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Home My WebLink About2023-01-11; Growth Management Citizens Committee; Minutes Minutes January 11, 2023 CALL TO ORDER: 5 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Primary – Jeff Segall, Eric Larson, Stephen L’Heureux, Mike Howes, Mary Ryan, Frank Caraglio, Frances Schnall, Harry Peacock, Annika Jimenez, Gita Nassiri, John Nguyen-Cleary, William Sheffler, Amy Allemann, Joe Stine, Steve Linke Alternate – Ron Withall, Patrick Goyarts, Jan Neff-Sinclair, Don Christiansen, Terence Green, Allen Manzano, Art Larson, William Fowler Absent: Primary – Scott White, Fred Briggs, Chad Majer Alternate – Casey Carstairs, Theirry Ibri, Matthew Reese, Erin Nell, Angela O’Hara, Nora Jimenez George, Jamie Latiano Jacobs, Marissa Steketee, Kevin Sabellico APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Joe Stein, seconded by Stephen L’Heureux, to approve the Dec. 15, 2022 minutes. Mike Howes and John Nguyen-Cleary abstained. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Five public comments were received. 1. Open Space and Parks– Chris Ross stated support for the staff’s recommendation of 15% open space for each Local Facility Management Zone, however, given the diversity and size of Carlsbad he believes the zone exemptions should be removed and a transition plan developed so open space in the city can be shared equitably. Ross requested that a coastal access park, specifically in the Ponto area, be added as a requirement in the Growth Management Program. 2. Parking – Gary Nessim expressed his concern regarding parking spaces for new housing given the state’s mandates that parking can’t be required for commercial or residential projects. Nessim would like to see a parking fee implemented based on square footage to provide municipal parking. 3. Open Space and Parks – Diane Nygaard stated there is a need for more open space and parks so that people can recreate in spaces designed for recreation rather than trampling native plants and animal habitats. Nygaard further states that Climate Change is a factor in needing to preserve more open space than was designated in the 1986 Growth Management Plan. 4. Parks and Energy- Paige DeCino would like to see the Parks standard metric increased to align with surrounding communities. DeCino further stated schools should not be included when counting park acreage since they are fenced and not accessible after school hours. Carlsbad -v-~ TOMORR W Growth Management Citizens Committee Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee January 11, 2023 Page 2 As a representative of the Clean Energy Alliance, DeCino expressed support for a local power distribution and storage project at Maerkle Reservoir. 5. Parks – John Bottorff expressed concerns over synthetic turf and asks that it not be used in city parks. Bottorff explained the that chemicals in the synthetic turf rinse into waterways during storm events and are harmful to people and the environment. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: The meeting opened with a welcome to attendees from Committee Chair Eric Larson. City Planner Eric Lardy then briefly reviewed the committee’s purpose and charter, with emphasis on the mission, the 11 existing performance standards, how the Growth Management Plan is implemented, the committee process, and the next steps in the Growth Management Program update process. Mr. Lardy briefly went over the role of the General Plan and the Housing Element and reminded the committee that SANDAG statistics related to projected population growth and demographics were redistributed in their committee packet. Facilitator Susan Harden reviewed the meeting agenda. COMMITTEE BUSINESS: • Open Space Standard. City of Carlsbad Planner Eric Lardy provided a recap of the Open Space Standard, including previous conversations held by the committee. Mr. Lardy reviewed the staff recommendation that the Open Space Standard remain as it is in the Growth Management Program. Because of the challenges in securing vacant available land for more open space than is currently planned, options for a different open space standard are limited and involve additional cost to the city. The committee discussed the following: o Set standard as a “goal”, not a means to shut down development. o Question on the impact of undoing exempted zones. o Question on if the language for the standard could include a goal for exempt zones and a 15% requirement for others. o Fair share contributions should be mandatory for developers for all zones. The city could monitor/implement. o Concern expressed regarding fee impacts on housing affordability. o Zone by zone analysis needed. o Concern regarding removing all exemptions. o A 40% citywide standard was recommended. o There was a comment to add “or built out land” in the standard language. o Looking to future changes in land use, exclusion assumptions can’t be guaranteed. (Making them arbitrary.) o City Council ultimately determines fee(s) based on ranges from various adopted plans. o Question on the impact if 25 years from now the land uses are changed. o Will a fee result in less developer dedicated land? i.e developer would rather pay fee than dedicate land for open space. o Request for staff to provide what the 15% is being measured against.  Action: By consensus, have staff to come back with alternative recommendations based on public concerns and committee discussion. Staff also to conduct additional research into zones currently exempt from the open space standard to better understand why and what the current status of open space is in those areas. • Parks Standard. City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Director, Kyle Lancaster, provided a recap on the existing current Park Standard. Nancy Bragado of Bragado Planning recapped how the City of Carlsbad’s Park Standard compares to other cities in the San Diego region. The staff recommendation that the Parks Standard remain as it is in the Growth Management Program was Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee January 11, 2023 Page 3 discussed, as well as alternate recommendations if the committee wanted to pursue increasing the standard. The committee discussed the following: o Interest expressed in having the Veterans Park designation reallocated to the quadrant it’s actually in and then assessing the park space in each quadrant. o Private parks should count only if open to public use. o Interest expressed in a 10-minute walk goal with a 3-4 acre per 1,000 standard. o Suggestion to increase standard to 4 acres, by quadrant, and citywide. o Concern expressed regarding citywide no longer incentivizes neighborhood parks. o Explore standard that is not population/acre based (e.g. San Diego) o Recommendation to increase standard to 4 acres, per 1,000, per quadrant (4) and open up park definition to account for other resources. o Comment that amenities and accessibility influence use of parks. A “layered” standard was suggested with the goal being a 10-minute walk.  Citywide standard – all city facilities if free to use.  Local access standard – 10-minute walk (to address disparities) o It was noted that the dedication of land is more valuable than an in-lieu fee. o There was a suggestion to change the definition of a park without an increase in acreage. o Include schools in park acreage only if there is a joint use agreement in place. o The impact regarding the provision for construction within 5 years was discussed.  Motion by John Nguyen-Cleary to increase the park standard to a citywide 4 acres per 1,000 population and to include additional recreational resources that have no fee basis for participation, and have staff bring back an accessibility standard based on distance to any park. (Motion was not seconded)  Chair Larson indicated he would rather achieve consensus before voting on a motion.)  Committee was then polled by a show of hands for consensus on keeping the current 3-acre standard. 10 primary members indicated “yes”.  Committee was polled for consensus on raising the standard to 4 acres. 6 primary members indicated “yes”.  Following the conversation, the committee requested staff return with options based on the committee discussion, including the issue regarding local accessibility. • At this juncture in the meeting, due to the lateness of the hour, Chair Larson moves to the Senior Commission Committee Member item on the agenda. • Senior Commission Committee Member. Chair Eric Larson asks for consensus on replacing the open member and alternate positions from the Senior Commission.  Action: By consensus, the committee moves to not ask the City Council to fill the open positions this late in the Growth Management Program Update process. • At this point in the meeting, City of Carlsbad Planner Eric Lardy recommended moving ahead with the Water Quality/Stormwater item on the agenda and deferring the Climate Action Plan and Energy topics to the Jan. 26 meeting. • Water Quality/Stormwater. Environmental Sustainability Director James Wood provided a presentation on Watershed Protection. The committee discussed the following: o Question on if stormwater capture for reuse is required under the city’s NPDES permit. o Question regarding if stormwater treatment is taking place before the stormwater enters the ocean. DISCUSSION ITEMS: • Committee meeting schedule and topics. Eric Larson informs the committee that the next meeting will occur on Jan. 26, 2023. Comment received that additional meetings should be put on the calendar for the committee members to plan accordingly. Carlsbad Tomorrow Growth Management Citizens Committee January 11, 2023 Page 4 COMMITTEE MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: • No future agenda items were brought forth by the committee. PUBLIC COMMENT: None ADJOURNMENT: Chair Eric Larson adjourned the duly noticed meeting at 8:28 p.m. Eric Lardy – Minutes Clerk