HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD 2020-0022; THE BEACON; Admin Decision LetterJune 21, 2021
Bill Perkins
AO Architects
144 N. Orange Street
Orange, CA 92866
SUBJECT: CD 2020-0022 (DEV2017-0105)-THE BEACON
C City of
Carlsbad
8FILE COPY
/J'?M'IJ (,/21/2/
The City Planner has completed a review of your application for a Consistency Determination, CD 2020-
0022, which is a modification to Site Development Plan No. SOP 78-03(C) to renovate The Beacon shopping
center, formerly known as La Costa Towne Center.
After careful consideration of the request, the City Planner has determined that the request meets all of
the findings below and APPROVES this request. The proposed project represents the final phase of the
remodel (Phase Ill) to the shopping center and includes renovations to two buildings located at 7760 and
7770 El Camino Real (APN 216-124-16). The remodel to the buildings, as well as the site surrounding the
buildings, includes the following:
• Addition of black fabric awnings to the elevations of 7760 and 7770 El Camino Real, as well as
the replacement of the tan awnings installed at 7720, 7740 and 7750 El Camino Real with black
awnings
• Repair and refinish cornices and add a new skim coat to the stucco to match the Phase II
remodel
• New exterior lighting to match the Phase II remodel
• Replacement of the majority of the windows to match the Phase II remodel
• Addition of an architectural tower at 7760 El Camino Real, resulting in a maximum height of
24' -6". The current maximum height of the building is 24'
• 221-square-foot addition to 7760 El Camino Real for the addition of a tower and new entry.
The addition represents a 3.8% increase in the size of the building (4837 square feet existing
and 5,038 square feet proposed) and results in the requirement for one additional parking stall
for the shopping center. Two surplus parking stalls currently exist; therefore, no additional
stalls are required to be provided and one surplus parking stall will remain
• Removal of the drive-thru at 7760 El Camino Real and replacement with a 400-square-foot
outdoor dining area, seating areas, landscaping, and a pedestrian plaza in between 7760 and
7700 El Camino Real
• Installation of a biofiltration planter in between the 7760 El Camino Real building and the El
Camino Real frontage
• Enhancements to the landscaping including the addition of planters in the parking lot to break
up the long rows of parking spaces, support trees around the renovated buildings and a
combination of trees, shrubs and groundcover on the slope facing El Camino Real to
complement the remodel
Community Development Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 760-602-4600 I 760-602-8560 f I www.carlsbadca.gov
CD 2020-0022 (DEV2017-0105) -THE BEACON
June 21, 2021
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• New trash enclosure
• Re-striping of parking lot in the area of Phase Ill
• Including the 221-square-foot addition, a total of 472 parking spaces are required for the
shopping center and 473 are existing ·' .. '
In order for a Discretionary Permit Consistency Determination to be approved, all of the following findings
must be made:
1) No project condition, feature, facility or amenity is changed or deleted that had been considered
essential to the project's design, quality, safety or function in that the proposed revisions to the
project are designed to improve the overall design, quality and function based on current retail
center practices, design and operations. In addition, safety is increased by improved circulation
for pedestrian movements, landscaping enhancements and ensuring ADA compliance
throughout.
2/ The request represents an upgrade in overall design features and or materials and improves upon
the project's compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood in that the subject last phase of
the remodel will complete the revitalization of a shopping · center that was outdated,
underutilized and in a state of disrepair. The proposed renovations will enhance and modernize
design features and architectural materials, which will increase the compatibility with the
surrounding neighborhood. This includes the activation of public plaza amenity areas that in
part, replace underutilized space. Architectural improvements are consistent with the criteria of
the El Camino Real Corridor Standards for Area 5 which require a Spanish Mission architectural
theme. Further, the proposed remodel complements the recent remodels associated with Phase
I (Equinox health club} and Phase II {7720, 7740 and 7750 El Camino Real).
3) The proposed revision does not change the density or boundary of the subject property in that no
residential units are proposed, and the remodel will update existing buildings on-site.
4) The proposed revision does not involve the addition of a new land use not shown on the original
permit in that outdoor dining and public plazas are permitted accessory uses in a shopping
center.
5) The proposed revision does not rearrange the major land uses within the development in that no
additional buildings or uses are proposed beyond the scope of what was approved for the
original Site Development Plan, SDP 78-03{C).
6} The proposed revision does not create changes of greater than ten percent provided that
compliance will be maintained with the applicable development standards of the Carlsbad
Municipal Code in that one additional parking space is required for the 221-square-foot addition
to 7760 El Camino Real, wflich can be accommodated by the existing parking stalls provided
ansite; the addition to 7760 El Camino Real represents a 3.8% increase in the building area and
the six-inch increase in height from 24 feet to 24'-6" for the addition of the tower at 7760 El
Camino Real represents a 2% increase in height; and there are no changes to the landscaping,
setbacks, or building coverage which exceed ten percent.
CD 2020-0022 (DEV2017-0105)-THE BEACON
June 21, 2021
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7) The proposed change will not result in any significant environmental impact, and/or require
additional mitigation in that there is no increase in traffic trip generation or parking demand
beyond the 10 percent allowance of the Consistency Determination policy. In addition, the
proposed improvements do not create any inconsistencies or new impacts relative to the
environmental review process associated with the original center's approval.
8) The proposed change would not result in any health, safety or welfare impacts in that the
proposed revisions will maintain or enhance ADA compliance.
9) There were not any major issues or controversies associated with the original project which would
be exacerbated with the proposed change in that the proposed improvements will assist in
reviving the shopping center and will provide an updated, higher-quality, modernized asset to
the community.
10} The proposed change would not be readily discernable to the decision makers as being
substantially different from the project as originally approved in that the proposed remodel
represents a significant upgrade to an underutilized shopping center.
Therefore, the City Planner has determined that the application qualifies for a consistency determination
with the approved permit and approves the changes to the project based on Planning Division
Administrative Policy No. 35.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact your project planner, Shannon
Harker at (760) 602-4621 or by email at shannon.harker@carlsbadca.gov.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
DON NEU, AICP
City Planner
DN:SH:cf
c: Ashley McDonald, Asana Partners, 11752 San Vincente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049
David Rick, Project Engineer
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