HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-05; Arts Commission; ; South Carlsbad Coastline ProjectMeeting Date: April 7, 2022
To: Carlsbad Arts Commission
From: Nikki Matosian, Community Relations Manager
Staff Contact: Nikki Matosian, Community Relations Manager
nikki.matosian@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2841
Subject: South Carlsbad Coastline Project
District: All
Recommended Action Receive an update on a project to create 60 acres of coastal spaces along Carlsbad’s southern coastline.
Executive Summary
Carlsbad’s southern coastline is largely unchanged from the car-centric 1950s, when Highway 101
(Carlsbad Boulevard) served as the main north-south corridor in the state.
Today, I-5 serves this purpose, creating an opportunity to reclaim the southern coastal corridor as a
place for the community to enjoy. In addition to reconfiguring the road to create more public spaces,
the road eventually needs to be moved away from the coast to protect it from rising sea levels.
By moving vehicle traffic to the easternmost lanes of Carlsbad Boulevard, about 60 acres of city-owned
land spanning three miles of coastline could be freed up for parks, walking paths, bike lanes, parking,
picnic areas, artwork and other uses the community would enjoy. To put this in perspective, Carlsbad’s
largest park, Poinsettia Community Park, is about 42 acres. The beachfront park at Pine Avenue is less
than one acre.
Discussion
As part of the planning process city staff is seeking input from the Arts Commission on opportunities to
enhance the artistic character along south Carlsbad Boulevard, which would be aligned with the city’s
General Plan, Art in Public Places Program and Carlsbad’s Community Vision, Character & Values.
The City of Carlsbad's General Plan includes several guiding principles for south Carlsbad Boulevard:
•Carlsbad Boulevard shall become more than a road. This transportation corridor shall provide
for recreational, aesthetic and community gathering opportunities that equal the remarkable
character of the land.
•Community safety shall be a high priority. Create destination that provides a safe public
environment to recreate.
•Strategic public access and parking is a key to success. Development shall capitalize on
opportunities to add/enhance multiple public access points and public parking for the beach and
related recreational amenities.
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 1 of 10
ARTS COMMISSION
Staff Report
•Open views are desirable and important to maintaining the character of the area. Preservation
and enhancement of views of ocean, lagoons, and other water bodies and beaches shall be a
high priority in road, landscaping, and amenity design and development.
•Enhance the area’s vitality through diversity of recreational land uses. Carlsbad Boulevard
development shall provide for amenities, services and goods that attract a diversity of residents
and visitors.
•Create vibrant and sustainable public spaces. Development shall provide for unique and vibrant
coastal gathering spaces where people of all age groups and interests can gather to enjoy
recreational and environmental amenities and supporting commercial uses.
•Connect community, place and spirit. Design shall complement and enhance connectivity
between existing community and regional land uses.
•Environmentally sensitive design is a key objective. Environmentally sensitive development that
respects existing coastal resources is of utmost importance.
•A signature scenic corridor shall be created through design that honors the coastline’s natural
beauty. The resulting improvements will capture the ‘essence’ of Carlsbad; making it a special
place for people from throughout the region with its natural beauty and vibrant public spaces.
Properly carried out, the realigned boulevard will maximize public views and encourage
everyone to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
•Reimagining of Carlsbad Boulevard shall be visionary. The reimagined Carlsbad Boulevard
corridor will incorporate core community values articulated in the Carlsbad Community Vision
by providing:
o physical connectivity through multi-modal mobility improvements including
bikeways, pedestrian trails, and a traffic-calmed street;
o social connectivity through creation of memorable public spaces; and
o economic vitality through a combination of visitor and local-serving commercial,
civic, and recreational uses and services.
The City of Carlsbad’s Arts & Culture Master Plan includes several initiatives designed to encourage,
foster and implement creative placemaking. This is referenced as:
•PR 2.2 (Physical Realm): As plans for the Coastal Corridor develop, work with regional artists to
identify opportunities for displaying public art.
•PR 3.1 (Physical Realm): Establish a practice of including a Cultural Arts representative in
preliminary concept development conversations about upcoming Capital Improvement Projects.
•DI 1.1 (Distinct Identities): Create a Trail Art program through a collaboration with city
departments, local businesses and organizations that encourages wellness and enhances the
outdoor experience.
Creative placemaking is defined as a cross-sector practice found within city planning and community
development that intentionally creates partnerships between the arts and culture sector in order to
develop the quality and vitality of a place. Often working with partners from public, private, nonprofit
and community sectors, these efforts look to strategically shape the physical and social dimensions of a
place through arts and culture activities.
The city’s planning efforts also take place within a national groundswell of interest in the ways in which
arts and culture can advance diverse community strategies. The success of new approaches such as
creative placemaking prompts cities to reassess the role and value of arts and culture within their
communities and to examine the types of skills, connections and capacities needed to harness the
potential of their arts and culture assets.
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 2 of 10
The development of the southern coastline would align with the city’s commitment to permanent
public art, meaning 1% of the overall construction funds would be designated for permanent public art.
The city's General Plan also includes policies for how different types of streets are designed. Carlsbad
Boulevard falls under the category of coastal streets, which calls for the following design elements:
•Primary purpose is to move people along the city’s ocean waterfront and connect people to the
beach, recreation, businesses and residences in close proximity to the waterfront. The street
serves as a destination for people who seek to drive, walk and bicycle along the ocean
waterfront.
•Designed to safely move all modes of travel while enhancing mobility for pedestrians and
bicyclists.
•Vehicle speeds shall be managed to support uses along the coast.
•Enhanced bicycle and pedestrian crossings should be provided, including: – High visibility
crosswalks – Enhanced pedestrian notifications (e.g. responsive push-button devices) –
Enhanced bicycle detection – Bicycle lanes shall be provided and can be further enhanced or
complemented by other facilities (such as bicycle lane buffers or off-street pathways).
•Pedestrian facilities should be a minimum of five feet and shall strive for six to eight feet in
width and shall conform to ADA requirements.
•Pedestrian crossing distances should be minimized.
•Trail facilities should be encouraged.
•Opportunities for mid-block pedestrian crossings should be investigated.
•On-street parking should be provided.
•Transit facility and operation improvements should be encouraged.
Fiscal Analysis
No city funding is being requested at this time.
Next Steps
City staff will apply input gathered in early 2022 to design a one-mile segment of Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way, which is part of a grant funded sea level rise project. Those designs
will be shared with the public in summer 2022, followed by a presentation to the City Council, which will
determine next steps.
Public Notification
This document was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code Section 54950 et. Seq.), published and distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time.
Exhibits
1.Maps of city-owned property along the south Carlsbad Boulevard project area.
2.Graphic showing an example of land that could be repurposed.
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 3 of 10
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Land Ownership*
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State of California
South Carlsbad Coastline Land Ownership
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 4 of 10
EXHIBIT 1
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PALOMAR AIRPORT RDISLANDWYMANZANO DRCARLSBAD BL
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Area of Interest – Palomar Airport Road
South Carlsbad Coastline Land OwnershipPalomar Airport Road
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 5 of 10
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Area of Interest – Poinsettia Lane
South Carlsbad Coastline Land OwnershipPoinsettia Lane
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 6 of 10
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Area of Interest – Avenida Encinas
South Carlsbad Coastline Land OwnershipAvenida Encinas
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 7 of 10
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Conceptual example of how realigning south Carlsbad Boulevard could free up acres of city-owned coastal
land for the community to enjoy.
South Carlsbad Coastline Project
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 8 of 10
EXHIBIT 2
Conceptual example of how realigning south Carlsbad Boulevard could free up acres of city-owned coastal
land for the community to enjoy.
South Carlsbad Coastline Project
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 9 of 10
Conceptual example of how realigning south Carlsbad Boulevard could free up acres of city-owned coastal
land for the community to enjoy.
South Carlsbad Coastline Project
May 5, 2022 Item #3 Page 10 of 10
South Carlsbad Coastline Project
Nikki Matosian
Communication & Engagement
May 5, 2022
{ City of
Carlsbad
TODAY’S PRESENTATION
•Receive an update about a project on the future use of
Carlsbad’s southern coastline
•Provide feedback
ITEM 1: SOUTH CARLSBAD COASTLINE
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Carlsbad
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•Recreational, aesthetic and community gathering opportunities that equal
the remarkable character of the land
•Community safety shall be a high priority
•Public access and parking are keys to success
•Preservation and enhancement of views shall be a high priority
•Amenities, services and goods that attract a diversity of residents and
visitors
•Unique and vibrant coastal gathering spaces
•Enhance connectivity between existing community and regional land uses
GENERAL PLAN GUIDING PRINCIPLES
•Environmentally sensitive design
•Honor the coastline’s natural beauty.
•Slow down and enjoy the scenery
•Incorporate core community values of the Carlsbad Community Vision:
•Multi-modal mobility including bikeways, pedestrian trails, and a traffic-
calmed street
•Social connectivity through creation of memorable public spaces; and
•Economic vitality through a combination of visitor and local-serving
commercial, civic, and recreational uses and services.
GENERAL PLAN GUIDING PRINCIPLES
•Intentionally create partnerships
•Develop the quality and vitality of a place
•Shape the physical and social dimensions of a place through arts and
culture activities
CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
•As plans for the Coastal Corridor develop, work with regional artists to
identify opportunities for displaying public art
•Establish a practice of including a Cultural Arts representative in
preliminary concept development conversations about upcoming Capital
Improvement Projects
•Create a Trail Art program through a collaboration with city departments,
local businesses and organizations that encourages wellness and enhances
the outdoor experience
ARTS & CULTURE MASTER PLAN
“Primary purpose is to move people along the city’s ocean
waterfront and connect people to the beach, recreation,
businesses and residences in close proximity to the waterfront.
The street serves as a destination for people who seek to drive,
walk and bicycle along the ocean waterfront.”
MOBILITY ELEMENT: COASTAL STREET
{ City of
Carlsbad
•$500,000 grant to design relocation of roadway away from
coast
•Input gathered now will help inform that design
SEA LEVEL RISE: 1-MILE PROJECT
{ City of
Carlsbad
TIMING
Input on community’s
values, needs and
priorities
Design alternatives for
Manzano to Island Way
based on input
Seek input on
alternatives
Present
alternatives to City
Council. Get
direction on next
steps
EARLY 22
Refine alternatives
based on feedback
AUG 22MAY/JUNE 22
0
0 0
0 0
RECOMMENDED ACTION
•Receive a report about the south Carlsbad
coastline project
•Provide feedback
ITEM 1: SOUTH CARLSBAD COASTLINE
{ City of
Carlsbad