on July 1, 1990. . The SANDAG member
jurisdictions have recently completed their third housing revision cycle, which ended July
1, 1999. The fourth housing revision cycle, the subject of this Housing Element, will
extend from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2004. Some of the following text that refers to
State law uses these housing cycles rather than actual dates, since it was written to
apply generally to all jurisdictions within California.
May, 2000 6
1999 Housinu Element
iv. REGIONAL SHARE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
The allocation of Carlsbad’s regional share housing needs assessment was
calculated by SANDAG using the same methodology as used in distribution of projected
housing growth, according to the 2020 Regional Growth Forecast. SANDAG’s Regional
Growth Forecasts have been shown to be quite accurate, typically within five percent of
the actual growth. According to the Regional Housing Needs Statement for the San
Diego Region, the models and forecasting process used by SANDAG are consistent
with the requirements of Section 65584 of the State Housing Element Law for
determining San Diego region’s share of the statewide housing need and the allocation
of that need to cities and the County.
One issue that resulted from the latest growth projections and allocations was
that the general and community plans of the 18 cities and County, taken in aggregate,
will not accommodate the projected residential growth. SANDAG anticipates that all
land currently planned for densities of one unit per acre or higher will be developed
within the next 20 years. Therefore, SANDAG’s Land Use Distribution Element
recommends placing higher densities and mixed uses around transit centers, along
major bus corridors and within traditional town centers. This process would require
some local jurisdictions to consider increasing the residential density ranges in and
around these transit‘ and downtown areas. The City of Carlsbad, through its Density
Bonus Ordinance and Village Redevelopment Master Plan and Design Manual, already
has the ability to raise residential densities in any residentially-designated area, provided
some of that increased density is used to provide housing for lower-income households.
The following regional share housing needs assessments are derived from the
SANDAG’s Draft Regional Housing Needs Statement for the San Diego Region, dated
November 1998. The housing unit allocations are divided into categories, based upon
the income ranges listed in Table 2 - “tncome Group Definitions by Annual Household
Income”, below.
(1 TABLE 2 - INCOME GROUPS DEFINITIONS BY ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Income Grow I Annual Household Income
Extremely Low Income
Very Low Income
Low Income
Moderate Income
Above Moderate Income
Less than 30 percent of the area median income
30 to 50 percent of the area median income
51 to 80 percent of the area median income
81 to 120 percent of the area median income
Over 120 percent of area median income
The actual income needed to qualify as a particular income group is based upon
the number of persons in the household. Given an area median income for a four-
person household in the San Diego region of $50,800 for 1998, Table 3 - “Annual
Income Limits - San Diego Region - 1998”, below, details the annual income limits for
the various income groups, based upon the number of persons in the household.
7 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
TABLE 3 - ANNUAL INCOME LIMITS - SAN DIEGO REGION - 1999
Income Income Limit by Number of Persons per Household
Category 1 2 3 4 5 6
Extremely Low $11,050 $12,600 $14,200 $15,750 $17,000 $18,250
Very Low 18,400 21,000 23,650 26,250 28,350 30,450
Low 29,000 33,600 37,800 42,000 45,350 48,700
Moderate 44,100 50,400 56,700 63,000 68,050 73,100
Above Moderate >44,100 ~50,400 >56,700 >63,000 >68,050 >73,100
Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, January, 1999
Given the above income categories and the projected regional growth forecasts,
the regional share housing needs assessments for Carlsbad are as follows:
TABLE 4 - REGIONAL SHARE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR CARLSBAD
7999-2004 HOUSING CYCLE
Very Low income: 1,770 housing units
Low Income: 1,417 housing units
Moderate Income: 1,436 housing units
Above Moderate: 1.591 housina units
TOTAL UNIT ALLOCATION: 6,214 HOUSING UNITS
May, 2000 8
1999 Housinq Element
V. SELF-CERTIFICATION FOR SAN DIEGO REGION
JU RlSDlCTlONS
The Housing Element is the only element of the General Plan requiring review
and certification by a state agency, namely the State Department of Housing and
Community Development. This review exists to certify that a Housing Element is in
substantial compliance with state law. In 1995, SANDAG sponsored AB 1715 to allow
the San Diego region jurisdictions to conduct a pilot program for self-certification of their
Housing Elements. Under this program, each SANDAG member jurisdiction has the
option of reviewing its own Housing Elements and certifying that its elements are in
substantial compliance with state law, provided certain criteria are met.
The self-certification program is detailed in SANDAG’s “Housing Element - Self-
Certification Report: Implementation of Pilot Program for the San Diego Region”, dated
June 1998. A copy is attached in its entirety as Appendix C. The report contains the
self-certification criteria and associated affordable housing goals. These criteria and
goals were derived from cooperation between the local jurisdictions, housing advocacy
groups and housing providers. They are intended to provide more flexibility in the
provision of affordable housing by allowing different types of housing to count towards
the regional share allocation. The self-certification criteria for the San Diego region are
as follows:
Criterion 1:
Criterion 2:
Criterion 3:
Criterion 4:
Criterion 5:
The jurisdiction’s adopted housing element or amendment substantially
complies with the provisions of this article, including addressing the needs of all income levels.
For the third housing element revision pursuant to Section 65588, the
jurisdiction met its fair share of the regional housing needs for the second
housing element revision cycle, as determined by SA NDA G.
For subsequent housing element revisions, the jurisdiction has provided
the maximum number of housing unitdopportunities as determined
pursuant to Section 65585. f (a) within the previous planning period.
The city or county provides a statement regarding how its adopted
housing element or amendment addresses the dispersion of lower
income housing within its jurisdiction, documenting that additional
affordable housing opportunities will not be developed only in areas
where concentrations of lower income households already exist, taking
into account the availability of necessary public facilities and
infrastructure.
No local government actions or policies prevent the development of the
identified sites pursuant to Section 65583, or accommodation of the
jurisdictions’ share of the total regional housing need pursuant to Section
65584.
The performance objectives for the self-certification process include an income
group not included through the state certification process. This income group is the
extremely low-income group, with household incomes below 30 percent of the San
9 May, 2000
Diego region median (approximately $15,250 per year household income for a family of
four). Listed below are Carlsbad's performance objectives for the 1999 - 2004 housing
cycle under self-certification:
TABLE 5 - SELF-CERTIFICATION PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES FOR CARLSBAD
1999-2004 HOUSING CYCLE
Extremely Low Income Goal (~30% median income):
Very Low Income Goal (30 - 50% median income):
Low Income Goal (50 - 80% median income):
Total Performance Objectives Under Self-Certification:
Source: SANDAG's "Housing Element - Self-Certification Report", June 1998
170units
201 units
258 units
629 units
It should be realized that the above-referenced objectives apply only to
Carlsbad's eligibility for self-certification. Criterion 3 above still requires that a City's
Housing Element be in substantial compliance with state law.
May, 2000 10
~~
1999 Housina Element
vi. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS
California law requires that General Plans contain an integrated and internally
consistent set of policies. The Housing Element is most affected by development
policies contained in the Land Use Element, which establishes the location, type,
intensity and distribution of land uses throughout the City. An analysis of the major
policy areas of the Land Use Nement and its relationship with the Housing Element is
contained below.
The Housing Element is also affected by policies in the Noise Nement and the
Public Safety Element, which contain policies limiting residential development in
certain areas for reasons of noise impacts, geology, and public safety, including the
location of Palomar Airport and its influence area. The Housing Element also relates to
the Circulation Element in that major areas for housing must be served with adequate
access routes and transportation systems.
The Housing Element uses the residential goals and objectives of the City's
adopted Land Use Element as a policy framework for developing more specific goals
and policies in the Housing Element. The numerous goals and objectives of the Land
Use Element encompass five main themes:
Preservation - The City should preserve the neighborhood atmosphere,
retain the identity 'of the existing neighborhoods, maximize open space, and ensure
slope preservation.
1.
2. Choice - The City should ensure a variety of housing types (single-family
detached or attached, multifamily apartments and condominiums) with different styles
and price levels in a variety of locations.
3. Medium and High Density Compatibility with Surroundings and
Services - The City should provide close-in living and convenient shopping in the
commercial core but limit large-scale development of apartments to areas that are most
appropriate.
4. Housing Needs - The City should utilize programs to revitalize
deteriorating areas or those with high potential for deterioration and seek to provide low
and moderate income housing. The City will also address the special housing needs of
the homeless, the farm worker, the physically challenged and the elderly.
5. Growth Management Program - The Housing Element was reviewed
with regard to the Growth Management Program, developed in 1986. The analysis
found that the Growth Management Program would not significantly impact the Regional
Housing Needs or the Housing Element as the City's housing needs and fair share goals
will continue to be met. It is the purpose and intent of the Growth Management Program
to provide quality housing opportunities for all economic segments of the community and
to balance the housing needs of the region against the public service needs of
Carlsbad's residents and available fiscal and environmental resources.
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1999 Housina Element
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May, 2000 12
1999 Housins Element
vi. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The general public has been solicited for comments on the proposed Housing
Element in a variety of ways. These include meetings through the Housing Element
Advisory Committee (HEAC) at SANDAG, a local public workshop, a public survey
mailing to interested parties, and public hearings before the Housing Commission,
Planning Commission and City Council.
The HEAC meetings at SANDAG were primarily based upon determining the
self-certification criteria and which programs would count towards meeting the self-
certification goals. By involving local advocacy groups and housing providers, the
member jurisdictions of SANDAG were able to tailor the self-certification program to
address the needs as presented by these groups and providers. The self-certification
program and criteria is, therefore, a direct product of public participation.
The City also held a local public participation program that involved both a
workshop and mailings of survey forms. The public workshop was held on April 8, 1999
and was noticed both in the paper and through the mail to potentially interested parties.
The mailing list, attached in Appendix J, includes housing advocates, special needs
providers, local and regional builders, building trade groups, local school districts,
homeowner's associations and local neighborhood groups.
In addition to receiving a public workshop notice, many of the above mentioned
groups received a copy of a draft housing element and a housing survey form (attached
in Appendix J). The survey forms were also distributed at the public workshop and
collected for two weeks following the workshop. Copies of the competed survey forms
are available at the City's Housing and Redevelopment office.
13 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
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May, 2000 14
1999 Housina Element
SECTION I
1. HOUSING NEEDS AND INVENTORY
The estimated housing need can be determined by comparing the housing
demand with the housing supply. The estimated demand for housing in Carlsbad is
determined by characteristics of the population (e.g. age, household size, income,
special needs). The estimated supply is derived from totaling the housing inventory
(e.g., number of units, tenure, cost, number of bedrooms) and the existing vacant
residential land or opportunities in the City.
The following supply and demand analysis is divided into five sections:
population characteristics, household characteristics, future housing need, existing
housing stock and potential housing stock. The population characteristics section
includes analysis and documentation of the population trends, in total and by age,
ethnicity, and employment. Household characteristics are described through household
sizes, composition, income and individuals and families with special needs. The future
housing need is based upon the SANDAG regional fair share allocation. Taken
together, these three sections describe the housing demand.
The existing housing stock describes the trends in housing unit type, tenure,
vacancy, age and condition. This section also analyzes the existing housing units at risk
of discontinuing affordability and tabulates the demolition and construction of housing in
the coastal zone. By describing the existing and future housing stock, these two
sections describe the housing supply.
The analysis in this section was performed with the best available data at the
time of element preparation. Since the most recent census data is from the 1990
Census, some of the data has been extrapolated to 1998. In addition it should be noted
that the classification of individuals with special needs can overlap. For example, a
homeless individual might also be a senior citizen or handicapped or both.
1980 Census; 1990 Census;
SANDAG's Population and Housing Estimates (January 1, 1998), Demographic
Characteristics Estimates (March 31, 1998), 1990 and 1995 Employment Inventories,
Evaluating Economic Prosperity, and 2020 Cities/County Forecast; San Diego County
Apartment Association's "Spring 1998 Vacancy Survey" and "1 998 Average Rental
Rates by CityIArea of San Diego"; Carlsbad's Consolidated Funding Strategy and Plan,
San Diego Economic Bulletin, the City of Carlsbad's Building Department, HouSing and
Redevelopment Division, Regional Task Force on the Homeless, and various homeless
service providers.
.
The data sources for this analysis include:
A. POPULATION
1. POPULATION TRENDS
The City of Carlsbad has experienced steady growth since its incorporation in
1952. In 1960, the population base was just under 10,000; by 1970 the population
increased to almost 50 percent. In the 1970's, the City annexed areas of rapid growth,
15 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
1980
1990
1998
such as the La Costa area and other county lands, resulting in a doubling of the City's
population. By 1980, Carlsbad's population stood at over 35,000.
35,490 137.5%
63,126 79%
73,688 16%
The 1980's brought another development boom to North San Diego County, with
additional employment centers, more housing and the need for increased public
services to accommodate the added population. Within five years, the population had
grown by another 10.000 people instigating a 1986 ballot measure to limit growth and
require infrastructure and public service improvements prior to development. Known as
Proposition E, this growth management initiative had a stabilizing effect on the rapid
population growth and, by 1990, Carlsbad's population had reached only 63,451.
2010
Since the last Housing Element was prepared in 1990; there was a statewide
housing recession that greatly diminished the production of housing and, therefore,
population growth. This is reflected in the low percentage of change in population from
1990-1998 relative to other eight to ten year periods. In the last one to two years, the
strong economy has allowed development to greatly increase. Since 1990, the most
prominent areas of growth have occurred in the southwest and southeast quadrants of
the City, namely the Aviara Master Plan, Zone 20 Specific Plan and the La Costa area.
Table 6 - "Population Trends" shows the past and estimated population trends in
Carlsbad, based upon regional and City forecasts.
109,332 48%
TABLE 6 - POPULATION TRENDS
Population Percent Change
9,253
1970 14.944 61 3%
2. POPULATION BY AGE
The distribution of population by age is an important factor in considering the
housing needs of the community and for determining housing strategies. The age data,
shown below, indicates that the current median age in Carlsbad is 38.1 years old. The
age classifications have changed since the last data accumulated in 1990, therefore
some larger grouping was needed for comparison. This comparison of population
changes, shown in Table 7 - "Carlsbad Population Trends by Age - 1990-1998" below,
indicates that the largest growth has occurred in the age range of 75 years and older, a
growth rate of over 60 percent. Also significantly growing was the population in the 45
to 64 age group and the 5 to 13/14 age group. Based upon this same comparison,
there was actually a steep decline in the number of persons between the ages of 25 to
34, dropping by over 23 percent.
May, 2000 16
1999 Housina Element
Age
0-4
5 -13114
1411 5 - 24
It TABLE 7 - CARLSBAD POPULATION TRENDS BY AGE 1990 - 1998 II
1990 1998
Total % of total Total % of total % Change
4,202 6.7% 5,139 7.0% +16.3%
6,819 10.8% 9,467 13.0% +32%
8,226 13.0% , 8,034 10.9% -7.6% I 24-34
35-44
45 - 64
65 - 74
12,041 19.1% 10,274 13.9% -23.2%
1 1,845 18.8% 13,436 18.2% +7.9%
11,722 18.6% 16,663 22.6% +35.2%
5,410 8.5% 5,834 7.9% +2.6%
75+
TOTAL
3. POPULATION BY ETHNlClTY
The ethnicity of Carlsbad has remained roughly the same since the last Housing
Element Update in 1990. As shown in Table 8 - "Population Trends by Ethnicity - 1988-
1998", below, the City is predominantly non-Hispanic white, with about 16 percent of the
population being of Hispanic origin. The Hispanic and White populations grew in similar
proportion, while the Black population grew substantially and the Asian and other ethnic
groups slightly dropped.
2,861 4.5% 4,841 6.5% +60.9%
63,126 100% 73,688 100% +16.7
Ethnicity
1988 1998 Change
Total % of total Total % of total Total %
Hispanic
White
The percentage of change of the Hispanic and White ethnic groups mirrored the
percentage of growth in Carlsbad population as a whole. In 1988, the total population of
Carlsbad was approximately 58,850; by 1998, the population grew to approximately
73,688. This represents roughly a 25 percent increase in population, similar to the
growth rate of Hispanic and White populations. The very large percentage of change for
Blacks is a function of the relatively small total number and, despite this large
percentage of change, their proportion of the total Carlsbad population remains
approximately the same as in 1990.
9,137 i 5% 11,848 16% 2,711 +30%
45,954 78% 58,099 79% 12,145 +26%
.17 May, 2000
Black
AsianIOther
TOTAL
370 1% 866 1 % 496 +134%
3,384 6% 2,875 4 yo -509 -1 5%
58,845 100% 73,688 100% 14,843 +25%
1999 .Housina - Element
Industry
Agriculture and Mining
Construction
4. EMPLOYMENT
Number of Percent of Employees Workforce
983 2.7%
1,488 4.0%
The employment opportunities in Carlsbad are composed mainly of
manufacturing, services and retail trade. These three industries constitute 72 percent of
the total Carlsbad workforce. The manufacturing industry is mostly located in industrial
developments at or near the geographic center of the City, surrounding the
McClellan/Palomar airport. The retail trade employment centers are mostly located in
the Plaza Camino Real regional mall and other commercial centers. The service
industry employment areas are distributed throughout the City.
Transportation, Communication and Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
According to the 1990 Housing Element, employment in 1988 was similar in
proportion to the current data, with manufacturing, services and retail trade comprising
the majority of employment opportunities in the City. At that time, manufacturing made
up just over 20 percent of the workforce, with the service industry equaling 26 percent
and retail trade totaling 23 percent. Compared with the data shown in Table 9 -
"Carlsbad Employment by Industry", below, the percentage of manufacturing jobs has
increased by five percent and the retail trade employment base dropped by
approximately three percent.
1,035 2.8%
1,917 5.2%
7,346 19.9%
11 Manufacturing
~~ I 9,477 I 25.7% 11
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 2,556 6.9%
Services 9,985 27.2%
Government and Military 2,043 5.6%
Total Workforce 36,830 100%
Source: SANDAG 1990 and 1995 Employment Inventories
. Wage earnings in these employment sectors are important in determining the
employment base's impact on housing need. As of January 1999, generation of wages
below approximately $19.50 per hour for a single wage earner in a family of four would
qualify as low-income. Listed below are the median wages for selected San Diego
County occupations. The wages listed are hourly rates for individuals with 3 years
experience with their particular firm. The list is a cross section of technical, office,
professional, and maintenance positions. The positions were chosen for their likelihood
of existing within Carlsbad and are listed in alphabetical order.
May, 2000 18
1999 Housina Element
Billing and Rate Clerk
Biotechnology/Laboratory Assistant
Child Care Worker
Dental Assistant
Electrical and Electronic Assembler
TABLE 10 - MEDIAN HOURLY WAGES - SELECTED SAN DIEGO COUNTY OCCUPATIONS
Occupation Median Hourly Wage
$1 2.00
$1 1.25
$9.00
$13.75
$10.25
11 Administrative Assistant
Food Preparation Worker
General Office Clerk
~ $7.00
$9.50
Graphic Artist
Hazardous Waste Materials Handlers
General Utility Maintenance Repairers (union)
Optical Technician
Personnel Clerk
$1 3.00
$13.50
$13.50
$9.00
$8.50
11 ReceDtionist and Information Clerk I $9.00 II
Retail Store Manager.
Travel Agent
Veterinary Technicians
$12.00
$1 1 .oo
$1 0.50
-~
Welders and Cutters
As indicated in the above table, there are many professional, technical and office
support positions that do not provide wages necessary to qualify as above moderate or
even moderate-income. All of the positions above would qualify as lower-income, even
for a family size of one.
~~ ~ ~ ~~~ $12.00
B. HOUSEHOLDS
1. HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION AND SIZE
Along with the characteristics of the population, the characteristics ,of the
households are also vital to determining housing needs. For example, characteristics
such as number of persons per household and total household income are important to
assess the demand for larger and more affordable housing units. A household is
defined as all of the individuals occupying a dwelling unit, whether they are related or
not.
As of 1990, the total number of households in Carlsbad was 24,988 with an
average of 2.5 persons per household. According to the SANDAG Population and
Housing Estimates, dated January 1, 1998, the current number of households has
grown to 28,338, with an average of 2.6 persons per household. This slight rise in the
persons per household could be related to the relative increase in children and
19 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Carlsbad
teenagers, ‘as shown in Table 7 above. The regional average persons- per-household
was 2.7 in 1990 and is estimated at 2.8 in 1998.
% Change
1990 1998 2005 1998-2005
24,988 28,338 35,349 24.7%
Tables 11 - “Number of Households by Size - Carlsbad and Region - 1998” and
12 - “Trends in Households - Carlsbad and Region - 1990 - 2005”, below, describe the
household size by persons per household and the trends in the number of households.
Compared to the regional average, Carlsbad has noticeably more two-person
households and fewer five- and six- or more person households.
TABLE 11 - NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS BY SIZE - CARLSBAD t~ REGION - 1998
Persons per Household
One Two Three Four Five Six +
Carlsbad 6,517 11,335 4,647 3,571 . 1,531 737
(23.0%) (40.0%) (1 6.4%) (12.6%) (5.4%) (2.6%)
Region 202,273 298.31 7 150,884 . 125,867 62,948 47,430
(22.8%) (33.6%) (1 7.0%) (1 4.2%) (7.1%) (5.3%)
11 Source: 1990 Census; SANDAG Population and Housing Estimates, January 1, 1998
II TABLE 12 -TRENDS IN HOUSEHOLDS - CARLSBAD & REGION - 1990 TO 2005 II
11 Source: SANDAG 2020 CitiedCounty Forecast I1
2. OVERCROWDING
An overcrowded dwelling unit, that is, a dwelling unit with more than one person
per room, is undesirable for several reasons. Overcrowding produces stress on the
occupant of an overcrowded dwelling unit, reducing the viability of the housing
opportunity. Overcrowding a structure also diminishes the overall life of the building
through increased wear. The City of Carlsbad has relatively few overcrowded dwelling
units, which is indicative of an affluent community with a predominance of owner-
occupied units. Table 13 - “Overcrowded Dwelling Units - Carlsbad and Region - 1998”,
below, compares the overcrowded housing units in Carlsbad with the regional total. .
May, 2000 20
1999 Housincl Element
<
$10,000
1,303
(4.6%)
71,377
TABLE 13 - OVERCROWDED DWELLING UNITS - CARLSBAD 8 REGION - 1998
Number Percentage Number Not
Occupied Units Overcrowded Overcrowded Overcrowded
Carlsbad 28,338 1,049 3.7% 27,289
~ ~~~
$10,000 $15,000- $25,000 $35,000 - - 14,999 24,999 - 34,999 49,999
1,077 2,777 3,032 5,327
(3.8%) (9.8%) (10.7%) (18.8%)
56,052 131,750 135,936 178,804
0.8% 834.1 10 Region 914,697 80,587
Source: 1990 Census data
$Sd,OOO -
74,999
3. INCOME
99,999 $99,999
$75,000 -
As mentioned above, the City of Carlsbad is relatively affluent when compared to
the San Diego Region. As shown in Table 14 - “Household Income - Carlsbad and
Region - 1998” below, the household income for households in Carlsbad is skewed
towards the higher range when compared to the regional totals. The median household
income for Carlsbad lies in the lower end of the $50,000 - $74,999 range, whereas the
regional median household income lies in the $35,000 - $49,999 range.
7,028
(24.8%)
192,938
(20.5%)
II TABLE 14 - HOUSEHOLD INCOME - CARLSBAD 8 REGION - 1998 II
3,798 3,996
(13.4%) (14.1%)
87,987 89.060
(9.3%) (9.4%)
ll Carlsbad I- Region
(7.6%) I (5.9%) 1 (14.0%) 1 (14.4%) I (18.9%)
4. SPECIAL NEEDS
There are particular segments of the population that, because of special needs
or circumstances, have more difficulty finding affordable and decent housing
opportunities. These segments include the elderly, persons with disabilities, large
households, female-headed households, homeless, farm workers, military and students.
Many of these groups are in the lower-income range. Where possible, these groups
have been quantified. In some cases, where differing methodologies have been used to
estimate these population groups, figures may vary.
a. ELDERLY
The number of elderly householders (i.e., householders age 65 and older) in
Carlsbad in 1990 was 5,255, or 21 percent of the total number of householders.
According to the Preliminary 2020 Regionwide Forecast, prepared by SANDAG in
October 1997, the elderly population in the San Diego Region should increase by
approximately 18 percent by the year 2000. This growth rate calculates to a total
number of elderly householders in Carlsbad of approximately 6,200.
Many elderly suffer from physical debilitations. Therefore, elderly often require
housing equipped with special amenities suited to diminished physical activities, medical
May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
alert needs, and safety. The City has experienced a development boom in senior
housing during the last housing cycle in response to Carlsbad’s popularity as a
retirement community. The new Brighton Gardens (160 beds) and the newly
refurbished Carlsbad-by-the-Sea (1 93 beds) provide assisted living, nursing and special
care. In addition to these accommodations, the Carlsbad Senior Center operates a
roommate solicitation board for posting of senior housing vacancies and has a current
list of all senior apartment complexes and mobile home parks in the area.
The income characteristics of the elderly are, on the average, in the lower
economic ranges. Many of the elderly are on fixed incomes from Social Security
benefits andlor pensions. Since the elderly population is increasing in Carlsbad,
additional housing units, mostly affordable to lower incomes, will be needed to
accommodate need.
b. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Detailed statistics on the amount and types of disabilities occurring in the
Carlsbad population are not generally available. While the US. Census tabulates
disability status of the population, the data does not separate persons with physical
disabilities, which may require modified housing, from other disabilities (such as mental
illness, etc.). According to the 1990 Census, detailed below, there were 114,519
working age individuals in the San Diego Region’s population in 1990. Working age is
defined as ages 16 to 64.
II TABLE 15 -WORK DISABILITY STATUS BY AGE - SAN DIEGO REGION
Status Number 2 Percentage of Number of
Age 16 - 64 Age 16-64 Age > 64
In Labor Force:
Employed 42,213 3% 3,891
Unemployed 6,850 <l Yo 437
Not in Labor Force:
Prevented from working 63,913
Not prevented from working
No Work Disabilitv I 1.436.471 I 93% I 183.201 II Source: 1990 Census
Percentage of
Age > 64
i%
24%
4%
70%
While the City does not have a significant amount of persons with disabilities,
this Housing Element update is adding .a program to specifically address disabled
access. The program ties all new multifamily residential construction to the State
Accessibility requirements as contained in Title 24 of the State Building Code. Since
most of the persons with disabilities are elderly, many of them are served through their
respective assisted care provider. Adding the above-referenced program, however, will
strengthen the provision of disabled access for other age groups.
c. LARGE HOUSEHOLDS
A household that serves as a primary residence for five or more persons is
considered as a large household. Large households influence many community issues,
May, 2000 22
1999 Housina Element
Total %
most notably housing and public facilities. Large households are typified by large
numbers of children or teenagers, which can stretch resources at schools and parks.
Large households usually must pay a larger proportion of their monthly income than
smaller households in order to live in a larger unit. As shown in Table 11 - "Number of
Households by Size - Carlsbad and Region - 1998" above, the number of large
households in Carlsbad was 2,268, representing eight (8) percent of the total
households.
d. SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS
Total % Total %
As with larger households, single-parent households also tend to pay a larger
proportion of their monthly income for housing, thereby deserving special consideration.
They also earn special consideration because single-parent households tend to have
lower incomes and still must pay for other services, such as daycare, health care and
related facilities. Table 16 - "Single-parent Households - Number and Percentage of
Total Households - Carlsbad & Region - 1998" below shows the number of single-parent
households and the proportion of those that are living below the poverty level. In 1998,
the 1,841 single-parent households represented 6.7 percent of the total number of
households in Carlsbad. 73 percent of those single-parent householders were female
(1,346) and over 21 percent of those lived under the poverty level (302). These
proportions are below the regional average.
hokeholds children
11 TABLE 16 - SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS - NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
Sinale parent I Female householder with I Female householder with
HOUSEHOLDS - CARLSBAD 8 REGION - 1998
children below poverty
e. HOMELESS
Homelessness is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development as an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence and who has a primary nighttime residence that is:
+ A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide
temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate
shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill); or
An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to
be institutionalized; or
+ A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular
sleeping accommodation for human beings.
There are currently at least 15,000 homeless individuals in San Diego Region,
according to the "Annual Update on Homelessness throughbut San Diego County and
23 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
its 18 Cities” by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, dated May 1998. These
homeless individuals can be urban homeless or farm workers and day laborers. While
the former group typically inhabits the urban landscape, the latter spend their nights in
the undeveloped natural areas near the sources of labor.
According to the Regional Task Force’s 1998 annual update, Carlsbad is home
to an estimated 25 urban homeless and 700 rural farm workers and day laborers. This
estimates in previous years ranged from 500 to 1,000 and the Task Force believes the
population of homeless in Carlsbad has decreased in recent years.
Of those approximately 725 homeless individuals, 61 1 received aide. Listed
below are the various assistance shelters and programs available in Carlsbad and the
surrounding areas, according to the City of Carlsbad Housing and Redevelopment
Division.
TABLE 17 - NORTH COUNTY EMERGENCY SHELTERS
Name Agency Target Special Needs Location ## of
Population Beds
Good Brother Benno’s Adult men Employment- Oceanside
Samaritan Foundation
Shelter
House of Brother Benno’s Women, Homeless Oceanside Martha and Foundation women with
Mary children
Libre! Community Women, Domestic Encinitas
Resource Center women with violence children
North County M.I.T.E. Adults Substance Oceanside
Detox abuse
Turning Point Community Adults Severely Oceanside -
Crisis Center Research fund mentally ill
Women’s Women’s Women, Domestic Oceanside
Resource Resource Center women with violence Center children
related 30
6
11
26
May, 2000 24
1999 Housina Element
TABLE 18 - NORTH COUNTY TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS
~~
Name Agency Target
~ Population
1 Adult men Brother Benno’s
Foundation
Oceanside Brother
Benno‘s
Recovery
Alpha Project for the Homeless
Adult men Homeless I Vista I-
Cen tro Community Housing of N.C.
Families Homeless Vista
E.Y.E. Women with children Substance Oceanside abuse Family Recovery Center
Families 1 Farmandlor I Carlsbadl 1
day laborers Oceansidel Hogar II Community
Housing of N.C. I Vista I
Adult men Homeless Oceanside House of Brother Benno’s James and Foundation
La Posada de Catholic Charities Guadalupe I Homeless
Adult men I I 50 I Homeless
Homeless vouth
~~ I Oceanside - Oz North Coast Y.M.C.A.
Transition Women’s House Resource Center
Transitional E.Y.E. House
I Oceanside I 17 I Home’ess
Families
Families Homeless Oceanside 25
Families Homeless Encinitas 1’ 1’2
Transitional Community Housing Resource Center
Program
Tremont Street‘ Community I Housing of N.C. Home I e s s I Oceanside I HlVlAlDS
needs
TABLE 19 - NORTH COUNTY DAY SHELTERS
Name Agency Target Special Needs Location
Population
Brother Benno’s Brother Benno’s Center Foundation General Homeless Oceanside
N.C. Regional Recovery Center General SMI and
Adults SMI andsubs.
Families Substance abuse
substance abuse
abuse
Oceanside
Oceanside
Oceanside Options - Day E.Y.E. Treatment
25 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
TABLE 20 - NORTH COUNTY CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Name Agency Target Special Location
Case Management North Coastal Service General Homeless Oceanside
Agency Center
lnfoline United Way General Homeless North
Lifeline Lifeline Community General Homeless Vista
Oceanside Family Salvation Army General Homeless Oceanside
Services
Population Needs
County
Services
Homeless Carlsbadl I I I Encinitas I Social Services Community Resource General I Center
The City provides financial assistance to a nurnber of these shelters and
programs, namely the Community Resource Center, Brother Benno's Foundation,
Women's Resource Center, Casa de Amparo, Catholic Charities and Fraternity House.
The City has also provided, and will continue to provide, assistance to homeless shelter
providers in the areas of site location, site acquisition and permit processing. In addition
to the programs, the City participates in the sub-regional hotel voucher program as well
as taking part in sub-regional and regional planning efforts to address homelessness.
f. FARM WORKERS
Carlsbad and its immediate neighbors to the north and south are home to
approximately 4,270 agricultural workers, who represent over 38 percent of the total
regional agricultural workforce. Many of these workers are transitory, moving up and
down the state with the various planting and harvesting cycles. According to the
Regional Task Force on the Homeless, Carlsbad is home to an estimated 700 homeless
farm workers.
Many of the immigrant workers support families in their native countries with
wages earned for day labor in this country. Unfortunately, according to a survey
reported at a October 29, 1998 Joint Workshop between the SANDAG Housing Element
Advisory Committee and the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, most of these
laborers voluntarily send home too much money to afford adequate housing at or near
their place of work. This aspect of homelessness is difficult to address, since it requires
educating the general public as to the minimum level of housing needed by all members of society in order to maintain public health, safety, and welfare.
Another issue facing farm worker housing is the relatively short-term future of
agricultural activities in Carlsbad. Most of the agriculture in Carlsbad is designated for
urban development in the City's General Plan. Even agricultural areas in the Coastal
Zone can be developed, rather than preserved, through the payment of an impact fee.
The future of agriculture in Carlsbad faces serious challenges. According to a
study conducted by the City of Carlsbad Planning Department, entitled "Agriculture in
Carlsbad - Today and Implications for the Future" and dated March, 1992, a. number a
May, 2000 26
1999 Housina Element
factors are decreasing the economic viability of local agriculture. The factors include
conflicts between farm and parcel sizes, water availability and cost, encroaching
urbanization, increased labor costs, heightened regulatory environment, and competition
from outside the local area. Due to these factors, it is anticipated that virtually all of the
agricultural land within Carlsbad will be developed with other uses within the next 10 to 15
years. Consequently, agriculture is considered an interim use.
This relatively short life for agriculture increases the difficulty in amortizing the
financing required for farm worker housing. In order to encourage development of farm
worker housing, the financing package must be desirable. One of the common methods
for financing an affordable housing project is to amortize the cost over a long period of
time, such as 30 years. This amortization is not as available for farm worker housing in
Carlsbad.
g- MILITARY
Carlsbad's proximity to the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton creates a need
for housing of military personnel within the City. This demand has two components:
active military personnel seeking housing near the base, and retired military remaining
near the base after serving. The pay scales for most enlisted military individuals are in
the lower-income range, therefore the provision of affordable housing helps meet the
military need. While Carlsbad does not contain any official military housing, USMC
Camp Pendleton identifies the City as one of the surrounding communities within a five-
mile radius of the base that should provide private affordable housing opportunities for
all military ranks. According to the Department of Defense, Demographic Research
Unit, the on-base household population on Camp Pendleton is 21,342. With a vacancy
rate of only eight (8.0) percent, the average persons per household is 3.79.
h. STUDENTS
Students are another special ' housing need -group, because their wages and
housing opportunities usually fall in the lower-income range. This- need is most
pronounced near colleges and universities. Within approximately one mile of the City
boundary are three such establishments: California State University at San Marcos,
Palomar College and MiraCosta College. According to the 1990 Census, Carlsbad was
home to 5,318 college-age students, which represented 8.4 percent of the City
population. Regionwide, approximately 10 percent of residents were enrolled in college
in 1990.
27 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
C. EXISTING HOUSING STOCK
1. HOUSING UNIT TYPE
The type of housing units available for habitation is an important indicator of
housing supply in that certain income groups are more likely to find housing in certain
housing unit types. For example, on the average, single family housing costs more than
multifamily housing.
As shown in the above table, the highest growing proportion of housing in
Carlsbad was the single-family detached category. Next highest were the small
multifamily developments containing two to four units. There were no new mobile
homes constructed in the 1990-1 999 housing cycle.
2. TENURE
The tenure of a structure, or whether the unit is owner-occupied or a rental unit,
is important to fully evaluating the housing need. Low amounts of rental stock can push
housing costs higher, lessening the lower-income and moderate-income housing
opportunities. The trends in tenure are shown below, with a comparison of the
proportions of rental housing in Carlsbad and the San Diego Region for 1990.
~~ ~~ 11 ~ TABLE 22 - HOUSING TENURE TRENDS - CARLSBAD AND REGION-1980 -1998
Owner Renter Total
Carlsbad (1 980) 8,680 4,915 13,595
There have been recent efforts in the building industry to alleviate obstacles to
providing rental properties, which has been evidenced in several new local apartment
proposals in 1998.
May, 2000 28
1999 Housina‘ Element
Region
It is also helpful to analyze the tenure of persons with special needs. These data
can assist in more accurately determining the housing needs of the entire community.
Tables 23 through 26 below describe the percentages of ownership and rental for the
elderly, large households, overcrowded households, and households overpaying for
housing for Carlsbad and the San Diego region.
951,818 697,682 (73.3%) 253,183 (26.6%)
TABLE 23 - TENURE OF ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS - CARLSBAD 8 REGION - 1998
I Number of Households I Ownersccu pied I Rental
- TABLE 24 -TENURE OF LARGE HOUSEHOLDS - CARLSBAD 8 REGION - 1998
Number of Households Ownersccu pied Rental
Carlsbad 2,268 1,354 (59.7%) 912 (40.2%)
Region 951,818 259,846 (27.3%) 691,019 (72.6%)
I Number of Households 1 Ownersccupied Rental
11 Source: SANDAG Reaional Housina Needs Statement II
Carlsbad
Region
1,049 190 (18.1%) 859 (81 .go/,)
951,818 259,846 (27.3%) 691,091 (72.6%)
11 Source: SANDAG Reaional Housina Needs Statement II
Carlsbad
Region
Data not available Data not available Data not available
951,818 Data not available Data not available
As shown in Table 23 - “Tenure of Elderly Households - Carlsbad & Region -
1998”, the percentages of owner-occupied and rental households in Carlsbad are similar
to those in the region. The proportions, however, indicate a need for additional rental
housing for the elderly. Table 24 - “Tenure of Large Households - Carlsbad & Region -
1998” indicates that large households, those households with five or more persons, are
balanced between rental and ownership. With regard to the tenure of overcrowded
households, as shown in Table 25 - ”Tenure of Overcrowded Households - Carlsbad &
Region - 1998”, the large majority of overcrowded households in both Carlsbad and the
region are rental units. When a household must pay more than 30 percent of their total
household income for housing costs, they are considered an overpaying household. The
State Department of Housing Community Development requested a table indicating the
proportion of rental and owner-occupied households that overpay for housing, however
this data has not been provided by the State. Table 26 - “Tenure of Overpaying
~ 29 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Households - Carlsbad & Region - 1998” is included and will be completed upon receipt
of the data.
3. VACANCY
Vacancy rates are an important housing indicator. If rates are too low, this is an
indication of short housing supply and, potentially, increasing housing costs. If vacancy
rates are too high, then supply is overreaching demand and individual property owners
may be negatively impacted when trying to sell or rent. Healthy vacancy rates are seen
as two to tree percent for single-family and five to six percent for multifamily housing.
The local trends in vacancy rates, along with a 1990 comparison between Carlsbad and
the San Diego Region, are contained below.
TABLE 27 - VACANCY RATE TRENDS - CARLSBAD AND REGION - 1990 - 1998
Total Units Total Vacant Percent Vacant
Units
Carlsbad (1 990) 24,988 2,049 . 8.2%
Region (1 990) 946,240 58,837 6.2%
Carlsbad (1 998) 28,707 369 1.3%
Region (1 998) 951,818 37,121 3.9%
Sources: 1990 Census: San Diego County Apartment Association, “Spring 1998 Vacancy Survey”
4. AGE AND CONDITION
The age of a dwelling is important to the evaluation of adequate supply for
several reasons. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development may
consider a unit to be substandard if it was constructed prior to 1940 and has an value of
less than $35,000. Also, the availability of state and federal funding for housing is partly
tied to the age of housing. Table 28 - “Year Housing Built - Carlsbad & Region - 1998”
below show the years in which the existing housing stock in Carlsbad and the San Diego
Region was constructed, both in total number and percentage of total. Some notable
statistics are the low number of housing units built before 1950 (only 2.8% of housing
stock) and the predominance of housing built in the 1980’s (44.9% of the housing stock).
The large addition of housing units in the 1970’s is also a reflection of the annexation of
developing County lands, such as La Costa. The older units within the City are typically
more affordable, therefore preservation of these units assists in the provision of housing
for lower-income households.
May, 2000 30
5. COST OF HOUSING
San Jose, CA
Oranae Countv. CA
The cost of housing seemingly follows cycles approximately five-year long.
According to the "SANDAG Evaluating Economic Prosperity in the San Diego Region,
1998 Update", the regional median housing cost between 1980 and 1985 decreased by
approximately 17 percent. The housing market then rebounded, with an almost 40
percent rise in the median housing cost between 1985 and 1990. During the recession
in the early 199O's, the cost of both ownership and rental housing steadily dropped,
decreasing by over 22 percent by 1995. The late 1990's has seen an increase in
housing costs, with a dramatic increase in 1998. Based upon the San Diego Union
Tribune Home Resales website, the median cost of a resale home in Carlsbad was
$240,000 in 1997. Based upon sales figures in July 1999, the median cost of the 117
single-family homes sold in Carlsbad rose to $324,000. The condominium market has
experienced similar fluctuations and recent growth, with the median cost reaching aver
$155,000 in 1998.
263 103 145 51 1
222 92 115 429 2
While these numbers may seem high on a nation-wide or even state-wide
comparison, the San Diego region is one of most expensive areas in the nation to live.
Table - "Housing Costs Indexes - Selected Metro Areas" shows the housing costs for
San Diego and similar metropolitan areas, as defined by size, population growth rate,
proximity to San Diego, location, military presence, high-tech employment, hotel/motel
employment, and migration. The housing cost index is calculated based upon the
United State Average of 100. Metropolitan areas are then indexed relative to the
following national average figures: annual mortgage payment = $1 2,601 ; annual utilities
payment = $4,262; and average property tax payment = $1,510. The total annual
housing costs equals the sum of these three annual payments.
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
Miami, FL
TABLE 29 - HOUSING COST INDEXES - SELECTED METRO AREAS
Metro Area I Mortgage I Utilities I PropertyTax I Total Costs I Rank
187 119 116 422 3
180 74 140 394 4
127 80 163 370 5
Portland, OR
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
~ ~~ 157 ' 79 124 360 6
117 80 144 - .341 7
~~ 31 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
1 bedroom $826 $1.19
2 bedroom $779 $1.28
TABLE 29 - HOUSING COST INDEXES - SELECTED METRO AREAS
Metro Area I Mortgage I Utilities [ PropertyTax 1 Total Costs I Rank
I( Source: SANDAG Evaluating Economic Prosperity in the San Dieao Reaion, 1998 Update II
When these housing costs are compared to the annual incomes, the San Diego region
requires one of the highest percentages of annual income to pay for housing. According
to the U.S. Housing Markets, Special Report, dated September 1997, San Diego
homeowners, on the average, paid 24.9 percent of their 1996 income for housing.
When compared to 31 similar cities, this percentage ranked as the 26th highest
proportion of income needed for housing.
With regard to rental housing, the local situation is comparable. According to
surveys conducted by the San Diego Apartment Association, Carlsbad possessed some
of the most expensive average monthly rents in the San Diego region. When these
rents are adjusted based upon the square footage of the units, Carlsbad's position drops
towards the regional average. One statistic worth noting is that the rent per square foot
for 3 bedrooms units in Carlsbad is far above the regional average and is actually one of
the highest in the region. Since large-family households are one of the groups identified
with special housing needs, this statistic indicates the need for more affordable three-
bedroom rental units. Table 30 - "Average Rents per Square Foot - San Diego Region"
below, shows the average monthly rents and average rents per square foot for the some
of the most expensive areas in San Diego, as well as the regional average.
TABLE 30 - AVERAGE RENTS PER SQUARE FOOT - SAN DIEGO REGION
Community Number of Spring 1998 Average Average Rent per
bedrooms Rent Sauare Foot
Carlsbad Studio
1 bedroom
2 bedroom
$480
$618
$781
$1.07
$0.98
$0.90
3 bedroom $1,300 $1.25
May, 2000 32
1999 Housina Element
I $1.36
$1.01
$0.98
$0.96
Pacific Beach
Sorrento Valley
University City
Western Rancho
Bernard0
City of San Diego
Studio
1 bedroom
2 bedroom
3 bedroom
Studio $630 $1.31
1 bedroom $61 5 $1.04
2 bedroom $732 $0.79
3 bedroom $1,550 $1.22
Studio $755 $1.80
1 bedroom $1,033 $1.25
2 bedroom $1,247 $1.12
1 bedroom $796 . $1.12
3 bedroom $1,265 $1.02
3 bedroom $1,593 $1.24
2 bedroom $956 $0.98
Studio $445 $1.14
1 bedroom $534 $0.89
2 bedroom $706 $0.81
3 bedroom $950 $0.77
$52 1
$633
$863
$1,214
San Diego County
Overall
Studio - $448 $1.09
1 bedroom $543 $0.86
2 bedroom $685 $0.77
3 bedroom $91 6 $0.74
6. AT-RISK UNITS
Part of the evaluation of existing affordable housing stock involves the
assessment of the long-term viability of such housing stock. Some developments that
are made available to lower-income -households are funded by grants or loans for a
limited period of time. If this funding is not renewed, the affordability of the development
to lower-income households could be in jeopardy. These units are referred to as "at-
risk" units. Section 65583(a)(8) of the California Government Code requires jurisdictions
to identify all "at-risk" units that are eligible to change from low-income housing uses
during the next 10 years due to termination of subsidy contracts, mortgage prepayment,
or expiration of restrictions on use.
There are two residential projects within Carlsbad that qualify as "at-risk" units,
namely the Seascape Apartments and the Santa Fe trails Apartments (A.K.A. Park La
Costa). Both of these projects were financed with tax-exempt bonds issued by the City
in 1985. Should the owner@) choose to pay-off these bonds prior to their maturity date
in 2029, the affordability restrictions would be lifted. In no case, however, can the restrictions be lifted prior to 2008.
33 May, 2000
1999 Housing Element
Single-famil y
attached detached
1,775 59
7. COASTAL ZONE HOUSING
Mu I tifam il y Mobile Demolitions Affordable
2-4 units 5+ units Homes Units
160 544 0 16 344
All jurisdictions that contain residential areas within the Coastal Zone are
required to assess the demolition and replacement of housing units within the Coastal
Zone as well as the construction of affordable units within three miles of the Coastal
Zone. This requirement actually stems from the goals of the California Coastal'Act of
1976, and is codified in Government Code Section 65588(d). According to Section
65590(b) of the Government Code, coastal zone demolitions that meet the certain
criteria are not required to be replaced. One of these criteria is the demolition of a
residential structure containing less than three dwelling units or the demolition of
multiple residential structures containing 10 of fewer total dwelling units. All of the 16
demolitions in Carlsbad's Coastal Zone during the 1990 to 1998 period were single
family dwellings, therefore they require no replacement.
Despite the lack of requirements for replacement of Coastal Zone affordable
units, the City's lnclusionary Housing program has caused many affordable units to be
constructed in the Coastal Zone or within three miles of the Coastal Zone. Some of the
new units constructed in the Coastal Zone may qualify as affordable to lower-income
households due to rental rates or sales prices. However, because they do not possess
any tenantlowner earnings qualifications program or any rentaVownership price
restrictions, these affordable units are not recognized. Detailed below is a tabulation of
the housing unit constructions and demolitions in the Coastal Zone from January 1990
to December 1998. Of the 2,338 housing units added to the Coastal Zone, 344 (or t4
percent) were affordable to lower-income households.
II ~~ ~~ ~~ 17 TABLE 31 -COASTAL ZONE DEVELOPMENT 1991 - 1998
D. FUTURE HOUSING STOCK
In addition to the existing housing stock described above, there are large areas
of vacant or underdeveloped residentially designated land within the City. There are
also non-residentially designated areas that could support some form of housing. These
areas, taken together, allow some estimation of the future potential housing stock in the
City.
May, 2000 34
1999 Housina Element
General Plan Designation
RL - Residential Low
1. VACANT RESIDENTIAL LAND
Allowed Density Range Total Acreage
0.0 - 1.5 du/ac (1 .O du/ac) 764
Besides the existing housing supply, another source of housing is the future
housing potential expressed in vacant, residentially-designated land within the City.
There are certain areas that the City considers undevelopable and, therefore, are not
counted towards residential density calculations. These undevelopable lands are listed
in Section 21 S3.230 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code, and include: beaches, permanent
bodies of water, floodways, natural slopes with inclinations over 40 percent, significant
wetlands, significant riparian or woodland habitats, major power transmission line
easements, railroad track beds and lands which contain other significant environmental
features as determined by project-related environmental review. Natural slopes with an
inclination between 25 and 40 percent are granted only half credit when calculating
developable acreage for residential density.
RLM - Residential Low Medium
RM - Residential Medium
As part of the City’s Growth Management Plan, the total amount of developable
residentially-designated property was calculated for the entire City. The current total is
5,435 acres. The breakdown of this total acreage by General Plan land use designation
is shown in Table 32 - “Total Vacant Residential Lands by General Pian Designation -
1998” below. The Growth Control Point for each density range is noted in parenthesis.
For more information on the City’s Growth Management Program and the Growth
Control Point, please refer to Section II.A.1.c. All densities are expressed in dwelling
units per developable acre.
0.0 - 4.0 du/ac (3.2 du/ac)
.4.0 - 8.0 du/ac (6.0 dulac)
3,195
1,252
H TABLE 32 -TOTAL VACANT DEVELOPABLE RESIDENTIAL LANDS BY GENERAL PLAN I/ DESIGNATION - 1998
RMH - Residential Medium High
RH - Residential High
8.0 - 15 du/ac (1 1.5 du/acj 172
15 - 23 du/ac (1 9 du/ac) . 52
Total Vacant Residential Acreage 5,435
Given the amount of developable vacant land and the land use designations of
that land, the total number of potential dwelling units within the vacant lands of Carlsbad
ranges from 19,066 to 24,694 dwelling units. As discussed further in following sections,
this number can be augmented through development of underutilized areas, non-
residential zones and implementation of Carlsbad’s Density Bonus Ordinance.
2. UNDERUTILIZED AREAS
An underutilized residential area can be defined as an area that was developed
with a lower residential density than could be accommodated with the existing public
facilities, infrastructure, and allowable density maximums. Since Carlsbad has
developed as a relatively affluent single-family community, there are many areas that
have been developed at a lower density to accommodate the large units and lots
demanded by the upper end of the housing market.
35 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Long-term ’residency and continuation of older single-family dwellings as rental
properties also contribute to the underutilization of residential property. The northern
beach area and the Barrio area are prime examples of this predominance of single-
family dwellings in multifamily zones. In these older areas of the City, there are many
multifamily properties that are either owned by a family trust or by an absentee owner
with no immediate development plans. These properties typically contain only one
single-family dwelling, whereas their maximum yield could range from two to four
dwellings.
3. NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONES
There are several non-residential zones within the City that allow for some form
of housing development. These zones, namely the Neighborhood Commercial (C-l),
General Commercial (C-2), Heavy Commercial Limited Industrial (C-M), Industrial (M)
and Planned Industrial (P-M), all allow single-family housing through approval of a
Conditional Use Permit. The most notable areas for future residential development
potential lie in the C-1, C-2 and P-M zones. In addition to single-family development, all
three of these zones allow for multifamily development in conjunction with commercial or
industrial development in a mixed-use setting. Given the regionally popular concepts of
transit-oriented development, these zones could represent a fair amount of additional
residential dwelling units in the future.
4. SUMMARY OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
Provided that the economy does not repeat the same decline experienced in the
early 1990’~~ the City of Carlsbad should continue to experience growth in housing for all
income groups over the next five year housing cycle. Some of the areas shown as
vacant developable ’lands in Table 32 - “Vacant Developable Residential Lands by
General Plan Designation - 1998” will not likely experience any residential growth,
however. As described in Section II.A.l.c., below, the City of Carlsbad has a growth
management program that requires all facility needs and potential financing
mechanisms for those needs to be identified prior to development. There are currently
three Local Facilities Management Zones (see Section II.A.1.c. and Map C) that have
not completed this facility and financing analysis. Therefore, the vacant residentially
designated land in these three areas must be subtracted from the total developable
lands to assess the total land available for the 1999-2004 housing cycle.
The three areas without adopted facility and financing plans are referred to as
Local Facilities Management Zones 10, 17 and 25. The breakdown of the total
residential acreage in these three zones according to the current General Plan is
contained in Table 33 - “Total Residential Acreage Without Approved Facility Plans -
1998”.
May, 2000 36
1999 Housinq Element
As shown in Table 34 - "Total Residential Development Potential on Vacant
Lands for the 1999-2004 Housing Cycle - 1998" below, there is more than ample vacant
residential land remaining in the City to accommodate the City's regional share goal of
6,214 housing units for the 1999 - 2004 housing cycle and beyond, even after deducting
those lands without facility provisions. In addition to these vacant residential lands,
there are even more housing opportunities in underutilized areas and non-residential
zones.
,
TABLE 34 - TOTAL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL ON VACANT LANDS FOR
THE 1999-2004 HOUSING CYCLE - 1998
General Plan Designation Total Vacant Unit Yield at Unit Yield at
Acreage Growth Control General Plan
Point Maximum
RL - Residential Low 676 676 1,014
RLM - Residential Low Medium 2,740 8,768 10,960
RM - Residential Medium 1,144 6,864 9,152
RMH - Residential Medium High 172 1,978 2,580
RH - Residential High 52 780 900
TOTALS 4,784 acres 19,066 units 24,694 units
As described in the above needs analysis, the most pressing areas of anticipated
.need are seniors, lower-income households, farm workers and the homeless. It is likely
that market-rate senior housing will continue to be provided in Carlsbad due the City's
popularity as a retirement and convalescent community. These market-rate units,
combined with the City's ongoing efforts to preserve affordable senior housing, should
greatly assist in accommodating the anticipated senior housing needs. The success of
the City's lnclusionary Housing Ordinance in providing a wide variety of affordable
housing for both rental and ownership has, and will continue to help meet the housing
needs of lower-income households and large families.
Since the vast majority of the City's homeless individuals live in the rural areas,
the issues of farm worker housing and homeless in Carlsbad are inextricably tied. The
City plans on continuing its four-tiered approach to the homeless during the next
housing cycle. This approach involves: continued financial assistance to local shelters
37 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
and case management services; continued cooperation with providers in site location,
acquisition and permitting (as with Catholic Charities and La Posada de Guadalupe);
continued participation in the sub-regional programs (such as the hotel voucher
program); and furthered discussions with neighboring jurisdictions about regional andlor
sub-regional solutions to the shared homeless needs.
With regard to physically and administratively accommodating future homeless
shelters, the City’s existing zoning designations of Neighborhood Commercial (C-1 ),
General Commercial (C-2) and Planned Industrial (P-M) all would allow homeless
emergency and transitional shelters with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. As
shown on Map A - “Potential Areas for Emergency and Transitional Housing”, most of
these zones are located near retail and transportation services and are adequately
separated from residential areas to make them politically acceptable to the community.
May, 2000 38
1999 Housinta' Element
Map A - POTENTIAL AREAS FOR EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS
@ K UMINO RUL connimn OVCUY
39 May, 2000
1999 Housinq Element
The City’s experience with the La Posada de Guadalupe de Carlsbad transitional
shelter, located in a Planned Industrial (P-M) zone, but within 1,000 feet of residential
property, shows that after initial public opposition, the shelter can operate successfully
without incident. The neighboring light industrial properties have even noted a safety
benefit by having a nighttime population in the industrial park. As with La Posada de
Guadalupe, the City remains open to assist homeless shelter providers with site
location, acquisition and permit processing.
5. QUANTIFIED HOUSING OBJECTIVES FOR 1999-2004 HOUSING CYCLE
The programs and policies contained in this Housing Element are intended to
allow residential growth in Carlsbad for households of all income groups and special
needs. Due to economic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances, it is difficult to
predict the housing production during a particular housing cycle. Section 65583(b) of
the California Government Code nonetheless requires quantified objectives relative to
the maintenance, preservation, improvement and development of housing. The
quantified objectives for the 1999 - 2004 housing cycle were determined based upon
past housing production and the City’s goal to self-certify the Housing Element in the
2004 - 2009 housing cycle, pursuant to the Government Code. Table 35 - “Comparison
of Housing Goals and Quantified Objectives - Housing Units by Income Group”, below,
compares the regional share housing goals, the self-certification housing goals, the
City’s housing production during the 1990 - 1999 housing cycle, and the City’s quantified
objectives for housing production in the 1999 - 2004 housing cycle.
TABLE 35 - COMPARISON OF HOUSING GOALS AND QUANTIFIED OBJECTIVES -
HOUSING UNITS BY INCOME GROUP
Income Group Regional Share Self-certification 1990-1 999 1999-2004
Housing Needs Housing Goals Production Objectives
Extremely low NIA 170 0 170
260
Very low 1,304 20 1 247
Low 1,057 258 195
Moderate I 1,430 I NIA 297
Above Moderate 2,423 N/A 3,580 4,955
Unspecified NIA NIA 694 NIA I I I I
Total units 6,214 629 5,013 6,225
The above referenced quantified housing objectives were derived from several
sources. The total housing goal was taken directly from the SANDAG Regional Share
Allocation contained in SANDAG’s Regional Housing Needs Statement. Anticipated
housing production for the moderate-income group was derived from the City’s recent
production of moderate-income housing, extrapolated to a five-year period. The actual
production of moderate and above-moderate income housing is heavily based upon the
housing market and economy in general. If the housing market remains in its current
state of production, then Carlsbad should realize its moderate and above-moderate
housing objectives.
Housing projections for the lower-income groups (namely low, very low and
extremely low income) are based upon the City’s programs and policies, rather than
May, 2000 40
1999 Housinb Element
being strictly tied to the housing market. Since the City is pursuing self-certification in
the fourth housing cycle, the housing goals include the new income group of extremely
low income. Since subsidies necessary to produce housing for the extremely low
income group are much greater than for very low and low-income groups, the total
anticipated production is less than the regional share allocation for the very low and low-
income groups.
There are a variety of methods to achieve the above listed housing goals; these
include new construction, rehabilitation; conservation and preservation. Table 36 -
“Quantified Objectives by Income Group and Method” shows the breakdown of the
City’s 1999-2004 housing objectives by these different methods. While most of
Carlsbad’s expected housing growth will come from new construction, rehabilitation,
conservation and preservation of existing housing units can provide additional affordable
housing opportunities. Therefore, there are several goals and objectives dealing with
the identification and utilization of these units eligible for rehabilitation.
II TABLE 36 - QUANTIFIED OBJECTIVES BY INCOME GROUP AND METHOD It
Income Group
Extremely Low
and Very Low
Low
Moderate
Above Moderate
Total units
Regional Share
Housing Goals
1,770
1,417
1,436
1,591
6,214
New Conservation/ Total
Construction Rehabilitation Preservation Units
162 21 8 0 380
21 8 0 42 260
630 0 0 630
4,955 0 0 4,955
5,965 21 8 42 6,225
41 May, 2000
1999 Housinu Element
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May, 2000 42
1999 Housincr Element
SECTION II
II. HOUSING CONSTRAINTS AND MITIGATING OPPORTUNITIES
Given that Carlsbad is a coastal city with an active citizenry, concerned with
growth and quality development, there are numerous governmental and non-
governmental constraints to the provision and preservation of housing opportunities,
especially for moderate and lower income households. The coastal location imposes
physical and regulatory constraints, as well as ensuring relatively high land costs. An
active citizenry with concerns about quality development causes stringent development
standards and more extensive public participation in permit processing. Detailed below
are these constraints to the provision of housing, along with a discussion of potential
mitigating opportunities to address these constraints.
A. GOVERNMENTAL CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The following potential and actual governmental constraints are imposed by
local, state, or federal legislation and have impacts on the ability to maintain, improve
and develop housing for all income levels, some most notably for moderate and lower
income households. These constraints fall into nine categories: land use controls; open
space and habitat preservation; construction codes; code enforcement programs;
improvements, exactions and fees; CEQA; Article XXXIV; and City staffing levels. At
the end of each constraint section is a discussion of the mitigating opportunities
available through various programs and policies.
1. LAND USE CONTROL CONSTRAINTS
There are a variety of constraints to the provision of housing that are imposed, or
potentially imposed, by the local land use controls. These controls include General Plan
policies, zoning designations (and the resulting use restrictions, development standards,
and permit processing requirements), overlay zones, development fees, and the local
Growth Management Program.
a. General Plan Policies
The distribution of residential land use designations within the city, as shown in
the General Plan Land Use Element, are based upon several geographical constraints.
These constraints are: McClellan/Palomar Airport, San Diego Gas & Electric power
plant, Encina wastewater treatment plant, regional commercial areas along Interstate 5
and Highway 78, the old downtown village area and its single family hinterland, open
space preserves, state or federally-regulated open space, beaches, lagoons, and the
city's overall mesa/canyon topography. The airport, power plant and wastewater
treatment plant preclude residential development in close proximity due to potential
public health, safety and welfare impacts. The natural constraints of open space
preserves, beaches, lagoons, and hillside topography also limit the extent and density of
residential uses.
The allowable density for a residentially designated property is determined by the
General Plan land use designation. Listed below are the residential General Plan
designations and their corresponding density ranges, expressed in dwelling units per
43 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
developable acre (or du/ac). AS expounded in the following section, the Growth Control
Point represents the residential density cap invoked by Carlsbad's Growth Management
Program. Certain findings regarding the provision of adequate facilities and the density
of neighboring developments must be made to exceed the Growth Control Point density
cap.
TABLE 37 - GENERAL PLAN RESIDENTIAL DENSITY RANGES II
Designation I Allowed Density I Growth Control Point 11
RL - Residential Low Density
RLM - Residential Low Medium Density
0.0 - 1.5 duG
0.0 - 4.0 dulac
1 .O dulac
3.2 dulac
RM - Residential Medium Density
RMH - Residential Medium High Density
4.0 - 8.0 dulac
8.0 - 15.0 du/ac
6.0 dulac
1 1.5 dulac
~~ RH - Residential Hiah Densitv I 15.0 - 23.0 dulac I 19.0 du/ac II
Other programs in the City's General Plan could have potentially constraining
affects on the provision of housing for all income ranges. These policies include: the
provision of roadways and other public facilities, mitigation of potentially harmful noise
impacts, open space preservation, and the avoidance of areas subject to severe
hazards. While these potential constraints are derived from General Plan policies, they
have manifested themselves as zoning designations, ordinances and/or policy
statements and are addressed in more detail below.
b. Zoning Designations and Areas of Special Interest
The type of residential zoning designation can also influence the potential
constraints to providing housing opportunities. The underlying zoning designation
controls both the use and the development standards. There are currently 13 different
zones that allow residential development by right within Carlsbad. Another five zones
conditionally allow residential development. Tables 38 - "Zones Allowing Residential
Development by Right" and 39 - "Zones Conditionally Allowing Residential Uses", below,
detail the allowed or conditional uses and development standards for each of these
zones, as well as referencing the chapter of the Zoning Ordinance containing the
applicable zoning regulations. A complete summary of development standards for all
zones within Carlsbad is attached in Appendix E - Summary of Zoning Regulations.
TABLE 38 - ZONES ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BY RIGHT
Zone/Applicable Allowed Residential Uses Minimum Lot Building Ordinance Lot Area Coverage Height
E-A - Exclusive Single-family units only if 10 acres 40% 30 - 35 Agriculture (21.07) accessory to agriculture. maximum feet max.
Agriculture (21 :08) second dwelling units. maximum feet max.
R-E - Rural Res. Single-family units and 1 acre 20% 35 feet Estate (21.09) second dwelling units. maximum maximum
R-A - Residential Single-family units and 7,500 sq. ft. 40% 30 - 35
R-1 - One-family Single-family units and 7,500 sq. ft. 40% 30 - 35 feet Residential (21 .lo) second dwelling units. maximum rnax.
May, 2000 44
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TABLE 38 -ZONES ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BY RIGHT
ZonelApplicable Allowed Residential Uses Minimum Lot Ordinance Lot Area Coverage
R-2 - Two-family Single-family units, two- 7,500 sq. ft. 40%
Residential (21.12) family units, second dwelling maximum units.
R-3 - Multiple-family Single-family, two-family, 7,500 sq. ft. 60% Residential (21.16) and multifamily units; senior maximum housing, second dwelling units.
RD-M - Residential Single-family, two-family, 7,500 - 50 - 60%
Density-Multiple and multifamily units; senior 10,000 sq. ft. maximum
(21.24) housing, second dwelling units.
R-W - Residential Single-family, two-family, 5,000 sq. ft. 75%
R-T - Residential Single-family, two-family, , 7,500 sq. ft. 75%
Waterway (21.22) and multifamily units; maximum second dwelling units.
Tourist (21 -20) and multifamily units; senior maximum housing, second dwelling
units.
R-P Residential Single-family, two-family, 7,500 sq. ft.
Professional (21.18) and multifamily units; senior
housing, second dwelling units.
Mobile homes if in a mobile RMHP - Res. Mobile Home Park (21.37) home park. 5 - 15 acres
60% maximum
N /A
P-C Planned
Community (21.38) senior housing, and second NIA
Single and multifamily units,
dwelling units only if part of master plan development.
NIA
V-R Village Single and multifamily units, Redevelopment senior housing, and second
(21.35) dwelling units as described NJA
in the Villaae Master Plan.
NJA
Building
Height
30 - 35 feet
max.
35 feet maximum
35 feet
maximum
35 feet
maximum
35 feet
maximum
35 feet maximum
NJA
30 - 35 feet
maximum
NIA
45 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Area or Overlay
Hillside areas
TABLE 39 - ZONES CONDITIONALLY ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL USES
ZonelApplicable Ordinance Residential Uses Allowed Conditions for Residential
C-1 - Neighborhood Single-family, two-family and CUP approval required. Must Commercial (21.26.01 5(2)) multifamily units, senior be above ground floor
C-2 - General Commercial
(21.28.015(1)) multifamily units, senior be above ground floor
C-M - Heavy Commercial Limited Industrial (21.30.01 O(2)) caretaker and family.
M - Industrial (21.32.010(1))
Uses
housing. commercial uses.
Single-family, two-family and
housing. commercial uses.
Single-family unit
CUP approval required. Must
No CUP required. Must be for
exclusive use of factory
No CUP required. Must be for
exclusive use of factory caretaker and family.
Single-family unit
- ~ ~~
~ Area Covered Permits Required Regulations
15% grade and 15' Hillside Development Chapter 21.95 change in elevation Permit
I Single-family, two-family CUP approval required. Must be integral part of industrial
Dark or larae industrial use.
multifamily units. P-M - Planned Industrial (21.34.040)
Coastal zone areas
Some development standards, such as parking, are based upon use rather than
the zoning designation. The parking standards for residential uses vary based upon the
unit type, with the single family home and condominiums requiring two-car garages for
each unit. Apartment parking standards are less restrictive: one and one-half parking
spaces for studio or one-bedroom units and two parking spaces for units with two or
more bedrooms. Guest parking is required for condominiums and apartment complexes
at a rate of 5 spaces for the first 10 units and one space per four units thereafter. As
stated above, these parking standards apply to all residential projects, regardless of the
zone.
Per Map E in Appendix C
In addition to the underlying zoning, areas of special interest within the city have
been identified and bestowed with special development standards and/or permit
processing requirements. These areas include hillsides, coastal zone properties,
floodplains and areas adjacent to scenic corridors. Table 40 - "Special Areas and
Overlay Zones" below lists these areas of special interest and identifies the permits
required and the location of the additional regulations, in both the Municipal Code and
Housing Element appendices.
Coastal Development Permit
II TABLE 40 - SPECIAL AREAS AND OVERLAY ZONES
Chapters 21.201 to 21.205
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TABLE 40 - SPECIAL AREAS AND OVERLAY ZONES
Area or Overlay Area Covered Permits Required Regulations
Floodplains Per the Flood Special Use Permit - Chapter 21.1 10
Insurance Rate Map,
published by Federal Emergency High Hazard Area
Management Agency
(FEMA)
Appendix C
Floodplain or Special
Use Permit - Coastal
Beach Area Overlay Per Map E, in Site Development Plan Chapter 21.82
Scenic Preservation El Camino Real plus Special Use Permit Chapter 21.40
Overlay more roads in future
Qualified Development Per Map E in Site Development Plan Chapter 21.06
Overlay Appendix C
Airport Influence Area Per Map E in Site Development Plan Chapter 21.06
Appendix C (unless covered by . Specific Plan)
Hospital Overlay Areas designated for Site Development Plan Chapter 21 21
hospital uses
These overlay zones have several impacts to the provision of housing. They
typically require an additional permit that is not required elsewhere in the City. The
overlay zones also contain special development standards and design criteria that
usually limit the extent of development beyond the limits of the underlying zone. For
example, the Beach Area Overlay Zone (BAOZ) restricts building height to 30 feet and two stories, whereas the underlying zoning of Multiple Family Residential Zone (R-3)
allows 35 feet and three stories. Another example is the Airport Influence Area for the
McClellan/Palomar Airport, which restricts residential uses based upon airport-
generated noise level contours and flight activity zones.
c. Growth Management Program
In 1986, the citizens of Carlsbad passed Proposition E, which ratified the City’s
Growth Management Program. This program has two effects: lower residential density
throughout the City and impose more stringent facility improvement and/or fee
requirements for all development. Through this pro-gram, a maximum amount of
dwelling units was established for each quadrant of the City. The total dwelling unit cap
for the entire City is 54,600 units. The quadrant dwelling unit caps cannot be exceeded
without a vote of the people.
As shown in Table 31 - “General Plan Residential Density Ranges” above, the
maximum density for all General Plan designations is controlled by the Growth Control
Point. The Growth Control Point is typically about half of the maximum density allowed
by the General Plan designation. According to Section 21.90.045 of the Zoning
Ordinance, a development may not exceed the Growth Control Point unless these three
findings can be made:
47 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
The project will provide suficient additional public facilities for the density in
excess of the control point to ensure that the adequacy of the City's public
facilities plans will not be adversely impacted; and
There have been sufficient developments approved in the quadrant at
densities below the control point to cover the units in the project above the
control point so that approval will not result in exceeding the quadrant limit;
and
All necessary public facilities required by the Growth Management Ordinance
will be constructed or are guaranteed to be constructed concurrently with the
need for them created by the development and in compliance with adopted
City standards.
Due to housing market conditions, many new developments throughout Carlsbad
have been constructed at densities below the Growth Management Control Point.
Therefore, the City has "excess" dwelling units that may be applied to properties,
allowing them to exceed their specific Growth Management Control Point Density or
even their maximum General Plan range. These dwelling units can only be allocated,
however, consistent with City Council Policy No. 43. .This policy states the priority for
which excess dwelling units are to be allocated. The priorities are as follows:
First Priori&
1. Housing development for lower-income households ' where allowable housing
expenses paid by the qualiving household does not exceed thirty percent (30%) of
the gross monthly income, adjusted for household size, at eighty percent (80%) of
the county median income.
Density transfers, clustering of development and dwelling unit locational adjustments
which are proposed in order to preserve larger areas of sensitive habitat.
2.
3. Infill Single-Family Subdivisions that meet all development standards and where
proposed lot sizes will be equal to or greater than adjacent subdivided properties.
Second Prionty
1. Senior Citizen housing as defined by Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.18.045
2. Transit oriented development projects where increased residential density is being
placed in close proximity to major transit facilities and commercial support services.
3. Projects within the existing general plan density range that provide, without
compensation, for some significant public facilw not required as part of the
development process.
May, 2000 48
1999 Housina Element
1.
2.
3.
into
Housing Development for moderate income households where allowable housing
expenses paid by these qualiving households does not exceed thirty percent (30%)
of gross monthly income, adjusted for household size, at 120 percent (120%) of the
county median income.
Projects proposing a zone change from non-residential to residential based on the
following findings;
a) The property was zoned for other than residential use on July 1, 1986.
b) The property is compatible for residential use without significant mitigation.
c) The density of the project does not exceed the Growth Management Control Point of any adjacent residential propem.
lnfill multifamily projects that meet all development standards and where the
resulting density does not exceed adjacent, existing multifamily projects.
With regard to facility planning, the Growth Management Program split the City 25 different’ facility zones and requires the preparation of a Local Facilities
Management Plan (LFMP) for each zone prior to approving entitlements and physical
development plans. There are only three areas of the City that have yet to adopt
LFMPs, both of which contain vacant residentially designated property. The preparation
of these plans increases the time and money needed to produce housing. Map B -
“Status of Local Facilities Management Zones” shows the location and status of all 25
Local Facilities Management Zones in Carlsbad.
49 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Map B - STATUS OF LOCAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ZONES
NORTH -9
UNDER TECHNICAL
INITIAL PLANNING
May, 2000 50
1999 Housina Element
TABLE 41 - DISCRETIONARY REVIEWS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
Type of development Permits required Approving entity Processing cost
time
Single-family house (1 Building Permit Building Official 2-3 weeks $1,000- unit) 3,00O/unit
Single-family standard Tentative Parcel City Engineer 3 - 6 months $2,270
subdivision (1-4 units) Map
Single-famity small-lot Tent. Parcel Map City Engineer 4 - 8 months $4,070
subdivision (1-4 units) PUD permit Planning Director
Single-family or Mutti- Tent. Parcel Map City Engineer 4 - 8 months
family condominiums PUD permit or (1-4 units) Condo Permit
Single-family or Multi- Building Permit Building Official 3 - 5 weeks
family apartments (1 -4 units)
Single-family standard Tent. Tract Map Planning 6 - 9 months subdivision (5-50 Commission
units)
Planning Director
Single-family small-lot Tent. Tract Map Planning
subdivision (5-50 units) PUD permit Commission months I 6-11
Single-family or Multi- Tent. Tract Map . Planning family condominiums (5- Commission
50 units) P~~ permit or Condo Permit
6- 11
months
$4,070
$1,000 - 3,00O/un i t
$4,900 +
$1 1OIunit over 5
$9,900 +
$1 10/unit
over 5
$9,900 +
$1 101unit
over 5
Single-family or Multi- Site Development Planning 6- 11 $6,770
family apartments (5-50 Plan Commission months units)
Single-family standard Tent. Tract Map City Council 8- 12 $9,850 + subdivision (over 51 months $1 Stunit units) over 50
Single-family small-lot Tent. Tract Map City Council 8- 12 $17,750 + I PUD Permit subdivision (over 51 units) I- I months I ::;;
Single-family or Multi- Tent. Tract Map City Council family condominiums PUD permit or (over 51 units) Condo Permit
8-12 months
Single-family or Multi- Site Development Planning 6-11 family apartments (over Plan Commission months 51 units)
$17,750 + $1 Yunit
over 50
$6,770
May, 2000 52
1999 Housiriq Element
f. Mitigating Opportunities for Land Use Controls
The land use control constraints described above reflect the myriad of
environmental, economic and social issues that Carlsbad addresses to ensure a
balanced community. Facets of regulatory controls such as residential density
designations, overlay zones, growth management and inclusionary housing indicate an
effort to allow continued growth while addressing the needs of the community and the
environment. Since the Housing Element is but one of the 12 elements of the General
Plan, it is unrealistic to expect all land, use controls to be eliminated in the pursuit of
housing. Rather, the use of mitigating opportunities to find a commonly beneficial
solution allows consistency between all General Plan elements and their goals,
objectives and programs.
Theoretically, the governmental constraints could impose major barriers to the
provisions of housing, especially for persons of lower-income and special needs. In
practice, this has not been the case. Carlsbad has experienced, and continues to
experience, growth in housing for the above-moderate, moderate and lower-income
households. The recent housing boom and the resulting inflationary market makes it
difficult to assess the degree to which current housing prices are due to constraints or
the market. During 1998 and 1999, housing prices in Carlsbad rose steadily, even
though no new governmental constraints were imposed. One could deduce, therefore,
that the market plays a major role in housing prices and major adjustments of
governmental constraints is not indicated.
\
Nonetheless, there are some mitigating measures and opportunities that reduce
the impacts of existing governmental constraints. To reduce the level of housing
opportunity constraints imposed by the City’s land use distribution, a density bonus
ordinance was adopted. This density bonus ordinance (Chapter 21.86 of the Carlsbad
Municipal Code) allows unlimited density in all residential zones, provided that the
project include a greater number of affordable units, and with more affordability, than the
inclusionary ordinance would require. Successful implementation of this density bonus
ordinance has already resulted in several hundred units affordable to low and very-low
income households.
To allow for smaller, affordable units, none of the zones allowing residential
development have minimum units sizes. While there are minimum lot size requirements
for each zone, a Condominium or Planned Unit Development Permit allows either air-
space ownership or lots as small as 3,500 square feet. To address the constraints that
land use controls have on smaller properties, the City adopted an ordinance that allows
modifications to the development standards imposed by zoning for projects that provide
housing affordable to lower-income households. The City also allows priority processing
for affordable housing projects, reducing the review time for discretionary permits.
These measures, combined with the density bonus ordinance, remove governmental
barriers to the provision of affordable housing on smaller, in-fill properties.
In order to address the uncertainty that often accompanies development in
special or sensitive areas, the City has adopted overlay zones and a Habitat
management Plan. Since most developments within Carlsbad require a discretionary
permit to review design components, the additional permit that is required by an overlay
zone does not produce additional burden. By proactively identifying the extent of the
sensitive area with overlay zones, and identifying the’ mitigating measures for
53 May, 2000
1999 Housing Element
development, the overlay zones allow potential developers to incorporate these
mitigation measures into the project early in the process.
The City’s Growth Management Program has not shown to be a barrier to then
provision of housing, rather it has reduced the risk of facility requirements interfering
with expedient development permit processing. As with the declarations of the overlay
zones, the extent of the facility needs and the responsibilities of the potential
development are known early in the process, allowing them to be more easily
accommodated. While there are facility fees associated with development, the City has
paid this facility fee for he development of many affordable housing projects, such as the
Villa Loma and Poinsettia Station apartments.
2. OPEN SPACE AND HABITAT PRESERVATION
a. Constraints
As mentioned above, the City of Carlsbad contains large stands of native habitat.
Some of the flora and fauna species within these habitats are listed as threatened or
endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game and/or the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. As a result, development in these areas is constrained, either because
of the additional costs associated with mitigating the development impacts or by the
requirement for preservation of certain sensitive areas. In addition to the sensitive
lands, the City’s Growth Management Ordinance requires preservation of a minimum of
15 percent of open space within each subdivision or community. This Growth
Management open space may or may not be constrained with sensitive species or
habitat.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
To address this open space and habitat preservation constraint, the City of
Carlsbad, along with other San Diego jurisdictions, is in the process of preparing a
Habitat Management Plan that would define areas of development and preservation.
This pian would theoretically facilitate development by clearly defining preservation
areas and goals, taking into account sensitive species and areas of habitat connectivity.
By allowing developers to predetermine the areas of preservation, design and
construction costs can be reduced. The Habitat Management Plan also contains
provisions for density transfers, allowing areas that would otherwise be developable to
count towards calculating the project’s overall unit yield. While these areas would
remain undisturbed, the development could then be clustered at a higher density in the
areas void of sensitive habitats or wildlife connectivity corridors.
3. BUILDING, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING CODES
a. Constraints
There have been many revisions to the applicable building, electrical, plumbing,
and mechanical codes since the last Housing Element update in 1990. The current
construction codes in use within Carlsbad are as follows: Uniform Building Code (1994
edition), National Electrical Code (1 996 edition), Uniform Plumbing Code (1 994 edition),
and the Uniform Mechanical Code (1994 edition).
May, 2000 54
1999 Housinq Element
The revisions to these codes have been in the interest of increasing safety of
structures and improvements. The most notable addition was the Seismic Element of
the Uniform Building Code. In the process of adding regulations, the construction codes
also added costs to the development of housing. The increased safety standards
impose higher construction costs. In addition, the construction codes contain more
requirements for certification by registered engineers and involve more complex plan
preparation, raising development costs even further.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Since the constraining construction code revisions were put in place for
increased safety, mitigation through reductions in standards is not desirable. There are
other mechanisms, however, that can reduce the constraint of construction codes on the
provision of affordable housing. Priority processing of plans can offset the potentially
added time in plan preparation and review. There are certain types of housing, such as
resident hotels, that are deemed to be commercial in nature and, therefore, have
different standards. Also, multiple-unit buildings can take advantage of consolidated
electric, gas and water meters, further reducing construction costs.
4. CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS
a. Constraints
The City’s Code Enforcement division can directly and indirectly produce
constraints to the provision of housing, especially for lower-income households. One of
the functions of Code Enforcement is the abatement of deteriorating housing and illegal
housing units (also known as bootleg units). These housing units are typically rented for
lower rates, making them available to lower-income individuals or households. By
eliminating these housing units, the overall housing stock is reduced and the housing
opportunities for lower-income households diminishes. These actions usually account
for a loss of three to four substandard or illegal units per year.
Another area where Code Enforcement activities interact with the provision of
housing is with the abatement of migrant workedday laborer encampments in the
undeveloped portions of the City. As detailed above, Carlsbad’s undeveloped hinterland
is a permanent or seasonal home to approximately 700 homeless individuals. These
individuals can gather in relatively large encampments, producing a strain on the native
habitat and increasing the risk for wildfires and watershed pollution.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Currently the Code Enforcement division responds on a compliant basis.
Therefore, there are no current programs to proactively seek out and remove
substandard units, illegal units or migrant workerlday laborer encampments. By
continuing this complaint-based response system, inoffensive illegal units can continue
to provide housing opportunities for lower-income households. In addition, there are
programs in the Housing Element that can provide incentives for property owners to
replace their substandard units with housing that is still affordable to lower-income
households.
55 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
5. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, EXACTIONS AND FEES
a. Constraints
During the course of development, necessary circulation improvements are
addressed in order to achieve satisfactory circulation improvement goals. The City,
through its Local Facilities Management Plan has further identified standards for
circulation. Currently some circulation improvements are funded through a Bridge and
Thoroughfares Fee that the City imposes on the areas of benefit. This fee varies
according to the size of development and circulation impacts. (See fee schedule in
appendices). The cost to the developer for the improvements required are usually
passed on to the cost of the home or residence, increasing its cost.
In addition to required improvements, fees are assessed by the City and Districts
to mitigate effects of development that would have an adverse effect on the community
or district. A typical exaction would be for school fees. Fees and exactions receive the
most amount of attention from the development community and are most often singled
out as contributing to the growing costs of housing. A list of the current fees is located
in the appendices.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
City Council Policy allows the waiver of Public Facility fees for low income
housing. Implementation of this policy should also assess the fiscal impacts that the fee
would normally generate on the budget of the respective departments. Reducing fees is
a significant incentive for some residential development. The City may contribute
financially to lower-income housing or to on/offsite infrastructure improvements through
in-kind contributions for residential developments that would be made affordable to
lower-income households.
6. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
a. Constraints
Under the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA) developments or actions
defined as projects, unless otherwise exempted under specific CEQA guidelines, are
required to undergo an assessment as to the impact the project will have to the
environment. This assessment determines if a substantial or more detailed effort will be
needed to assess the full impact or a determination that it will not have a significant
impact. Developing rural areas, and environmentally sensitive areas that include
lagoons and wetlands are particularly sensitive to the impacts of urbanization.
Assessment and mitigation of these impacts are sometimes lengthy and meticulous
adding extra cost to the development. Identification of impacts that cannot be mitigated
may preclude development altogether.
Carlsbad has a substantial amount of environmental constraints due to its
sensitive habitats, coastal location and conservative approach to preserving its unique
natural surroundings. These constraints may preclude, reduce, or in most cases, slow
down construction of new housing in Carlsbad.
May, 2000 56
1999 Housinq Element
b. Mitigating Opportunities
The California Environmental Quality Act provides opportunities for "tiering"
environmental reviews. Projects that require a comprehensive review and assessment
with an ensuing Environmental Impact Report often may contain specific mitigation
measures to offset impacts. When a project requires multiple phases for completion,
assessment and mitigation details can be included in the environmental impact report.
Subsequent phases of the development may preclude further general or detailed
environmental review. This may lead to faster processing of projects after a master
environmental review and assessment and mitigation of impacts is completed and can
be utilized for subsequent EIRs.
Additionally, as environmental impact reports may require mitigation measures
for adverse impacts, new strategies to mitigate these adverse effects can be introduced.
For example, a jobs housing balance is one strategy to reduce energy consumption and
auto emissions by locating housing and jobs closer together. By creating a better mix of
housing styles and types to create a greater range of and number of housing units for
the current and future employment population, one would place employment and
housing closer together. A mitigating effect is created to conserve fuel, reduce
emissions, and reduce traffic impaction.
7. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT AND REGULATIONS
a. Constraints
Currently a significant portion of undeveloped acreage is situated .in the State
designated coastal zone areas. Revisions to the Local Coastal Program must be
approved by the California Coastal Commission, in addition to local approval processes.
in addition, local approvals for development in close proximity to the ocean or lagoons
could be appealed by the Coastal Commission. Often, to protect coastal resources
significant changes or reduction in residential unit yields or densities are required for
project approval. These requirements may significantly affect production of lower
income units in coastal zone areas. Carlsbad has additional regulatory policies to
preserve agriculture and scenic resources contained in its Local Coastal Programs
approved by the State.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Although the City's current coastal zone plan does not mandate low income
housing as a provision of development as some plans do, opportunities using density
bonus ordinances would be utilized in coastal zone development. Currently most of the
City's existing low income housing stock is within the City's coastal zone. Preservation
and rehabilitation programs may be mandated and implemented through this program.
The city can also continue to implement its inclusionary housing program for all master
or specific planned communities, (several of these communities are located in the
coastal zone), thereby contributing to the low-income housing stock in the coastal areas.
57 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
8. ARTICLE 34 - CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
a. Constraints
Section 1 of Article XXXlV of the California Constitution provides that no "low
rent housing project shall be developed, constructed, or acquired by any state public
body" until voter approval has been obtained. The election requirement of Article XXXlV
could limit the participation of a public body in the development of low- and moderate-
income housing because of the delays, 'uncertainties and potential additional expenses
associated with local elections.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
In general, Article XXXlV requires that two criteria be met: (a) a "state public
body" must "develop, construct, or acquire", (b) a "low rent housing project." Article
XXXlV would be inapplicable if one of these criteria was absent. It would be possible to
confine the role of a public body in a housing development so that one of the two criteria
is not met and an Article XXXlV election would not be required.
In order to clarify Article XXXIV, in 1976 the Legislature enacted the Public
Housing Election Implementation Law (Health and Safety Code, Section 37000 seq.).
According to that, a "low rent housing project" does not include the following types of
development:
a.
b.
Housing with 49% or less lower income occupancy, that is privately owned and is
not exempt from property taxation (unless fully reimbursed to all taxing entities);
Housing that is privately owned, is not exempt from property taxation by reason of
any public ownership and utilizes land banking, property acquisition resale write
down, guarantees and insurance of private loans and other assistance not
constituting direct long-term financing from a public body;
Housing that is developed for owner occupancy rather than rental occupancy;
Housing consisting of newly constructed, privately owned, one to four family
dwellings not located on adjoining sites;
Housing that consists of existing units leased by a state public body from a private
owner; and
Rehabilitation, reconstruction or replacement of an existing low rent housing
project.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Public body involvement limited to these types of housing developments would
still help provide low- and moderate-income housing and would not be subject to the
Article XXXlV election requirement.
Not all activities carried out by public bodies can be defined as "development,
construction, or acquisition" of a low rent housing project. The meaning of "develop,
construct or acquire" would not be applicable if the agency's involvement in providing
low- and moderate-income housing is limited to offering the following incentives and
concessions:
a.
b.
Reducing or waiving of planning fees, building plan check and permit fees, or
street dedication or infrastructure improvements;
Modifying or reducing development standards;
May, 2000 58
1999 Housincr Element
c. Granting density bonuses; or
d. Pass through of land.
The California Supreme Court in California Housing Finance Agency v. Elliot (17
Cal.3d 575 [1976]) concluded that whenever a public body very extensively participates,
or assists in not only making a low rent housing project possible but also fully regulating
the project so that the result is that the government is essentially the landlord, the matter
will be subject to the Article XXXlV election requirement. Thus, a public body that
grants a loan for a low rent housing project and the loan is conditioned on typical
government agency requirements such as review and approval of plans, project
financing, operation and maintenance standards and occupancy would generally
constitute development and construction of the housing project and fulfills the criteria for
applicability of Article XXXIV.
Any mortgage revenue bond issued or direct financial assistance given by a
public body to assist in the development of a low rent housing project would necessitate
an Article XXXlV election if these other criteria are also met.
On November 4, 1980, the following measure (Proposition X) was placed on the
Carlsbad ballot for voter approval.
"Do the qualified electors of the City of Carlsbad, pursuant to Article XXXlV of the
Constitution of the State of California, approve the development, construction, and
acquisition of low rent housing projects by the City of Carlsbad, or other City-designated
public agency, not to exceed 250 total units on scattered sites throughout the City to
provide living accommodations for low-income senior citizens?"
Carlsbad voters approved this Article XXXlV referendum to allow no more than 250
units of senior low-income housing. However, this authority has not yet been exercised.
9. CITY STAFFING LEVELS
a. Constraints
Constra'ints to housing opportunities may also include insufficient staffing.
Federal, State and Local regulatory procedures often call for substantial review of
development prior to construction. Staffing to fulfill current requirements and for
additional regulatory procedures must be identified as a constraint for housing if
.sufficient staffing to meet processing goals and timelines are not allocated. Community
Development activities such as Planning, Building and Engineering functions are
impacted by the pace and magnitude of development. In addition, as the administration
of housing programs are a function of the City's Housing and Redevelopment Agency,
creation of additional low-income housing opportunities and the administration of them,
may require additional staffing.
Review of the City's previous element has shown that a variety of programs were
not completely implemented due to the increased staff time required for additional
housing programs. Future programs that add additional administrative tasks to staff
may also fall short of complete implementation if sufficient staffing time is not available
to administer additional housing programs.
59 May,2000 .
1999 Housina Element
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Insufficient staffing and under-budgeting of positions in City Departments may
also act as constraints to housing. Implementing programs to increase affordable, or
the production of low income units, are dependent on adequate staffing. Frequently
these programs are prioritized below other administrative and regulatory tasks and as
such are not implemented on a timely basis. Housing programs that require more
administrative and managerial time may result in a need for more staff for it to be
effective.
B. NON-GOVERNMENTAL CONSTRAINTS
In addition to the constraints imposed by governmental regulation, there are
many financial constraints, such as the cost of money, land and labor.
1. FI NANCl NG
Financing is a key component of housing development. Financing can be
broken down into two key categories: takeout (construction), and permanent (mortgage).
Construction financing is usually short-term in nature and is used for acquisition and
development of property. Mortgage or permanent financing is the long-term financing of
the project. This debt usually buys out the construction financing and is serviced by
income received from rents or sales. If financing, either takeout or permanent, is not
available for any of the reasons listed below, new construction will not occur.
a. Constraints
Recent developments in the banking and financing industry have had substantial
impact on the development of both multi- and single family housing. Several recent
events have had major effects on the supply of money that has traditionally been used
to finance affordable housing.
The 1986 Federal Tax Reform Act substantially changed the rules for real estate
investment with particular regard to multifamily construction. Recent legislation has
reduced tax benefits normally associated with investment in multifamily development.
This has had the effect of reducing the amount of money available for multifamily
construction.
The 1989 Federal Savings and Loan Act restructured and added new regulations
to the Savings and Loannhrift Banking Institutions. These changes limited (1) the amount of money that could be lent to one borrower, and (2) mandated extra
capitalization reserves for all savings and loans as a ratio to money lent. (This has had
an impact on the ability to acquire money for acquisition and development and for
permanent financing.) Impacted the hardest were multifamily builders and small
development (over 100 units) companies who usually only used one or two lending
sources for their developments.
i. Availability and Use of Public Financing
Funds that are available through Federal, State, and Local sources are referred
to as public in nature. These funds are usually made available at below market (private)
May, 2000 60
1999 Housinb Element
American F&l
interest rates for purposes of providing low-income housing opportunities. These funds
are not widely available and are restricted in their use. With the decrease in private
market financing for multifamily development, the demand for this financing has grown.
Competition for these funds is high and availability is not always consistent.
6.80% I 6.63%
The additional constraint to using government financing is that of restrictions of
use and a high administrative burden that sometimes accompanies these funds. Many
cities have chosen not to compete for these funds as they do not have the
administrative capability to manage them.
ii. Rates
The cost of acquiring land for development is closely tied to the available
mortgage rates. Table 42 - "San Diego County Mortgage Rates - 12/29/98", below,
shows the mortgage rates offered by several San Diego financial institutions, as of
December 29,1998.
II TABLE 42 SAN DIEGO COUNTY MORTGAGE RATES - 12/29/98 II
I( California Federal Bank I 6.30% I 6.13%
11 Union Bank of California I 6.88% I 6.50%
5.63%
sa.html
Table 43 - "Money Rates" below contains the cost of funds by several
governmental sources, as of December 29, 1998.
61 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
Prime Rate
Federal Funds Rate
TABLE 43 - MONEY RATES
7.75%
4.86%
li
6 month Labor Rate
30 year Treasury Bond
. 5.04%
4.96% 11 Source: Money-rates.com, Inc. - URL: http://www.money-rates.com II
b. MITIGATING OPPORTUNITIES
Financing constraints may be overcome by several financial tools available to
create more affordable housing. These tools include mortgage revenue bonds, public
financing, low-income permanent financing, Community Reinvestment Act,
Redevelopment Set-Aside Funds and Community Development Block Grant Funds.
These financing sources are described below. .
1. Mortgage Revenue Bonds
These are .bonds sold by the City to create a pool of money for subsidized
mortgages. The bonds are serviced through a return rate on the mortgage or resold on
the bond market. The up-front costs of issuing bonds are prohibitively expensive for a
small issuing. To reduce the "up-front" cost of the issuance of a Mortgage Revenue
Bond that will cover only a small amount of mortgages that a city may wish to offer,
many cities have formed pools in a cooperative effort to spread the up-front cost among
several cities or housing authorities. Mortgage revenue bonds can be issued for
multifamily or single family developments, but multifamily bonds have become less in
demand and more difficult to issue due to recent changes in the tax code.
ii. Public Financing
The State Housing and Community Development Agency, and HUD offer
construction, rehabilitation, and permanent financing as low as three percent to qualified
applicants such as housing authorities or private not-for-profit developers. These funds
are competed for based on participation of other funding sources and local need. A
brief list of these programs is listed below:
Federally funded rehab and construction Droarams:
Section 202 Direct loans for elderly and handicapped housing.
Section 502 Rural home ownership assistance.
Section 51 5 Rural rental housing assistance.
Section 17 Rental housing rehabilitation.
Section 31 7 Rehabilitation loans.
Housing and Community Development Act Block Grants.
State funded rehabilitation and construction Droarams:
Family Housing Demonstration Program (HCD)
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1999 Housinia Element
Home Mortgage Purchase Program (CHFA)
Predevelopment Loan Program (HCD)
Rental Housing Construction Program (HCD)
Rental Housing Mortgage Loan Program (CHFA)
Self Help Housing (CHFA & HCD)
AB 665 (1 982) Bonds 7 Renter occupied construction
Funds authorized by the Mark-Furon Residential Rehabilitation Act and
California Energy Conservation Rehabilitation Program
Deferred Payment Rehabilitation Loan Fund (HCD)
Home Ownership Mortgage Bond Program (CHFA)
Home Ownership Assistance Program (HCD)
Matching Down Payment Program (CHFA)
Natural Disaster Assistance Program (HCD)
Non Profit Housing Program (CHFA)
Farmworker Housing Grant Program (HCD)
Mobilehome Park Assistance Program (HCD)
State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant Program (HCD)
State/Local Multifamily Program (HCD)
Federal Emergency Shelter Grants Program (HCD)
Senior Citizen Shared Housing Program (HCD)
SB 99 New construction
'
This list of financial and assistance programs is not all-inclusive, and many programs
may not have funding availability at this time. It is important that the City familiarize
itself with the application process and availability of these funds.
iii. Low Income Permanent Financing
A consortium of banks and savings and loans has formed an organization
(SAMCO) designed to offer private below market permanent financing for low-income
projects. This organization, based in San Diego, is a prime source for below market
financing needed for low-income projects.
iv. Community Reinvestment Act
This Act requires lending institutions to report on their lending activities and how
they meet the needs of the community. Lending institutions may face official sanctions
for not meeting performance goals. A City may have a program to evaluate an
institution's lending practices for its community. It may impose its own sanctions.
These sanctions may include withdrawal of funds by the City, or cooperating
businesses, from lending institutions that have not made adequate mortgage or
construction financing loans in their community.
v. Redevelopment Set-Aside Funds
Currently State Law required that 20 percent of tax increment returns be set
aside for low- to moderate- income housing. This is a good source of gap funding or
equity positions the City may wish to participate in with qualified low-income residential
projects.
63 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
vi. Community Development Block Grant Funds
The City of Carlsbad uses the Federally entitled grant funds to support a wide
range of services and programs that benefit the community's lower and moderate-
income households. CDBG funds may be used for housing purposes in the acquisition
of land using these funds and in the funding of rehabilitation and preservation programs.
The CDBG funds may also be used to fund a wide range of planning studies and
programs that will benefit low and moderate-income households.
2. COST OF LAND
a. Constraints
The price of land varies depending on location, improvements and use. The cost
of land in Carlsbad is a prime constraint in providing affordable housing opportunity.
Carlsbad contains a significant amount of land with coastal views; a premium that is
added to the cost of land. In addition, location factors such as proximity to freeway
access, public facilities, and intangible factors such as image and quality of life
contribute significantly to demand and price. The cost of improving the land, grading
and added infrastructure also contributes to the final costs.
Carlsbad has a considerable amount of land located in hilly topography. The
added costs of grading required as well as the additional engineering and improvement
costs are greater as opposed to flat level land. Costs associated with land have
traditionally contributed to around 40 percent to the cost of a home. In Southern
California the price of land and its preparation sometimes may be as high as sixty
percent. The price of land is also determined on the number of units that the land may
yield after constraints such as topography, environmental constraints and density are
factored in. The actual yield may be far below the allowable density. Land prices in
Carlsbad vary substantially. Undeveloped vacant land with varied topography and no
improvements is approximately $1 25,000 - $275,000 an acre, with coastal view land
slightly higher. lnfill residential land, with all improvements may run as high as $1 million
an acre depending on location and density. The added value and price of land in
Carlsbad has severely limited market-rate financed construction for low-income
households.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Land prices are generally determined in the market place. As such, the
availability of non constrained developable acreage suitable for residential development
is higher in areas closer to significant employment centers and areas with significant
desirable attributes, i.e., coastal vs. inland. Carlsbad has substantial acreage that falls
within these attributes. Land pricing is also a factor of yield or return. Land costs are
also determined on "how much" or yield of development that can occur upon a specific
property. This yield is a product of the General Plan Density which often determined
housing product type, infrastructure or the amount of acreage needed for public
improvements, net developable acreage and general market conditions.
As shown in Table 34 - "Total Vacant Developable Residential Lands by General
Plan Designation - 1998", a large majority of Carlsbad's vacant land is designated
Residential Low-Medium Density, allowing up to four units per developable acre. Most
May, 2000 64
1999 Housina Element
developers and housing advocates immediately tie high density designations to the
ability to provide affordable housing. However, the land costs are also tied to density,
typically in a proportionate fashion: the higher the potential yield of s property, the higher
the vacant land cost. Low density designations serve to keep the land cost as low as
possible, realizing that the City's density bonus ordinance could allow high-density
development for affordable housing.
,
The Villa Loma Apartments (344 units affordable to low and very-low income
households) serves as just one example of the implementation of the density bonus
ordinance. The 21 acre Villa Loma site is designated Residential Medium Density in the
General Plan, allowing up to eight (8) units per developable acre with a Growth Control
Point of six (6) units per developable acre. Had the site been already designated with
the density that Villa Loma was granted through the discretionary permits (17 units per
developable acre), the land costs would have been much higher and potentially a barrier
to the project. ..
Final land prices are determined by how much (if any) entitlement are secured
for the land. This is important if the land is sold and currently undeveloped but has
secured entitlement to build. Price can be affected by knowing there are considerations
such as low income housing that need to be included in the project. This may affect the
project pro-forma and the selling price of the property may be adjusted to compensate
for this. Other techniques may be used to supply land at reduced prices. These
include:
i. Imminent DomainlFriendly Condemnation
To assure an adequate supply of housing in all income ranges a city may choose
to acquire suitable property to assure this need is to be met. Property acquired through
friendly eminent domain proceedings is subject to fair market value but substantial tax
benefits may accrue to the owner of the parcel. Property that is acquired by this method
through "friendly" negotiations usually arrive at an equitable disposition and the property
may be acquired at a below market price.
ii. Land Banking
Land could be acquired or purchased by the City that may not be currently used
for housing but may be given entitlement at a future date. This land could be resold with
entitlement to a non-profit developer at a reduced price to provide housing affordable to
lower income households. Land may be accepted as an in-lieu contribution for an
inclusionary housing requirement. Land purchased or contributed for the purpose of
residential construction must be suitable for the appropriate density.
iii. GovernrnentlPublic Land
Surplus property that is owned by the City or another public entity can be
acquired to provide potential housing opportunities for lower income households.
Surplus property is then passed on to a developer at a negotiated reduced price in
exchange for a requirement for more housing affordable to target income groups.
65 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element ,
iv. Constrained Acreage
Developable acreage that is constrained due to government control, may be
utilized to increased yield of developable acreage. Currently Carlsbad does not give
density credit to acreage that is constrained due to several factors. Density credits may
be given to this land and transferred to an adjacent property for the purpose of low-
income housing.
3. COST OF CONSTRUCTION
a. Constraints
Construction wsts may contribute significantly to the affordability and cost of
housing. Factors that contribute to construction costs are referred to as "hard costs"
and typically refer to labor and materials. Soft costs are typically a developer's
overhead, and carrying costs on acquisition or construction loans. Carrying costs are
associated with finance and lending constraints as well as processing times as referred
to earlier in this section.
1. Labor
Labor costs are significantly higher in the Southern California region than
averages nationwide for similar employment. The prevailing wage for construction is
$16.00 - $28.00 per hour average depending on skill, experience, and labor union
affiliation.
ii. Construction Costs per Square Foot
The cost per square foot for construction is a general average for the San Diego
Region. This may vary from builder to builder based upon a number of factors. The
average residential construction cost per square foot for multifamily dwellings is
approximately $72 per square foot and $82 per square foot for single-family detached
dwellings.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Costs of construction in this section refer to labor and materials. The typical
labor rate for construction workers depends upon the level of skill associated with the
job, whether it is union or not and the availability of construction workers.
Opportunities exist for reduction of costs associated with construction. These
include, but are not limited to:
1. Factory Built Housing/Manufactured Housing
Using new technology, manufactured homes may represent new shelter
opportunities in the low and moderate-income range. Some of the housing construction
is conducted offsite and transported to the construction site. A fast growing alternative
to onsite development, construction of flooring and framing is done in computer
controlled factories and then transported onsite for assembly. Estimates on cost
reductions using these methodologies may be as high as 30 percent. The City could
May, 2000 66
1999 Housincl Element
encourage developers to take advantage of these type of programs. The product is
identical in appearance to custom onsite stick built single family or multifamily product.
Residential manufactured home developments. (R-MHD) are residential
developments that have characteristics common to both multi-family and single-family
neighborhoods. R-MHD are income producing properties as are multi-family complexes,
but individual detached manufactured homes in the development are owner occupied.
Home owners enter into a long-term lease with the partnership or corporation (which
may be owned by the tenants) which manages and maintains community infrastructure.
R-MHD are typically pegged to area apartment rates. The lifestyle and density
patterns are decidedly single-family in nature. R-MHD compete in the shelter market
between multi-family and condominium.
ii. Development Standards
Development standards, either modified or as part of administrative policies,
sometimes add extra cost because of additional materials required and extra labor. A
significant reduction'of costs from a modification or waiver of the standards can be
attained and passed on to the savings of the unit for low-income housing.
iii. Construction Management
Development of affordable and low cost housing is sometimes accomplished
through special construction management techniques. Companies that specialize in low
cost housing utilize these special management techniques to cut costs. In any low-
income development, this should be a requirement
C. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS
Given its Southern California location, varied topography, agricultural lands and
relatively extensive undeveloped habitat areas, Carlsbad faces many environmental
constraints to the provision of housing. All of these environmental constraints have the
potential to limit the extent of land developed as well as the actual cost of development.
The environmental constraints are grouped into:
67 May, 2000
1999 Housina - Element
1.
a. Constraints
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND SENSITIVE HABITATS
As mentioned above, the City of Carlsbad contains numerous areas of native
habitat, some containing endangered or sensitive species, as defined by the U.S.
Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Game.
These species, along with other indicator species of sensitive habitats, are listed below.
Also included in the listing is the status of each species with regard to State and Federal
listings.
TABLE 44 - F’LORA AND FAUNA SPECIES IN CARLSBAD
Common Name Scientific Name Status
Invertebrates
Globose Dune Beetle Coelus globosus *I
Harbison’s Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris harbisoni *I
Hemes Copper I Lycaena hermes */
Oblivious Tiger Beetle I Cicindela latesimata obliviosa I */
Quino Checkerspot Euphydym editha quino FE/
Riverside Fairy Shnmp Streptocephalus woottoni FEI
Saltmarsh Skipper Panoquina en-ans *I
San Diego Fairy Shnmp Branchinecta sandiegoensis FE/
Sandy Beach Tiger Beetle Cicindela hirticollis gravida */
Birds
Belding’s Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi *ICE
Bell’s Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli belli */csc
Burrowing Owl Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea */csc
California Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis californicus FEICE
FE/CE California Least Tern Sterna antillarum browni
Coastal Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus cousei */csc
Coastal California Gnatcatcher Polioptila californica californica FT/CSC
CooDer’s Hawk I AcciDirer cooDerii I /csc
Elegant Tern I Sterna elegans I */csc
Golden Eagle Aquila chtysaetos BEPNCSC
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum None
Large-billed Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus */csc
FEICE Least Bell’s Vireo
Light-footed Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris levipes FWCE
Vireo bellii pusillus
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus */csc
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus /csc
Osprey Pandion haliaetus /csc I FEICE Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus anatum
May, 2000 68
1999 Housincl Element
TABLE 44 - FLORA AND FAUNA SPECIES IN CARLSBAD
Common Rame Scientific Name I Status
Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps canescens */csc
FE/CE Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii extimus
Tricolored Blackbird Agelaius tricolor *icsc
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana None .
Western Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus FTICSC
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi */csc
Yellow-breasted Chat Ictena virens icsc
Aphanisma blitoides *I
Blochman’s Dudleya Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae *I
California Orcutt Grass Orcuttia californica FEICE
Cliff Spurge Euphorbia misera None
Del Mar Manzanita Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia FEI
Del Mar Mesa Sand Aster Corethrogynefilaginifolia var. linifolia tJ
FTICE Encinitas Baccharis Baccharis vanessae
EngelmannOak ’ Quercus engelmannii None
Little Mousetail Mvosurus minimus SSD. avus +I 11 Nuttall’s Lotus I Lotus nuttaiiianus *I I Quercus dumosa */ I 11 Nuttall’s Scrub Oak
11 Orcutt’s Brodiaea I Brodiaea orcuttii I *I
Orcutt’s Hazardia Hazardia orcuttii *I
Orcutt’s Spineflower Chorizanthe orcuttiana FWCE
Parry’s Tetracoccus Tetracoccus dioicus *I
Prostrate Navarretia Navarretia fossalis PT/
San Diego Ambrosia Ambrosia pumila */
San Diego Barrel Cactus Ferocactus viridescens *I
San Diego Button-celery Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii FEICE
San Diego Goldenstar Muilla clevelandii *I
11 San Diego Marsh-elder I Iva hayesiana I *I
San Diego Thorn-mint Acanthornintha ilicifolia PEKE
Short-leaved Dudleya Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. brevifolia
11 Sticky Dudleya Dudleya viscida *I
Summer-holly Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. diversifolia *I
Torrey Pine Pinus torreyana ssp. torreyana */
Variegated Dudleya Dudleya variegata */
Wart-stemmed Ceanothus Ceanothus werrucosus *I
Thread-leaved Brodiaea Brodiaea lirifolia PTICE
69 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
TABLE 44 - FLORA ANDFAUNA SPECIES IN CARLSBAD
Common Name Scientific Name Status
Amphibians and Reptiles
Arroyo Southwestern Toad Bufo microscaphus calffornicus FE/CSC
California Red-legged Frog Rana aurora draytonii FT‘CSC
Orange-throated Whiutail Cnemidophorus hypervthrus beldingi */csc
San Diego Homed Lizard Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillei */CSC
Southwestern Pond Turtle Clemmys marmorata pallida */csc
Western Spadefoot Toad Scaphiopus hammondii /csc
Mammals
California Mastiff Bat Eumops perotis californicus */csc
Mountain Lion Felis concolor CA REG
Northwestern San Diego Pocket Chaetodipus fallax fallax */csc
Mouse
11 Pacific Pocket Mouse I Perognathus longimembris pacificus I FE/CSC
San Diego Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus bennettii */csc
Southern Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus fuliginata CA REG
Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys stephensi FE/CT *
Townsend’s Western Big-eared Bat Plecotus townsendii pallescens */csc
Codes and Notes
Status (FederaVState)
FE = Federally endangered. PE = Proposed for federal listing as endangered. FT = Federally
threatened. PT = Proposed for federal listing as threatened.
C = Candidate for federal listing. BEPA = Bald Eagle Protection Act. CE = State endangered. CT =
State threatened. CSC = State Species of Special Concern.
* = formerly Category 2 or Category 3 candidate or proposed for federal listing; no current federal
status.
status. Protected = moratorium on hunting. None = no federal or state status. = proposed rule to list as endangered or threatened has been withdrawn; no current federal
b. Mitigating Opportunities
The mitigating opportunities for the environmental constraints of sensitive habitat
and endangered species are integrally linked to the mitigating opportunities for the
regulatory constraints imposed by open space preservation provisions and the California
Environmental Quality Act. As stated in those sections, the development of a
preservation plan acceptable to responsible agencies would likely reduce costs and
processing time for housing developments.
May, 2000 70
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2. WATER SUPPLY
a. Constraints
Climatological factors such as drought conditions may constrain housing, both in
construction and long term availability. Water reserves in a region drop and
conservation becomes necessary as mandated in various stage alerts, construction
grading becomes a low priority and is sometimes halted. This may push back
construction scheduled and add additional costs to housing.
Long term availability of water is allocated on a state and regional level and is
sometimes beyond the purview of local municipal governments. On a city's jurisdiction
may provide restriction in development in the long term if in coordination with local water
authorities.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
Water conservation efforts in developments that would significantly reduce water
consumption rates 'may be included as an incentive for low cost housing for future
housing developments.
The use of water saving appliances and increased xerophytic landscaping that
are consistent and compatible with the City's Landscape Standards should be
encouraged with ties to incentives for low-income housing production. Xerophytic
landscaping may be substituted for normal "lush" landscaping standard for low-income
projects.
Water conservation would also be encouraged by requiring the use of reclaimed
.water for grading purposes during construction periods or by providing incentives for
developments if water conservation fixtures and appliances are utilized in new
construction.
Retrofitting of existing housing units with water conserving appliances or fixtures
should be encouraged. During times of water alerts and shortages, retrofitting and the
savings produced may allow residential development without a net increase in water
consumption.
3. TOPOGRAPHY
a. Constraints
Topography can be a key constraint to housing development, as it removes
significant acreage in the city from development and contributes to the land prices.
Carlsbad, through an adopted Hillside Development Ordinance, does not allow
significant amounts of grading without required regulatory permits.
Land that has slopes of over 40% is precluded from calculating density on the
site. Slopes under 40% and greater than 25% are allowed one half of the site's density.
Carlsbad has over 5,000 acres that are constrained topographically. Hilly land that is
allowed for development has significantly more costs associated with its improvements
than flat level land. These cost are usually passed on to the homebuyer or renter.
71 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
b. Mitigating Opportunities
The City in order to achieve development compatible with the community and
preserve unique scenic qualities of hillside topography has developed a hillside
ordinance. Provisions of this ordinance call for no residential development on hillsides
with slopes greater than 40%. On slopes with inclination greater than 25% but less than
40%, density is reduced by one half. A possible incentive for low-income housing would
be a density credit in hillside acreage of slopes greater than 25% or less than 40%. This
would increase the yield of low-income units over what normally could be provided,
especially with developments in hillside areas. The City could make other efforts, such
as modifications to the Hillside Development Standards for affordable projects.
4. MCCLELLANIPALOMAR AIRPORT
a. Constraints
Carlsbad is home to the McClellan-Palomar Airport, a public general aviation
facility. In 1970, the State of California enacted a law requiring the formation of an
Airport Land Use Commission in each county containing a public airport. Among the
duties of this Commission is the formulation of a Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(CLUP). In San Diego County the San Diego County of Governments (SANDAG) has
been designated as the Airport Land Use Commission.
.
In 1974 the original Land Use Plan for the McClellan-Palomar Airport was
adopted and in 1986 a revised plan was adopted. The plan was adopted to assist in
ensuring compatible land use development in the area surrounding the McClellan-
Palomar Airport. The plan contains the Airport's Influence Area, projected noise
contours, clear zone, flight activity zone, land use compatibility matrix and
recommendations. The significant restrictions to housing and residential development
are within the flight activity zone and within certain projected noise contour levels. The
flight activity zone contains areas restricted from certain uses due to crash hazards.
The projected noise contour levels are used to quantify noise impacts and to determine
compatibility with land uses. Noise levels are quantified based on a descriptor of daily
noise level, the community noise equivalent level (CNEL). The boundaries of these
levels are defined as "contours" and are depicted on the Airport Noise Contour Map.
The contour does not define a land area in which residential uses are unsuitable.
-Rather, the contour identifies an area in which mitigation measures may have to be
utilized to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on dwelling units other than single family
detached. State Noise Standards have adopted the 65 CNEL contour level as the value
defined as a boundary within which the noise environment is not suitable for residential
use.
b. Mitigating Opportunities
The City's General Plan Land Use Map shows the area around the McClellan-
Palomar Airport as being industrial in nature, with some agricultural uses. There are no
residentially zoned lands, as the Land Use Map indicates only future Industrial and
Open Space Use in close proximity to the airport.
May, 2000 72
1999 Housinq Element
Although the area is primarily industrial there does exist opportunities for
residential habitation. The P-M zoning district of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows
multifamily residential development providing it serves with or is built in conjunction with
adjoining industrial development. Any multifamily development within the 65 CNEL is
subject to a noise study and the resulting mitigation measures.
The area around the airport also allows commercial land uses that may include hotels,
motels or semi-transient commercial housing structures such as Single Room
Occupancy Hotels. Transient Shelters are also allowed in Industrial areas with a
conditional use permit
D. ENERGY CONSERVATION
The City of Carlsbad through the housing goal of creating a better jobs-housing
balance for the city, has iqstituted a strategy to encourage increased energy conservation
through reducing distance between housing and employment. By reducing potential future
commute time and distance for residents, conservation of energy particularly oil and gas,
can be promoted. Reduction in distance and travel time may also reduce auto emissions
as less commuting to work will occur. Encouragement of future housing in proximity to
existing and future transit and rail centers will be continued to reduce driving.
The City will also continue the enforcement in Engineering and Building plan-check
of the State Title 24 guidelines that include energy efficiency standards for new
development. Additional use of energy saving appliances especially those that are built-in
to new housing will be encouraged. The City will require all lower-income projects that
utilize City assistance or subsidy to be provided with energy efficient appliances.
The City of Carlsbad currently has regulations in its subdivisions that require where
possible that future subdivisions take advantage of solar orientation to reduce heating and
cooling costs. Through cooperative efforts with local utilities, the City will encourage
retrofitting existing housing stock with appliances and fixture that will increase energy
efficiency.
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SECTION 111
111 - HOUSING GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND PRO-
GRAMS
A. FISCALCAVEAT .
The following section of the Housing Element sets out the City's long-term housing
goals and identifies a menu of shorter-term objectives, policy positions, and action
programs which can be utilized to achieve these long-term goals.
Taken together these four components (goals, objectives, policies, and programs)
comprise a broad-based program for the creation of opportunities for the provision of
shelter throughout the City. Via this element the City demonstrates its understanding of
the magnitude of 'the housing problem, as well as its understanding of the need for a
substantial commitment of City resources to providing the necessary solutions to the
problem.
Having demonstrated this understanding, and having affirmed its commitment
towards meeting the City's housing needs, it is nevertheless incumbent on the City to
acknowledge that the housing program is but one of a large number of programs
competing for the finite fiscal resources of the City. Because of this, it is not possible to
subject this program to strict budgetary scrutiny. In addition, there may be legal
requirements affecting future encumbrances of funds, as well as demands in other areas
requiring the City to make difficult decisions on budgetary priorities. While the City
embraces the housing programs contained in the following section, it should be
recognized that these programs are intended to provide the most opportunities possible for
housing rather than any set minimum of housing units.
Nothing in this observation should be construed to mean that the City has any
diminished commitment or diminished obligation to responding to Carlsbad's housing
needs. Nor shall this observation be construed as a detraction from the City's goal for
self-certification of the housing element in 2004.
B. SUMMARY OF GOALS
The Goals, Objectives, Policies and Programs Section of this Element contains the
actions the City of Carlsbad will take to promote housing and shelter opportunities for all
segments of the community. This section contains overall Goal statements, Objectives to
meet those Goals, Policies on positions the City may take to meet those Goals, and Programs which are action statements.
There are six Goals stated in this Element. The Goals are articulated as a general
"end condition statement", which state a desired achievement. The Goals do not contain
an action verb as they reflect a final statement of what the City will hope to achieve. How
the goal will be achieved is established via the subordinate objectives, policies and,
importantly, action programs.
Under each Goal there are several Objectives. Objectives are more specific
achievements the city will strive to obtain the more broad-based Goal. Each Objective
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should address a particular outstanding housing need that is identified in the previous
sections of the Element.
Each Objective will contain one or more Programs that will describe an action
necessary to achieve the Objective. The Programs are briefly described and are to be
implemented over the five-year period of the Element. Due to complexities of certain
subjects it is important to take a close look at the impacts and implications that these
programs may bring about.
Under many Objectives, but not all, there are Policies. Policies are statements on
the position the City takes to implement an objective. Policies contained in the Housing
Element are important statements as they reflect the City's official position on a matter.
Future development must be consistent with these policies. Following each program are
these three line items:
FUNDING: indicates the source of funds to be used for each program. Where a funding
source indicates General Fund it is to mean that the program uses existing staff or
resources and is funded by the General Fund. Some Funding sources indicate the use of
State, or Federal funds. Where these funds might become unavailable, implementation of
these programs may not be possible.
LEAD AGENCY: indicates the agency, department or authority responsible for the
program. When more than one agency is listed it is a joint or cooperative effort. The
Housing Authority means the City Council authority over any housing program, the
administration and actual staffing of which is to be carried out by the Housing and
Redevelopment Department.
TARGET YEAR: indicates the time span for most of the programs, usually from 1999 until
2004.
C. GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
GOAL 1 (PRESERVATION)
Carisbad's existing housing stock preserved and rehabilitated with special attention to
housing affordable to lower-income households
OBJECTIVE 1.1 (CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION)
The City will continue to implement the program to monitor conversions to condominium of
those rental apartments which house primarily low and moderate income households and
limit those conversions that reduce the supply of affordable housing for those income
ranges.
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POLICY 1.1
Conversions to condominiums of existing rental units which contain households of low and
moderate income may not be approved unless findings can be made that the units will
remain affordable, and the City has met its need for affordable housing stock for lower and
moderate income groups.
PROGRAM 1.1
Continue implementation of the program to restrict condominium conversion when such
conversions would reduce the number of low or moderate income housing units available
throughout the city. All condominium conversions are subject 'to the City's lnclusionary
Housing Ordinance, therefore, the in-lieu fees or actual afford-able units required by that
ordinance would be used to mitigate the impacts of the loss of these rental units from the
City's housing stock to lower income house-holds.
FUNDING: lnclusionaty Housing In-lieu fee
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: '1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.2 (MOBILE HOME PARKS)
Reduce or eliminate net loss of existing mobile home rental opportunities available to
lower and moderate income households.
PROGRAM 1.2
The City will continue to implement the City's existing Residential Mobile Home Park
zoning ordinance (Municipal Code 21.17) which sets conditions on changes of use or
conversions of Mobile Home Parks. .
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Dept. '
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.3 (MOBILE HOME PARKS)
Retain and preserve the affordability of mobile home parks.
PROGRAM 1.3
The City will assist lower income tenants to research the financial feasibility of purchasing
their mobile home park so as to retain rents and leases affordable to its tenants.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds, State Grants and Loans, Private loans. LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
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OBJECTIVE 1.4 (REHABILITATION)
Identify and rehabilitate substandard and deteriorating housing.
PROGRAM 1.4
The Building Department will continue to implement the program to monitor and report to
the Housing and Redevelopment Dept., information on housing stock that is substandard
and or deteriorating. Identified structures will continue to be reported to the Housing and
Redevelopment Dept. for possible assistance under the City's rehabilitation and
assistance programs.
FUNDING: CDBG funds, Housing Trust Funds, State and Federal Rehab. Loans, Private
rehabilitation loans.
LEAD AGENCY: Building Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Agency.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.5 (REHABILITATION SUBSIDIES-RENTAL STOCK)
Provide loan subsidies, loan rebates and other assistance to owners of lower income units
in need of repair and rehabilitation.
PROGRAM 1.5
The City, through the Housing and Redevelopment Department and in conjunction with the
Building Department, will provide loans, rebates and other support to preserve the existing
stock of low and moderate income rental housing. Priority will be given to housing
. identified by the Building Department as being sub-standard or deteriorating which houses
families of lower income and in some cases moderate income. This program depends
partially on outside funding from State, and Federal sources.
FUNDING: State grants and loans. Private lending institutions, Redevelopment Set-Aside
funds, CDBG funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept., Building Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.6 (ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION)
Acquire rental housing from private owners utilizing various local, state, and federal
funding sources, and rehabilitate deteriorated structures if needed.
POLICY 1.6
Of the rental units acquired by the City for rehabilitation purposes by the C@'s Housing
Authority, approximately 20% will be set aside for households in the very low-income
range.
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PROGRAM 1.6
The City through the Housing and Redevelopment Dept. will implement a program to
acquire, using local Redevelopment Set-Aside funds, CDBG, State, Federal and private
sector loans, rental housing that is substandard, deteriorating or in danger of being
demolished. Twenty percent of the units, once rehabilitated, will be set aside for very-low
income households.
FUNDING: Redevelopment Set-Aside, CDBG funds, State and Federal loan programs,
private sector loan programs. LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.7 (REHABILITATION INCENTIVES)
Provide incentives for the rehabilitation and preservation of deteriorating rental units which
house lower income residents.
PROGRAM 1.7
The City will provide financial and processing incentives for the owners of lower income
rental stock in need of rehabilitation and preservation. These incentives may include, but
not be limited to: the deferral or subsidy of planning and building fees, priority processing
and financial incentives such as low-interest rehabilitation and property acquisition loans.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds, Redevelopment Set-Aside. CDBG Funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 1.8 (REHABILITATION-HOMEOWNERS)
Provide rehabilitation assistance, loan subsidies and loan rebates for lower-income
households, persons of special needs, and senior homeowners to preserve and
rehabilitate deteriorating homes.
POLICY 1.8
The Housing Authority provision of rehabilitation assistance and assistance to
homeowners will be targeted to low-income, special needs and senior households in that
prionfy.
PROGRAM 1.8
The City will implement a homeowner rehabilitation program targeted to lower-income,
special needs (handicapped, low income large-family, etc. ,) and senior households that
will consist of financial and processing incentives such as low interest and deferred
repayment loans, loan rebates, and priority processing.
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FUNDING: Redevelopment Set-Aside, CDBG, State, Federal and private sector loans
and grants.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
GOAL 2 (QUANTITY AND DIVERSITY OF HOUSING STOCK)
New housing developed with a diversity of types, prices, tenures, densities and
locations and in sufficient quantity to meet the demand of anticipated City and
regional growth.
OBJECTIVE 2.1 (REGIONAL HOUSING NEED)
Allow development of sufficient new housing to meet Carlsbad's share of the total regional
housing need, as identified in SANDAG's Regional Housing Needs Statement, the
number of which is determined according to the manner in which this Housing Element is
to be certified.
PROGRAM 2.1
With the exception of some lower-income and special needs housing which may be
assisted by the City, new housing development will be achieved through private sector
efforts. New development will be achieved through the auspices of State Planning Law
and the City's General Plan and Municipal Code. There is no special program for this
overall goal. It is recognized that achievement of this goal will be heavily influenced by
private sector marketing strategies; local, state and national economic trends; availability
of regional infrastructure and services; and other factors beyond the control of Carlsbad.
OBJECTIVE 2.2 (DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS)
Ensure that development and housing construction achieved through the use of modified
codes and standards, that will reduce the cost of housing, will retain quality design and
architecture.
PROGRAM 2.2
The Planning Department, in its review of development for all income categories, may
recommend waiving or modifying certain development standards or recommending that
certain Municipal Code changes be implemented to encourage the development of low
and moderate income housing. These recommendations will be reviewed with a goal to
reduce costs associated with standards. Although standards may be modified they will
also retain aesthetic and design criteria acceptable to the City.
FUNDING: CDBG funds, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds, General funds for
administrative purposes only.
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Engineering Dept., Building Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
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OBJECTIVE 2.3 (DEVELOPABLE ACREAGE MONITORING)
Ensure sufficient developable acreage in all residential densities to provide vaned housing
types for households in all economic ranges.
PROGRAM 2.3
The City will continue to monitor the absorption of residential acreage in all densities and, if
needed, recommend the creation of additional residential acreage at densities sufficient to
meet the City’s housing need for current and future residents. Any such actions shall be
undertaken only where consistent with the Growth Management Plan.
FUNDING: Existing City Staff (General)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 2.4 (ADAPTIVE REUSE)
Provide alternative housing environments by encouraging adaptive reuse of older
commercial or industrial buildings.
PROGRAM 2.4
The City should continue to explore the potential for adaptive reuse of aging industrial,
commercial and some residential buildings by continuing to implement the existing policy
that creates affordable living spaces for combined living/working spaces. The principle
targeted area for this type of housing is in the downtown redevelopment area.
FUNDING: Redevelopment Set-Aside, CDBG funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 2.5 (MIXED USE)
Encourage increased integration of housing with non-residential development.
PROGRAM 2.5
Continue to implement existing ordinances and policies that allow mixed residential and
non-residential uses in the building and/or complex. Major commercial centers should
incorporate, where appropriate, mixed commercial/residential uses. Major industrial/office
centers, where not precluded by environmental and safety considerations, should
incorporate mixed industrial/office/residential uses.
FUNDING: Existing City staff (General)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
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OBJECTIVE 2.6 (COASTAL DEVELOPMENT MONITORING)
Identify, monitor, and report the number of affordable housing units constructed,
converted, or demolished in the coastal zone.
POLICY 2.6
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65588 and 65590 from January 1, 1982, the City
shall monitor, record, and report data on housing units constructed, converted, and
demolished in the Coastal Zone together with information regarding whether these units
are affordable to lower-income households.
PROGRAM 2.6
As a function of the building process, the City will monitor and record Coastal Zone
housing data including, but not limited to, the following:
1) The number of new housing units approved for construction within the coastal zone
after January 1,1982.
2) The number of housing units for persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, required to be provided in new
housing developments within the coastal zone.
3) The number of existing residential dwelling units occupied by persons and families or
low or moderate income that are authorized to be demolished or converted in the coastal
zone pursuant to Section 65590 of the Government Code.
4) The number of residential dwelling units occupied by persons and families of low or
moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, that are
required for replacement or authorized to be converted or demolished as identified in
paragraph 3). The location of the replacement units, either onsite, elsewhere within the
locality’s jurisdiction within the coastal zone, or within three miles of the coastal zone within
the locality’s jurisdiction, shall be designated in the review.
FUNDING: General funds - (Administrative only)
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
1999 Housinir Element
GOAL 3 (GROUPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS)
Sufficient new, affordable housing opportunities in all quadrants of the City to meet
the needs of groups, with special requirements, and, in particular the needs of
current lower and moderate income households and a fair share proportion of
future lower and moderate income households.
OBJECTIVE 3.1 (FARM WORKER)
Provide adequate shelter for both the permanent and migrant farm worker.
PROGRAM 3.1
The City shall continue to work with, and assist, local community groups, social welfare agencies, farmland owners, and other interested parties to provide shelter for the identified permanent and migrant farm workers during the five-year housing element period. These efforts will be in' coordination with other regional and local programs and will involve neighboring jurisdictions in a cooperative, regional approach.
FUNDING: State and Federal grants and loans. CDBG funds
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Department.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.2 (LARGE FAMILY)
Assure the development of an adequate number of housing units suitably sized to meet the needs of lower-income larger households
POLICY 3.2
In those developments which are required to include 10 or more units affordable to lower-
income households, at least IO percent of the lower income units should have 3 or more
bedrooms. This policy does not pertain to lower-income senior housing projects.
PROGRAM 3.2
Those housing projects entering into an agreement with the City to provide lower income housing shall be required to implement Policy 3.2
FUNDING: General Fund (administration only)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.3 (HOMELESS)
Provide transitional shelters and assistance for the homeless, recognizing that the needs and domain of the homeless exist on a sub-regional rather than purely local scale.
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PROGRAM 3.3.a
Carlsbad will continue to facilitate the acquisition, for lease or sale, of suitable sites for
transitional shelters for the homeless population. This facilitation would include, but not be
limited to: participating in a regional or sub-regional summit(s) including decision-makers
from North County jurisdictions and SANDAG for the purposes of coordinating efforts and
resources to address homelessness; assisting local non-profits and charitable
organizations in securing state funding for the acquisition, construction and management
of shelters; continuing to provide funding for local and sub-regional homeless service
providers, temporary and emergency shelters; and reviewing local zoning controls to
alleviate any barriers to the feasible provision of housing for the homeless, including
temporary andlor seasonal portable structures.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds, CDBG funds
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Agency
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 3.3.b
Continue to provide Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to
community, social welfare, not-for-profit and religious groups which provide services within
the North County area.
FUNDING: CDBG funds
LEAD AGENCY: Housing And Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 3.3.c
Continue to work with non-profit organization@) that receive CDBG funds to offer a City
Referral Service to refer, on a 24-hour basis, transient homeless individuals and families to
local agencies providing services to the homeless, including regional hotel voucher
programs through the Regional County Consortium.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds, CDBG Funds
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.4 (SENIOWELDERLY)
Provide additional senior housing for seniors of different income groups and physical and
mental status.
PROGRAM 3.4.a
Continue to implement the current Senior Citizen housing regulations and continue to
require monitoring and reporting procedures to assure compliance with approved project
conditions. Encourage the provision of a wide-variety of senior housing opportunities,
especially for lower-income seniors with special needs.
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1999 Housina Element
FUNDING: Existing Staff (General fund)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Department.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 3.4.b
Continue to work with senior housing developers and non-profit organizations to locate
and construct the 200 units of Senior low-income housing approved through an Article 34
referend um.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Funds, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds, Private financing, state
public financing.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept., Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: .. 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.5 (LOWER INCOME)
Provide a range of new housing opportunities for lower-income households, in all areas of
the city.
PROGRAM 3.5
Through the implementation of various programs, the City will pursue, to the best of its
ability, Self-certification of its Housing' Element update at the end of the 1999-2004
housing cycle, in accordance with the criteria detailed in the "Housing Element Self-
Certification Report: Implementation of a Pilot Program for the San Diego Region"
prepared by SANDAG and dated June, 1998 (also known as the SANDAG Housing Self-
Certification Report). The Self-certification housing production goals for the City of
Carlsbad are as follows:
Units affordable to low-income households
Units affordable to very low-income households
Units affordable to extremely low-income households
258 units
201 units
170 units
Should the City not meet the Self-Certification criteria detailed in the SANDAG Housing
Self-certification Report, then the City will pursue, to the best of its ability, the production
of the City's regional share goals for lower-income housing units as detailed in the
"Regional Housing Needs Statement - San Diego Region", prepared by SANDAG and
dated November, 1998. The regional share housing needs for the City of Carlsbad are as
follows:
Units affordable to low-income households
Units affordable to very low-income households
1,417 units
1,770 units
FUNDING: General fund and various other funding sources.
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Department, Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
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OBJECTIVE 3.6 (INCLUSIONARY)
Ensure that all master planned and specific planned communities and all qualified
subdivisions provide a range of housing for all economic income ranges.
POLICY 3.6.a
A minimum of fifieen percent of all units approved for any master plan community,
residential specific plan, or qualified subdivision (as defined in the inciusionary Housing
Ordinance) shall be affordable to lower income-households.
PROGRAM 3.6.a
The City shall continue to implement its lnclusionary Housing Ordinance that requires 15%
of all base residential units within any Master Plan/Specific Plan community or other
qualified subdivision (currently seven units or more) shall be restricted and affordable to
lower income households. This program requires an agreement between alt residential
developers subject to this inclusionary requirement and the City which stipulates: the
number of required lower income inclusionary units; the designated sites for the location of
the units; a phasing schedule for production of the units; and, the tenure of affordability for
the units. The City shall continue to assist in the funding of the provision of inclusionary
units through funds available in the Housing Trust Fund.
FUNDING: Existing staff (General Fund).
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Department.
TARGET YEAR: 1999-2004.
PROGRAM 3.6.b (IN-LIEU CONTRIBUTIONS)
The City will continue to implement its lnclusionary Housing Ordinance that requires, for all
subdivision of fewer than seven units, an in-lieu fee. The fee is based on a detailed study
that calculated the difference in cost to produce a market rate rental unit versus a lower-
income affordable unit. As of January 1, 1999, the in-lieu fee per market rate dwelling unit
was $4,515.00. This amount of this fee may be modified by the City Council from time-to-
time and is collected at the time of building permit issuance for the market rate units. The
City will also continue to consider other in-lieu contributions allowed by the lnclusionary
Housing Ordinance, such as an irrevocable offer to dedicate developable land or
participation in programs that assist the City in reaching it’s Self-certification lower-income
housing production goals.
FUNDING: General Fund (Administration Only)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Department
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.7 (LOWER INCOME DEVELOPMENT AND INCENTIVES)
Provide incentives, housing type alternatives, and city initiated developments and
programs for the assistance of lower-income household.
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1999 Housincl Element
PROGRAM 3.7.a (DENSITY BONUS)
The City shall continue to implement its Residential Density Bonus or ln-Lieu Incentives
Ordinance (Chapter 21.86 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code), consistent with Government
Code section 6591 3.4 and 6591 5. (Density Bonus), by granting a minimum of a 25 percent
bonus over the othewise allowed density, and one or more additional economic incentives
or concessions that may include but are not limited to: fee waivers, reduction or waiver of
development standards, in-kind infrastructure improvements, an additional density bonus
above the minimum 25 percent, mixed use development, or other financial contributions in
return for the developer guaranteeing that the project will reserve a minimum of 50 percent
of the units for Senior or other special need households, or 20 percent of the units for low
income households or 10 percent of the units for very-low income households. These
units must remain affordable for a period of 30 years and each project must enter into an
agreement with the City to be monitored by the Housing and Redevelopment Dept. for
compliance.
FUNDING: General Fund (administration only), Housing Trust Funds, Redevelopment
Set-Aside funds. .
LEAD AGENCY: Pianning Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004.
PROGRAM 3.7.b (ALTERNATIVE HOUSING)
The City shall continue to implement its Second Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Section
21.10.015 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) and shall continue to consider other types of
alternative housing, such as hotels, single room occupancy units, homeless shelters, and
farm worker housing. These alternatives would assist in meeting the City's share of
housing for low and very low income households.
POLICY 3.7.b
Approvals and development of alternative housing types such as managed living units,
transitional shelters, and migrant farm worker housing are contingent upon meeting the
City's required lower income and special housing needs.
PROGRAM 3.7.c (CITY INITIATED DEVELOPMENT)
The City of Carlsbad, through the offices of the Housing Authority and through the Housing
. and Redevelopment Department, will continue work with private for-profit and especially
not-for-profit developers to use local funds from CDBG, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds
and other City originated funds and leverage them against State, Federal and private low
interest funds to create housing opportunities for low-, very low- and extremely low-income
households.
FUNDING: Private Funding, State and Local funding.
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
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PROGRAM 3.7.d (SECTION 8)
Continue the City's Section 8 program to provide' additional assisted housing opportunities
in the Housing Element Period 19992004.
FUNDING: Federal Section 8 funding.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1991-1996
POLICY 3.7.e
Certain lower income housing projects may be excepted from paying the Public Facilities
Fees (PFF) pursuant to City Council Policy 17.5.e.. which states in part: The City Council
may grant an exception for a low cost housing project where the Crty Council finds such a
project consistent with the Housing Element of the General Plan and that such an
exception is necessary. In approving an exception for low cost housing the City Council
may attach conditions, including limitation on rent or income levels of tenants. If the City
Council finds a project is not being operated as a low cost housing project in accordance
with all applicable conditions, the fee, which would otherwise be imposed by this chapter,
shall immediately become due and payable.
PROGRAM 3.7.e (EXCEPTION OF FEE PAYMENT)
Continue to implement City Council Policy No. 17 which allows the exception of the
payment of public facility fees for lower-income housing projects. Developments for which
Public Facility Fees are excepted may be subject to an analysis of the fiscal impacts of the
project to the City.
FUNDING: Redevelopment Set-Aside funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept, Housing and Redev. Dept. Finance Dept
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 3.7.f (PRIORITY PROCESSING)
Continue to implement priority processing for lower-income development projects,
including accelerated plan-check process, for projects which do not require extensive
engineering or environmental review.
FUNDING: General Fund(administration only) CDBG funds
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 3.7.9 (I N-KI N D IMPROVEMENTS)
The City will continue to consider contributing to selected lower-income housing
development, in-kind infrastructure improvements, including but not limited to: street
improvements, sewer improvements, other infrastructure improvements as needed.
FUNDING: CDBG funds, Redevelopment tax increment and Set-Aside funds, General
fund.
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LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Department
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
POLICY 3.7.h.
In order to enable the development of affordable housing, the City will accommodate
General Plan Amendments to increase residential densities on all PC and LC zoned
properties and all other residentially designated properties. ’ 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. These General
Plan Land Use designation changes will enable up to 23 dwelling units per acre, and, in
conjunction with the CWs Density Bonus Ordinance, could have potentially unlimited
residential density.
PROGRAM 3.7.1
The City shall continue to allow discretionary consideration of density increases above the
maximum now permitted by the General Plan through review and approval of a Site
Development Plan (SDP).
FUNDING: General Fund (administration only)
LEAD AGENCY: ,Planning Department
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.8 (GROWTH MANAGEMENT)
Ensure that incentive programs, such as density bonus programs and new development
programs are compatible and consistent with the City’s Growth Management Ordinance.
POLICY 3.8.
Pursuant to Council Policy No. 43 (dated April 22,1997):
To establish guidelines for allocation of “excess” dwelling units when, following the
adoption of all residential Local Facilities Management Plans within a quadrant, the
Proposition E quadrant cap is greater that the number of dwelling units approved or issued
after November 4, 7986, plus the allowable units per Growth Management Control Points.
Although it should not be mandatory that excess dwelling units be allocated if they become
available and it would be desirable to not attain the ultimate residential dwelling unit caps
established by Proposition 15, the following criteria are established to determine eligibility
for consideration of “excess” dwelling unit allocation, subject to the required findings in
Proposition E.
Projects eligible for consideration in order of priority include:
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First PrioritV
1. Housing development for lower-income households where allowable housing
expenses paid by the qualiwing household does not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the
gross monthly income, adjusted fort household size, at eighty percent (80%) of the county
median income.
2. Density transfers, clustering of development and dwelling unit locational
adjustments which are proposed in order to preserve larger areas of sensitive habitat.
3.
proposed lot sizes will be equal to or greater than adjacent subdivided properties.
lnfill Single-Family Subdivisions that meet all development standards and where
Second Priority
1. Senior Citizen housing as defined by Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.18.045
2.
placed in close proximfty to major transit facilities and commercial support services.
Transit oriented development projects where increased residential densdy is being
3. Projects within the existing general plan densdy range that provide, without
compensation, for some significant public facildy not required as part of the development
process.
Third Priority
1. Housing Development for moderate income households where allowable housing expenses paid by these qualijlng households does not exceed thirty percent (30%) of
gross monthly income, adjusted for household size, at 120 percent (1 20%) of the county
median income.
2.
following findings;
a.) The property was zoned for other than residential use on July 1, 1986.
b.) The property is compatible for residential use without significant mitigation.
c.) The densdy of the project does not exceed the Growth Management Control Point of any adjacent residential property.
Projects proposing a zone change from non-residential to residential based on the
3.
resulting density does not exceed adjacent, existing multifamily projects.
lnfill multifamily projects that meet all development standards and where the
PROGRAM 3.8
Continue to maintain, monitor and manage the Excess Dwelling Unit Bank, composed of
"excess units" anticipated under the city's Growth Management Plan, but not utilized by
developers in approved projects. Continue to make excess units available for inclusion in
other projects using such tools as density transfers, density bonuses and changes to the
General Plan land use designations, consistent with Policy 3.8 above.
FUNDING: Existing Staff(Genera1)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Growth Management Division. '
May, 2000 90
1999 Housina Element
TARGET YEARS: 1998-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.9 (SPECIAL HOUSING NEEDS PRIORITIES)
Ensure that new development constructed by the private sector, and public funds allocated
for lower-income and special needs groups, will meet the City's lower-income housing
needs.
POLICY 3.9
New development and housing that is set aside for low-, very low-, and extremely low-
income households will address the unmet housing needs of the community by priorities
set by the Housing Author@ through the Planning Department and the Housing and
Redevelopment Agency.
PROGRAM 3.9
The City will annually set priorities for its future lower-income and special housing needs.
The priorities will be set by the Housing and Redevelopment Department with assistance
from the Planning Department and approved by the City Council. Priority given to the
housing needs for lower-income subgroups (Le., handicapped, seniors, large-family, very-
low income) will be utilized for preference in the guidance of new housing constructed by
the private sector and for the use of fund used or allocated by the City for construction or
assistance to low income projects. Setting priorities is necessary to focus the limited
amounts of available financial resources on housing projects that will address the City's
most important housing needs. Priorities will be set annually as needs fluctuate according
to how well they are accommodated over time.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Fund, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEAR: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.10 (MODERATE INCOME)
Provide a range of new housing opportunities affordable to moderate-income households
in all areas of the City.
PROGRAM 3.10.a (MORTGAGE REVENUE BOND)
The City will encourage the development of, subject to market conditions and feasibility,
additional units affordable to first-time home buyers of moderate income through a
mortgage revenue bond program. The program will be limited to first-time home buyers
who rent or work in Carlsbad.
FUNDING: Mortgage Revenue Bonds
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept., Finance Dept. TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
91 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
PROGRAM 3.10.b (LENDING PROGRAMS)
The City's Housing Authority and Housing and Redevelopment Department will work to
secure funding and develop additional lending programs for moderate income, especially
first-time home buyers.
FUNDING: Housing Trust Fund and Redevelopment Set-Aside funds
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.1 1 (SMALLER, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING)
Reduce the size of housing, thereby reducing costs and increasing affordability.
POLICY 3.11
Residential subdivisions may be approved with lots smaller than required in the underlying
zone, but only when the size of the structures is reduced so as to yield less costly houses.
The City will consider alternative measures, including, but not limited to, height limits, lot
coverage limits, and maximum floor area ratios as the means to control the size of
structures on these smaller lots.
PROGRAM 3.1 1
The Planning Department shall continue to allow smaller homes at lower costs that create
housing more affordable to moderate income households, using mechanisms such as
small lot subdivisions, as allowed through the City's Planned Development Ordinance
(Chapter 21.45 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code).
FUNDING: General Fund(administration only)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.12 (LAND BANKING)
Provide adequate land for low income and moderate housing development throughout the
city.
PROGRAM 3.12
The City will continue to consider implementation of a land banking program under which it
would acquire land suitable for development of housing affordable to lower and moderate
income households. The proposed Land Bank may accept contributions of land in-lieu of
housing production required under an inclusionary requirement, surplus land from City,
County, State or Federal governments, and land otherwise acquired by the City for its
housing programs. This land would be used to reduce the land costs of producing lower
and moderate income housing developed undertaken by the City or other parties.
May, 2000 92
1999 Housind Element
FUNDING: CDBG, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds, General Funds (admin only)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept., Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.13 (COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT)
Monitor the lending practices of local lending institutions for compliance under the
Community Reinvestment Act to evaluate lending activities and goals towards meeting the
communities credit needs.
POLICY 3.13
The Cdy will annually evaluate its banking practices with local and regional lending
institutions based on CRA lending reports. The Cdy will reevaluate its relationship with
lending institutions that are substantially deficient in their CRA ratings.
PROGRAM 3.13
The Housing and Redevelopment Dept., in conjunction with the Finance Department and
the City Treasurer will monitor and evaluate local lending institution's compliance with the
CRA Lending institutions which are deficient in meeting CRA lending responsibilities in
areas such as multifamily construction and lending for affordable housing will be identified.
The City will explore means to encourage greater lending activities in Carlsbad.
FUNDING: CDBG fund, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redev. Dept., Finance Dept., City Treasurer
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.14 (HOUSING TRUST FUND)
The City will maintain the Housing Trust fund to facilitate the construction and rehabilitation
of affordable housing.
PROGRAM 3.14
The City will continue to maintain the various monies reserved for affordable housing, and
constituting the Housing Trust Fund, for the fiduciary administration of monies dedicated to
the development, preservation and rehabilitation of housing in Carlsbad. The Trust Fund
will be the repository of all collected in-lieu fees, impact fees, housing credits and related
revenues targeted for proposed housing as well as other, local, state and federal and other
collected funds.
FUNDING: . In-lieu fees, Housing Impact Fees, real property transfer tax, and CDBG
funds, local, state and federal funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept., Finance Dept. TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
93 May, 2000
1999. Housina Element
OBJECTIVE 3.15 (HOUSING ELEMENTIANNUAL REPORT)
Ensure that the Housing Element retains its viability and usefulness through annual
amendments, review and monitoring.
PROGRAM 3.15
To retain the Housing Element as a viable policy document, the Planning Department will
undertake an annual review of the Housing Element and schedule an amendment if
required. Staff will also develop a monitoring program and report to the City Council, and
California Department of Housing and Community Development, if required, annually on
the progress and effectiveness of the housing programs.
FUNDING: General Fund
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 3.16 (ACCESSIBILITY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES)
Ensure that new and significantly remodeled multifamily residential buildings provide
access for disabled persons in accordance with State accessibility requirements.
PROGRAM 3.16
The City will continue to enforce Title 24 of the State Building Code with regard to
accessibility for persons with disabilities through the review of site plans and building
permits for new construction and significant renovation of multifamily residential dwellings.
FUNDING: General Fund
LEAD AGENCY: Building Dept., Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
GOAL 4 (HOUSING, JOBS, WORK FORCE BALANCE)
Maintenance of a high quality of life and a strong local economy through a balance
of residential and non-residential development, in particular, a balance of the skills
desired and wages offered by local employers; the skills and education possessed,
and wages earned by the local work force; and the cost of local 'housing.
OBJECTIVE 4.1 (HOUSING IMPACT FEE)
Achieve a balance between 1) the numbers of local jobs created relative to the availability
of housing, and 2) the cost of housing relative the wages that are offered.
PROGRAM 4.1
The City will continue to assess the impact of commercial and industrial development on
housing demand, and the ability of local employees to afford local housing. Where
adverse impacts are identified, mitigation measures will be considered to reduce the
May, 2000 94
1999 Housinq Element
impact. These measures will include, but are not limited to, the requirement for
commercial and industrial developers and employers to contribute an in-lieu fee towards
the production of affordable housing and employer assistance to finance affordable
housing for their employees.
FUNDING: General Fund (administration only)
LEAD AGENCY: Planning Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
GOAL 5 (RESOURCE CONSERVATION)
New and redeveloped housing which conserves natural resources, in particular
energy and water.
OBJECTIVE 5.1 (ENERGY CONSERVATION)
Promote energy conservation in new housing development.
PROGRAM 5.1
The City will continue to implement energy conservation measures in new housing
development through State Building Code, Title 24 regulations, and solar orientation .of
major subdivisions through Title 20., Chapter 17 of the Municipal Code.
FUNDING: Private funding
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
OBJECTIVE 5.2 (WATER CONSERVATION)
Promote resource conservation including water conservation in new housing development.
PROGRAM 5.2
New housing construction developed under a water emergency may be required to
develop strict conservation guidelines, including but not limited to, mandatory installation of
low flush and low flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures, xerophytic landscaping or
suspension of landscaping requirements until the water emergency is lifted, and' requiring
the use of reclaimed water in all construction grading projects. Any such actions shall be
in accord with policies adopted by the City in response to declared emergencies.
FUNDING: Private funding
LEAD AGENCY: Community Development Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
..
95 May, 2000
1999 Housina Element
GOAL 6 (OPEN AND FAIR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES)
All Carlsbad housing opportunities (ownership and rental, fair-market and assisted)
offered in conformance with open housing policies ‘and free of discriminatory
practices.
OBJECTIVE 6.1 (FAIR HOUSING)
Provide a community-wide education program on fair housing laws and practices through
the distribution of written materials and public presentations, and monitor and respond to
complaints of discrimination in housing.
PROGRAM 6.1
With assistance from outside fair housing agencies, the Housing and Redevelopment
Department, which consists of the Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency, will
provide educational materials on “fair housing law and practices” to tenants, property
owners, and others involved in the sale and rental of housing within the City of Carlsbad.
This information will be available upon request and also distributed at seminars,
presentations and public locations such as the City library, community recreation centers,
administration buildings and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as through newsletters
and other appropriate media.
FUNDING: CDBG funds, Section 8 and Redevelopment Administration funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 6.2
With assistance from outside fair hou,sing agencies, the Housing and Redevelopment
Department will continue its program to monitor and respond to complaints of
discrimination. As appropriate, the Department will refer interested parties to the
appropriate agencies for fair housing complaint investigation, processing and resolution. If
any action is required beyond local agency action, complaints will be forwarded to the
appropriate State and/or Federal Agencies.
FUNDING: Section 8 and Redevelopment Administration Funds, CDBG funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Dept.
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
PROGRAM 6.3 (MILITARY, STUDENT REFERRALS)
The City will assure that information on the availability of assisted, or below-market
housing is provided to all lower-income and special needs groups. The Housing and
Redevelopment Agency will provide information to local military and student housing
offices of the availability of low-income housing in Carlsbad.
FUNDING: CDBG Funds, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds.
LEAD AGENCY: Housing and Redevelopment Agency
TARGET YEARS: 1999-2004
May, 2000 96
~ ~.__~
£r
Heritage Hall was built in 1926 to house the congregation of St. Patrick's Church at the southeast
corner of Harding Street and Oak Avenue. In 1952 the church was moved across the street where
it became the City's first administrative offices. Over the next few years it served as home to the
City Manager, City Council, Police Department and Fire Department, and as a County branch
library. As new City offices were constructed and City departments moved out, use of the building
changed from that of City Hall, to the City library, to die children's library, to a studio for the North
County Ballet Finally, in 1979 the sturdy little structure was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lot; however, it was rescued from demolition by a coalition consisting of Friends of
the Library, the Carlsbad Historical Society and volunteer building tradesmen who arranged for it
to be moved to Magee Historical Park. With only minor repairs, the old church once again became
a public meeting place.
Note: Information derived in part from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Marjorie Howard-Jones.
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
Contents
I. INTRODUCTION 1
A. Background and Intent 1
B. State Law 1
C. Relationship to Other Elements 1
II. FRAMEWORK FOR OPEN SPACE & CONSERVATION PLANNING 2
A. Open Space Definition & Classification System 2
B. Protection of Open Space Lands 4
Table 1: Regulatory Open Space Protection 6
C. Constrained Lands 10
D. Precluding Development on Open Space Lands 10
E. Existing & Approved Open Space 10
F. Citywide Open Space Plan 11
Table 2: Existing & Constrained Open Space Acreages 12
Table 3: Future Open Space Action Priorities 13
G. Maps of the Open Space & Conservation Element 20
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS 21
Open Space Planning & Protection 21
A. Goals 21
B. Objectives 21
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 22
Obtaining Open Space.... 24
A. Goals 24
B. Objectives 24
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 24
Special Resource Protection 25
A. Goals 25
B. Objectives 25
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 26
Trail/Greenway System 28
A. Goals 28
B. Objectives 28
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 28
Promoting Agriculture 29
A. Goal 29
B. Objectives 29
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 29
Fire Risk Management 30
A. Goals 30
B. Objectives 30
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 30
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION (continued)
Air Quality Preservation 30
A. Goal 30
B. Objectives 30
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 30
Water Quality Protection 31
A. Goal 31
B. Objectives 31
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 31
Historic & Cultural Preservation 32
A. Goals 32
B. Objectives 32
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs 32
IV. MAPS.... 34
IV. GLOSSARY 37
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
The Open Space and Conservation Element of
the General Plan establishes policies for the
development of a comprehensive, connected
open space system and for the protection and
conservation of the City's natural and historic
resources.
It is the intent of the Open Space and
Conservation Element to:
1. Realize the social, economic, aesthetic
and environmental benefits which accrue
from the preservation of open space
within an urban environment.
2. Ensure the benefits which accrue from
the conservation, management and
utilization of natural and historic
resources.
Goals, objectives and action programs to
preserve and regulate land for open space and
conservation purposes are included in this
Element. Future policies and programs should
also be developed using this Element as a basis.
The main intent of this Element is to:
1. Provide specific programs for the
preservation and conservation of land
and natural and historic features, and
provide regulations necessary to control
the possible negative impact of
development which may be allowed.
2. Identify and protect, where appropriate,
existing open land, natural and historic
resources, and environmental features as
integral and necessary components of
the Open Space and Conservation
Element.
"Goals, objectives and action programs to
preserve and regulate land for open space
and conservation purposes are included in
this Element."
The contents of the Open Space and
Conservation Element meet the requirements of
state law and provide the City of Carlsbad with a
comprehensive document dealing with Open
Space and conservation resource management.
The structure of the element as contained herein
is as follows:
Open Space and Conservation Element
• State Law
• Relationship to Other Elements
• Background
• Goals
• Objectives
• Implementing Policies and Action
Programs
For organization clarity, the goals, objectives and
implementing policies and action programs have
been grouped into eight topics or sections: Open
Space Planning and Protection; Obtaining Open
Space; Special Resource Protection;
Trails/Greenway System; Promotion of
Agriculture; Air Quality Preservation; Water
Quality Protection; and Historic and Cultural
Preservation.
The Open Space and Conservation Element is
not intended, and shall not be construed, as
authorizing the City to exercise its power to adopt,
amend or repeal an open space or conservation
zoning ordinance in a manner which will take or
damage private property for public use without
payment of just compensation therefore. This
plan is not intended to increase or decrease the
rights of any owner of property under the
Constitution of the State of California or of the
United States.
B. STATE LAW
Under State law (Section 65302 et.seq.,
California Government Code), cities must adopt
both Open Space and Conservation Elements.
The City of Carlsbad has chosen to combine the
two elements into one comprehensive element.
This element establishes policies for the
preservation and conservation of open space
land; establishes policies to guarantee the
viability of natural and human ecosystems; and
guides the protection of physical, cultural, historic,
visual and natural resources within the City.
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
The Open Space and Conservation Elements
have been combined because of their strong
interrelationship. They guide and coordinate
decisions related predominantly to the
undeveloped land and water surfaces which
influence and shape the formal quality of
Carlsbad's physical environments. Because open
space is a central component in determining a
balanced land use pattern, this element bears a
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 1
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
strong relationship to the Land Use Element.
Open space serves to provide visual relief to the
urban form resulting from all the other land uses.
The Land Use Map which is a part of the Land
Use Element identifies designated open space
areas.
The Open Space and Conservation Element
relates to the Parks and Recreation Element in
that parks are considered necessary and
beneficial open space uses. There is a
relationship with the Circulation Element and the
Noise Element in that larger open space buffers
and setbacks are encouraged along designated
scenic roadway corridors, which not only provide
visual open space, but help to mitigate noise from
roadway traffic. Because the Public Safety
Element identifies severe-hazardous areas,
especially areas subject to geologic hazards, to
be considered for open space use, there is also a
relationship with the Open Space and
Conservation Element.
Finally, the City's Growth Management Plan
contains standards to ensure that an adequate
amount of open space is provided as growth
occurs in the City.
II. FRAMEWORK FOR
OPEN SPACE &
CONSERVATION
PLANNING
A. OPEN SPACE DEFINITION
AND CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
Open Space Classification
"Open Space is defined as any area of land or
water which, for whatever reason, is not
developed for urbanized uses and which
therefore enhances residents' quality of life.
The open space may be in its natural state or
modified in such a way that the modification
itself contributes to this enhancement."
Because of Carlsbad's unique environmental and
open space opportunities, a special definition of
open space has been adopted which includes
and expands upon all the categories of open
space provided for in State Law. The following
classification divides the broad definition of open
space into its many constituent parts. This
classification, and the numerical and letter codes
ascribed to each type of open space, have been
used throughout this element and throughout the
Carlsbad Open Space and Conservation
Resource Management Plan, with the intent of
making easier cross referencing between
different parts of the these documents. Any
specific area of open space may fall into one or
more of these categories.
Open space is defined as:
Any area of land or water which, for whatever
reason, is not developed for urbanized uses and
which therefore enhances residents' quality of life.
The open space may be in its natural state or
modified in such a way that the modification itself
contributes to this enhancement.
Open space may fall into one or more of the
following five categories:
CATEGORY 1: Open Space for Preservation
of Natural Resources
Plant/Animal Life/Habitat.a.
or
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
Trees and Woodlands;
Forests and Groves;
Plant life;
Animal life;
Habitat for fish and wildlife species;
b.
c.
Buffers, links and corridors to
enhance the preservation of natural
resources.
Nature Preserves.
Water Features.
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
Oceans;
Rivers;
Streams;
Lagoons;
Lakes;
Ponds; or
Estuaries.
d. Beaches/Bluffs/Banks,
i) Coastal beaches;
ii) Coastal bluffs and cliffs;
iii) Lagoon beaches;
iv) Lakeshores;
v) Banks of rivers and streams; or
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
vi) Watershed lands.
e. Canyons/Hillsides,
i) Hillsides;
ii Slopes; or
iii) Canyons for preservation of natural
resources.
f. Wetlands.
g. Riparian Areas.
CATEGORY 2: Open Space for Managed
Production of Resources
Forestry/Agriculture/Aquaculture.a.
b.
c.
d.
i) Forest lands;
ii) Rangeland;
iii) Agriculture;
iv) Aquaculture;
v) Horticulture, including greenhouses;
or
vi) Flower fields.
Water Management.
i) Water reservoirs;
ii) Ground water recharge basins; or
iii) Watershed lands.
Commercial fishery elements, including
bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers and
streams.
Major Mineral resources.
CATEGORY 3: Open Space for Outdoor
Recreation (Programmed and Unprogrammed)
a. School grounds.
i) School playgrounds; or
ii) School athletic fields and courts.
b. Public parks/recreation areas
(programmed and unprogrammed).
i) City parks;
ii) Special use areas;
iii) Special resource areas, including
beaches;
iv) State recreation areas;
v) Other public recreation areas, other
uses of a trail; or
vi) Areas for access to park and
recreation sites, lakeshores,
beaches, lagoons, lakes, ponds,
rivers, streams, estuaries and coastal
bluffs and cliffs.
c. Greenways.
i) Links and greenways between major
recreation and open space areas,
including the recreational use of utility
easements, and railroad corridors;
ii) Recreational use of banks of rivers
and streams; or
iii) Scenic highways.
d. Trails for walking, hiking, biking, and
skate-boarding, including associated
improvements such as staging areas,
picnic areas and viewpoints.
i) Carlsbad Trail System; and
ii) All other trails.
e. Campgrounds.
f. Golf courses.
g. Private recreation areas, including
beaches.
i) Homeowner pocket parks;
ii) Ballfields;
iii Beaches; or
iv) Other,
h. Equestrian facilities.
CATEGORY 4: Open Space for Aesthetic,
Cultural and Educational Purposes
a. Scenic/Historic/Cultural/Educational
Value.
Scenic;
Historic, and cultural value, including
paleontological and archaeological
areas; or
iii) Educational value, including
significant and/or representative
natural habitats, hydrologic, and
geological areas.
b. Buffers between land uses, including
larger setbacks (building and roadways),
and open space marking entries to major
developments or neighborhoods.
c. Greenbelts providing separation from
surrounding communities.
d. Open space gateways marking entry from
surrounding communities and within the
City.
e. Museums/Arboreta/Zoologic/Botanical.
i) Museums;
ii) Arboreta;
iii) Zoologic; or
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
iv) Botanical gardens.
CATEGORY 5: Open Space for Public Health
and Safety
a. Hazardous or special condition areas,
i) Airport safety zones;
Earthquake fault zones;
Manufactured and/or natural steep
slopes and hillsides;
Unstable soils;
Watersheds;
Floodplains;
vii) Landslide-prone areas;
viii) Other hazardous areas; or
ix) Buffers around said resources.
High fire-risk areas.
Areas for protection and conservation of
water
Areas for protection and enhancement of
air quality.
Bluffs subject to wave erosion.
iv)
v)
vi)
b.
c.
d.
e.
B. PROTECTION OF OPEN
SPACE LANDS
There are a variety of regulatory measures which
protect environmental resources in the City of
Carlsbad. These regulations operate at all levels
of government, including federal regulations such
as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
state regulations and agencies such as the
California Environmental quality Act (CEQA), and
city regulations such as the Carlsbad Municipal
Code.
The applicability of these various types of open
space in Carlsbad, is shown in Table 1:
Regulatory Open Space Protection. A brief
discussion of the regulatory measures included in
Table 1 can be found below. The shaded boxes
indicate which regulations may play a role in
preserving the various types of open space.
Understanding the degree of protection already
afforded to various types of open space by
existing regulations, played an important role in
the development of the City's open space plan.
"There are a variety of regulatory measures
which nrnter.t environmental resources in the
City of Carlsbad. These regulations operate at
all levels of government, including federal
regulations such as the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), state
regulations and agencies such as the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
and city regulations such as the Carlsbad
Municipal Code."
OPEN SPACE REGULATIONS
i ne TOiiowmg is a oner discussion or me primary
environmental regulations which assist in the
protection of open space in the City of Carlsbad.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 applies to projects entirely or partially
financed with federal funds. It operates in a
manner similar to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), which is discussed below,
requiring the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) which is comparable to
the CEQA Environmental Impact Report.
Endangered Species Act
Both the State and Federal Endangered Species
Acts provide legislation to protect the habitats of
listed species as well as the species themselves.
Projects that may destroy or adversely modify the
critical habitat of a federally or state-listed,
threatened or endangered species, regardless of
acreage impacts, require formal consultation with
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), pursuant to Section 7 of the federal
Endangered Species Act, or the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), pursuant
to the California Endangered Species Act. In
either case, impacts would be specifically
evaluated and may require mitigation. The
federal act requires the USFWS to make a
determination with regard to "jeopardy" to the
species. If jeopardy is found, the USFWS would
likely ask for alternatives and measures to avoid
or reduce impacts to the species to the greatest
degree possible. Any federal agency action on a
project, such as a Section 404 permit, would with
regard to "jeopardy" to the species. If jeopardy is
found, the USFWS would require that the federal
agency engage the USFWS in a formal
consultation per Section 7 of the Endangered
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 4
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
Species Act. Project impacts are reviewed to
determine whether the project "may affect" or
may "take" federally listed threatened or
endangered species.
Similarly, the State act prohibits agencies from
approving projects under CEQA that would
jeopardize the continued existence of a candidate
species or listed species, and requires the
development of alternatives consistent with the
CDFG (Fish and Game Code Section 2081),
although habitat protection is not guaranteed.
The vehicle for CDFG project approval is a
Mitigation Agreement.
Army Corps Permits
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is
responsible for the issuance of permits under the
Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or
fill materials into the waters of the United States.
Water of the United States is the broad category
of the jurisdictional range of the ACOE that may
or may not contain vegetated wetland habitats.
All wetlands, therefore, are also waters of the
United States and are legally defined with respect
to the ACOE permitting requirements in the
Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating
Jurisdictional Wetlands.
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
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OPEN SPA CE & COXSER VA TION ELEMENT
Aggregate wetland impacts, defined as direct fill
or indirect effects of fill greater than 1 acre,
require a permit. Certain activities in wetlands or
waters of the U.S. are automatically authorized,
or granted a National permit, provided they meet
specific conditions. All impacts of 10 acres or
more require an Individual Permit, which includes
consultation with federal agencies, public notice,
and preparation of a project alternatives analysis,
under the 404(b)(1) Guidelines, that must
address avoidance or minimization of wetland
impacts.
All permit applications to the ACOE are evaluated
under the EPA's 404(B)(1) Guidelines. The
guidelines are used as the primary environmental
criteria for evaluating the necessity of a proposed
discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of
the United States. Evaluation under the
guidelines determines whether the least
damaging and feasible environmental alternative
is sought, and whether unavoidable impacts are
mitigated appropriately. The basic premise under
the guidelines is that mitigation should not be
used to offset avoidable impacts. If it is
determined that avoidable impacts will occur from
the project, an individual permit including public
review and detailed alternative analysis may be
required.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not have
a formal permitting process of their own for
wetland habitats, but is advisory to the ACOE
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and via
the Federal Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act for
all proposed wetland impacts. The Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act provides that the
USFWS must be consulted for any proposed
impact to wetlands that is under federal review.
The USFWS is allowed to comment on all
proposed impacts with a view to the conservation
of wildlife resources by preventing or reducing the
avoidable loss, or damage to, wildlife resources.
In addition, proposed impacts to wetlands that
may jeopardize a federally-listed threatened or
endangered species or destroy or adversely
modify the critical habitat of such species,
regardless of acreage impacts, may require
formal consultation with the Corps of Engineers
and the USFWS pursuant to Section 7 of the
Federal Endangered Species Act.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
CEQA was adopted in 1970 with the intention of
ensuring that information regarding the
environmental impacts of a proposed project
would be available to bodies responsible for
approving or denying that project. CEQA requires
the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) if the proposed project will have
"significant" environmental impacts. The EIR
must identify environmental impacts and suggest
project alternatives and mitigation measures. The
approving agency should not approve a project as
proposed if there are alternatives or mitigation
measures which would substantially lessen the
impacts. Therefore, CEQA forms a powerful
open space protection tool for certain resources,
including all open space for the protection of
natural resources, open space for agriculture,
forestry and aquaculture, mineral resources,
parks and recreation areas, scenic resources,
and a variety of public health and safety hazards.
California Department of Fish and Game Codes
1601/1603
The California Fish and Game Code, the CDFG,
must be contacted for a Streambed Alteration
Agreement for any project that may impact a
stream or wetland. The CDFG generally
evaluates the information gathered during
preparation of the project's EIR/EIS and attempts
to satisfy its permit concerns in these documents.
The CDFG often accepts mitigation for stream or
wetland impacts as a product of the agreement.
The policy of "no net loss" of wetland habitat is
maintained by the CDFG. Typically, construction
restrictions and mitigation conditions are
established for granting of their agreement. Any
impact to wetlands will require re-creation of
wetlands on at least an acre-for-acre basis.
Replacement ratios are generally higher,
however, to offset the immediate loss,
replacement time, and inherent failures in
mitigation attempts. Section 1601 applies to
public agency proposals and Section 1603 for
private-sector proposals.
State Lands Commission
The State Lands Commission is an independent
agency, under the direction of a board, with
responsibility for administering certain public
lands owned by the state or under its control,
including vacant school sites, tidelands,
submerged lands, swamp and overflowed lands,
and beds of navigable rivers and lakes. With
powers to sell, lease or dispose of lands, provided
any such action is in the public interest, and with
Amended July 5, 2005 Pages
OPEN SPA CE & CO1\SER VA TION ELEMENT
the authorization to approve or deny permits for
private use of state lands, the Commission may
play a role in protecting certain open space areas
in Carlsbad.
State Recreation Planning
The State Recreation Planning column is included
in Table 1: Regulatory Open Space Protection
not because of any regulations administered by
the State Recreation Department, but rather
because the de facto operations of the
department serve to protect certain coastal
resources within Carlsbad. The State owns land
for the State Beach Recreation Area, as well as
additional land in Zone 3, which it may seek to
develop to expand the existing camping facilities
offered at the State Beach. Thus, the state's
recreation provision and planning have an impact
on the open space inventory in Carlsbad.
It should also be noted that under Article 6:
California Recreation Trails, State Public
Resources Code, addressing "Open-Space
Elements and Trails", State law 5076 says: "In
developing the open-space element of a general
plan ... every city and county shall consider
demands for trail-oriented recreational use and
shall consider such demands in developing
specific open-space programs."
Local Coastal Program
Each of the 15 counties and 53 municipalities
along the California coastline is required by the
California Coastal Act to prepare a Local Coastal
Program (LCP). The LCP includes two main
components: a land use plan and related
implementing measures including a zoning map
and zoning ordinance. In particular, the local
coastal land use plans include measures
specifically intended to protect natural open
space resources, scenic resources, agricultural
lands, and public access rights.
Carlsbad Municipal Code
There are a number of components of the City's
municipal code which serve to protect open
space resources. These include the protection
from development of specific resources such as
steep slopes, as well as, measures which guide
the City's project design review process. The
municipal code specifically addresses the
protection of all the types of open space included
under Category 1: Open Space for the
Preservation of Natural Resources, certain types
of agriculture, certain recreational open spaces,
scenic resources, and certain health and safety
issues. Particular components of the municipal
code which regulate open space include the
Open Space Ordinance, the Hillside Ordinance,
the Planned Development Ordinance, the
residential park land dedication requirements,
and the industrial park land dedication
requirements.
Carlsbad Growth Management Program
The City's growth management program includes
two critical components with regard to protection
of open space in Carlsbad. The first requires that
all projects prepare a constraints map indicating
the locations of a variety of resources considered
environmentally constrained. Beyond this
environmentally constrained "set-aside", the
growth management program requires that an
additional 15-percent of the otherwise
developable land be set aside for open space.
(The growth management 15-percent open space
standard does not apply in certain zones
because, at the time the standard was
established, the zones were already developed
and/or met or exceeded the requirement.) The
administration of this 15-percent requirement
forms a vital component of the implementation
proposals of this element. However, the open
space types indicated in Table 1 as protected
under growth management are those that are
regulated without consideration of the additional
15-percent requirement.
Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan
The Habitat Management Plan designates
approximately 6,500 acres of the open space
lands in the city for preservation based on its
value as habitat for endangered animals and rare,
unique or sensitive plant species. The plan
identifies how the city can protect and maintain
these lands while still allowing additional public
and private development consistent with the
General Plan and the Growth Management Plan.
Land Trusts
Throughout America, there are a growing number
of local, state, and regional groups called land
trusts, conservancies, or foundations. These
private, nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable
corporations typically share a common goal in
attempting to protect open space lands
threatened by development. Some land trusts
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 9
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
are formed to address a specific resource. One
such local group is the Buena Vista Lagoon
Foundation. However, the more active trusts try
to affect land use patterns throughout their
community. The inclusion of "Land Trusts" as a
column in Table 1 is an attempt to recognize the
types of open space most likely to be protected
by the action of such a group if one were active in
Carlsbad.
C. CONSTRAINED LANDS
"Environmentally constrained" lands are areas in
which development is not permitted due to
environmental conditions and which include
beaches, permanent bodies of water, floodways,
slopes greater than forty (40) percent, significant
woodland habitats, and other significant
environmental features as determined by the
environmental review process or by the City
Council. Environmentally constrained lands are
prohibited from development under the federal,
state and local regulations described above.
Additionally, other lands are sometimes described
as "constrained". These lands are areas which
are precluded from development because of City
regulations, and may include railroad track beds,
Circulation Element roadways, and major
powerline easements.
Environmentally constrained lands and some of
the other lands considered constrained under City
regulations form an important, major component
of the City's open space system.
"Environmentally constrained lands are areas
in which development is not permitted due to
environmental conditions and which include
beaches, permanent bodies of water,
floodways, slopes greater than forty (40)
percent, significant woodland habitats, and
other significant environmental features as
determined by the environmental review
process or by City Council."
D. PRECLUDING DEVELOPMENT
ON OPEN SPACE LANDS
Not all land that is intended for open space use is
environmentally constrained or otherwise
constrained from development. In addition to
constrained lands, the City requires that
additional lands be designated as open space.
The City requires that these additional open
space lands, considered developable under City
regulations, be protected from future
development. There are several methods that
can be used to protect these lands, including the
establishment of open space easements, zoning
the property open space, City purchase of the
land for open space purposes, and designating
the land as open space in the Land Use Element.
The following is a summary of these methods of
protecting lands as open space.
Open Space Easement
An easement is a grant of one or more property
rights by the property owner, to and for the use by
the City and/or the public. An open space
easement is one which precludes the future or
additional development of land covered by the
easement and which may allow public use of that
land.
Open Space Zoning
The district established to regulate open space
lands in the City of Carlsbad within which
regulations and requirements uniformly govern
the use of the land.
Purchase of Open Space Land
The acquisition of fee interest in open space
lands for just compensation.
General Plan Open Space
One of the land use classifications identified in
the Land Use Element of the General Plan is
open space. Lands classified as open space are
precluded from development under the Open
Space and Land Use Elements of the General
Plan.
E. EXISTING AND APPROVED
OPEN SPACE
The City of Carlsbad includes substantial areas
which are already developed and in which,
therefore, the pattern of open space has largely
been defined. Additionally, there are many
projects for which planning approvals have been
given, although the projects have not been
constructed. Open space lands that are
considered as existing and approved include:
• Open space which was dedicated or
designated in the past and which is,
therefore, part of the City's current
inventory of open space areas. This-
includes open space protected by
easement, open space zoning, open
space General Plan designation, or is
publicly owned;
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 10
OPEN SPACE & CONSERVATION ELEMENT
• Open space included in projects which
have approved tentative maps or final
maps; and
• Open space included in approved master
plans and specific plans.
The open space shown in Table 2: Existing and
Constrained Open Space Acreages, has been
measured on a zone-by-zone basis. The acreage
for each zone and the citywide total are
estimates. As can be seen in Table 2, the total
amount of existing and approved open space in
Carlsbad, measured at the end of 1991, equaled
approximately 5,900 acres, or roughly 22 percent
of the City's total area.
F. CITYWIDE OPEN SPACE
PLAN
The following is a discussion of Carlsbad's open
space plan from a citywide perspective, defining
the relative priorities and general intent for future
open space acquisition by type of open space
(the types or categories of open space discussed
below are those identified in the open space
definition and Classification System section).
Table 3: Future Open Space Action Priorities,
indicates the relative citywide priorities for each
type of open space, as well as the priorities for
action on a zone-by-zone basis. The citywide
priorities were set by considering the importance
of each open space type and also considering the
degree of protection already afforded to that type
by existing regulations. Thus, for example, while
both wetlands and trails could be considered
equally important components of the open space
system, wetlands are given the lowest citywide
priority because they are already effectively
protected under existing environmental
regulations. Trails, (along with several other
resources), on the other hand, are given the
highest citywide priority because there is no other
program, or set of regulations, which assures
implementation of the proposed citywide trail
system. To the extent possible, the City should
implement the Citywide Open Space priorities.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 11
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
TABLE 2: EXISTING AJTO CONSITUUNBD OPEN SPACE ACREAGES3
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Amended July 5, 2005 Page 12
TABLE 3: FUTURE OPEN SPACE ACTION PRIORITIES Pagel of 2
Citywide
Category
Local Facility Management Zones
1 2
1 . Open Space for Preservation of Natural Resources
la. Plant/Animal IJfc/IIabilal
Ib. Nature Preserves
Ic. Water Features
Id. Beaches/Bluffs/Banks
le. Canyons/Hillsides
If. Wetlands
Ig. Riparian Areas
1
4
I
Z
2
5
4
C
C
A
D
C
C
C
A
D
C
D
C
C
C
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 IS
B/C
D
A
siB/Ejs
C
C
C
B
D
A/C
D
C
C
fi/C
A/C
D
A7C
D
8/C
C
C
A
C
C
C
A/C-
C
C
- A
C
D
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
B/C
C
C
C
B/e
C
C
we
C
C
C
B/C
D
D
D
C
C
C
A/B
- 'A
C
D
8/Cv
C
C
B/C
D
D
D
'A
C
C
C
C
B ,
AC
C
C
C
A/C.;.
D
A/C
C
C
•SKS-M-:!:-:!:!::
•SS-iiSSSw:•:•:•:•:•:&:•:•:•:•:•:wXvflvX-X1
A/C
B/e
A/C
D
c
c
c
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
A/C
0
c
D
C
C
C
A '
D
D
D
::&
c
c
*/e
;*-'
A/G
C
C
C
1*
A/C
C
C
C
C
C
C
A
D
C
C
; A '-
C
C
B
D
C
C
C
C
^ ft
C
D
D
C
D
C
C
A/B
C
C
C
B
A :
A
A/C
D
C
D
C
A
C
'A/C
C
-A/C-
D
C
A/C -, -
'A*fe
2. Open Space for Managed Production of Resources
2a. Forestry/Agricultural/Aqua-
cultural
2b. Water Management
2c. Commercial Fisheries
2d. Mineral Resources
5
5
5
5
B
D
- B,
B
0
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
O
D
D
C
D
D
C
0
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
O
D
D
D
D
A/C:
D
D
0
D
c
D
D
D
fc ,
D
D
D
'"U %
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
; # - ;
D
0
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
s/c; -
3. Open Space for Outdoor Recreation (Programmed and Unprogrammed)
3a. School Grounds
3b. Public Parks/Recreation Areas
3c. Greenways
3d. Trails
2
1
1
1
E
A/E
A
A
E
E
D
A;
E
B/E
A
A/C
E
E
A
A/B
E
E
A
A/C
C/E
E
A-,
A
C/E
E
A"
MS
E
C/E
"- A
A
E
C/E
A
A/C
E
E
A ',
A
,B/£,
B/B
A
" A
E
E
D
A
E
B/E
D
A/B
C/E
E
A
" A
E
E
^A
A "
E
E
A<
A
E
E
'%VA. ••"•" . !Ri"v
'"A "
**v
C/E
'*?•
A
C/E
C/E
- &
A>C
C/E
C/E
"A
A/C
E
E
A®'
A/B
E
C/E
"A
A/B
E
E
A ":
A/B
E
E
, A
A
E
E
D
D
1
2
3
4
S
Top Citywide Priority
Second Citywide Priority
Third Citywide Priority
Fourth Citywide Priority
Lowest Citywide Priority
:;V:A:::;
:;:': B£
c
D
E
Zone Primary Action Priority
Zone Secondary Action Priority
Already Protected
Low Priority or Not Applicable
Priority Administered Through Other Programs
TABLE 3: FUTURE OPEN SPACE ACTION PRIORITIES Page 2 of 2
Citywide
Category
Local Facility Management Zones
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
3. Open Space for Outdoor Recreation (Programmed and Unprogrammed) (Con't)
3e. Campgrounds
3f. Golf Courses
3g. Private Recreation Areas
3h. Equestrian Facilities
5
5
3
4
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
B
D
D
D
D
D
C/D
D
D
D
C/D
D
D
C
C/D
D
D
D
C/D
D
E
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
--B
D
D
D
D
13
D
D
D
D
14
D
D
D
D
IS 16 17 18 19
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
C
20 21 22 23 24 25
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
4. Open Space for Aesthetic, Cultural and Educational Purposes
4a. Scenic/Cultural/Educational
4b. Land Use Buffers/Entries
4c. Greenbelt
4d. Gateways
4e. Museums/Arboreta/Zoologic/Botanical
Jh'
$
4
2
3
B
D
0
B
D
C
0
D
B
D
8/G
C
D
-A.
D
-R
D
D
D
D
B/G
C
0
C
D
C
D
D
•'A
D
5. Open Space for Public Health and Safety
5a. Hazardous Areas
5b. Fire Risk
Sc. Water Protection
5d. Air Quality
5e. Bluffs Subject to Wave Erosion
5
5
S
5
5
D
D
D
D
C
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
% i* r f'•Sf ';
D
D
-»«C
C
D
D
D
C/E
D
D
D
E
B/£^
- *'
D
A/e-
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
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D
B/C
D
D
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,B '
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D
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D
D
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D
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D
D
D
D
'•»',
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D
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"•&.1
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B ,%i
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D
D
D
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D
A
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D
C
JVC
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
*58fc~
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D
D
D
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D
D
D
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'*»&'
D
D
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'#*,
D
D
-A,'
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C
D
D
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C
C
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5|S-B-%i
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D
C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
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C
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C
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
D
D
D
D
1
2
3
4
5
Top Citywide Priority
Second Citywide Priority
Third Citywide Priority
Fourth Citywide Priority
Lowest Citywide Priority
- A-;;
;a:f
c
D
E
Zone Primary Action Priority
Zone Secondary Action Priority
Already Protected
Low Priority or Not Applicable
Priority Administered Through Other Programs
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
The priorities and actions on a zone-by-zone
basis are sometimes referred to in this section,
but are fully discussed in the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
CATEGORY 1: Open Space for the Preservation
of Natural Resources
Plant/Animal Life/Habitat da.)
Open space for plant and animal life, and habitat
conservation is considered a Category 1 citywide
priority. The general intent is to optimize natural
resource values throughout the open space
system, and more specifically, to maximize
protection and enhancement of plant and animal
life and habitats within various preserves. Much
of the protection of plant and animal life, and
habitats is accomplished through existing
regulatory protection. Additionally, the City is
preparing a Habitat Management Plan to provide
a planning framework specifically designed to
protect such resources. However, in determining
the best use for open space within each zone of
the City, it is clear that many benefits for plants
and wildlife could be integrated with open space
set aside for other reasons. For example, the
design of linear open space greenways can
accommodate trails and protect aesthetic
resources in the landscape, but, at the same time,
be located so as to serve as additional buffers to
riparian woodlands or other sensitive habitat
areas.
Nature Preserves Mb.')
Open space for nature preserves is considered a
Category 4 citywide priority. The protection of
plant and animal diversity is important, and the
establishment and continued operation of
preserves form a key component in achieving this
goal. However, the citywide priorities set by this
study are primarily concerned with the types of
open space which the City should be striving to
set aside between now and build out. The
existing preserves - Batiquitos and Buena Vista
Lagoons and the University of California Dawson
Los Monos Reserve - should continue to be
managed for natural resource values. Additional
future preserves in the City may result from other
agencies' actions (for example through expansion
of the University of California Reserve),
dedication of additional lands for preserves, or
through specific mitigation requirements (for
example to mitigate for impacts to coastal sage
scrub).
Water Features (1c.)
Water features are considered a Category 1
citywide priority for the citywide open space
system. Although water features themselves are
well protected by environmental regulations, the
intent of the open space plan is to expand the
amount of open space adjacent to water features
and to provide connected open space corridors
which are based on the distribution of water
features such as creeks. Much of the future open
space system in currently undeveloped areas of
the City, will be aligned alongside creek corridors.
Beaches/Bluffs/Banks (1d.)
Beaches, bluffs and banks are considered a
Category 2 citywide priority for future open space
planning. In many cases, these resources are
already protected through environmental
regulations. Wherever such protection fails, the
open space system may serve an important role
in completing the protection of these resources.
Canyons/Hillsides (1e.)
Canyons and hillsides are considered a Category
2 citywide priority for future open space planning.
The City's regulations already protect hillsides
which exceed 40-percent slope, but this
regulation does not protect less extreme slopes.
In some cases the more moderate slopes serve
important open space functions which might be
lost to future development if they are not
protected in the open space system.
Wetlands Mf.)
Wetlands are extensively protected under existing
environmental regulations, with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (COE), the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) all
having various degrees of control over wetland
impacts. Because of the high degree of
protection already afforded to wetlands, they are
considered a Category 5 citywide priority for open
space actions. This does not mean that wetlands
are considered unimportant in the City's open
space system, but rather that their inclusion in the
open space system is already assured and
therefore no additional protection would generally
be required through the open space planning
process.
Riparian Areas da.)
Riparian areas are considered a Category 4
citywide priority. Riparian areas are effectively
protected through a variety of environmental
regulations. Because of the extensive protection
already afforded to riparian areas, their inclusion
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
in the open space system is already reasonably
assured and, therefore, limited additional
protection is required through the open space
planning process.
CATEGORY 2: Open Space for the Managed
Production of Resources
Forestrv/Agriculture/Aquaculture (2a.)
Forestry, agriculture, and aquaculture are
considered a Category 5 citywide priority for
future open space planning. It is the City's
intention to support and utilize all measures
available, including the Williamson Act, to secure
agricultural land uses for as long as possible prior
to development, and to promote the long-term
economic viability of agricultural uses. However,
it should be recognized that Carlsbad is an
urbanizing city, and the projected pattern of
development is such that the extensive areas
generally required for economic agricultural
operations are unlikely to be available in the
longterm.
Water Management (2b.)
Water management areas are considered a
Category 5 citywide priority for future open space
planning.
Commercial Fisheries (2c.)
Commercial fisheries are considered a Category
5 citywide priority for future open space planning.
Mineral Resources (2d.t
Carlsbad does not have any economically
significant mineral resources. Mineral resources
are considered a Category 5 citywide priority for
future open space planning.
CATEGORY 3: Open Space for Outdoor
Recreation
School Grounds (3a.1
School grounds are considered to be part of the
City's inventory of open space areas. They have
been placed in Category 2 citywide priority.
School sites function not only to provide spatial
and visual counterpoint to otherwise developed
areas, but also as recreational open space for
school children during school hours and for
informal recreation outside of school hours.
Some school sites are also subject to joint-use
agreements between the local school district and
the City to meet neighborhood and community
recreational needs.
Public Parks/Recreation Areas (3b.)
These areas have been placed in Category 1
citywide priority. The City of Carlsbad's park
system incorporates three primary park types
which are defined below. It should be noted that
the definitions given below are directly quoted or
slightly paraphrased from the City's Parks and
Recreation Element.
* Community Parks are leisure facilities,
approximately 20 to 50 acres in size;
however, due to the 1982 revision of the
Parks and Recreation Element of the
General Plan, pre-1982 neighborhood
parks of less than 20 acres have been
reclassified and grandfathered into the
Community Park classification. This
reclassification was approved by the
Parks and Recreation Commission in
May 1987 and by the City Council in
August 1987. Furthermore, any future
acquisition and development of
community park sites within the northwest
quadrant, where a near-buildout situation
exists, in all likelihood will require
community park development of sites
under 20 acres in size.
Typically, Community Parks are designed
to serve the recreational needs of several
neighborhoods. The nature of this type of
facility encourages and attracts family
unit populations from nearby on a daily
basis. Community Parks generally
provide both programmed and
unprogrammed amenities; however, they
are not limited exclusively to either.
* Special Use Areas are typically local
facilities that meet the needs of only one
or two activity type uses, either passive or
active in nature. They are between one
and five acres in size and generally
provide the basic widely accepted
facilities found in a typical park. Facilities
of this type include, but are not limited to:
swim, tennis or racquetball complexes;
meeting halls; athletic complexes; play
lots; picnic areas; and interpretive walk
areas.
Based on City Council action in August
1987, and confirmed in November of
1990, community school activity fields
can be incorporated within the Special
Use Area classification and included
within the park area inventory. However,
only those school sites which operate
under "joint-use" facility agreements
between the City of Carlsbad and the
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMEN1
corresponding school district are, in fact,
incorporated within the Parks Inventory.
* Special Resource Areas are local
amenities that have either citywide or
potential regional significance. The
significance is in the quality of the site
that makes it unique as either a passive
or active recreation area or combination
of both. This quality may be natural
(water, geological, ecological, etc.),
historical (architectural, etc.), or a
combination thereof. Consequently, the
Special Resource Area, as defined, has a
visitor attraction or drawing power to
users locally and beyond. Typically,
Special Resource Areas provide a unique
character and/or use not found in
Community Parks or Special Use Areas.
In general, they are larger than
community parks and are typically
characterized by the existence of special
or unusual features, natural or manmade,
(i.e., a water body, earth formation,
historical amenity, or ecological reserve).
Greenwavs (3c.)
The City's open space program includes the
concept of greenways as a Category 1 citywide
priority of the future open space system in
Carlsbad. A greenway may be defined as an
open space connector linking parks, nature
preserves, cultural features, larger areas of open
space, or historic sites to each other and with
populated areas in order to improve
environmental quality and provide for outdoor
recreation and enhance the visual perception of
open space. Greenways also function as wildlife
corridors. The City's open space program defines
a number of major greenways which will form the
structure of much of the future open space
system:
* An east-to-west greenway connecting
from an adjacent open space corridor,
trail connection and park in the City of
San Marcos via the future Carrillo Ranch
park site, the future Alga Norte
Community Park site, the future Zone 19
Community Park site, to the Poinsettia
Community Park site. This greenway will
also provide connection to two future
school sites;
* A north-to-south greenway running from
Lake Calavera, past the Zone 14 school
site, along Agua Hedionda Creek,
crossing Palomar Airport Road at the
future intersection with Melrose, to the
Carrillo Ranch park site; and
A generally west-to-east connection from
Agua Hedionda Lagoon, through the
proposed Veterans Memorial Park and
the Evans Point development to Lake
Calavera.
A <number of smaller or less complete
greenways will be completed throughout
the City linking together key landscape
features such as the lagoons, parks and
schools, and providing open space
connections to surrounding cities.
It is generally intended that the following
planning and design parameters should
be used for Greenways:
Greenways should be a minimum of 100
feet in width unless other factors require
a narrower corridor. This width may
incorporate environmentally constrained
lands but only that portion of the
greenway which is not constrained should
be counted toward the growth
management open space standard;
Greenways will typically accommodate
trails to allow public enjoyment of open
space areas;
Greenways should be located separate
from (not adjacent to) arterial or other
major roadways unless other factors
preclude such separation.
Public access along greenways is
intended to provide a sense of relief from
suburban/urban development. Therefore,
the location of trails and the design of
grading and plantings within the
greenways should seek to minimize the
intrusion of development into the
viewshed of the trail user;
The location of trails within greenways
should seek to avoid impacts to the
privacy of adjacent residential units;
Wherever possible, greenways should be
so located as to take advantage of
panoramic views and should connect to
viewpoints and along ridgelines;
Greenways should generally serve to
conserve natural resources; any trails or
other improvements within greenways
should be designed and implemented so
as to minimize disturbance to existing
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
native vegetation or sensitive
environmental resources;
* Any future plantings within greenways
should focus on the use of native and/or
other drought tolerant species.
Greenways will normally serve as wildlife
corridors, and should be designed with
wildlife migrations in mind, for example
through providing adequate coven
* Where associated with habitat resources
or wildlife corridors, the width of
greenways should generally be
maximized to provide buffers to said
resources.
* The location, planning and design of
greenways should be coordinated with
the planning for wildlife preserves and
corridors that may develop in a habitat
management program. Each
development project should be reviewed
as early as possible to ensure that
planning for the objectives of the Open
Space and Conservation Resource
Management Plan is integrated and
symbiotic.
Trails (3d.)
Trails are considered a Category 1 citywide
priority for future open space planning.
Key concepts for the trail system planning and
design include:
* Routing trails within open space corridors
separated from roadways, wherever
possible;
* Allowing public access to landscape
resources with high aesthetic qualities
located throughout the City;
* Designing trails to avoid environmental
impacts wherever possible;
* Requiring full environmental review for
each individual trail project, either as a
stand-alone project, or as part of a larger
planning activity;
* Locating trail rights-of-way, as a general
rule, in public ownership;
* Providing trail specifications aimed at
pedestrian and, where possible, bicycle
use. Secondary trails, which connect
with the citywide system, are
encouraged, but will not normally be
accepted by the City through dedication
as part of the primary trail system.
Campgrounds (3e.)
Campgrounds are a Category 5 citywide priority
for future open space. The City should not
pursue dedication of or development of
campgrounds except in the limited circumstances
described below. The existing South Carlsbad
State Beach campground is a valuable recreation
resource for the City and its visitors.
Golf Courses (3f)
Golf courses are considered a Category 5
citywide priority for future open space planning.
Although golf courses provide recreational
opportunity and also contribute to overall open
space throughout the City, golf courses should be
either included or excluded from future
development areas based upon market forces.
Private Recreation Areas (3g.)
Private recreation areas are considered a
Category 3 citywide priority for future open space
planning. While such facilities may form a
component of future open space in the City, and
should continue to be pursued by the City in
future private development projects, such facilities
should not be considered to count toward meeting
the requirements of the City's growth
management open space standard.
Equestrian Facilities (3h.)
Equestrian facilities are considered at this time a
Category 4 citywide priority for future open space
planning. However, the City is planning to
accommodate equestrian use on certain trails in
the City in order to provide linkage between the
equestrian trail systems in the cities of San
Marcos, Encinitas and the County of San Diego,
and may consider others at a later time.
CATEGORY 4: Open Space for Aesthetic,
Cultural and Educational Purposes
Scenic/Historic/Cultural/Educational (4a.)
Open space areas for scenic, historic, cultural
and educational purposes are considered a
Category 1 citywide priority for future open space
planning. Many of the proposed additions to the
open space system will provide scenic amenities;
it is intended that both distinctive landscape
features and representative areas of typical
natural landscapes will be conserved. The open
space system may encompass historic and
cultural sites, such as the Carrillo Ranch house
and the existing adobe structure at Stagecoach
Park. Such sites provide obvious opportunities
for educational interpretation and activities. It is
also intended that much of the trail system be
considered as an opportunity for passive
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
interpretive signage, as well as interactive
recreational and educational programming.
Land Use Buffers/Entries (4b.)
Land use buffers and entries are considered a
Category 2 citywide priority for future open space
planning. The most important open space buffers
are those between incompatible land uses, such
as industrial and residential areas. Open space
corridors between residential neighborhoods will
strengthen the perception of individual small
communities or villages within the City. Open
space buffers between land uses will also often
function to mark entries to a development or
neighborhood.
Greenbelt (4c.)
The objective of a circumference greenbelt
encircling the City is considered a Category 4
citywide priority for future open space planning.
The greenbelt concept, an open space buffer
around the entire City, separating it from
neighboring cities -is an attractive idea. A
number of existing open space areas, including
Batiquitos and Buena Vista Lagoons, seem to
provide a basis for a greenbelt. However, further
analysis of existing and approved development in
Carlsbad and adjacent developing areas, as well
as a review of the land uses proposed by
neighboring cities' general plans, leads to the
conclusion that the opportunity for a fully
connected greenbelt has already been lost.
Gateways (4d.)
An open space gateway may be defined as an
area of varying dimension within the viewshed of
a major entrance route into or within the City,
which, through special landscape treatment,
monumentation, or other means, defines the
transition from one community to another.
Gateways are considered a Category 2 citywide
priority for future open space planning. Although
a perimeter greenbelt is not possible, most of the
major roadways entering the City can be
surrounded by open space gateways marking the
transition from one community to another. In this
way, an open space buffer can be created
between Carlsbad and its neighbors in the places
where travel between communities most
frequently occurs. (It should be noted that
Carlsbad Boulevard, Interstate 5, and the coastal
railroad are already surrounded by open space
between Carlsbad and Oceanside to the north
and Encinitas to the south.) In a similar manner,
the movement from one major area or
neighborhood of the City to another can be
marked by open space gateways around major
roadways. There are many specific open space
gateway opportunities in Carlsbad which are
discussed on a zone-by-zone basis in the Open
Space and Conservation Resource Management
Plan.
Museums/Arboreta/Zooloqic/Botanical (4e.)
Museums, arboreta, zoologic, and botanical
facilities are considered a Category 3 citywide
priority for future open space planning. The City
should recognize that such facilities can play a
part in an open space system and any proposals
made for their development should be carefully
evaluated. Such a facility need not be large; it is
possible that small areas of existing or future
parks or open space areas could be planned,
designed, and managed to provide modest local
examples of museums, arboreta, zoologic and/or
botanical gardens available to local residents.
CATEGORY 5: Open Space for Public Health
and Safety
Hazardous Areas (5a.)
Hazardous areas are considered a Category 5
citywide priority for future open space planning.
This is not because addressing hazardous areas
is considered unimportant, but rather that the
responsibility for protecting the City's residents
and visitors from hazardous areas should not be
accomplished by means of an open space
program. Many hazardous areas, such as steep
slopes and floodways, are already regulated so
as to prevent undue exposure to hazardous
conditions. The open space system may often be
expanded through such regulations, but their
intent is not to protect open space.
Fire Risk (5b.)
Open space for fire risk prevention is considered
a Category 5 citywide priority for future open
space planning. Obviously, reducing the risk of
loss of life and property is a concern of the City.
However, it is an issue that is essentially
addressed under other programs and is not an
open space issue. Nevertheless, some open
space areas may serve as fire breaks; the fire
chief may require fuel modification programs for
open space areas with particularly high risk; and
the fire chief shall also retain the authority to
close areas to public access in times of especially
high fire risk.
Water Protection (5c.)
Water protection is considered a Category 5
citywide priority for future open space planning.
The planning of areas for the protection of water
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
resources, although potentially contributing to the
overall open space system in the City, is not
considered an open space issue. Any areas set
aside for water protection may become an
incidental bonus to the City's open space system,
but given limited fiscal resources, the City's open
space planning effort should not strive to achieve
acquisition of open space areas for water
protection.
Air Quality (5d.)
Air quality is considered a Category 5 citywide
priority for future open space planning; it is not
believed that the orientation or pattern of the open
space system in Carlsbad can measurably impact
air quality. Nevertheless, there are some general
ways in which open space may result in positive
reductions in air pollutant levels:
* Trees and other vegetation absorb
carbon dioxide and remove participate
matter from the atmosphere. Properly
sited trees around homes can provide
shade and lower temperatures within the
urban area so that energy, and thus
pollutant emissions, can be reduced.
* Open space greenways which
accommodate trails for pedestrian and
particularly bicycle use can encourage
residents to use non-vehicular modes of
circulation, thereby reducing emissions
related to fossil-fuel-burning engines.
The more enjoyable the trail use
experience, the more people are likely to
choose to use this alternative means of
getting around their community.
Connections to mass transit hubs such as
the future commuter rail stations, and
park and ride facilities may be especially
valuable in this regard.
Bluffs Subject to Wave Erosion (5e.)
Bluffs subject to wave erosion are considered a
Category 5 citywide priority for future open space
planning.
G. MAPS OF THE OPEN SPACE
AND CONSERVATION
ELEMENT
Official Open Space & Conservation
Map
The Official Open Space and Conservation Map
consists of a composite of the constrained open
space/and existing/approved open space as
discussed above (see Map 1: Official Open
Space and Conservation Map). The Official Open
Space and Conservation Map is the City's map of
approved and constrained open space lands in
the City. This map depicts open space areas
obtained through master plans, specific plans,
planned developments, or other development
approvals; and, additional areas of
environmentally-sensitive lands which are
prohibited from development by the open space
ordinance, hillside development regulations, and
other development regulations. It is intended that
the Official Open Space and Conservation Map
would also become part of the Land Use Element.
"The Official Open Space and Conservation
Map is the City's map of approved and
constrained open space lands in the City."
The existing/approved open space and
constrained land open space depicted on this
map has been obtained from the best data
available at the time of mapping. It is understood
that the boundaries of some constrained lands,
including wetlands, floodways, hillsides etc., may
change over time. It is therefore important to
understand that the boundaries of constrained
lands as mapped, will be further refined during
the project approval process. Although
environmentally constrained lands are prohibited
from development under either federal, state or
local regulations, the mapping of constrained
lands is in no way intended to deny any property
owner the reasonable use of their property.
Conceptual Open Space and Conservation Map
The Conceptual Open Space and Conservation
Map consists of constrained lands,
existing/approved open space lands, conceptual
open space lands, and the Carlsbad Trail System
(see Map 2: Conceptual Open Space and
Conservation Map). The Conceptual Open Space
and Conservation Map shows the conceptual
open space areas that would be obtained through
implementation of the primary and secondary
open space priorities described in the Citywide
Open Space Plan section of this document,
discussed above. The conceptual open space
lands and the trails system are the areas in which
the City needs to focus its attention in terms of
acquisition, whether through application of the 15-
percent growth management performance
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
standard, direct purchase, or through other
means.
"The Conceptual Open Space and
Conservation Map shows the conceptual open
space areas that would be obtained through
implementation of the primary and secondary
open space priorities described in the
Citywide Open Space Plan."
The conceptual components of this map,
including the trail system and greenways, are
intended to be flexible. It is anticipated that the
specific alignments of all conceptual open space
components will be determined through specific
site plan and environmental review. Adjustments
to the conceptual open space components,
including the trail system and greenways, will not
require a general plan amendment. However, the
point at which a greenway or trail passes from
one zone to an adjacent zone, or from one
property ownership to an adjacent ownership,
should remain consistent with this map, unless an
agreement has been reached with the adjacent
zone or owner to shift the transition point. A
general plan amendment will not be required to
specifically site the conceptual components of this
plan. It is anticipated that on an annual basis the
City will initiate a general plan amendment to add
all dedicated open space areas to the Open
Space and Conservation and Land Use Maps. A
general plan amendment will be required if any
component of the conceptual plan is deleted.
Habitat Management Plan Map
The Habitat Management Plan map graphically
shows the preserve system that will be created by
conformance with the city's Habitat Management
Plan. In total, approximately 6,500 acres of open
space lands will be reserved conserving the full
range of vegetation types remaining in the city
with a focus on rare and sensitive plants, and
habitat for endangered animal species. The map
consists of existing preserve areas, proposed
preserve areas and future preserve areas.
III. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
& IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES & ACTION
PROGRAMS
OPEN SPACE PLANNING AND
PROTECTION
This section provides the policy direction for the
planning, protection and preservation of open
space lands within the City.
A. GOALS
A.1 An open space system of aesthetic value that
maintains community identity, achieves a sense
of natural spaciousness, and provides visual relief
in the cityscape.
A.2 A city with a balance of programmed and
unprogrammed open space within each of
the four quadrants of the City.
A.3 An open space system that improves the
quality of life for the citizens of Carlsbad.
A.4 A city with an adequate amount and variety
of open space for outdoor recreation,
including, but not limited to: parks;
beaches; areas for organized sports;
connecting corridors containing trails; water
recreation areas (beaches, lagoons, lakes);
unique conservation areas for nature study;
and, semi-developed areas for camping.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To preserve, protect and enhance those
areas of the City that provide unique and
special open space functions including, but
not limited to, cultural and visual amenities,
active and passive recreational uses,
landmarks, buffers between incompatible
land uses, wildlife habitats and unique and
desirable vegetation.
B.2 To create a more rural atmosphere in the
urban environment, by identifying,
acquiring, and protecting natural open
space areas which are visible from public
gathering places.
B.3 To provide public access to all open space
areas except where sensitive resources
may be threatened or damaged, where the
public health and safety may be
compromised or where access would
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
interfere with the managed production of
resources, such as agriculture.
B.4 To mandate open space as a necessary
provision of the Local Facilities
Management Zone plans which are
required by the Growth Management
Ordinance.
B.5 To provide for parks and plazas and
preserve natural areas within
developments.
B.6 To provide, where possible, increased
setbacks along arterial corridors and
establish greenways or similar areas to
preserve and/or create open space areas
as a means of maintaining community scale
and identity, separating conflicting land
uses, and achieving a sense of natural
openness as an integral part of urban
surroundings.
B.7 To provide for the distribution of
programmed and unprogrammed recreation
areas throughout the four quadrants of the
City and to separate the uses where
needed.
B.8 To set aside 15 percent of the developable
land of specified zones as open space,
pursuant to the Growth Management open
space performance standard.
B.9 To maintain an inventory of open space.
B.10 To monitor implementation of the
recommendations of the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
B.11 To coordinate open space planning efforts
with state and local agencies.
B.12 To contribute to regional biodiversity and
the viability of rare, unique or sensitive
biological resources throughout the city by
maintaining functional wildlife corridors and
habitat linkage.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Use open space to provide neighborhood,
community, and city identity and to provide
separations between conflicting land uses.
C.2 Assure that the City's Open Space Advisory
Committee continues to meet on a periodic
basis so long as authorized by the City
Council. The Committee's responsibilities
should include:
(1) Advocacy of Open Space;
(2) Recommendations to the Planning
Commission and City Council on Open Space
issues;
(3) Continued development and revision of
Open Space policies as defined by the City's
Open Space ordinances and programs;
(4) Monitoring implementation of Open
Space policies;
(5) Recommending priorities for Open
Space, including acquisition, use, and
maintenance programs, on at least an annual
basis;
(6) Setting and refining guidelines for specific
project review of Open Space.
C.3 Ensure that the open space ordinance
requires monitoring.
C.4 Identify existing open space for protection,
management, and potential enhancement
to maintain and, if possible, increase its
value as wildlife habitat.
C.5 Prepare citywide maps and diagrams
showing the following:
(1) Environmentally constrained open space;
(2) Existing and approved open space;
(3) Proposed future open space system
concept;
(4) Proposed Carlsbad Trail System.
C.6 Depict on land use maps, zoning maps,
and the City's open space maps specific
information regarding open space as it
becomes available.
C.7 Give city staff the flexibility to add to the
open space inventory maps, those new
areas which may be created by various
circumstances, such as, discretionary
approvals, land acquisition, and donations
of land.
C.8 Utilize the Growth Management Ordinance
to implement the goals and objectives of
this element and establish standards for
open space.
C.9 Count toward meeting the 15 percent
Growth Management performance
standard, any land area that otherwise
qualifies, but which is not available to the
public without some monetary or other
consideration, so long as it incorporates
one or more of the open space priorities
identified for the zone in which it is located,
and the granting of the open space credit
for such land will not adversely impact the
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OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
City's ability to obtain open space priorities
identified for the zone.
C.10 Revise and amend the Open Space
Ordinance, No. 9795 to: (1) more precisely
identify and define lands considered as
undevelopable; (2) include provisions for
buffer areas around sensitive lands; (3)
define the word significant; and (4) include
specific conditions and restrictions on non-
residential development.
C.11 Eliminate powerline easements from
consideration as meeting the 15 percent
Growth Management open space
performance standard, except where the
land within the easement is identified as an
open space priority, such as a trail or
greenway, in accordance with the Open
Space and Conservation Resource
Management Plan. Credit may be granted
for powerline easements if the granting of
the open space credit for this area will not
adversely impact the City's ability to
achieve all of the open space priorities
identified for the zone.
C.12 Count toward meeting the Growth
Management open space performance
standard, only those portions of golf
courses identified as an open space
priority, such as a trail or greenway, in
accordance with the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
Credit may be granted for other areas of a
golf course if the granting of the open
space credit for this area will not adversely
impact the City's ability to achieve all of the
open space priorities identified for the zone.
C.13 Categorize as open space for inventory
purposes, all public school playgrounds,
athletic fields and courts, although schools
themselves shall not be counted in meeting
the 15 percent Growth Management
performance standard.
C.14 Zone as open space, all lands shown on
the Official Open Space and Conservation
Map.
C.15 Preserve panoramic viewpoints, as
identified in the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan,
and where possible, provide public access.
C.16 Acquire, protect or negotiate for public
access to those privately-held natural open
space lands that could be used for
unprogrammed recreational uses.
C.17 Make accessible to the public, those open
space areas designated for recreational
use, and where feasible, provide them with
essential utilities, public facilities and
services.
C.18 Recognize as the City's official open space
map, the "Official Open Space and
Conservation Map," dated June 1992, and
make it part of the Land Use Element. (See
Map 1: Official Open Space and
Conservation Map.)
C.19 Recognize that the map entitled
"Conceptual Open Space and Conservation
Map" dated June 1992, (see Map 2:
Conceptual Open Space and Conservation
Map) represents the conceptual open
space priorities of the City. The conceptual
components of this map, including
greenways and trails, are intended to be
flexible, and should not be interpreted as
depicting precise, rigid alignments. It is
anticipated that the alignments of the
greenways and trails may be adjusted as
warranted, as better information becomes
available through additional fieldwork,
further environmental analysis, more
detailed planning, or similar future activities.
However, the points where a greenway or
trail passes from one Local Facilities
Management zone to another, or from one
property ownership to an adjacent
ownership should remain consistent with
this map, unless an agreement has been
reached with the adjacent zone or property
ownership to shift the transition point. A
general plan amendment will not be
required to specifically site the conceptual
components of this map. A general plan
amendment will be required if any
conceptual component is deleted.
C.20 Require that the following procedure be
adhered to for adjusting the boundaries of
any open space area shown on the map
titled "Official Open Space and
Conservation Map" dated June 1992
Findings required for the approval of a
boundary adjustment to the map are as
follows:
(1) The proposed open space area is equal
to or greater than the area depicted on the
Official Open Space and Conservation
Map; and
(2) The proposed open space area is of
environmental quality equal to or greater
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 23
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
than that depicted on the Official Open
Space and Conservation Map; and
(3) The proposed adjustment to open
space, as depicted on the Official Open
Space and Conservation Map, is
contiguous or within close proximity to open
space as shown on the Official Open Space
Map.
The City Council may also modify the
boundary location shown on the open
space maps but only if it finds that the
modification is necessary to mitigate a
sensitive environmental area which is
impacted by development, provided the
boundary modification preserves open
space at a 2 to 1 ratio (proposed acreage to
existing acreage) and is within close
proximity to the original area of open space.
Additionally, City Council may exempt
public rights-of-way from the boundary
adjustment procedures. However,
environmental analysis shall be performed
for all proposed public right-of-way
improvements, and if determined that there
are significant adverse impacts to the value
of the open space system, those impacts
shall be mitigated.
It is not the intention of this boundary
adjustment procedure to allow for the
exchange of environmentally constrained
lands which are designated open space, for
lands which are not environmentally
constrained.
C.21 Eliminate as a means of meeting the open
space performance standard parks, public
or private. However, credit may be granted
for private parks if the granting of the open
space credit for this use will not adversely
impact the City's ability to obtain all of the
open space priorities identified for the zone
in the Open Space and Conservation
Resource Management Plan.
C.22 Utilize open space where appropriate, to
delineate neighborhoods, the City's
boundaries and to buffer major land uses
within the City.
C.23 Utilize Specific Plans, Master Plans and
Local Facilities Management Plans to refine
and implement recommendations of the
Open Space and Conservation Resource
Management Plan.
C.24 Consider for dedication to the City any
open space lands, if they are open space
areas identified in the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management
Plan.
C.25 Review and update the implementation
strategies outlined in the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
These implementation strategies are
intended to guide the systematic
acquisition, protection, maintenance,
administration and financing of open space
and provide an organizational structure to
implement the City's open space plan.
C.26 Rezone open space lands, dedicated to the
City in fee title or easement to open space
(OS) zoning.
C.27 Plan for, and design, open space with
regard to its various specific functions, as
opposed to considering open space as
having a single general function.
C.28 Prohibit motorized off-road vehicle use in
the City except at the Carlsbad Raceway.
C.29 Prohibit hunting of wildlife in the City of
Carlsbad.
C.30 The City shall implement the Habitat
Management Plan and shall coordinate its
planning with the North County regional
Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
OBTAINING OPEN SPACE
This section establishes the policies for obtaining
open space lands within the City.
A. GOALS
A.1 A city which provides for the open space
needs of its citizens.
A.2 A city where new developments provide for
the open space needs of their occupants.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To develop and implement financing
programs for the acquisition and maintenance of
open space.
B.2 To fund a well balanced acquisition program
providing a variety of open space
opportunities spread throughout the
community.
B.3 To assure that, to the maximum degree
possible, those benefiting from the acquisition
or improvement of open space and
recreational facilities provide funding in direct
proportion to the benefits they derive.
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OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
B.4 To encourage a combination of both private
and public open space.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Exactions from new developments should
include, but not be limited to, legislative
protection, Quimby Act dedication, park-in-
lieu fees, industrial recreation fees, setback
requirements, the provision of essential
improvements, and the adoption of
appropriate Local Facilities Management
Plans, Master Plans, and Specific Plans.
C.2 Conduct an annual review of the methods
and programs for acquiring open space in
the City of Carlsbad.
C.3 Initiate, coordinate, and supervise specific
implementation programs for both short-
range and long-range plans, including
among other items the Capital
Improvement Program, Growth
Management Plan, a financial plan,
proposed changes to the City's
development regulations, and the
acquisition of fee and less than fee rights to
land.
C.4 Create a trust or other mechanism to
facilitate private donations for open space
acquisitions, protection, improvements, or
maintenance.
C.5 Develop a program to encourage private
donations for open space acquisition,
protection, improvement, or maintenance
by placing the donors' names on permanent
markers at the sites of their gifts.
C.6 Use general obligation bonds as a possible
source of funding where public funding is
necessary for open space purposes.
C.7 Consider the exchange of excess vacant
lands for more desirable open space areas.
C.8 Consider appropriate user fees for non-
residents utilizing Carlsbad's open space
and recreation facilities.
C.9 Consider designating a conservancy
agency or similar organization to be
responsible for protection, maintenance,
monitoring and liability of open space lands.
C.10 Implement when possible, the finance
strategies contained in the Open Space
and Conservation Resource Management
Plan. These implementation strategies
should guide the systematic acquisition,
protection, maintenance, administration and
financing of open space and provide an
organizational structure to implement the
City's open space plan.
SPECIAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION
The City of Carlsbad contains a host of natural
and man-made resources. These special
resources include spectacular viewsheds, unique
historic cultural, archeological, paleontological
and educational resources, and a variety of
sensitive plant and animal life species. Included
in the City's diverse biota are over 300 species of
plants, 200 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles
and amphibians, 20 species of mammals, 44
species of fish, 45 species of butterflies, and
several thousand species of terrestrial and
aquatic invertebrates. The primary objective of
this section is to establish policies to protect and
conserve these special resources.
A. GOALS
A.1 A city that protects environmentally
sensitive land and buffer areas.
A.2 A city that protects and preserves visually
attractive and/or significant natural areas.
A.3 A city that preserves optimum sustainable
environmental quality levels with respect to
air, water, sound levels, and plant and
animal life.
A.4 A city that preserves as open space,
hillsides, ridges, valleys, canyons, lagoons,
beaches and other unique resources that
provide visual and physical relief to the
Cityscape.
A. 5 A city that preserves, where possible,
historic, cultural, archeological,
paleontological, and educational resources.
A.6 A city that conserves natural and man-
made resources.
A. 7 A city which makes every possible effort to
preserve sensitive flora and fauna.
A.8 A city which preserves a variety of unique
conservation areas to accommodate the
needs of humans, plants and animals.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 25
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
A.9 A city which protects wildlife habitat through
the preservation and enhancement of
significant feeding, nesting, and breeding
areas.
A.10 A city which preserves, to the maximum
extent possible, the existing level of
biodiversity.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To update periodically the inventory of
sensitive and constrained lands, and
prohibit their development and inclusion for
density credit pursuant to the Growth
Management Ordinance.
B.2 To protect public health and safety by
preserving natural and man-made hazard
areas as open space and taking special
precautionary measures to protect the
public safety where development is
possible and permitted.
B.3 To preserve areas of unique scenic,
historical, archeological, paleontological
and cultural value, and where possible,
provide public access to these areas.
B.4 To develop cultural/educational amenities
which could include a museum, exhibition
hall or interpretive center, within open
space areas.
B.5 To amend existing ordinances or develop a
new ordinance to clearly define sensitive
and constrained lands.
B.6 To minimize environmental impacts to
sensitive resources within the City.
B.7 To minimize impacts from new
development on hillsides, ridges, valleys,
canyons, lagoons, beaches and other
unique resources that provide visual and
physical relief to the cityscape.
B.8 To develop an inventory of environmentally
sensitive resources that are to be
conserved within the City.
B.9 To develop and implement, when possible,
a plan to guide the systematic acquisition,
protection and maintenance of sensitive
environmental resources and provide an
organizational structure to implement the
plan.
B.10 To develop and implement, when possible,
a financing strategy to acquire and protect
areas which are rich in habitat diversity.
B.11 To protect rare, threatened or endangered
plant and animal communities in
accordance with the Habitat Management
Plan.
B.12 To ensure that whenever possible, new
development does not adversely impact
sensitive environmental resources.
B.13 To coordinate city habitat management
planning efforts with federal, state and local
agencies, and other planning efforts of the
City.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Utilize sensitive design criteria to preserve
the unique and special resources in the City
and to integrate them into the design of any
development.
C.2 Amend ordinances as necessary to define
sensitive and constrained lands consistent
with the City's habitat management
planning efforts, and prohibit development
and density credit thereon.
C.3 Assure that development on hillsides (if
allowed) relates to the slope of the land in
order to preserve the integrity of the
hillsides.
C.4 Designate for preservation as open space
those areas that provide unique visual
amenities and define the urban form as
contained in the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
These areas shall include agriculture,
hillsides, ridges, valleys, canyons, beaches,
lagoons, lakes and other unique resources
that provide visual and physical relief to the
cityscape by creating natural contrasts to
the built-up, manmade scene.
C.5 Designate for open space, hillsides, valleys
and ridges during the approval of Specific
Plans, Master Plans and Planned
Developments, and also at the time of
subdivision approval consistent with the
recommendations of the Open Space and
Conservation Resource Management Plan.
C.6 Designate as buffers portions of land next
to sensitive environmental areas.
C.7 Assure that where feasible from an
environmental standpoint, developments
near or adjacent to bodies of water, provide
open space that has public access to and
views of the water.
C.8 Require a city permit for any grading,
grubbing, or clearing of vegetation in
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 26
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
undeveloped areas, with appropriate
penalties for violations.
C.9 Ensure that the improvements
recommended for open space areas are
appropriate for the type of open space and
the use proposed. No improvements shall
be made in environmentally sensitive
areas, except to enhance the
environmental value of the areas.
C.10 Consider designating for open space those
areas that preserve historic, cultural,
archeological, paleontologies! and
educational resources.
C.11 Preserve open space areas in as natural a
state as possible.
C.12 Require that grading be accomplished in a
manner that will maintain the appearance of
natural hillsides and other landforms
wherever possible.
C.13 Require that soil reports, plans for erosion
and sediment control measures and
provisions of maintenance responsibilities
be a requirement of any approval process.
C.14 Implement ordinances limiting the density,
intensity and character of development of
hillside areas and ridges, and provide
standards for sensitive grading where
development of hillsides is allowed.
C.15 Require that at the time of any discretionary
approval, any land dedicated to the City for
its habitat or scenic value, have an
appropriate easement and/or zoning placed
on it for resource protection.
C.16 Recognize and implement the policies of
the California Coastal Act and the Carlsbad
Local Coastal Program when reviewing
potential development in the coastal zone.
C.17 Prevent incompatible development of areas
that should be reserved or regulated for
scenic, historic, conservation or public
health and safety purposes.
C.18 Conserve and encourage the use of
appropriate forms of vegetation and
sensitive grading techniques needed to: (a)
prevent erosion, siltation and flooding, (b)
protect air and water resources, and (c)
protect and enhance visual resources.
C.19 Preserve natural resources by: protecting
fish, wildlife, and vegetation habitats;
retaining the natural character of
waterways, shoreline features, hillsides,
and scenic areas and viewpoints;
safeguarding areas for scientific and
educational research; respecting the
limitations for air and water resources to
absorb pollution; encouraging legislation
that will assist logically in preserving these
resources and, protecting archeological and
paleontologies! resources.
C.20 Preserve the identity of those areas of the
City with unique topographic features and
establish proper soil management
techniques to eliminate or minimize
adverse and unsafe soil conditions.
C.21 Use the Williamson Act, land dedication,
scenic easements, or open space
easements to preserve unique and special
resources in the City.
C.22 Participate in the statewide and regional
plans (the state of California's Natural
Community Conservation Planning
(NCCP), efforts with SANDAG and other
north county cities in the preparation of a
North County Wildlife Forum Multi-species
Habitat Conservation Plan), to conserve
sensitive environmental resources.
C.23 Coordinate planning and development of a
citywide open space system with habitat
planning efforts including the city's Habitat
Management Plan.
C.24 Minimize the encroachment of development
into wetland and riparian areas.
C.25 Coordinate the protection of wetlands,
woodlands, riparian areas, and other
sensitive habitat areas with appropriate
state and federal protection agencies.
C.26 Encourage and participate in regional
planning efforts to protect environmentally
sensitive species from extinction.
C.27 Require adequate buffers between new
development and environmentally sensitive
habitats.
C.28 Locate trails and other passive recreational
features with care to minimize impacts to
sensitive habitats.
C.29 Support innovative site design techniques
such as cluster-type housing and transfer-
of-development-rights to preserve sensitive
environmental resources and to allow
development projects to comply with the
city's Habitat Management Plan.
C.30 Require private development which impacts
sensitive resources to provide appropriate
mitigation measures as identified in the
city's Habitat Management Plan, so that the
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 27
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
existing biodiversity within the City is
maintained.
C.31 Amend existing ordinances to specifically
indicate that the environmental values of
floodplains will be protected.
C.32 Amend existing ordinances as necessary to
ensure adequate buffers are provided
around floodways, wetlands, riparian areas,
woodlands and other sensitive
environmental resources.
C.33 Assure that, at minimum, there is no net
loss of wetlands acreage or value, and the
net gain of wetlands acreage is the long-
term goal of the City.
C.34 Require all development projects to comply
with the city's Habitat Management Plan.
C.35 Implement the city's Habitat Management
Plan including making all necessary
changes to applicable city ordinances.
TRAIL/GREENWAY SYSTEM
The objective of this section is to establish policy
direction for the creation of a Carlsbad Trail
System and comprehensive greenway linkage
system within the City.
A. GOALS
A.1 A city with open space areas connected by
Greenways.
A.2 A city with a Carlsbad Trail System.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To ensure that there is continuity and
environmental sensitivity in the routing and
design of the trail system.
B.2 To route trails near environmentally
sensitive areas only with appropriate
buffers or fencing.
B.3 To provide trails that serve as pedestrian
and bicycle transportation between
residential and commercial areas.
B.4 To develop and implement Financing
Mechanisms for the acquisition, construction
and maintenance of the Citywide greenway
and trail system.
B.5 To finance, manage, and acquire land for a
Carlsbad Trail System.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Establish a Carlsbad Trail System, primarily
pedestrian oriented, but for bicycles where
feasible, provided that a financing
mechanism for the trail system is approved.
Until such financing mechanism is in place
the trail system shall be considered
proposed. (See Map 2: Conceptual Open
Space and Conservation Map.)
C.2 Participate with other north county
communities to establish an intercommunity
open space linkage program and regional
trail network.
C.3 Obtain an irrevocable offer to dedicate or a
permanent easement for trailways where
feasible, in all cases where trails are
proposed or required as part of the
Carlsbad Trail System.
C.4 Design the trail system to serve both
recreation and non-motorized
transportation purposes.
C.5 Provide greenway linkages from major
recreational/open space areas to other
areas of activity, including, but not limited
to, residential neighborhoods, places of
employment, parks, schools, libraries, and
viewpoints.
C.6 Ensure that trails are sensitive to
surrounding land uses and are normally
placed at a significantly different elevation
than adjacent residences.
C.7 Assure that major powerline easements
receive credit toward the 15-percent
Growth Management open space
performance standard if they are enhanced
or improved to establish key links in the
Carlsbad Trail System.
C.8 Establish that the "Carlsbad Trail System,"
as depicted on the Conceptual Open Space
and Conservation Map, is the conceptual
representation of the possible trail
alignments throughout the City (see Map 2:
Conceptual Open Space and Conservation
Map).
C.9 Prohibit the approval of a project which
would eliminate the trail alignments as
depicted on the Conceptual Open Space
and Conservation Map, unless a general
plan amendment is approved to delete such
a trail segment.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 28
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
C.10 Address the citywide green way system and
the Carlsbad Trail System when
considering and reviewing Local Facilities
Management Plans, major development
applications and applications involving
potential greenway and trail linkages, as
shown on the Conceptual Open Space and
Conservation Map (see Map 2: Conceptual
Open Space and Conservation Map).
C.11 Design physical improvements to trails, of
the Carlsbad Trail System, so that they are
consistent with the recommendations of the
Open Space and Conservation Resource
Management Plan.
C.12 Utilize Table 5.4-6 of the General Plan EIR:
Carlsbad Trail System Impact/Mitigation
Summary to identify potential impacts and
consider suggested mitigation measures at
the time of specific project review of trail
system links and approval.
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is an important resource in the City of
Carlsbad. Agriculture policies are intended to
support agriculture activities while planning for
possible future transition to more urban uses
consistent with the policies of the Land Use
Element and the Carlsbad Local Coastal
Program.
A. GOAL
A city which recognizes the important value of
agriculture and horticultural lands.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To develop an inventory of agricultural uses
in the City.
B.2 To promote the establishment of
agricultural preserves.
B.3 To promote the use of new technology for
agricultural purposes to improve the
economic viability of agriculture.
B.4 To ensure that new development is
sensitive to existing agricultural uses.
B.5 To ensure that agricultural uses do not
adversely impact sensitive environmental
resources.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Buffer, where possible, agriculture from
more intensive urban uses with less intense
land uses which are mutually compatible.
C.2 Encourage the use of water conservation
techniques in agricultural enterprises
including the use of reclaimed wastewater
for irrigation.
C.3 Support agriculture water rates for
agricultural/horticultural operations as
instituted by the Metropolitan Water District.
C.4 Encourage the establishment of new
agricultural preserves for areas within the
coastal zone designated for agricultural
land use.
C.5 Encourage and support the economic
viability of agricultural land.
C.6 Encourage agricultural use as a permissible
land use in areas designated as open
space in non-environmentally sensitive
areas.
C.7 Discourage the premature elimination of
agricultural land.
C.8 Utilize Master Plans and Specific Plans to
encourage the preservation of highly visible
areas cultivated for flower production.
C.9 Assure that urban development takes place
in those areas that are the least
agriculturally productive.
C.10 Support and utilize all measures available,
including the Williamson Act, not only to
prevent premature developments, but also
to promote the economic viability of
agricultural uses.
C.11 Utilize proper design criteria for new
development to maximize the preservation
of agricultural lands.
C.12 Provide landowners and interested citizens
with information about agricultural
preserves as established by the Williamson
Act and encourage them to utilize this
information.
C.13 Accomplish grading of agricultural lands in
a manner that minimizes erosion of hillsides
and minimize stream siltation and to
maintain the appearance of natural hillsides
and other land forms wherever possible.
C.14 Manage agricultural land and prime soil as
a natural resource and as a significant
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 29
OPEN SPACE & CONSERVATION ELEMENT
contrasting land use to the urbanized
environment of the City.
C.15 Prevent agricultural run-off and other forms
of water pollution from entering the storm
drain system and polluting the City's water
bodies.
C.16 Prior to the approval of discretionary
permits within an existing or former
agricultural area in Carlsbad, a detailed
soils testing and analysis report shall be
prepared by a registered soils engineer and
submitted to City and County Health
Departments for review and approval. This
report shall evaluate the potential for soil
contamination due to historic use, handling,
or storage of agricultural chemicals
restricted by the San Diego County
Department of Health Services. The report
shall also identify a range of possible
mitigation measures to remediate any
significant public health impacts if
hazardous chemicals are detected at
concentrations in the soil which would have
a significantly adverse effect on human
health.
C.17 If use of agricultural chemicals within an
existing agricultural operation has the
potential to adversely impact a proposed
residential development on an adjacent
parcel, mitigation measures including, but
not limited to, physical barriers and/or
separation between the uses should be
considered.
FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT
The following is intended to ensure that fire risk
management issues, associated with
undeveloped open space, are adequately
identified during the planning and acquisition of
open space land.
A. GOALS
A.1 A city in which the fire risk presented by
native wildland open space is mitigated in a
manner that provides a reasonable level of
fire protection with sensitivity toward the
preservation of natural resources.
A.2 A city in which the on-going cost of fire risk
mitigation along the interface of wildland
areas and developed property is not fiscally
burdensome.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To identify high fire risk characteristics of
proposed open space areas prior to
designation as open space or acquisition by
the City.
B.2 To determine the mitigation measures most
appropriate for high fire risk areas, within
city designated open space areas, prior to
city acquisition or designation of those
areas.
B.3 To coordinate fire risk management
practices with the City's Open Space,
Conservation and Habitat Management
planning efforts. Prior to designation or
acquisition of land for open space
purposes, the issues of fire risk liability;
land maintenance practices for the
reduction of fire risk; funding for long-term
fire risk maintenance; and the
environmental impacts of fire risk
management will be addressed.
B.4 To coordinate city fire risk mitigation
measures with the regulations and policies
of local, state and federal agencies.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Develop a procedure to evaluate
environmental impacts of fuel management
procedures, as required by the Fire Chief,
in high risk areas.
C.2 Develop a procedure to evaluate fire risk
liability exposure associated with city
ownership of open space.
C.3 Require city staff to accurately project the
annual costs of abatement of fire hazards
on proposed open space properties prior to
city acquisition.
AIR QUALITY PRESERVATION
The City of Carlsbad is located in the San Diego
Air Basin which has been designated as a non-
attainment area for a number of air pollutants
including ozone, carbon monoxide, and
suspended particulates. The attainment of good
air quality must be addressed in a regional
context. The objective of this section is to
establish the policy direction for the City ensuring
the City's continued support and coordination with
Local, State and Federal agencies to improve the
air quality within the region.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 30
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
A. GOAL
A city with clean air.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To adopt an Updated Air Quality
Management Plan (AQMP).
B.2 To participate in a program to improve air
quality in the region.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Participate in the implementation of
transportation demand management
programs on a regional basis.
C.2 Restrict, whenever possible, all
unnecessary vehicle trips during episode
violations as defined by the State Air
Resources Board.
C.3 Provide, whenever possible, incentives for
car pooling, flex-time, shortened work
weeks, and telecommunications and other
means of reducing vehicular miles traveled.
C.4 Make every effort to participate in programs
to improve air quality in the San Diego
Region.
C.5 Monitor air quality and cooperate with the
ongoing efforts of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the San Diego Air
Pollution Control District, and the State of
California Air Resources Board in improving
air quality in the regional air basin.
C.6 The City shall monitor all construction to
ensure that proper steps are taken by
developers to reduce short-term
construction related impacts to air
resources. During cleaning, grading, earth
moving or excavation developers shall:
* Control fugitive dust by regular
watering, paving construction roads, or
other dust preventive measures;
* Maintain equipment engines in proper
tune;
* Seed and water until vegetation cover
is grown;
* Spread soil binders;
* Wet the area down, sufficient enough to
form a crust on the surface with
repeated soakings, as necessary, to
maintain the crust and prevent dust
pick-up by the wind;
* Street sweeping, should silt be carried
over to adjacent public thoroughfares;
* Use water trucks or sprinkler systems
to keep all areas where vehicles move
damp enough to prevent dust raised
when leaving the site;
* Wet down areas in the late morning
and after work is completed for the day;
* Use of low sulphur fuel (0.5% by
weight) for construction equipment.
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION
The following policies are directed at protecting
the water quality, recreational value and visual
character of surface waters within the City of
Carlsbad.
A. GOAL
A city with high quality of water resources.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To control storm water pollutants.
B.2 To design storm water conveyance
systems that do not adversely impact
sensitive environmental resources.
B.3 To improve water quality within the City.
B.4 To coordinate the management of storm
water pollutant with federal, state and local
agencies.
B.5 To conserve and efficiently manage the
potable water resources available to the
City of Carlsbad.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Adopt and implement a Master Drainage
and Storm Water Quality Management
Plan.
C.2 Periodically, conduct an analysis of the
effectiveness of the overall storm water
pollution control management program in
Carlsbad.
C.3 Utilize Best Management Practices (BMP)
for the control of storm water pollutants.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 31
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
C.4 Make the necessary structural controls to
the storm water conveyance system to
remove or reduce storm water pollutant
levels.
C.5 Develop and implement a program to
detect and eliminate illicit connections to
storm drains and illegal discharges of non-
storm water wastes into storm water
conveyance systems.
C.6 Implement a program for the testing and
monitoring of storm water flows.
C.7 Preserve, where possible, natural water
courses or provide naturalized drainage
channels within the City.
C.8 Coordinate the needs of storm water
pollution management with habitat
management, aesthetics and other open
space needs.
C.9 Require that, where possible, naturalized
channels and pollution management basins
be landscaped with native plant species
which balance the needs of fire
suppression, habitat values, maintenance,
aesthetics and pollution absorption.
C.10 Permit public access to creeks, lakes and
lagoons, where consistent with sand
resource management practices.
C.11 Conserve, whenever possible, creeks in, or
restored to, their natural states.
C.12 Conserve, protect and enhance the water
resources of the City.
C.13 Promote the use of water efficient sprinkling
and gardening systems.
C.14 Require new development to utilize
measures designed to conserve water in
their construction.
C.15 Maintain natural water resources in the City
of Carlsbad in as natural a state as possible
by: (a) conserving or improving the
appearance and ecology of those which are
in a relatively untouched condition; (b)
restoring, in accordance with recognized
ecological principles and insofar as it is
possible, those water areas which have
been significantly altered, to a condition
which is most beneficial to the public; and
(c) simulating a natural condition in areas
which are to be altered in the future for
purposes of safety engineering, water
conservation, or recreation.
C.16 Prevent industrial waste, agricultural runoff,
water softener discharges, domestic
detergents, and other forms of water
pollution from entering the storm drain
system and polluting the City's water
bodies.
C.17 Utilize sensitive design criteria to protect
the integrity of the water resources in the
City.
C.18 Prohibit alteration of waterways and water
bodies that would cause significant adverse
impacts on the environment.
C.19 Prepare a long range plan that provides for
adequate potable water, and addresses
water conservation and reclamation
programs.
C.20 Conserve, and protect the water resources
including, but not limited to, floodplains,
shoreline, lagoons, waterways, lakes,
ponds, and the ocean.
C.21 Coordinate water quality preservation
efforts with other cities and agencies having
jurisdiction over the portion of drainage
basins which extend beyond the city limits.
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL
PRESERVATION
A. GOALS
A.1 A city in which its existing and continuing
heritage is protected, preserved,
recognized and enhanced.
A.2 A city proud of the beauty and
accomplishments characterizing its past
and continuing history.
A. 3 A city economy strengthened by historic
preservation.
B. OBJECTIVES
B.1 To encourage property owners to utilize all
available incentives for the preservation of
historic resources.
B.2 To promote the use of historic resources for
the education, pleasure and welfare of the
people of the City.
B.3 To cooperate with historic societies,
schools, libraries and citizens to stimulate
public interest in historic preservation.
B.4 To enhance the community's recognition
that objects of historic importance increase
both fiscal and community value.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 32
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
B.5 To enhance the City's appeal to tourists
and visitors in order to support and
stimulate business and industry.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
C.1 Prepare and maintain a Cultural Resource
Survey.
C.2 Create and maintain a local registry of
cultural resources.
C.3 Provide landmark identification of
designated cultural resources.
C.4 Encourage the use of tax incentives,
regional, state and federal programs which
promote cultural preservation to upgrade
and redevelop property vitality.
C.5 Encourage the formation of historic districts
for the protection of resources and
promotion of tourism.
C.6 Encourage the rehabilitation of historic
structures through adoption of the Historical
Building Code.
C.7 Incorporate the Cultural Resource
Guidelines in the environmental review of
development applications.
C.8 Maintain historical reference materials on
file in the main branch of the Carlsbad City
Library.
C.9 Implement the following measures for
paleontological sites:
1. Phase 1
Phase 1 shall consist of a qualified
paleontologist doing a literature and
records search, surface study,
subsurface testing if necessary, the
recordation of any sites, and a
recommendation regarding the need for
further work.
2. Phase 2
If it is determined during Phase 1 that
further work is necessary it shall consist
of the following:
A. A qualified paleontological
monitor shall be present at a
pregrading conference with the
developer, grading contractor,
and the environmental review
coordinator. The purpose of this
meeting will be to consult and
coordinate the role of the
paleontologist in the grading of
the site. A qualified paleontologist
is an individual with adequate
knowledge and experience with
fossilized remains likely to be
present to identify them in the
field and is adequately
experienced to remove the
resources for further study. No
grading permits shall be issued
until the monitoring plan has
been approved by the Planning
Director.
B. A paleontologist or designate
shall be present during those
relative phases of grading as
determined at the pregrading
conference. The monitor shall
have the authority to temporarily
direct, divert or halt grading to
allow recovery of fossil remains.
At the discretion of the monitor,
recovery may include washing
and picking of soil samples for
micro-vertebrate bone and teeth.
The developer shall authorize the
deposit of any resources found
on the project site in an institution
staffed by qualified
paleontologists as may be
determined by the Planning
Director. The contractor shall be
aware of the random nature of
fossil occurrences and the
possibility of a discovery of
remains of such scientific and/or
educational importance which
might warrant a long term
salvage operation or
preservation. Any conflicts
regarding the role of the
paleontologist and/or recovery
times shall be resolved by the
Planning Director.
3. Phase 3
Prior to occupancy of any buildings a
paleontological monitoring report shall
be submitted to the Planning Director
and the Carlsbad Historic Preservation
Commission. This report shall describe
all the materials recovered and provide
a tabulation of the number of hours
spent by paleontological monitors on
the site.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 33
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
C.10 Prohibit the alteration of properties of state
or national significance, unless reviewed
under requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 34
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TIOI\ ELEMENT
LOCAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ZONES
MAP 3
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 37
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
V. GLOSSARY
ACTIVE OPEN SPACE
AGRICULTURE
AQUACULTURE
BEACH
BUFFERS, BIOLOGICAL
BUFFERS, GREENBELT
BUFFER, PLANNING
CAMPGROUND
CULTURE
Open space areas that typically include more
complex site improvements and generally have
provisions for programmed recreation.
Agriculture is the cultivation and tilling of the soil,
dairying, the production, cultivations, growing and
harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural
commodities, the raising of livestock, bees, fur-
bearing animals, or poultry, and the preparation of
farm products for market.
Aquaculture means that form of agriculture devoted
to propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and
harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine,
brackish, and fresh water. Aquaculture does not
include species of ornamental marine or freshwater
plants and animals unless utilized for human
consumption or bait purposes and maintained in
closed systems for personal, pet industry or hobby
purposes. This definition specifically excludes
hydroponics.
A nearly level stretch of pebbles or sand which may
be man-made or created by the action of the water,
beside a body of water.
An area of natural habitat between a riparian or
other sensitive habitat and the area modified by
adjacent land uses. This area customarily is not
accessible to the general public other than for
passive recreation.
An open area which may be cultivated or maintained
in a natural state surrounding development or used
as a buffer between land uses or to mark the edge
of an urban or developed area.
An area of transition between the biological buffer
and urbanized land uses. Passive recreation areas
may be incorporated into the planning buffer in a
manner that focuses activity (and potential access)
away from the habitat.
A plot of ground upon which two or more campsites
are located, established or maintained for
occupancy by camping units of the general public as
temporary living quarters for recreation, education or
vacation purposes.
The acquaintance with and taste in fine arts,
humanities, and broad aspects of science reflected
in institutions specializing in zoology, paleontology,
history, archaeology, and horticulture.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 38
OPEN SPA CE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
DESIGNATED SCENIC HIGHWAY OR ROUTE
ENHANCED OPEN SPACE
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSTRAINED AREAS
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA
FIRE HAZARDOUS AREAS
FLOODPLAIN
GATEWAY
GREENWAY
GOLF COURSE
HABITAT
An eligible route that has been subjected to all of the
steps contained in the Carlsbad Scenic Highways
Program, found to possess scenic or historical
amenities worthy of preservation and implemented
by the adoption of a specific plan and overlay zone.
Open Space areas that have been improved.
The physical conditions which exist within the area
which will be affected by a proposed project,
including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna,
noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic
significance.
Areas in which development is not permitted due to
environmental conditions and which include
beaches, permanent bodies of water, floodways,
slopes greater than forty (40) percent, significant
woodland hatitats, major powertine easements,
railroad track beds, and other significant
environmental features as determined by the
environmental review process or by the City Council.
Any area in which plant or animal life or their
habitats are either rare or especially valuable
because of their special nature or role in an
ecosystem and which could be easily disturbed or
degraded by human activities and development.
Any land covered with grass, grain, brush or forest,
land situated close enough to such areas that are
seriously exposed to flying brands, situated on
slopes or isolated in such a manner that a fire would
be difficult to suppress or would result in substantial
fire or erosion damage.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated from
any source by flood water of the one-hundred year
frequency flood.
An area of varying dimension within the viewshed of
a major entrance route into the city.
An open space connector linking parks, nature
preserves, cultural features, or historic sites to each
other and with populated areas in order to improve
environmental quality and provide for outdoor
recreation.
A tract of land for playing golf, improved with trees,
greens, fairways, hazards, and which may include
clubhouses and shelters.
A place or type of site where a plant or animal
naturally or normally lives and grows.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 39
OPEN SPACE & CONSER VA TION ELEMENT
HISTORIC AREA
LINK OR CORRIDOR
NATURAL OPEN SPACE
OCEAN
A district, zone or site designated by a local
authority, state or federal government within which
the buildings, structures, appurtenances and places
are of basic and vital importance because of their
association with history, or because of their unique
architectural style and scale, including color,
proportion, form and architectural detail, or because
of their being, a part of or related to a square, park,
or area the design or general arrangement of which
should be preserved and/or developed according to
a fixed plan based on cultural, historical or
architectural motives or purposes.
A link or corridor is a connecting area which ties
together such open space features as environmental
resources, wildlife habitat, ecological preserves,
recreation areas, and cultural areas. Examples of
such links or corridors are greenways, trails,
roadways, visual corridors and railroad rights-of-
way.
"Natural Open Space" includes environmentally
constrained and nonconstrained areas that are in, or
similar to being in, their natural or naturalized state.
The whole body of salt water that covers nearly
three-fourths of the surface of the earth.
Amended July 5, 2005 Page 40
c
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Heritage Hpltwasbuikb 1926 to house the congregation of St psltriciss Churchat the southeast
comer of HardiagSa#tmd osllr Avenue. In 1952 the &uxchwas moved across thesueetwhac
it became the ws fim * o!bs. OMthenenfewyearsitservedashomctothc
City Manager, Chy cound, Palice Depamnmt and Fixe Depamma& and as a County bxauch library. As new Cityofiices were constructed and City deparnnents moved our, use of the building changed fkomthtofCity)I.ll, tothe City libmy, to the chUrcn'sfirary, ma studio for the Nonh
County Balk Finally, b 1979 the study We strumre WBS slated for demolition to make way
for 8 p.rldngloc however, it was rescued from demolition by a coafition coxmising of Fricndt of the Libnuy, the carkbrd HistrwicJ sodctyand voiumeerbuilding uadesmn who arranged for it
to be moved to Myrc Historial par% With onlyminorrepain, the old chd once againbecamr
a public meeting pkcc
Note: lnfonnation daived in pan from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Majone HowardJones.
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Contents
1
1
1
1 . INTRODUCTION ........................................ ............................................................
A . BACKGROUND AND INTENT .............................................................................................. B . STATE LAW ......................................................................................................................... C . RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ELEMENTS ........................................................................... 1
II . EXISTING CONDITIONS ....................................................................................... 2
A . GEOLOGIC AND SEISMIC HAZARDS ................................................................................. 2
B . FLOOD HAZARDS ................................................................................................................ 2
C . FIRE HAZARDS .................................................................................................................... 3
D . DISASTER PREPAREDNESS .............................................................................................. 4 E . HAZARDOUS MATERIALS .................................................................................................. 5
F . CRIME HAZARDS ................................................................................................................. 6 G . McCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT ...................................................................................... 6
H . OIL SPILLS ........................................................................................................................... 7
1 . ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELDS ............................................................................................ 8
111 . GOALS. OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION PRO- GRAMS ...................................................................................................................... 8
GENERAL ................................................................................................................................. 8
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ 8
GEOLOGY AND SEISMIC SAFETY .......................................................................................... 8
A . Goal ................................................................................................................................ 8
B . Objectives ........................................... i ........................................................................... 8
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................... 9
FLOOD HAZARDS .................................................................................................................. 10
A . Goal .............................................................................................................................. 10 B . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 10
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES .................................................................... 11
A . Goals ............................................................................................................................. 11
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 11
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ................................................................................................ 12
A . Goal .............................................................................................................................. 12
6 . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 12
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ..................................................................................................... 12
A . Goal .............................................................................................................................. 12 B . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 12
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 12
CRIME HAZARDS ................................................................................................................... 12
A . Goal .............................................................................................................................. 12
B . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 13
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 13
C . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 10
B . Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 11
c . Implementing Policies and Action Programs ................................................................. 12
.-
AIRPORT HAZARDS ............................................................................................................... 13
A. Goal ............................................................................................................................... 13
B. Objedive ........................................................................................................................ 13
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs .................................................................. 13
OIL SPILLS .............................................................................................................................. 14
A. Goal ............................ i .................................................................................................. 14
B. Objective ........................................................................................................................ 14
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs .................................................................. 14
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ............................................................................................... 14
A. Goal ............................................................................................................................... 14
B. Objective ........................................................................................................................ 14
C. Implementing Policies and Action Programs .................................................................. 14
IV. MAPS .................................................................................................................. 15
Map 1: SEISMIC FAULTS ........................................................................................................ 15
Map 2: 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN BOUNDARIES ..................................................................... 16
Map 3: HIGH PRESSURE GAS AND PETROLEUM TRANSMISSION UNES ......................... 17
Map 4: AIRPORT INFLUENCE AREA ...................................................................................... 18
Map 5: ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES AND SUBSTATIONS .......................................... 19
V. GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................... 21
Q
1. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
The purpose of the Public Sa&y Element is to
introduce safety considerations into the planntng and
decision-makurg processes of the City to reduce the risk
of injury, loss of lifk, propc~ damage and economic and
social dislocation resulting fiom natural and manmade
hazards. The element cataim the City’s goals and
objectives aimed at reducing the risks associated with
identified hazards. It provides infodon and imple-
men- policies and programs to improve land use plan-
development process.
ning and introduce miti%ating mcaswcs into the City’s
B. STATE LAW
Govc~CodcSd0n65302(g)requrcquinSeach
California city and county to include within its gemd
plan a public safety elanent which must address the
protection of the cammunity fram any reasanable risks
associated with the efkts of seismic and other plogi-
Safety Element is requiredto includc mapping of known
seismic and other geological hazards. where applicable,
it must also address don routes, peak load, water
supply nquirtmcnts, minimum road widths and clear-
ances around structures.
dy-ind~ccd hazards, fla and fins. Tbc Public
State law as0 allows citiestoaddrcss any other
locally nlcvant issues in its public sa&y element. In
addition to thost mentioned above, Carlsbad’s Public
Safety Element also addnsscs airport hazards, crime
preventiGQ disazterprcparodncssandthepmtbcCionfirom
other local hcalth and safity bazards sucb as fire, uime,
hazardous materials, and oil spills.
utilization ofthis element and implementation of
the proposcd action programs should help reduce the risks
to which local residents and their property are now
expod, or could be subject to in the future. However, it
should be rtcogL1lzcd that the scope ofthe element is broad
and the availability of data in many of the subject fields is
limited. For these reasons, the Public Safety Element
should not be considered as the final word in safety
pl-, but rather, it should be seen as a foundation to
be strengthesled and built upon in the future.
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
Particularly strong relationships exist bctween
the Public Safby Element and the Land Use and the Open
Space and Coaservation Wancnts. The Land Use Ele-
ment should include the wnsidmatbn of certain hamrd-
ous areas in the classification of land uses and their
intensity. Through restrictions on the development of
hazardous areas, identified by cadi11 investigation as
proposed in the Public Safety Element, the Land Use
Element will supplement the policies and action programs
of this clement.
Areas subject to severe hazards especially those
related to seismic or fld-pronc conditions should be
considered for a reduced level of development or open
spactprottction aspart oftheopen Spaceand Conserva-
tim Element.
Because good accessibility on the transportation
system is of vital importance in providing emergency
seMces, the Public Safety Element is related to the
CircUlationElanent.
Finally, the Public Safety Elcment also is related
to the Housing Element and the Historic Pnscrvarion
Elemcntinthatitidcnti6esarcasthatmayp~hazard-
ous conditians for residentiaI structures and proposes
prccauticmary measures related to older existing stmc-
hrrcs.
Page 1
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS
A. GEOLOGIC AND SEISMIC
HAZARDS
~~ ~__ ~ “There are no known a&e or
otentidly active fml&Cocatedwithin b the City Iimitd’
Gcottchnidandseismicbazardswi~thecity
These hazards ixlclllde advtrsc geologic
conditioos such as out~f*lopc beddin& laadslides and
andatherscismic CffkctS hcarthquakcs on regid
Maps ShCnMng anas of known geotcchnical, geologic, seismicand othefgwlogic hazards arc an& in
the findings contained in the Burklandand Associates
geotecbnid report (1 974) as updated bytheGeotcch ‘cal
Hazard AnalysisandMapping Studyprcparcd by-
and Associates . , Inc. in 1992.
of Carlsbad have a significant probability of ocumhg
and causing potential damage to pfoperty and possible
loss-of-I*.
mud flows, erosion, siltation, subsidence, ground shaking
Eaults.
thePlann~ngDcpartmcnt. Thcfdlowmgisasummaryof
-on the basis of cxistioggcatechnrca -
invcjtigations ofindividual devtlapmartsitcs.
--
tion, appmximatcly 85% of land within the City cauldbe
utilized fbr urban activity Mowing mutine gmtcdmical
-About 15% of laad within the City has gaAogic
conditionswhichwoprldrequircthatdcsaiicdgeoaedmical
sites to determine kibility for urban use.
investigations bc condlldcd at individual develapmmt
-Bascd~~tgdogi~browladge,dmearc
noknownactivtorpottntiallyactivcfaultslocpedwithin
thecitylimits. Thecl~lmowaadtvtfaultistheRose
Canyon Fault Zone located appraximatdy 3 to 4 miks
offshore. Mapping ofall )caown inactive faults located
within tk City arc illustrattd an Map 1: Scismic Faults.
-Erosion and the.rcsultiag siltation arc existing
geotectmical problems gmcrally fwnd within the untie-
VCiOpCdportiansOf~Citylirmts.
-Patentid gwtahid problans within tbe City
limits may include natural ard mpnuEacbrad slope and
bluEiastability, ~~QIvBtioll ofhard rock, u, flood-
ing, expansive and compnssible soils, and secondary
sciSlnicc&c&.
-Those portions ofthe City underlain by deep,
soft, satwatd soils may be susceptible to the seismic
hazardsofli~on,lurchcraduag,lateralsprtading
and local subsidence.
-The beach areas are susceptible to the scismic
susccptibie to the seismic hazard of seiche (raising and
hazard Oftsunami (tidal waves), andthe lagomartas act
lowering of wa!cr surfact).
-No Spacial Study zones, as required by the
Alquist-Priolo Geologic Hazards Act, (as of the latest
updateofthcActin 199O)havebeardelincatadwithinthe
City by the State Geologist, and based on the infbrmation
devclqxd in the Gaatechaicai Hazards Analysis and
Mapjnng study (1992), none are cxpccted.
B. FLOOD HAZARDS
The City of Cartsbad has the potential fbr flood
hazards along the its entire coastline as well as the
following major dramage basins:
1. BucnaVktaCrcdcPndButnaVistaLagcum
2.AguaHcdiondaC~itsnortherntributary,
3.SanMarcosCndca~ditsnorthcmtributary
4. BatiquitosLagom
5. Encinitascredc
aadtheAguaH#liondaLagnrm
Thcsc flood locations are idtntificd on
flood insurancC ratemaps (FIRM)thatarcsupplied by the
Federal Emcrgarcy Managanent Agency (FEW). The
maps are based 011 hydrologic (the distribution of- on
the surface) analysis, and hydraulic (the movement of
water) analysis. Data used in preparing the FIRMs
waves,btachpm~cs,topography,ddramagepatterns.
includes informatiion OD historical storm systans, tidcs,
Also locMtdwithinthc City suetwo dams anda
rescrvoirwhichbavcthe~for~oodmg. Tbese include Calavera Dam, which flows into the northan
tributary of the Agua Hedionda Creek, Squires Dam
which flows into Agua Hbdionda Creek itself and the
Creek. Further, there is the possibility of catastrophic
dam fsilure inuadation fiom Calavera Dam, Lake San
MarcosDam,StanleyMahrRcscrvoirandSquiresDam
in the cascofscismicactivity or saboagc. Thtscdams are
periodically iospccted by the Statc of CalifiDnria Divisioa
of Dam e. Mapping of floodmg due to OtaJtroPhic
ment.
Stanley MahrRcservoirwhichflowsintothesanMarcos
dam failure inundation is onfile in the Planning Depart-
ThCCityaddreJSCSthCSC~haZardarcaSinitS
Floodplain R@~&w (carlsbad Munici-
pal Code, chaptcr 21.1 10) which nquire a Special Use
Permit (SUP) for any development proposed m areas of
special flood hazards and areas of fld-reW erosion
hazards. The Floodplain Managancnt Regulations re-
strict or prohibit land uses collsjdcnd dinafld-
plain. They address SGuUfards ofconstrudim such as
ancharing of structures, COSlStNCtiOIl materials and mcth-
ods, and elevations and flood proofing. Also included are
standards fix utilities such as watcr supply lines and
sanitaryscwagesystems.
TheFIRMsandFloodplain Managanart Rcgu-
lations arc uscd by City staffto review any proposed
development witbin floodhazardareas (Map 2: lo0 Year
Floodplain Bouadarits). Data arc mpd from pro- poseddmlopmcntsthatdthathabitabk~c-
tures will be kept abovc fld cltvations. special certifi-
verifjalg compliance with thcsc fcgdations. cationsarc~tobesigncdbylicensadpmftssionals
Dcvclopmarts which donotfallunderthc Flood-
plain Manag-t Regulations arc also reviewed by the
City Eqkaing Department fbrfloodmg patential. Pro-
pOsaigradiagaaddrainageimprw4ncmsarranalyzedto
ensure that dramage is not dived from its natural
dramage basin to another basin that was not designed to
take that additid flow.
C. FIRE HAZARDS
Tbc City of Carlsbad Fire Dcpartmart cunartly
Carlsbad. The City was last surveycd by the Insurance
Services Offict @SO) in 1992 receiving a Class 4 rating.
the highest rating being 1 and 10 the lowest, the Carlsbad
Fin Dcpartmcnt offi adequate service.
provides fire protection and paramedic services to all of
BascdupantheISOratingsystanof1through 10,with
The catlsbad Firt Deparbnmt c~mtly main-
tainssixstationsthroughouttheCity. Thelocationsofthe
firestationsaredictatcdbyCarlsbad'sGrowthManage-
mmtPlanwhichcallsforadditionalfinstationswharcver
there arc morc than 1,500 dwelling units outside a five
minuterold-rcspansetimcfiranan existing station. Given
the cum traflic circulation master plan, all of Carlsbad
at buildout can be send fram the ding six sites, thus
Moa incrtases, the demand for emergency services will
incrtase. Firestationsaremanagedandpldtoassure
that additional personncl and equipment will be added as
necdcd.
maintainiagtbegnwvthmanagcmcntstandard. Aspopu-
As a City sumunded by natural %&on,
Carlsbad is a medium fire hazard area for wildland fires
whichthreatenbothdcvtlopcdandwrdcvtlopcdproperty.
In addition, then arc many inaccessible bdd
canyons and hillsides in Carlsbad which add to the City's
wildland fire hazard. During times of hot, dry weather
with easterly winds, it is not ullcommon to have several
serious brush fires that require Carlsbad to use outside
the City's wildland, canyons, hillsides and other habitats
an included in the Citywide Opcn Space Systcm and
discussedinthe OpcnSpaceandConsedonElanart.
Goals, Objectives, and Implanmting Policies and Pro-
discussed in greater detail in the Open Space and Conser-
vationElcmart.
mhlal-aidfircfightinghelptocantrolthefirts. Somtof
&ams addressing fire riskmanagcsncat in suchartas an
Page 3
Roughly 80 percent ofthe stnrdluc fires in
Carlsbad arc in single family resideaces Thtsc
typically iovolve cornmoll household cateats such as
filmuhiags,woodaadplastics.
The Carlsbad Fire Depsutmmt rquires amini-
mum flow ofwater for fire pmtectton in amdance with
theadoptaiUnifbrmFireC~d~dthc~S~~~~
office stadads. water mains scrviug singlafamily detachadboustsmustprovidtafknvof1,000to1,500
gallons per minu* in additimtothepeaknannal maxi-
mum daily consumption llccds fbr a neighborhood. ?be
required fire-flow standard for canmerctal, -lndustriaz man~ringandlargcaparmatbuil~varics6rom
1,500 to 5,000 gallons per minute, in addition to tbe peak
nonnaldailycmsmptm - nc!uis. nlisstatpdardisbased
on type ofcunstruw type ofuse aad
?'?W (sprinklers, etc.).
Cluvancrgeacyvchiclclrmato~is
alsoimportant. SUCh~is~bytheadapted
UniforFFireCodesrdd~pt~dCarlsbad~~ciratln-
tion stadads. Under tbc Fire Code, all portions ofa
buildiagshallbewithinl50faerofaserviccablcfire
accessroad. Onpublicstnessthemiuimumckarwidth
required fix amgcncy vehicles by tbe Fire Code ia 20
fe. For example, a res- street with pulring
In additial to providing fire protectioq the
emcr8cI1cy dcal SCrViCCS through fin argines and
CpkdbythcState.
Carlsbad Fin Department provides advanad basic and
paramedic ambulances. All fire fighters am certified to
Emergency Medical Tecbniciaa/Fire Service level as re-
-
D. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Page 4
w
place during any larger scale emergency or disaster. They
are: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics and
Finance. The City’s Emergency Operations Center lo-
cated at the Safety and Service Center is organized under
the Incident Command System. The normal activities of
most City departments lend themselves to supporting one
or more of the five major activities; and City departments
have been assigned responsibilities in the plan as it best
relates to the work they nodly do.
When an emergency is legally declared, govern-
ment powers are broadened. The City Council becomes
the Disaster Council and is able to focus its enhanced
governing powers on the immediate needs to the commu-
nity. The City Manager becomes the Director of Emer-
gency Services with the authority to manage all emer-
gency operations in the City. Selected department heads
serve as members of the Command Section with major
management roles in the emergency plan for guiding the
overall strategy of the response organization.
“Depending on the scale of the
emergency, [residents] will be relo-
cated to the closest possible emer-
gency center... the closestsuitablepub-
lic building or open area, such as
schools andparks for emergency care
and shelter areas.”
Carlsbad’s emergency plan follows the prevail-
ing view of disaster planners that evacuation of neighbor-
hoods during emergencies tends to complicate problem-
solving and the movement of emergency vehicles. Resi-
dents will.be relocated from their homes and businesses
only when it is the best option. Depending on the scale of
the emergency, they will be relocated to the closest pos-
sible emergency center. The City’s plan uses the closest
suitable public building or open area, such as schools and
parks for emergency can and shelter areas. Medical
supplies are pre-positioned at some city facilities. Agree-
ments exist with other agencies to use their facilities
during emergencies. Primary road arterials that could be
used to move people are: El Camino Rcal, Carlsbad
Boulevard, La Costa Avenue, Rancho Santa Fe Road, and
Carlsbad Village Drive.
Various training activities are conducted during
the year, and cuhnatc in an annual Citywide emergency
simulation exercise, the results of which permit the City to
continually refine the effectiveness of the City’s emer-
gency plan and response organization.
E. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
There are some industrial sites within the City
which store and use flammable materials and chemicals
which are hazardous if inappropriately used. However,
the sites are few in number relative to those found in other
cities of Carlsbad’s size and are heavily regulated by
local, county, state and federal laws.
Carlsbad is traversed by a freeway, a railroad,
and petroleum pipelines, as well as the oil and natural gas
pipelines to the Encina Power Plant (Map 3: High
Pressure Gas and Petroleum Transmission Lines). While
the potential exists for a hazardous materials transporta-
tion emergency in Carlsbad, such emergencies are in fact
historically rare; however, the Fire Department is pre-
pared to deal with an incident should one occur.
If evacuation should become necessary due to a
chemical spill or other accident which could result in the
exposure of Carlsbad residents to dangerous conditions, it
is the responsibility ofthe Police Department, in coopera-
tion with the Fire Department, to conduct an orderly
evacuation from endangered areas.
The City also belongs to the San Diego County
Unified Disaster Council and Joint Powers Authonv-
Hazardous Materials Response Team, which responds to
assist Carlsbad in a major chemical emergency.
The City also Us under the jurisdiction of the
San Diego County Hazardous Waste Management Plan
which is the primary planning document providmg overall
policy direction toward the effective management of the
Page 5
- source reduction,
-was&rmaunrzatr on, - on-site treatma6 and - off-site trtatmcnt at a multi- hahty.
.. . .
AUntwdevelopmcntproposalsWitbillCarlJbad
must provide compliance with this phn.
F. CRIME HAZARDS
Police protaction fix Carisbad residents is pro-
vided by the Carlsbad Police - which operates
from the Safkty Center located on Orion Way. Among
San Dicgo cities witb municipal police dcplrrtmenss,
carisbad has the second lowest FBI crime Indnr pcr
1,000 popul2uion.
Carlsbad has adopted a staadard ofamaximum
six-minutt rtsponsc time fbr police dcc on priority-
one ancrpcy calls. Police suvice (or the number of
officers smiq thc City) is based upon actual workload
measures including response times, -vel times, type of
service, number of calls fbr dce, and the time of day
that calls are received. The City’s fuarn -hie
Mormation Systan (GXS) will provide thc ability to
analyzcthisinfbnn;rtioamorc~andto~le~
City to provide police scrvicf cararrrent with danand.
The Poiicc llcpmmthu llltmQow prognms
designed to bcreasc crime pnvcntion includiDg Drug
Abuse Resistaacc Educatm ‘ @ARE),BusiatssWatch,
Neighborhood Watch, Opaatb CAT (combat Auto
“heft), operatioa ID (property i&ntifientinn), Jude Divenion, arxi the Guide Program. lbesc rn supple-
mcntai by aproblan solving approachused !-.%- ofhcasto
help solve cammunity problans which ofh arlists the
klp ofdhcr City depprtmarts as wellas wunty ami state
agarcies.
G. McCLELLAN-PALOMAR
AIRPORT
McCklla~~-Pd~Airportopenedia 1959with
a 3,700 fibos-loag by 100 fbot-wiide runway which was
latercxpandedto4,700fktby 15Okctin 1961. In 1973,
tion. It is dy operated fbm 6:OO a.m. to 9:OO p.m.
sifb tbe airport as a general utility faciiity-an airport
ma& serving airaaff with a maximum gross takeoff
wcigbtof12,5OOpaudsorkss. However,somtaircraA
largcrthan 12,50Opouodsbutlesstba~60,000poundsdo
operate at the airport. The limit of60,OOO patods per
aid will continueto limitthe airport to general avia-
tion; there are no plans fbr it to become a commercial
airport.
an ~irport T~C d TOWC~ ~8s placed in OF=-
daily. TbeFedcralAviatiOnAdmi&mb ‘~n (FAA) cias-
TbecomD1.drcns’ IveLandUscP McClm
&&gg)rAilDQ& prepared accordmg to FAA quire-
m~~ts by SANDAG, identifies arcas Wyto be impacted
by mise and €light activity created by pircnft opuations
Arts, the Clear Zooc, ami the Flight Activity
attbcairport. TbestlmpadcdarcarincludttbeAirport
zmt(Map4: AirporcInflucaccAna).
Tbt&2Q&&&mInaucnceArq cacompasscsk
dards or WlleIz helght rcstrictioas would be I\c*yM to
aras adjacarttothe airporrwhich could be tnpaded by
noire levels exceeding the Calihrnia State Noise Stan-
pmmt obstxudcms of navigable air space. Dtpcnding
Page 6
I
1983-85
1986-89
19904 1
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
on location, compatible iand uses include nm-midcntial
uses such as office, industrial, commtrcral ' or low density
residential uses such as single family dwcllmgs.
Tanked B8rrcW B8rged B8mbl
Yr E. Yr E8
39 250,000 3 s0,oOo
20 2S0,OOO 8 s0,Ooo
4 250,000 10 50,Ooo
~W.OO0 ' 2@1oo.ooo 0 0
7@5%,000 l4 7@l00.000 0 0
1 270,000 1 100*oO0
'The Clear 20 nes are land arcas adjacent tothe
ends of the runway over which aircraft using the airport
must pass for each operation, either arrival or departure.
These areas are owned by the County and generally
limited to open space types of land uses.
The Flipht Acti vim zon e identifies land within
the Influence Area which should be held Enc of intensive
development (for example, more than ten dwe- units
per acre), including high rise developmeat and all uses
which involve the assembly of large groups of people
(morethan 100). Theplanrecommcndsrestrictiagdevel-
opment to industrial land uses with a small section at the
southwestern comer designated as single family residen-
tial.
The City requires discretionary review of all
proposed development projects within the Purport Mu-
ence Area. All parcels must process either a site develop-
ment plan, planned industrial permit, or other discretion-
ary permit. All projects are required to wmply with
Federal Aviation Administration regulations concerning
the constnrctionoralterationofstructurtsthatmayaffect
navigable airspace.
H. OIL SPILLS
The City of Carlsbad has the potential of being
impacted by dine oil spills athougfi such an occur-
rence is considered unlikely. Ifan oil spill were to occur,
the authority and responsibility for clean up operations
would be assumed by the US. Coast Guard, in conjunc-
tion with the State Lands Commission and the California
Department of Fish and Game. The City, under its
Disaster Preparedness Plan, wwld assume responsibility
for any operations (such as traffic control) on land.
The only business in Carkbad that has direct
&liveryfiromoiltankersistheSanDi~GasandElectric
(SDG&E) Encina Power Plant locatcd north of cannon
Road along carlsbad Baulcvard. Annually, this facility
accepts oil deliveries from approximately four tankers
and three barges. As can be seen below in Table 1: Oil
Deliveries,thisnumbcrbaslessenedoverthelastdecade.
The reduction is due primarily to increased utilization of
natural gas rathcrthan oil.
Table 1: OIL DELIVERIES
Oil delivered to the Encina plant is larown as low
sulphur residual oil. This is a liquid substance, heated to
a temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit, which solidifies
below a temperahre of 90 degrees. Upon delivery, the
heated oil is transported from the tanker through a 225
fbot flexible line to a 20 inch diameter pipeline located
3,500 feet offshore from the power plant. Oil flow is
dually increased to a maximum of 12,000-14,000
barrelshour. Deliveries are normally complete within 12-
36 hours depending on the size of the cargo.
Oil spill hazards are considered minimal due to
the type of oil tmdkrcd fiom the tankers through the
pipeline to the plant. Should a leak occur, residual oil
would solidi@ and be easier to clean up than crude oil. The
chance of a shipwreck and subsapcnt oil spill arc also
considenxi negligible because the shoreline is not rocky,
no ok large vessels enter the area, and the site is well
identified.
Page 7
All oil transfix operatians, as well as unugaq
cleanup operations, art ddiucd by the Encina Marine
Tenninnl Operaoons ManuaVCaatingcncy Planandap-
pdby EhcCaast Guard. SDGBtEsubmittedaFinal
ContingarcyPlantotheDeparhnentofFishaadGameon
April 1, 1994. Approval of the donunart is +g.
Inspection of all operations and equipment are
conducted annually by cutificed personnel. An oil boom
deployment exercise is conducted annually for equipment
checkout and personnel training. This exercise is moni-
tored by the Coast Guard, the State Lands Commission,
and the Department of Fish and Game.
To reduce emergency response time by oil spill
cleanup contractors, San Dicgo Gas and Electric main-
tains emergency response equipment on scene during all
oil transfkr operations. This equipment includes a 110
foot oil spill response vessel which canies 3,000 fea of oil
containment boom. The vessel also canics skimming
equipment, oil storage capacity, and miscellaneous absor-
bent materiais. In addition, a 50 foot mooring vessel
assiststankwsandbargesin~lymooringtothef8cility.
Nkpersonnclopcratcthese~includingtwocerti-
shore-side equipment required during oil transfkrs. They
side equipment includes 1,600 fkt of oil codainment
boom stored in a mobile trailer plus a large assortment of
miscellaneous absorbent materials. All ofthis equipment
would be available to the City of Carlsbad as well as
nearby coastal communities in the event of oil spills
affcaing their shorelints or any of the lagoons.
fied divers. on shore, two ccrtifiedoperators operattthe
areinconstantradiocontactwithvesJelpersomrei. shorn
1. ELECTRO-MAGNETlC FIELDS
Elcctro-magnetlc fields (EMFs) arc gmmted by
the movement and consumption ofclectric power. High-
voltage transmission lints, low-voltage distribution lines,
substations, electrid service vaults, and household ap-
pliances all generate Ems. Although there has bear a
greatdcalofscientificdiscussionng;udingtheimpactsof
EMF, there has been no “d” level of exposure yet
establishedforEMFeffccts. Therearcnofedtralorstatc-
setEMFstandardsatthistimc;howtver,somcmunicipal
-
agencies arc proposing a policy 0f“pnadent avoidance”.
Thispo~cyallawodccision-makentoreviewstratcgttsto
minimize EMF exposun, but only adopt those which look
to be ‘prudent’ investments given their costs and cumt
level of scientific kdcmadm g about possible risks.
It is the City’s policy to monitor both rcseafch in
this field as well as regulatory proposals of fderal and
state health and cnvirommtal agencies. However, until
comprehensive land use procedures are developed and
required by such an agency, the City does not propose to
adoptanylaaduscrtgulationsforEMFs. Existingelectri- -
tal transmission lines traversing the City are identified on
Map 5: Electric Transmission Lines and Substations.
111. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLlCfES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS
GENERAL
A. Goal
A City which minimizes injury, .ass of life am
damage to property resulting from fin, flood, crime,
hazardous material, or seismic disaster occumence.
-
GEOLOGY AND SEISMIC SAFETV -
A. Goal -
A City which minimizes injury, loss of life, aad
damage to property resulting fiom potential geologic and
seismic disasters.
B. Objectives
B.1 To cstabiish a dcvelopmcnt project review
proctss that allows consideration of seismic and geologic
Page 8
hazards at the earliest possible point in the development
process, preferably before comprehensive engineering
workhascommglccd.
B.2 To develop a program to idcntifj. existing
potentially hazardous structures in the City of Carlsbad.
These structures shall be abated or modified within a
reasonable period of time, or their usage or occupancy
modified when loss of life is a factor.
B.3 To work with other agencies to increase
public awareness of geologic and seismic hazards.
B.4 To institute policies and programs that ob-
serve physical constraints in the City of Carkbacl regard-
ing seismic and geologic problems and intcg?.ate them into
the planning and development review process.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Review and revise all applicable City codes,
ordinances, and policies, when necessary, to ensun
compatibility with the geologic and seismic information
contained in this element (e.g. gradmg ordinanct, environ-
mental protection ordinance).
C.2 Require project applicants to submit cvi-
dence that structures are designed to meet ground re-
sponse characteristics of their individual site.
C.3 Prohibit the location of critical structures
dircctlyacrossknownfaultsdessageotechnicaland/or
seismic investigation is perfoxmed to show that the fault is
neither active nor potentially active.
C.4 Use the City's geotechnical'maps (prepared
by Leighton & Associates, Inc., 1992) as generalized
guidelines for planning purposes and in detemmm . . gthe
type of geotechnical report to be required as well as the
Hazards/Constraints Map, Land Use Capability Map,
Fault Location and Seismically-Induced Ground Shaking
Map, Mineral Resources and Catastrophic Dam Failure
Inundation, and the Tsunami and Seiche Hazard Zone
extentofthenport. Thtsemapsincludethc~ 'cal
Map. (These maps are on file in the Planning Depart-
ment.)
c.5 Require applicants to conduct de!tailed gco-
stnrctionofcriticalstructuns(hugh-occupancystructures
logic and seismic investigations at sites where the con-
and those which must remain in operation during emer-
gencies) and structures over four stories are under consid-
eration.
C.6 Enforce the State Map Act provision that
subdivision maps may be denied if a project site is not
physically suitable fix either the type or density of a
propored development.
C.7 Requin qualified professionals in the fields
of Soil Enginemkg and Engineering Geology to review
gdmg plans and inspect arcas of excavation during and
after grading, to evaluate slope stability and other
geotachnical conditions that may Sect site development
and public safety. It is imperawe in areas of known or
suspected landslides and/or adverse geologic conditions
to ascertain slope stability befort and after development.
The following dektmum ' 'om should be made in these
cases: extent of landslide, depth-to-slide plane, soil types
and strtagths, presence of clay seams and ground water
UmditiOnS.
C.8 Establish procedures to efficiently process
required geotcchnical reports. All reports dealing with
geology should be produced, reviewed, and approved by
geotechnically competent persons. However, only in
thosecaseswherecitystaf€cannotadequatelyrcvicwand
assess geologic reports should outside consulting help be
sought.
C.9 Establish a program to identie and evaluate
existiag potentially hazardous stnrctutes. This work
should include the assistance of a structural engineer
experienced in this field.
The following structures shall be identified:
1) Structures, built prior to 1933;
Page 9
2) Public buildmgs, especially ones with emer-
gency service potential; and
C.17 Desrgnall structurts inaccordanccwiththe
seismic design standards of the Uniform Building Code
and State building requirements.
3) Major public utilities.
FLOOD HAZARDS c.1oAbateormodify~yhazardousscruc-
tures wbm loss of iifc is a potentd haor. Ifthe
demolition of residential structures is required, an ad-
equate relocation program for legal residents ofthe struc-
ture shall be instituted.
C . 1 1 Develop recommendations regarding
and structurally unstable architectmi appendages and
ornaments, such as parapets or marquees.
taminfbdmasonry,agedand~idatcdstrucSurts
C. 12 Require installaticm ofappropriate siltation
and erosion control measufes on proposed buildmg and
development sites wherever thcre is a potential fbr soil
erosion.
C. 13 Expand the City's database ingeology and
related disciplines and, in addition, cooperate in a
regionwidc program, ifom is cstablishcd.
C.14 Review and updatt periodically the &-
mation contained in this element to Meet the latest
geotechnical data available.
C.15 that geatechrucal aditions in-
cluding soil eaginecring, gcologic and seismic conditions
ping study (Lelghton & Assoctates , Inc., 1992) art
includcdintheGeotechnicalHazardsAnalysisandMap-
generalized in nature and sbnrld be used fbr pianrung
purposes only. Site specific investigations, citbcrroutint
or detailed (depembg upon the proposed dcvdopment
andexisting~calconditioasofthesite),sbouldbe
performed prior to the gmnting ofapproVa to proo#d
withdmlopment. Gcotahu 'calHanrrdsMapsarcavail-
able in the Planning Department.
C.16 Require an investigation by a qualified
engineeringgtologist,whereithasbeendcramtrzcd . thata
probable seismic hazard exists.
A. Goal
A City which minimizes injury, loss of life, and
damage to property resulting fiom the occurrence of
floods.
6. Objectives
B.l To develop standards and criteria to reduce
floodbazardsandimplementthembyadoptingnewcodes
and ordinances or strengthening existing ones.
B.2Tortstrictorprohibituseswhicharedanger-
ow to the health and safety of people or adversely afkt
property due to water and erosion hazards, or which result
in damagmg increases in erosion or flood height or veloci-
ties.
B.3 To continue to pursue flood control programs
through such means as: application of the grading ordi- nancc,thefloodplainoverlayzone,andthencommenda-
tions of the Open Space and Conservation and the Public
Safety Elements.
B.4 To seek the cooperation and coordination of
aU jurisdictions and agencies such as the San Diego
County Flood Control District, involved in the mitigation
of fld hazards.
C. Implementing Poficies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Mrce the Colby-Alquist Floodplain Man-
agement Act which prohibits the placement of structures
in the floodway, except for public utility or communica-
tion lines.
Page 10
C.2 Require a Special Use Pennit for all develop-
ment proposed within the 1 00-year floodplain. Review all
such proposals to ensure that all building elevations are
higher than the peak flow level of a 1 00-year flood and do
not adversely impact other properties.
C.3 Require all proposed dramage facities to
comply with the City’s “Standard Design Criteria” to
ensure they are properly sized to handle 100-year flood
conditions.
C.4 Comply with all requirements of the State
Department ofWater Resources’ Division ofDam Safely
to ensure adequate flood control.
C.5 Review all new development proposals to
ensurccompliance~thosesectionsoffitles 18and20
pertaining to dramage and flood control structures.
C.6 Comply with Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency requirements to have a program of iden@-
ingfloodhazardareas andcontrollingdevelopmentwithin
these areas in order for residents to qualie for federal
flood insurance.
C.7 Require installation of protective structures
or other design measures to protect proposed building and
development sites from the effects of flooding or wave
action.
FIRE AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES
A. Goals
A. 1 A City which minimizes the injury, the loss of
life and damage to property resulting from fire hazards.
A.2 A City which optimizes the oganization and
delivey of emergency SeTvjces.
B.. Objectives
B. 1 To reduce fire hazards to an acceptable level
of risk.
B.2 To maintain an initral emergency travel re-
sponse time of five (5) minutes.
B.3 To maintain close coordmation between
planned improvements to the circulation system wib the
City of Carlsbad and the location of fire stations to assure
adequate levels of service and response times to all areas
of the community.
B.4 To require a minimum flow of water for fire
protection in Bccordance with adopted City Unifonn Fire
Code.
B.5 To consider, in land use decisions, site con-
straints in terms of hazards and current levels of emer-
gency service delivery capabilities. In areas where popu-
lation or building densities may be inappropriate to the
hazards present, measures shall be taken to mitigate the
risk of life and property loss.
B.6 To coordinate the delivery of fire protection
services through mutual aid agreements with other agen-
cies when appropriate.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 EnfbrcetheUniformBuildingandFinCodes,
adopted by the City, to phde fire protection standards
for all cxistiog and proposed structures.
C.2 Review new development proposals to con-
sider emergency access, fiirt hydrant locations, fire flow
rtquirrmarts, and wildland fire hazards.
C.3 Require new development to provide the
lnstailation of emergency water systems and all-wcather
access roads prior to the placement of combustible mate-
rials on the site.
Page 11
C.4 Continue the use of.local ordinances to
expand the use of automatic fire sprinklers (above the
minimums required by re@d inodd buildmg wdes)
andrcquirewoodroofi tobefinretvdanf cspeclally in
new commercial and residential coastruction.
‘ C.5 Inspect all new or altered buildmgs and
structures to be sure they codom with applicable fire,
building and lifk safety codes.
C.6 Administer awcedabamxmtprogramto
limit firehazards in andarowrddcvtlopcd areas.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
A. Goal
A City which provides for cmcf8~1cy response
during and after catastrophic events.
B. Objectives
B.l Toundertaktpcriodicdisastcrextrcisesto
test and improve jurisdictional and intcr-dqmmental
coordination and responseto emcrgcIlcics brought about
by catastrophts such as fire, flood, autfiquakes, and
hazardous spills.
B.2 To establish and maintain safk and efiixtive
evacuation routes.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Maintain and periodically update the Citv of
Carlsbad Emernencv Plan as appropriate information
becomesavailable. RcvisionsshallrefinetheovtrallCity
ments and activities for potumal disasten.
EmergarcyPlantoiacludespcdficacrgencyrcqub
C.2 Promote public awafQltss ofpossible natu-
ralandmau-madehazards, mcasurcs whichcan betaken
to protect li~eg and property, respons~plans, aad~vacu- ation routes.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
A. Goal
A City which minimks injury, loss of lifk, and
damage to prupcm nsulting fiom hiuardous materials
disastaoccumncc.
B. Objectives
B.l To limit the hazards associated with the
manufscture, use, trausfkr, storage and disposal of haz-
ardous materials and hazardous wastes through enforce-
ment of applicable local, county, state and fedtral regula-
tions.
B.2TocomplywithSanDicgoCounry’s~-
ous waste Management Plan.
B.3 To regulate locations for the manufkture,
storage, and use of hazardous materials within the City
through implementation of Title 20 of the Carlsbad Mu-
nicipal Code, the Zoning Ordinance.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C.l Review land use decisions to coslsider am-
straints presented by the potential for on-site and off-site
contamination by use, transfer, storage, or land disposal
of hazardous materials and wastes. Land use decisions
should be consistent with fkderal, state and county envi-
ronmental regulations.
C.2 Provide for hazardous materials emergency
incident responses. Coordinate such responses with ap-
plicable fideral, state and county agencies.
C.3 Maintain regulations which nquire proper
storagcanddisposalofhazardousmaterialstoreducethe
likelihd of leakage, explosions, or fire, and to properly
contain potential spills from leaving the site.
Page 12
C.4 Enhance and expaud the use of desiltationl
pollutant basins to fiurction as hazardous material spill
control Edcilities to prevent the spread of contaminants to
downmeam anas.
CRIME HAZARDS
A. Goal
A City which minimizes injury, loss of life, and
damage to property resulting fiom crime.
B. Objectives
B.l Tomaintainatughstandardforthedelivery
of law enforcement services, including a cosnmitment to
the use of state-of-the-art equipment and management
techniques.
B.2 To provide sworn staffin sufficient numbers
to support basic patrol services consistent with pattern
observed in progressive departmen& serving cities in the
population range comparable to Carlsbad.
B.3 To strive to provide civilian staffin sufficient
numbcrstosupport swornsta€€inservices suchas crime
tion, and taking reports at incident scenes.
preventiq investigative suppo& clime Scae investiga-
B.4 To encourage crime pnvtntian through the
pianning process by establislung specific desigu criteria and standards to be used in the review of land use
development.
C. implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Authorize and encourage rtpnscntatt ‘ves of
the Carlsbad Police Department to participate in interde-
partmental co&rcnces to review specific land use devel-
opment proposals as they relate to street access and dety
to minimize opportunities for crimes to occur.
C.2 Maintain and update guidelines fbr the utili-
zation of street and public building lighting systems that
conserve energy and meet Palomar Observatory require-
ments as well as help in crime prevention.
C.3 Maintain efforts to educate the public about
crimedetcmcethroughprograms IiketheNeighbohood Watch Program within residential neighborhoods and the
Business Watch Program within commercial and indus-
trial areas. Encourage similar community-riented polic-
ing and problem-solving techniques in working with the
community to reduce crime.
C.4 Remain active in crime prevention by work-
ing with human care agencies, recreational agencies,
educational services and community groups to:
1. reduce victimktion;
2. encourage recreational opportunities to pro-
3. maintain awareness of potential problem
vide off‘hool hour activities for youth; and
areas.
AIRPORT HAZARDS
A. Goal
A City which minimizes noise and safety hazards
wih areas around the airport.
6. Objective
To ensure that development in the Auport Influ-
ence Area occurs in compliance with relevant adopted
policies.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
C. 1 Coordinate with the San Diego Association
of Governments and the Federal Aviation Administration
toprotectpublichealth, safetyandwelfarebyensuringthe
Page 13
ordcrlyopcrationoftheAvportandtheadoptionofland
use measures that minimize the public's exposure to
excessive noise and safety hazards within arcas around the
airport.
C.2 Comply. to the cxtent possible and consistent
with City noise and land use policies, with the nquire-
menu and recommtndations ofthe Reg~onal Arport Land
Use Commission and the Federal Aviation Adminisvati on
regarding development proposals wib the In-
flulencch.
c.3 Reviewdevtlopmentpropos?lsintheAvport
InfluenccAreatotnsurethatdesignftaturtsanincorpo-
rated into proposed site plans which specifically address
arc& crash and noise hazards.
OIL SPILLS
A. Goal
A City which minimizes injuries, loss of life and
property damage resulting hm oil spills.
B. Objective
To encourage and cooperate with the fkieral
govcrmnent, state agencies and san Dicgo Gas and Elec-
tric to dmlop an anergcncy oil cleanup plan.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
c.1 support U.S. coast Guard rrspauiiIities (under the Encino Marine Terminal opgatlons Coatin-
gency Plan) for directing and regulating all oil transfk
op#atioasandanagcncycleanupopaatians.
C.3 Support the jomt annual inspections of all
opcrauons and equipment conducted by the U.S. Coast
Guard, the California Department of Fish and Gme. and
the San Diego Gas and Electric Company.
C.4 Support the Horn of the San Dicgo Gas and
EltcVic Company in providing and maintaining emer-
gency cleanup equipment in the event of an oil spill.
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELDS
A. Goal
A City which actively pursues the latest donna-
tion on EMFs to respond as quickly as possible. if
ncctssary to reduce public exposure to EMFs.
B. Objective
Toupdate Citypoliciesandordinarrces, Wtrenand
if it is ncctssary, as additional infbnnaton regardang the
impacts of elcctromagneuc fields becomes available.
C. Implementing Policies and
Action Programs
Monitor ffscardl in this field as well as the
regulatory proposals of ftderal and state Mtb and
cnvironmcntal agencies. Until comprchensivt procedures
are dcvcloptd and requared by such an agcacy, do rref
adopt laad usc or other regulations for EMFs. Work with
SDG&E to provide information regardrng traasmjssion
line field strength data to concrmcd parties.
.. .
Page 14
100 YEAR FLOOD BOUNDARIES
Page 16
..
MAP2
HIGH PRESSURE GAS & PETROLEUM MAINS
I
1 --
MAP3
Page 17
- ..- .. .. .
-_.- .__..- ,__ ...... .. . .,
MAP4 Page 18 ,
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES AND SUBSTATlONS
Page 19
V. GLOSSARY
ACCEPTABLERISK
AVOIDABLE RIsI(;
CALIF0RNIADEPAR"TOFl"S
FORTATION (CALTRANS)
CALIF0RNIAE"MENTALQUAG
ITY ACT (CEQA)
CALTRANS
CEQA
CITYWIDEFACILITIES AND IMPROVE
MENTSPLAN
DEFENSIBLEi SPACE
The level of risk below which no specific action
by local government is deemed necessary.
Risk not necessary to take because individual or
public goals can be achieved at the same time or
at less total %ost" by other means without taking
the risk.
The state agency in charge of transporntion
planning, construction and maintenance of the
state's highway system.
Requires the assessment of projects for environ-
mental effects, establishes procedures for prepar-
ing and processing environmental documents and
includes requirements for the monitoting of
environmental mitigation conditions placed on a
See California Department of Transportation.
project.
A city's governmental budget that programs
public facilities to fit its fid capability some
years into the future. Capital improvement
advance and should be updated annually, so as to
provide a link to the annual budgeting process.
See California Environmartal Quality Act.
A plan which identifies the public facilities
which will be needed when the City is com-
Concept of urban space designed to inhibit crime
by.utilizing the propriaary conccrns of residents.
Key ingredients in designing defensible space
residents to visually suwey the public areas of
their residential environment; enhancing spheres
of taritorial influence within which residents can
easily adopt proprietary attie, and, enhancing safw through the strategic geographic locations
of intensively used community facilities.
programs axe usually projected five years in
pletely developed.
include: improving the natural capability of
Page 21
Q
D-TO-SLlDEPLANE
FIREHAZARD
FIREaAzARDousAREAs
FIREPREVENTION
FIREPROTEC"IONSERVICE!3
-Thedis&ncefoom* ground.to.the.rupturc
SurEda of a landslide.
Any cQndith or action which may ilwxemc the
potential of fire to agreatadcgrec than that
customarity Ilbco&nizcd as normal by official
agencies rqonsibk fw fire pmmtion or
I_
suppressian, or which may obstnrct, delay,
hinder or intcrfkrc with the opcations of the fim
agency or the egress of OccupantS in the went of
fire. -
Any land covd with grass, grain, brush or fm, land situated close enough to such areas
that are seriously exposed to flying brands,
situatedon Sropesarisolated in sucha manner
that a fire would be difficult to suppress or
would result in substantial fm or erosion dam-
age,
-
__
__ The function of approving building plans; in-
specting buildings, tbcircantcnts, and theirfire
protection equipment to buildings, their con-
tarts, and their fire protection equipment to eliminate or minimize hazardous Conditims or
the causes of fires to serve as a guide for future
Any official agency charged with the responsi-
bility of pmtectbg life andor proputy through
such operations which may be necessary to
extinguish or control any fire, perform any
0Pa;rtions; public education; and inv-g
fire prevention prioritic3.
-
rcsCUe aperaton, inV&gatc suspeca or re-
ported fires, &as leaks, or Other hazardous
conditiolls ar Jihration.
Land area adjacent to a watucmm which is
from a 1OO-year flood.
subject to inundation of floodwaten cxpccted
Page 22
mxHlDWAY
GMP
GROWTH MANAGEMENT P!ROGRAM/
PLAN GMP)
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ZONE
HYDRAULIC
HYDROLOGY
LATERALSPREADING
LFMP
LIQUEFACTION
.. .A xivex channd andadjacent land area within a
floodplain needed to carry a 1Wyear fnquency
flood without increasing the water surface eleva-
tion m01c than 1 foat at any point. The bound-
ary of the loo-ycar fldway shall be dttermined
InsuranccMaps. using data contained on the City's National Flood
see Growth Management Plan
A comprehensive approach to land use planning
now and in the future. It iinks residential,
commercial and industrial development directly
to the availability of public Services and facili-
tics. It se& limits on the total number of hous-
ing units to be built and increases the total
City.
A g~hicallydcfincd area in the City, the
bounda& of which were based upon logid
facilities and improvements planning relation-
ships. Under the City's Growth Management
Plan, there are 25 mcs and a plan for facilities
and improvements is required for each me
operated by the resistance offd, or the pres-
sure transmitted when a quantity of liquid (as
watm or oil) is forced through a comparatively
smaU orifice or through a tube.
The science dealing with the properties, distribu-
tion and circuiation of water and snow.
Shallow-angle dope failure cad by liquefac-
tion or a subsurface layer.
Sec Incal Facilitia Management Plan.
The process of becoming liquid. Liquefaction is
caused by strong vibratory motion in saturated, loose, sandy soils. As a result of the conditions
amount of opal space to be pnestrved in the
befm development can OCCUT.
required to~liquefaction, in carlsbad, areas
of possible liquektion are limited to alluvial
soils in the valleys and low-lying areas of the
City.
Page 23
UK!ALFACILITYMANAGEMENTPLAN
0
LURCHCRACKING
PUBLIC FA-
RIGHTaF-WAY
SANDAG
SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERN-
MENTS (SANDAG)
SUBSIDENCE
UNACCEPTABLERISK
Shows how and when the following facilks and
impnwemmts 11(yxssa~y to accommodate devd-
've facilities, library,
opmentwithin thezonewillbeinsralledar
financed; city - -- parrks, drainage, --
ticm, fire facilities, apa! space, schools, mer
Edciltiesaudwater~tics.
Phommon assward with strong earthquakes
whereby the ground isdisbubed and cracked by
Uses or structures that provide suvices to the
public such as a library, City Hall, fire station,
police station, park, traffic signal or major
street.
Theareaof land which has been dedicated for
public use for transportation purposes (i.e. a
stnet, freeway or raiiroad).
See San Diego Association of Governments
(SANDAG).
The regional planning agency for the San Diego
Region of which Carisbad is a member agency.
The gradual sinking of land as a rcsult of natural
ormanmadeeaws.
Level of risk above which specific action by
govunment is deemed to be necessary to protect
lifeandpmperty.
..
earthqualteoscibtion.
Page 24
RECREATION
Li
b
July 2003
Heritage Hall was built in 1926 to house the congrcganon of St Patxick's churdr at the southeast
comer of Harding Street snd Oak Avmuc In 1952 the church was moved across the street where
it became the ws fimaQrinistra tive offices. Overthe next few years it served as home to the
City Manager, C@ Cound, Police Department and Fkt Depanment, and as a County brurch library. As new City offices were constructed and City departments moved out, use of the building changed from that of City Hall, to the City library, to the childnn's library, to a studio for the North
County Ballet. Finally, in 1979 the sturdy little suueture was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lot; however, it was rescued from demolition by a coalition consisting of Friends of the Libmy, the Carlsbad Hinorical Society and volunttu building tradesmen who ananged for it
to be moved to Magee Historical Park. With only minor repairs, the old chd once again became
a public meeting place.
Note: lnforxnation derived m pan from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Majorie HowardJo-
Contents
1 1
A . Background ....................................................................................................... 1
State Law .......................................................................................................... 1
D . Quimby Act ........................................................................................................ 2 E . Growth Management Program .......................................................................... 2
Park & Recreational Needs Generated by Industrial Uses ................................ 3
Primary Pam Classifications .......................................................... ............. 4
Active/Passive Areas ................................................................................... 5
H . Miscellaneous Landscape/Open Space Areas .................................................. 5
Future Recreational Development ..................................................................... 6
. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................
B .
C . Relationship to Other Elements ......................................................................... 1
F .
G . Park Inventory Introduction ................................................................................ 3
1 .
2 .
3 . Regional Open Space Park ......................................................................... 5
Facility Standards .............................................................................................. 6 I .
J .
II . GOALS. OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS ............................................................................................................ 8
Park Development .................................................................................................. 8
A . Goals ................................................................................................................... 8
B . Objectives ........................................................................................................... 8
C . Implementing Policies & Action Programs .......................................................... 8
Recreation Programs ............................................................................................. 9
A . Goals 9
B . Objectives ................................. i ....................................................................... 10
C . implementing Policies and Action Programs .................................................... 10
Special Resource, Open Space & Cultural-Historical Areas ............................ 10
A . Goals : ................... 10
C .
..................................................................................................................
............................................................................................
B . Objectives ......................................................................................................... 10
Implementing Policies and Action Programs .................................................... 10
111 . PARKS & RECREATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN ................................................ 12
IV . MAPS ..................................................................................................................... 13
Map 2: Northwest Quadrant Parks & Recreation Map ........................................... 14
Map 3: Northeast Quadrant Parks & Recreation Map ........................................... 15
'Map 4: Southwest Quadrant Parks & Recreation Map .......................................... 16
Map 5: Southeast Quadrant Parks & Recreation Map .................................... 17
Map 1 : Citywide Parks & Recreation Map ............................................................. 13
V . TABLES
Table 1: Park Acreage Demand .............................................................................. 2
Table 2: Facilities Standards ................................................ : .................................. 6
Table 3: Anticipated Future Park Development Projects ......................................... 7
July 2003
VI .
VI1 .
12 ........................................................................ 18 Table 5: Uses in Recreation Areas
Table 4: Estimated Park Acreage at Buildout ........................................................
APPENDIX 1 .......................................................................................................... 26 Miscellaneous Landscapelopen Space Areas ....................................................... 26
Medians ................................................................................................................. 27
Trails ....................................................................................................................... 27
APPENDIX 2 .......................................................................................................... 28 Existing & Future Park Acreage ............................................................................. 28
VIII . GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................... 29-30
July 2003
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND
The City of Carlsbad is strongly committed
to the development of park facilities and recreation programs to meet the needs of its citizens, tourists and employees. The City has
determined that park and recreation facilities contribute significantly to the quality of life of its
residents, and consequently, have required a Parks and Recreation Element to establish the foundation for current operation and future
development of park facilities and recreation programs.
“The City determined that park
and recreation facilities
contribute significantly to the
quality of life of its residents,
and consequently, have
required a Parks and
Recreation Element to
establish the foundation for
current operation and future
development of park facilities
and recreation programs. ‘I
The intent of this element is to provide the
policy framework by which the City will plan, develop, and provide quality active and passive park facilities, trails and recreational programs to
ensure that the residents, tourists, and employees of Carlsbad are afforded the opportunity to enjoy optimum leisure experiences. Furthermore in
accordance with the City’s Strategic Plan, The Recreation Department has identified target issues important to those who live, work and
recreate in Carlsbad and is committed to providing the following:
Enhanced Access to Open Space
0 Creating Strong Community
Providing Lifelong Learning Opportunities Establishing 8 Preserving Safe Places to
Gather
B. STATELAW
Under State Law (Section 65000 et seq, California Government Code) all cities and
counties must adopt a General Plan with seven
(7) mandatory elements, which include: land use,
circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and public safety. In 1985, the state law was amended to allow cities and counties to
include other elements in its general plan, which, in the judgment of the City Council, relate to the
physical development of the City. The City Council has determined that the planning and
development of parks facilities and recreation programs are an integral part of the physical
development of the City, and must be included as part of its General Plan.
C. RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
California law requires that general plans
contain an integrated, internally consistent set of policies. The Parks and Recreation Element,
although not mandatory, has been prepared consistent with all other .elements of the General Plan.
Additionally, goals, objectives and
implementing policies and action programs have been formulated to be consistent with the
objectives established in the City’s Local Coastal Program. ’
The Parks and Recreation Element is
strongly influenced by the Land Use Element, in that each recreational facility has been located
within a compatible land use area. This Element does not dictate specific locations for recreational facilities, with the exception of Special Resource
Areas, but rather recommends general areas and site criteria for future recreational facility development.
The Parks and Recreation and Open Space and Conservation Elements also have a strong
relationship. The Open Space and Conservation Element identify areas desirable for future open
space. These areas are geographically shown on the Conceptual Open Space and Conservation Map and may be suitable for recreational activitles. The Parks and Recreation ‘Element
.
July 2003 Page 1
proposes recreational uses in some of these areas when they are compatible to land use and
potentially appropriate to public recreational needs such as trails. The intent of the Parks and
Recreation Element, however, is not ,to establish
land use policies for these areas, but rather to provide recreational opportunity within the context
of the existing General Plan policies.
L
"The park performance
standard requires three (3)
acres of Community Park and
Special Use Area per 7,000
population within a park
district. If
The Circulation Element contains
designated bicycle routes, trails and pedestrian access provisions so it bears a relationship with the Parks and Recreation Element.
TABLE 1: PARK ACREAGE DEMAND AT BUILDOUT
ANTICIPATED
PARK AC. PARK AC.
DEMAND BUILDOUT r
DWELLING UNITS POPULATION PARK
QUADRANT
Finally, because the classification of parks
(size, location, recreational amenities) relates to
the amount and location of the population, the Parks and Recreation Element is related to the
Housing Element.
NW Quadrant
NE Quadrant
SW Quadrant
SE Quadrant
TOTALS
D. QUIMBYACT
12,952 30,020 90.1 ac. 175.33 ac.
8,267 ' 19.161 57.5 ac. 82.20 ac.
10,595 24.557 73.7 ac. 96.30 ac.
131 30 ac. 16,546 38,350 115.1 ac.
48.360 112.088 336.4 ac. 485.1 ac.
The principle authorities for parkland dedication include the Subdivision Map Act and
the Quimby Act (California Government Code Section 66477). The California Legislature
established the Quimby Act in 1965, in response to California's increased rate of urbanization and
the need to preserve open space and provide parks for California's growing communities.
"Quimby" provides local government with the authority to place into law an ordinance
requiring developers to provide land and/or fees to acquire and develop parks and recreation facilities.
Parkland dedication or in-lieu fees, as they relate to Carlsbad, are identified in the Municipal
Code (Chapter 20.44). Simply stated, the ordinance requires the dedication of three (3)
acres of land for Community Parks and Special
Use Areas for each 1,000 population. In addition to this required dedication of three (3) acres for park purposes, an additional City standard, not
required of the developers identifies 2.5 acres per
1,000 populations for special resource areas.
E. GROWTH MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM
Proposition E, approved by the voters November 4, 1986, estimated the number of dwelling units to be built with the City at 54,600.
Table 1: Park Acreage Demand, has been updated based upon 2001/2002 population
estimates and summarizes the estimated amount of dwelling units per quadrant with a
corresponding estimated population and park acreage requirement at buildout.
Page 2 July 2003
F. PARK AND RECREATIONAL
NEEDSGENERATEDBY
INDUSTRIAL USES
Although the Quimby Act itself does not
apply to industrial or commercial subdivisions, a local agency is permitted to impose fees or
exactions as a condition of approval of a proposed
development, provided those fees and exactions do not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service or facility. In addition, the
Growth Management Ordinance (CMC 21.90) authorizes special facility fees to pay for
improvements or facilities which are related to new development. Since there is a substantial impact on existing recreation facilities from an
increasing industrial employment base, a need to impose and implement a park mitigation fee for
industrial development was recognized. In November 1987, the City Council adopted its first
park mitigation fee for the Zone 5 Local Facilities Management Plan. Additionally, a park mitigation
fee was required as part of the Zone 16 and 13 Local Facilities Management Plans. The purpose of a fee is to ensure adequate recreational
facilities to accommodate the demand created for them by the daily influx of the industrial work force and population as industrial development grows
throughout the City.
G. PARK INVENTORY
INTRODUCTION
The pre-1982 Parks and Recreation Element emphasized more passive use concepts
with the acquisition and development of smaller neighborhood, mini, and vest pocket parks. Additionally, natural open space areas, meant to
serve as connective corridors and greenways throughout the City, were accepted as park requirements dedicated under the Quimby
Ordinance. Due to the characteristics of these natural open space areas, many of the sites once accepted for park purposes are considered undevelopable by today's park development
standards.
Today, current and future parkland dedicated under the Quimby Ordinance is subject
to more stringent conditions than were once required. Noting the shift in acquisition policy,
developable parkland is considered to be
buildable acreage similar to acreage associated with the subdivision for which dedication is required. Typically, it has slopes of less than 10%
and is not to be located in an area on which building is precluded due to environmental
constraints as defined by City ordinance or other laws, geological constraints, flooding, easements, or other encumbrances and/or restrictions.
Current recreational trends identify a
request for both active and passive recreation. In order to accommodate those trends, parkland
dedication requirements are geared toward the acquisition of developable parkland, which may
provide both active and passive use. In addition recent City surveys indicate a demand for access
.to Open Space and trails as a priority quality of life issue for residents of the community. In response
to this demand, City Council adopted the Citywide Trails Plan Report in November of 2001 outlining
implementation of a Citywide Trails Program.
Carlsbad's present park development philosophy concentrates on providing larger
community parks, which incorporate a balance of both active and passive recreational amenities.
The result has created a more realistic park program in 'terms of meeting the recreational needs of the residents, tourists, employees, the
Growth Management requirements, and is more financially feasible from an operational and maintenance standpoint.
The development of small neighborhood parks is no longer pursued primarily because of
the high cost of maintenance. Because these parks typically provide one or two recreational uses, they have been incorporated within the
current Special Use Area park classification. Some sites previously acknowledged as Neighborhood Parks have been incorporated
("grandfathered") into the Community Park classification, and although they may not meet the
current acreage requirement, they do provide amenities characteristic of the Community Park category.
July 2003 Page 3
1. PRIMARY PARK CLASSIFICATIONS
Presently, the City of Carlsbad's Parkland
lnventory is composed of three primary park
classifications:
Community Parks
Special Use Areas
Special Resource Areas
Although these classifications are the basis
for the City's standards, to ensure optimum park and recreational facilities, three special resource areas and one community park have been
identified as Regional Open Space Parks within the San Diego Association of Governments
Report, "Regionally Significant Open Space." The standards for each park classification are as
follows:
Community Parks 2.5 acres11,OOO pop. Special Use Areas .5 acres11 ,000 pop.
(Collectable Park Standard) 3.0 acres11 ,000 pop.
Special Resource Areas 2.5 acres11 ,000 DOD.
OVERALL PARK AC. STANDARD 5.5 acres11,OOO pop.
"The City of Carlsbad's
Parkland lnventory is
composed of three primary
park cla ssifica tion s :
Community Parks; Special Use
Areas; and, Special Resource
Areas. "
The City defines these Park Classifications
as follows:
Communitv Parks - These are leisure facilities, approximately 20 to 50 acres in size; however, due to the 1982 revision of the Parks and Recreation Element, pre-1982 neighborhood
parks of less than 20 acres have been reclassified and "grandfathered" into the Community Park classification. This reclassification was approved
by the Parks and Recreation Commission in May 1987 and by the City Council in August 1987. Any
future acquisition and development of community park sites within the northwest quadrant, where a
near buildout situation exists, in all likelihood will require community park development of sites under 20 acres in size.
Typically, Community Parks are designed to
serve the recreational needs of several neighborhoods. The nature of this type of facility
encourages and attracts family unit populations
from a nearby vicinity on a daily frequency.
Community Parks generally provide active and passive use amenities; however, they are not limited to the exclusive use of either.
Minimum facilities should include:
Family-oriented picnic areas
Group picnic areas
Turfed open space areas for free play
Multi-purpose playfield(s) (lighted when appropriate)
Tot lot areas
Structures for lectures, meetings, skills,
instructions, etc.
Buffer areas
Special use facilities such as swimming
pools, tennis courts, horseshoes,
handball and racquetball courts, bicycle paths, etc. as per specific community
demand may be located within these parks if appropriate to the interests and needs of the community in which the
park is located.
The primary access orientation is vehicular.
It is therefore established that community parks should be located adjacent to a secondary arterial
or circulation route of greater hierarchy as defined within the Circulation Element.
Special Use Areas - These are typically local facilities that contain only one or two activity
type uses, either passive or active in nature. They are between one and five acres in size and
generally provide the basic widely accepted facilities found in a community park site. Facilities of this type are: (but not limited to) swim, tennis or racquetball complexes, meeting halls, athletic
complexes, off leash dog parks, skateboard parks, play lots, picnic and interpretive walk areas.
Based on City Council policy in August 1987, and confirmed in November of 1990, community school activity fields can be
incorporated within the Special Use Area classification and included within the Park Area
~ ~ ~~~ Page 4 July 2003
Inventory. However, only these current school
sites which operate under “joint-use” facility agreements between the City of Carlsbad and the
corresponding school district are, in fact, incorporated within the Parks Inventory.
The pre-1982 Parks and Recreation Element included Mini and Vest Pocket parks.
The revised 1982 Parks and Recreation Element has incorporated these parks into the special use
category which typically defines the nature of these areas.
Adequate access should be a primary siting criteria utilized in determining the location of a
Special Use Area.
SDecial Resource Areas - These are local amenities that have either citywide or potential regional significance. The significance is in the
quality of the site that makes it unique as either a
passive and/or active recreation area; this quality
may be of a natural (water, geological, ecological, etc.), historical (architectural, etc.), or a combination thereof. Consequently, the Special
Rdsource Area as defined has a visitor attraction or drawing power to users locally and beyond.
Typically, Special Resource Areas provide a
unique character and/or use not found in Community Parks or Special Use Areas and in general, they are larger than Community Parks.
2. ACTlVElPASSlVE AREAS
In addition to a parks primary classification,
the City may describe a park as containing active and/or passive areas. Parks can be developed
with either active or passive park amenifies or a combination of both. Active park areas typically provide a form of organized, supervised, often
extracurricular recreation. Park amenities denoting active use may include gymnasiums, swim complexes, multi-use ballfields, tot lots, hard
court play surfaces, volleyball, horseshoe areas, or a combination thereof.
Passive park areas often provide minimal or
no amenities associated with active use. The very nature of passive use implies undemonstrative, nonparticipating, complacent, subdued activity. Park amenities generally associated with passive
use include nature trails, walkways, picnic tables, benches, and small turf and/or landscaped areas.
3. REGIONAL OPEN SPACE PARKS
Three of the City‘s Special Resource Areas and one community park (Lake Calavera, Agua
Hedionda Lagoon, Batiquitos Lagoon and Veterans Memorial) have been identified as Regional Open Space Parks in addition to their
primary city park classification. These sites have been identified as Regional Open Space Parks
consistent with the recommendations of the San Diego Association of Governments’ (SANDAG)
report, Reclionallv Sianificant ODen SDace - Definition. Although parks have been identified as part of the regional park system, they will continue
to function pursuant to their primary park classification as identified above. The
identification of a city park as a Regional Open Space Park simply denotes that the park is part of
the region’s park system.
A regional park is a major park that may contain any one or combination of such attributes
as natural beauty, unique topographic features, historical structures or unusual scenery. Such parks are usually developed for at least two
outdoor activities, but the greatest part of the acreage may remain as undeveloped open space. Usually a regional park has at least 200 acres, 50
acres of which are developable. The size may be smaller for unique regional resources.
H.
are
MISCELLANEOUS
LANDSCAPE/OPEN SPACE
AREAS
Miscellaneous landscape/open space areas secondary classifications within the park inventory. This category has been established to
provide accountability for additional acreage currently under maintenance responsibility of the Park Operations Division, however, is not useable
to meet the City‘s park collectable standards. In addition, accountability is provided for the natural open space areas once considered as parkland;
however, by today‘s standards, they are not considered to be conducive to park use and/or development, which may have once been considered, i.e.: Veteran’s Memorial Park. These
miscellaneous landscape/open space areas are
July 2003 Page 5
identified in Appendix 1, Miscellaneous Landscapelopen Space Areas.
ACCESS
Vehicular Bicycle
Pedestrian
Vehicular
Bicycle (located
adjacent to
secondary arterial or greater)
1. FACILITY STANDARDS
OWNERSHIP STANDARD
Public 2.5 ad1 ,000 population
Public 2.5 ac/l,OOO population *l
Table 2: Facilities Standards, summarizes the development standards for each recreation facility, based on its park classifications. These
standards are provided to ensure that the recreational facilities in Carlsbad meet the needs
of residents, tourists and employees of the City.
CLASSIFICATION
Special Resource
Area
"Facility Standards are
provided to ensure that the
recreational facilities in
Carlsbad meet the needs of
residents, tourists and r employees of -the City. "
LEVEL OF
SERVICE SKElSlGNlFlCANCE
100 Acres + unique Citywide character andlor use
not found in
acquisition, construction, and ongoing
maintenance and operation costs.
Special Use
Recreation facilities
for industrial areas
Typically, parkland acquisition is provided
under the Quimby Ordinance and/or park-in-lieu fees, while development funds are provided by the Public Facilities Fee. Future park acquisition and
development projects are, for the most part, identified in the. Capital Improvement Program
Budget. However, actual development may be subject to delay based upon demand, the priority established for Public Facility construction and the
cost associated with ongoing maintenance and operation.
guidelines' 'Where acquisition of
sufficient acreage is
possible
1 to 5 acres Neighbohood and Community
Negotiated with In proximity to
developer business and
industry employees
Additional funding sources for acquisition,
development, maintenance and operation, or rehabilitation may be provided by general
obligation bonds, special taxes, state and federal park bond acts, assessment districts or donations.
Prior to acceptance, all future parkland acquisition is subject to a stringent environmental review
process to identify and eliminate constraints in an
TABLE 2: FACILITIES STANDARDS
'1 '2 Increased from 2.0 to 2.5 ad1,OOO pop. on Sept. 3, 1985
Although no specific standard (e.g. ad1,OOO employees) has been adopted, a fee based upon square
footage of industrial floor area is required. As of Nov. 24, 1987, the required fee was 40 cents/Sq. fl.
of industrial floor area . -. .- . - -
I Community Parks
Community I 20 to 50 acres as I Community
J. FUTURE RECREATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Several areas have been earmarked for future park development and identified in the
current park inventory. Although the timing for acquisition and development depends primarily on the requirements of the Growth Management Program as development occurs, the City Council
ultimately approves the financing methods for
Pedestrian I I Vehicular I Public, private and I .5 ad1,000
Bicycle I quasi-public I population
Pedestrian I I
Pedestrian I Publidprivate I No standard '2
Vehicular Bicycle
effort to maximize site potential in terms of park development. Public review during the master planning process of all future park sites will guarantee the recreational needs of the
community are being addressed. Table 3: Anticipated Future Park Development Projects summarizes the anticipated future parks to be
developed in the City.
Page 6 July 2003
In addition to these anticipated future parks, the City Council, on March 7, 1989; directed the
Parks and Recreation Commission to incorporate the recommendations of the Recreation Facility Financing Committee within this Element. The
Recreational Facility ' Financing Committee consisted of eleven (1 1) Carlsbad citizens whose
goal was: (1) to identify recreational amenities as outlined in proposition M (Carlsbad City Ordinance
No. NS-29); and, (2) to recommend alternative funding methods for the development of these amenities. The committee recommended
providing the following facilities:
O Two (2) Municipal Golf Courses - Regulation Size - Short Course
O Multi-Court Tennis Complex
O Two (2) Multi-Purpose Fields Adult Size or
O Enclosed Soccer Facility
Larger
.. ..
July2003 Page 7
II. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES AND
ACTION PROGRAMS
PARK DEVELOPMENT
A.
A. 1
A.2
A.3
B.
B. 1
B.2
8.3
8.4
6.5
B.6
B.7
GOALS
A City that provides a diversified, comprehensive park system utilizing
contemporary concepts and planning strategies.
A City that encourages the development of park and recreational facilities and activities
by private industry, the residential development community and specialized
user groups to augment existing public facilities.
A City with a privatization approach for the
development, maintenance and/or operation of appropriate City-owned park facilities.
OBJECTIVES
To provide a minimum of three (3) acres of
Community Parks or Special Use Areas for each 1,000 population within each of the
four (4) park quadrants of the City.
To determine park acreage requirements
on a quadrant basis. To acquire, develop, maintain and operate parks consistent with all federal, state and
local regulations.
To finance future public park and recreation Facilities.
To implement the use of energy saving technology in all rehabilitation and new park
development projects. Water saving irrigation technology and drought tolerant
landscapes should be used whenever possible. To provide for existing and future park facilities with a balance of active and passive recreational opportunities. To permit communities within the City to
acquire, develop and maintain a private neighborhood park system.
8.8 To encourage specialized-user sports groups, to identify, acquire and develop land for their exclusive use. To ensure adequate recreational amenities
for the current and future industrial base population in the City of Carlsbad.
B.10 To encourage park facilities to be acquired, developed, operated and maintained utilizing a privatization approach, where
appropriate and feasible. B.11 To ensure that parks are developed prior to,
or concurrent with need, as defined by the Growth Management Plan.
8.12 To ensure that park and recreational facilities are compatible with surrounding uses.
B.9
C.
c.1
c.2
c.3
c .4
c.5
IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
Ensure that any and all parkland
dedications, as required of the residential development community, shall be
developable and usable for park purposes, and shall conform to all local, state andlor federal laws [reference Carlsbad Municipal
Code - 20.44,21.38.060(5)]. Ensure that all park-in-lieu fees collected
from residential development under the Quimby Ordinance will be channeled to
Community Parks or Special Use Area acquisition, development or rehabilitation.
Utilize the provisions of the Quimby Act, Growth Management Plan and Planned
Community Zone to ensure the timely construction of parks so that they are provided concurrent with need.
Acquire and develop park areas in accordance with the City’s Growth
Management Program. The use of Public Facility Fees for park development and acquisition shall be at the discretion of the
City Council, as identified in the Capital Improvement Program.
Consider housing density, proximity to schools, general public access, local resident access, adjacent residential area traffic impacts, safe pedestrian access, and compatible use with the surrounding environment when determining park locations. Wherever possible, these
developed sites should be placed in conjunction with or connected to schools or natural areas.
~~ Page 8 July 2003
C.6 Provide for "joint-use" facility agreements
with local school districts to meet neighborhood and community recreational needs. Only those sites with existing
agreements will be incorporated within the Parks Inventory. With the inclusion of the
Aviara Oaks Elementary School, no further school site(s) will be utilized to meet the Park Performance Standard, rather only to
enhance the park inventory. C.7 Provide for Park Signage at all parks.
C.8 Require, where possible, the individual developers of master planned communities to provide pocket. parks and active
recreational facilities unique to each development. Maintenance of pocket parks
shall be accomplished through homeowners association dues. 'Pocket parks shall remain in private ownership.
C.9 Require that any development of recreational facilities on public land by
developers, service clubs, civic groups, individual donors or organizations shall be
consistent with the standarddguidelines of this element. C.10 Provide, if feasible, a Carlsbad Trail System
to be owned and maintained by the City, and wherever possible, the trail system
shall be used to provide linkage between park facilities. C.ll Design and construct trails within parks to
connect with the Carlsbad Trail System as part of future park development. C.12 Evaluate periodically, the existing park
inventory to determine the best use of park sites including, but not limited to lease, trade, sale or rehabilitation.
C. 13 Rehabilitate under-utilized recreation facilities to meet the needs of a changing and growing population.
C. 14 Encourage, when appropriate, development
or operation of facilities by private enterprise on public lands. C.15 Implementation of any privatization agreement will be at the discretion of the
City Council. C.16 Institute a safety and maintenance check
list for all park sites and playground facilities, to be performed on a weekly basis.
C.17 Encourage public involvement in the siting, acquisition and design development of park
facilities and recreation programming to
ensure community needs are met. C.18 Develop a program that encourages private owners and public agencies to sell,
dedicate, donate or lease, at minimal cost, surplus land to provide land suitable for recreational use.
C.19 Consider the following during the development of Park Master Plans:
developing specific sites to minimize impacts to biological resources; visual impacts of the development of park sites;
expanding minimum buffers around sensitive resources; utilizing natural plant
species in park projects; incorporating plant species which provide food such as seeds,
nuts and berries for wildlife and bird species; protecting and buffering drinking
water sources such as small ponds and wetland areas; and, limiting turf grass use to
recreational areas. C.20 Work cooperatively with specialized user
groups to identify, acquire and develop land for their exclusive use.
C.21 Identify the benefits and drawbacks of establishing park facilities that are developed, operated or maintained under
contractual and/or leased agreements. C.22 Determine the economic means by which
future public parks and recreation facilities will be provided.
C.23 Implement the recommendations of the Carlsbad Landscape Manual in all rehabilitation and new park development
projects. C.24 Monitor the Industrial Park Mitigation Fee to
ensure the funds collected are adequate to provide recreational facilities for the City's industrial base population.
RECREATION PROGRAMS
A. GOALS
A.l A City that offers a wide variety of recreational activities and park facilities designed to encourage participation by users of all ages and interests.
A.2 A City with a financially self-supportive system of recreational facilities and
programs.
July 2003
B.
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
C.
c. 1
c .2
c.3
c .4
c.5
C.6
c.7
OBJECTIVES
To ensure that park development and recreational programming is cost effective. To provide and maintain recreational and
aquatic programming on a self-sustaining basis when feasible.
To provide for safe recreational use at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon on a partially self-
sustaining basis. To provide, maintain and/or encourage recreation facilities, programs or events
which will attract and generate tourist and
non-tax payer revenues. To ensure that park development and
recreational programming meets the needs of the community. To ensure park development and
recreational programming is consistent with the Open Space and Conservation Element.
IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
Encourage recreational program development on various levels of public involvement to ensure optimum performance of current and future parks as
effective recreational facilities including but not limited to: Traditional public facilities
Trend-oriented interests Cultural and nature-oriented facilities Evaluate recreational programming based
upon community demand, individual and group participation, ability to provide, and
cost effectiveness. Review periodically, facility regulations
governing their use, as outlined according to "Council Policy Statement 28," to ensure that the regulations remain appropriate.
Develop a program that encourages donations in support of park facilities and
recreation programs from private individuals, local businesses, industry, and service groups. Promote the use of community volunteers in
recreational programs, special events, and park and trail improvement projects. Evaluate the benefits of developing
recreational programs utilizing the Citywide Open Space and proposed Trail System. Evaluate and update as necessary, all fee- supported recreation programs.
C.8 Analyze park development and recreational programming for cost effectiveness prior to
implementation.
SPECIAL RESOURCE, OPEN
HISTORICAL AREAS
SPACE AND CULTURAL-
A. GOALS
A.1 A City that coordinates the planning of park facilities and trails with other recreational-
oriented land uses such as open space.
A.2 A City with special resource, open space
and culturallhistoric areas, which provide educational benefits and passive or active, use opportunities.
A.3 A City that preserves areas of scenic, historic, and cultural value.
6. OBJECTIVES
8.1 To improve the recreational and educational
potential of the City's three (3) lagoons and beach areas.
8.2 To develop the Lake Calavera area (252 acres) with interpretive nature trails and passive recreational use, if feasible.
To enter into and maintain agreements with SDG8E to establish access to and along
the southeast side of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, seeking long-term lease periods.
To enter into and maintain agreements with SDG&E tcr establish connecting access
between Veterans Memorial Park and the Southeast side of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
6.5 To provide limited public access to the wetlands of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon for the purpose of visitor attractions such as
interpretive centers, boardwalks, etc.
8.6 To ensure that Special Resource, Open
Space and CulturaVHistoric Areas meet the needs of Carlsbad residents, tourists and employees in the City of Carlsbad.
8.3
8.4
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
C.l Require that offers to dedicate or requests to enhance and/or develop open space areas for recreation purposes be reviewed by both the Parks and Recreation
Commission and Planning Commission,
Page 10 July 2003
c.2
c.3
c .4
c.5
C .6
c.7
C.8
c.9
c.10
c.11
c.12
C.13
and if deemed appropriate, recommended
to the City Council for their discretionary approval. Enhancement or improvement of Special
Resource Areas will require approvals and shall conform to the requirements of all
regulatory agencies involved. Acknowledge and attempt to preserve the environmental sensitivity and ecology within
appropriate Special Resource Areas. Promote expansion of educational use opportunities in areas of significant
ecological value where discretionary use of the resource allows.
Combine historically significant sites with recreational learning opportunities, where
possible. Ensure that opportunities for cultural arts be promoted, maintained and provided through
a "joint-use" agreement with the Carlsbad Unified School District for use of the
Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center. Utilize community parks in support of
historical and cultural programs and facilities when feasible and appropriate. Coordinate the efforts of the Historic
Preservation Commission on the sighting and care of historic ruins within parks.
Enhance the availability of special resource and or open space areas and promote
awareness of the educational opportunities associated with them. Work cooperatively with state officials in a development plan for South Carlsbad State
Beach so as to maximize public recreational opportunities. Work cooperatively with the Historic
Preservation Commission and Cultural Arts Commission to effectively sustain and
promote awareness of historically andlor culturally significant facilities and programs.
Seek funding opportunities from state, federal, and local agencies to provide additional access points or improve the
recreational and educational potential of the City's three lagoons and other Special Resource Areas. Implement Council direction regarding the
development of a municipal golf course within the City.
July 2003 Page 11
111. PARKS & RECREATION
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
PARK QUADRANT
NW
NE sw
SE
TOTAL
The City of Carlsbad Growth Management Plan establishes the mechanism by which the City acquires and develops parkland in the City. The
Growth Management Plan further enables the City to project accurately for future park demands.
Consistent with the City's Growth Management Plan, a minimum of three (3) acres of Community Park and Special Use Area per 1,000 population,
will be provided within each of the four (4) park districts of the City. Table 4: Estimated Park
Acreage at Buildout, summarizes the projected
total acres of Community park and Special Use Area to be provided within each park district at
ESTIMATED PARK PARK ACRES AT
BUILDOUT STANDARD ACREAGE AT BUILDOUT EXCEEDING ESTIMATED BUILDOUT
POPULATION
30.020 175.33 85.23
19,161 82.20 . 24.70
24.557 96.30 22.60
38,350 131.30 16.20
112.088 485.13 148.73
Buildout. Based on an estimated buildout
population of 112,088, the City's park standard would require 336.4 acres of parkland at buildout.
As can be seen in Table 4, approximately 485.1 acres of parkland will be provided in the City at
buildout, exceeding the standard by approximately 148.7 acres. .
In addition to providing adequate acres of
parkland in the City, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan also establishes general locations for future parks and provides a schedule for
recreational uses that may be provided in existing and proposed parks. The approximate location of
existing and proposed park sites are depicted on
Maps 1 through 5. Table 5: Uses in Recreation Areas, summarizes the existing and proposed
recreational uses for parks in the City.
July 2003 Page 12 .
CITYWIDE PARKS AND
RECREATION MAP
\ :: -fr Future Community Park
0 SpecialUse Area
0 Future Special Use Area
A Special Resource Area
Regional Open Space Park
1. MON BROWN PARK
2. MAGEEPARK 3. HARDING CENTER 4. ROTARYPARK 5 SENIORCENTER 6 NW QUADRANT COHMUNITY PARK 7 JEFFERSON ELEM SCHOOL E BUENA VISTA ELEM SCHOOL 9 PIOPlCoPARK
10 OAKPARK 11. HOLIDAY PARK
12. SWIM COMPLEX 13. MAGNOLIA ELEM. SCHOOL 14. VALLEY JR. HIGH SCHOOL
15. CHASE FIELD I
S MAP I
Page 13
bPynght. m2 carlsbwl Grs.
July 2003
NORTHWEST QUADRANT PARKS AND RECREATION MAP
HOSP GROVE (27.55 Acres)
- Restrooms
-Shuffleboards
- Ballfields (3) - Restroomdsnackbar
- Basketball court
- Restrooms
- MuIU-USO turf
LAGUNA RlVlERA (4.05 Acres) - Plcnlc amas - Basketball court
- Totlot
Pi0 PIC0 (0.76 Acres) - Picnic area
HOLIDAY (5.88 Acres) - Picnic sholterlamas - Restroomr (2) - Group mooting room - Otiicedclarsrooms
r
- Ho~sho@ courts - ToUat - Gazebo
SWIM COMPLEX (1.80 Acres)
- Group meeting room - O#ices/claurooms
’ -Swimming pool
PARK STATUS LEGEND * EXISTING PARK - Tennis courts - Sand volleyball courts - Restrooms - HOrsctshm court8 EXISTING WITH FUTURE PHASES
A CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
PROPOSED FOR FUTURE
W
MAP 2
July 2003 Page 14
NORTHEAST QUADRANT PARKS AND RECREATION MAP
CAIAVERA HILLS (16.16 Acms) - Community centerlgym - Group mooting tooms - om~rlciurroonu - R~~troom~ - Multi-Uu turf - Buketbali court8
-Tennis court8 - Picnic areas - touot
NE QUAD PARK (15.0 Aasr) - Soccer fklds - Picnic amas
- Skateboud park - Picnic areas
SKATE PARK (1 Acres)
PARK STATUS LEGEND * EXISTING PARK
EXISTING WITH FUTURE PHASES
A CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
PROPOSED FOR FUTURE MAP 3
July 2003 Page 15
SOUTHWEST QUADRANT PARKS AND RECREATION MAP
POINS€ITIA (42.0 Acres) - Community wnter/gym - Group meetlng rooms - Omcedclassrooms w-/ - ROS~~OOIIIS - Multl-use turf - Basketball courts
-Tennis courts - Plcnic areas - Totlot - Trail
pG .. .......... .............. ............. . ..... . .... ~ ................ ............. ... ............ ........... .......... ......... .......
;m .. ...
I. i AVlARA PARK (24.25 Acres) r'\ - Community center - Group mung rooms - Om~classrooms - R-s - Multl-ttw t~fi - Basketball courts - Plcnlc areas - Totlot
-Trail
PARK STATUS LEGEND
L4
* EXISTING PARK
EXISTING WITH FUTURE PHASES
A CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
PROPOSED FOR FUTURE
I MAP 4
July 2003 Page 16
___~
SOUTHEAST QUADRANT PARKS AND RECREATION MAP
CARRILLO RANCH (27 -0 km) - Historical museum - OfRcedclasstoomr
- Picnic areas
- Horseshoe courts
- RestrWIII8
CADENCIA (2.0 Acres) - Picnic areas - Multiuse turf
ALGA NORTE (32.9 Acm) - A~u~c COW - Group dng ~OOIIIS - R.rtroo1118 - MUM~SO turf - BsSk.tbrll COLI* - Plcnlc mas - Totlot - Trail
- Otftc.rlclauroomr
LA COSTA CANYON (12.34 Acres) - Plcnlc areas - ToUot - R..~~OOITIS - Basketball courts - Tennls courts - Sand volleyball courts - Tnll
STAGECOACH PARK (28.0 Acres) - Communlty conbrlgym
-Group meetlng rooms - OtRc.rlclaurooms - Restrooms
- Basketball courb
-Tennis courts - Picnlc amas - ToUot
- M~ltl4~0 turf
PARK STATUS LEGEND * WSTINGPARK
EXISTING WITH FUTURE PHASES
A CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
PROPOSED FOR FUTURE
MAP 5
July 2003 Page 17
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
PAGE # 1 I LEGEND
CLASSIFICATIONS COM = Community SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area
+ = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition
0 = Existing Facilities
' OWNERSHIP 11 C = City Owned SD = School District ST = State P = Privately Owned L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY GP = Group Picnic Facility L = Lighted
C
S
I Z
E
L A s s I F
I C A T I
0 N
31
- 0
W N E R s H
I P
- 0
P E N
I E C 0 L
P R E s E
R v E -
- P A s s I v E
A R E A
TM uu RL FT
I
M
UP LU TR IP
0 us S'E
E C T
S
- s H
U F F L E B 0 A R D S
- s A N
D
v
B
C
0 U
R T
EXISTING - COMMUNITY
EXIST COMM: 39.58 AC
FUTURE - COMMUNITY
FUTURE COMM: 74.43 AC
'Part of Pine School acquisition totaling 8 acres.
July 2003 Page 18
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
PAGE # 2
~
LEGEND
COM = Community
SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area + = Future Development ++ = Future Acquisition
e = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP C =Cityowned
SD = School District ST = State
P = Privately Owned L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY
GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
- S
I z
E
EXISTING - SPECIAL USE
- C
L
A
S
S I
F I
C
A T
I
0 N
-
- 0
W
N
E
R
S
H
I P
-
- 0 P
E
N 1
E C
0 L
P
R
E
S
E
R
V
E
e
e3 P. A
S S
I V E
A
R E
A
es P
I c N
I C
A
R
E
A
3
m P L
A
Y
A P
P A
R
A T
U S
E S
v\
I
M
M
I N
G
P 0
0
L
- -
- T
U
R F
N
U L
T
I
U
S
E
3
- N
U
L
T
I
P
U R
P
0
S E
C
T
S
6
E G
Y
M
N A
S I
U M
e
e3 T E
N .N
I S
C 0
U
R T
S
- -
- - R E
S T
R
0
0 M S
3
m G
R
0
U U P
M E E
T
I
N G
R 0
0
M
ie
- 0 N
S
I T E
P A
R
K
I
N
G
e
- 0
F F
S
I
T
E
P A
R
K
I N
G
er F
I S
H
I N G
I T
R
A
I L S
- H 0
R
S E
S
H
0 E
C
0 U
R T
S
.I S
H U
F F
L E
B
0
A
R.
D
S
I S
A N
D
v
B
C
0 U R T
S
July2003 Page 19
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
PAGE # 3
LEGEND I
CLASS I USES I ..
.. I CLASS1 F CAT1 ONS
c COM = Community
SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area
+ = Future Development ++ = Future Acquisition
0 = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP C =Cityowned
SD = School District
ST = State
P = Privately Owned
L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY
GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
- S
I Z E
-
- C
L A
S
S
I
F
I C
A
T I
0
N
3ee 0
W
N
E R
S
H
I P
ep 0
P E
N I
E
C
0
L
P
R E
S E
R
V
E
epe
ep P
A S
S I v E
A
R E
A
e
- P
I C
N
I
C
A R
E A
- P
L
A
Y
A P
P A
R
A
T
U
S
I S
v1 I
M
M
I
N
G
P
0
0 L
- -
= T
U
R
F
hl
U
L
T
I
U
S
E
- -
EXISTING - SUA (CONTINUED)
TOTAL EXIST SUA: 40.32 AC
- M
U
L
T I
P
U R
P 0
S
E
C
T
S
e
- G
R
0 U P
M E
E
T
I
N
G
R
0
0 M -
- 0
N
S
I
T
E
P
A R
K
1
N
G
e
= 0
F F
S
I
T E
P
A R
K
I
N G
- H
0 R
S
E S H
0
E
C
0
U R
T
S
e31 S
H U
F
F
L
E B
0 A
R
D
S
- S
A N
D
V
B
C 0
U R
T
S
OPortables rented by City
July 2003
.. ..
Page 20
COM = Community
SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area
+ = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition
0 = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP C =Cityowned
SD = School District
ST = State
P = Privately Owned
L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY
GP = Group Picnic Facility L = Lighted
- S
I Z E
- C
L
A
S
S I F
I C
A
T
I
0
N
-
- 0
W
N E R
S
H
I P
- 0 P E N I
E C
0
L
P
R E
S E
R V E
9
I P
A
S S
I
V
E
A R
E A
e
_. P
I
C N I
C
A
R
E
A
- M U
L
T I
P
U
R
P
0
S
E
C T
S
e
- R E
S
T
R
0
0 M
S
e G R
0 U P
M
E E
T
i
N G
R
0
0
M -
re 0
N
S
I
T E
P
A
R
K
I
N G
- -
- 0 F
F
S
I T
E
P A
R K
I N
G
e
FUTURE -SUA
I REC. FACILITY I II IIIIIII I I 11-
TOTAL FUTURE SUA 21.02 AC
EXISTING - SRA
TOTAL NON-CITY OWNED 25.50 (CUSD 49.40 ACRES) (OTHER LEASED AREA 3.17)
July 2003 Page 21
COM = Community SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area + = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition
0 = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP
C =City Owned
SD = School District
ST = State P = Privately Owned L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
- S
I Z E
- 0 P E
N
I
E
C 0
L
P
R E
S E
R
V
E - -
E F
E
C
C
I
I
E
E F
E
E
c
- P
I C
N
I
C
A R
E A
M M
U L
T
I
P
U R
P
0
S E
C
T
S
I
31 G
Y M N
A
S
I
U
M
- -
T
E
N N
I
S
C
0
U R
T
S
ee G
R
0
U
P
M
E E
T
I N
G
R
0
0
M - -
e 0
N
S
I T
E
P A R
K
I
N G
- -
lpee H
0
R
S
E
S
H
0
E
C 0
U
R
T
S
m S
H
U F
F L
E
B
0 A R
D
S
- S A
N D
V
B
C 0
U R
T
S
EXISTING - COMMUNITY
TOTAL EXIST COMM: 16.16 AC
FUTURE -COMMUNITY
TOTAL FUTURE COMM: 47.20 AC Off leash Dog Park use also occurs within Larwin Park
EXISTING - SUA
TOTAL EXIST SUA 3.80 AC
FUTURE -SUA
TOTAL FUTURE SUA 15.00 +I- AC
EXISTING - SRA
TOTAL EXISTING SRA 327.3 AC
July 2003 Page 22
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area + = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition
e = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP
C =Cityowned
SD = School District
ST = State
P = Privately Owned
L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY
GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
CLASl
S C
I L Z A
E S
S I
F I
C
A
T
I
0
N
- 0
W
N
E
R
S H
1
P
- P
L
A Y
A P
P
A
R
A
T
U
S
- S
v\
I M
M
I N G
P
0
0
L
U
T
E
N
N
I
S
C C
U
R
T
S
-
PAGE # 6
E
S T
R
0
0
M
S
- G
R
0
U
P
M
E
E T
I
N
G
R
0
0 M
e
- S
A
N
D
v
B
C 0
U
R
T
S
EXISTING -COMMUNITY
TOTAL EXISTING COMM. 42.00 AC
FUTURE - COMMUNITY
TOTAL FUTURE COMM: 49.25 AC
EXISTING - SUA
TOTAL EXIST SUA: 5.00 AC
EXISTING - SRA
TOTAL NON - CITY OWNED = 5 ACRES
July 2003 Page .23
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
PAGE # 7 I LEGEND
¶- COM = Community SUA = Special Use Area
SRA = Special Resource Area + = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP
C =Cityowned
SD = School District
ST = State P = Privately Owned
L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
- S
I Z
E
.111 0
P E N I
E
C
0
L
P R
E
S
E R
V
E
e3
- S A
N
D
v B
C 0
U R T
S
EXISTING -COMMUNITY
TOTAL EXIST COMM: 67.34 AC
FUTURE - COMMUNITY
TOTAL FUTURE COMM: 58.0 AC
July 2003 Page 24
TABLE 5
USES IN RECREATION AREAS
PAGE #8
I LEGEND I
[ CLASSIFICATIONS I CLASS I USES 1
COM = Community
SUA = Special Use Area SRA = Special Resource Area + = Future Development
++ = Future Acquisition
0 = Existing Facilities
OWNERSHIP
C =Cityowned
SD = School District
ST = State P = Privately Owned
L = Leased
FACILITY AMENITY GP = Group Picnic Facility
L = Lighted
- S I
Z
E
- C
L A
S
S
I
F
I
C A
T
I
0
N
-
- 0
W N
E
R
S
H
1
P
0 0 P E N I
E
C 0
L
P R
E S E
R
V
E -
e3 P
L
A
Y
A P
P
A R A
T U
S
I M U L T
I
P
U
R
P
0
S
E
C T
S
p3
- G
Y
M N A
S I U
M
3. T E N
N I
S
C 0
U R
T
S
e
EXISTING - SUA
- R
E
S T
R C C N
S
-
ns G R
0 U P
M E E T
I N
G
R
0
0
M
I
E3 0 N
S
I
T
E
P
A R
K
I N
G
- - C F
F
S
I
T
E
P
A
R K
I
N
G
.LI S A
N D
V B
C
0 U
R T
S
EXISTING -SRA
TOTAL EXIST SRA: 75.30 AC
TOTAL NON - CITY OWNED = 4 ACRES
July 2003
..
Page 25
V. APPENDIX 1 MISCELLANEOUS LANDSCAPElOPEN SPACE AREAS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
IO.
11.
12.
13.
14.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. a.
LANDSCAPED
City HalVLibrary
Safetv Center
(adjoining property)
Poinsettia Bridge
Bienvenida Circle
405 Oak
R.R. Depot
Carol Place
Polly Lane
Beach Accesses (4)
P & R OfficesNard
Santa Fe Corridors
Tamarack Crib Wall
Elm Cribwall Banks
Avenidas Encinas - Cribwall
TOTAL
OPEN SPACE
Wood bine Banks
Spinnaker Hills Entry
Cadencia
Levante Canyon
Hosp Grove
San Marcos Canyon
Maca rio Can yon (Vetera ns)-main tained/se rviced
Community Garden
TOTAL
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
I. Palomar Triangle
2. Las Flores Triangle
3. Mountain View Triangle
4.
5. Various undeveloped rights-of-way
Palomar Airport Road (southside improvements)
TOTAL
ACRES
4.3
18.0
.5
.2
.l
.3
.I
.I
.5
2.2
.2
.I
1.2
.19
27.99
14.0
10.0
3.0
13.0
70.0
20.0
60.0+
1.3
191.30
3.5
.2
.I
4.0
110.0
117.8
July 2003 Page 26
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
MEDIANS
Carlsbad Boulevard
Grand Avenue
Carlsbad Village Drive
El Camino Real
Alga Road
Rancho Santa Fe
Palomar Airport Road
Paseo Del Norte
Cannon Road
Poinsettia Lane
College Boulevard
Avenida Encinas
Melrose Drive
Tamarack Avenue
Roosevelt Street
Madison Street
La Costa Avenue
Faraday Avenue
Aviara Parkway
Altisma
TOTAL
TRAILS
1. HospGrove
2. Rancho Carrillo
TOTAL
3. Future Multi-use Recreation Element Trails
July 2003
ACRES
1.13
.07
.52
5.05
2.07
1.42
7.16
.56
1.92
2.05
5.88
.19
2.81
.17
.01
.01
2.41
1.12
1.53
.50
36.59
MILES
2.5 -
4
6.5
58
Page 27
v) W
(3
w
p1 0
1L
p1
Q
a
a
a
W
p1 3 I- 3 L n 3
(3 Z F=
v) 2 w
N
X
Z w
I
E
e 2
July 2003 Page 28
GLOSSARY
CONTEMPORARY PARK AND RECREATIONAL CONCEPTS
COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT #28
DEVELOPABLE PARKLAND
"GRANDFATHERED" PARK AREAS
INDUSTRIAL PARK MITIGATION FEE
PARK PERFORMANCE STANDARD
(3 ACREW ,000 POPULATION)
Current park development applications, which provide for the popular recreational activities utilized
by community residents.
An established City Council Policy Statement for the
use of community centers and other park and recreation facilities and to set priorities, regulations and fees for such use.
Acreage considered to be buildable, typically-with slopes of less than 10% and located in other than an area on which building is excluded because of
flooding, easements, environmental, or other constraints.
Park areas currently listed within the park inventory, and by today's standards, may not meet the
definition of the category to which they are assigned. Typically, these sites were once classified as
neighborhood parks and are currently classified as community parks due to the elimination of the
neighborhood park classification. Essentially, these sites are applicable to the current definitions except
for the acreage requirement of 20-50 acres.
A development fee assessed on the square footage
construction of industrial buildings within Zones 5, 13 and 16 to pay for the development of recreational
facilities to meet non-residential demand created by the influx of the industrial base population.
Under the conditions'of the Growth Management Program, there are certain public facilities that need
to be planned for and supplied within a certain period
of time after initial development. There are "quality of life" services that need to be planned for in
advance of development but may be provided over time (parks, libraries, administrative facilities). The adequacy standard for parks will vary depending
upon population created by new development (initial occupancy). The standard is considered a "timing"
standard. The park facility must be scheduled, the funding committed, and the construction guaranteed within five years after initial development in the area
(Local Facilities Management Plan Zones relative to the park quadrant in which the zones are located). This means that development in the zone or park districffquadrant would be conditioned 'upon the
facility (park site) meeting the standard and scheduled to be constructed as part of an adopted capital program.
July 2003 Page 29
PRIVATIZATION The attainment by local government of private
development investment, operation, and/or maintenance of recreation facilities within areas of public ownership.
CIRCULATION ELEMENT TRAIL Bikeway, sidewalk or other path that supplements the vehicular system or Circulation Element of the City to allow pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-
motorized forms of transportation to move freely on a designated route to a designated destination.
.
MULTI USE RECREATIONAL TRAIL Typically an unpaved marked or established path set
aside for use by pedestrians, bicycles, or equestrians and other non-motorized methods of transportation.
PUBLIC TRAIL EASEMENT / CITYWIDE TRAIL
EASE M ENT
Typically an easement granted to the City dedicating and allowing non-motorized recreational trail use
within privately or publicly owned property, and usually within an open space corridor or park.
COMMUNITY PARK
SPECIAL USE AREAS
SPECIAL RESOURCE AREA
Leisure facility approximately 20 acres in size that supports active and passive recreational amenities.
Typically, Community Parks are designed to serve the recreational needs of several neighborhoods,
attracting family unit populations on a daily frequency.
.
Typically local facilities between 1 and 5 acres in size
and that contain only one or two activity type uses, either passive or active in nature. Facilities of this
type are: (but not limited to) swim, tennis or racquetball complexes, meeting halls, athletic complexes, off leash dog parks, skateboard parks, play lots, picnic and interpretive walk areas. Special
Use Areas also include "joint-use" facility areas where agreements between the City of Carlsbad and
the corresponding school district exists.
Typically, Special Resource Areas provide a unique character and/or use not found in Community Parks
or Special Use Areas. This unique characteristic may be of a natural or historical character or a combination thereof. Typically, Special Resource
Areas are larger than Community Parks and appeal
to not only local users but to visitors because of a unique quality or characteristic of the site.
Page 30 July 2003
.-
e"--
,-
.4
I
-4
Hexitage Hall was buiit in 1926 to house the congrcgatioa of St Paaiclr's Church at the southeast
comer of Harding Sueet and Oak Avenue. In 1952 the church was moved across the sueet where
it became the r_iw't fim rdminim? tivt offices. Overthe next few years it saved as home to the
City Manager, Cotmd, Poke Oepamnent and Fk Dcpamnmt, and as a County branch library. As new City officct rmr constructed and City deparcmeno moved out, use of the building
changed fromthat of City Hall, to the City library, to the cfiildnn's libmry, to a studio forthe North
County BalleL Fidy, in 1979 the sturdy iiale strucnm was slated for demolition to make way
for a parking lot; however, it was rescued from demolition by a co.jitioII consisting of Friends of
the library, the Cadsbad Hinorical Sodctyandvolunteer building aad- who ananged for it
to be moved to Magee Hirtoricai Park. With only minor repairs, the old church once again became
a public meehg place.
L.
3 t
L
P
A
-4
Note: InforrnaoiOn derivrd in pan from SEEKERS OF THE SPRING, by Marjorie HowardJones.
t
.-
Contents
1. lNTRODUCTlON ..................................................................................................... 1
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT .............................................................................................. 1
B. STATE LAW ......................................................................................................................... 1
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ELEMENTS ............................................................................ 1
II. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES-AND ACTlON PRO-
GRAMS ...................................................................................................................... 1
A. GOAL .................................................................................................................................... 1
B. OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................ 1
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND ACTION PROGRAMS ..................................................... 1
1. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND AND INTENT
B. STATE LAW
C. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER
ELEMENTS
11. GOALS, OBJECTIVES
AND IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES AND ACTION
PROGRAMS
A GOAL
B. OBJECTIVES
B.2 To prwidc works of art m pubiic places.
C. IMPLEMENTING POLICIES
AND ACTION PROGRAMS
Page I
c.11 Pmvi&haDci8l~ Whmmbtr-
sible to gmtps or individuzL who provide public arts
prograrnmiastotherrrideotr.
x
Page 2