Sunday, March 29, 2015

Carlsbad residents wish they had a Prop A

NOTE: Those looking for Carlsbad's February 2016 Measure A please see here.

Coast News commentary:
Disappointed by building heights

Many residents are disappointed by the vote at the March 18 Carlsbad Planning Commission Meeting that recommends to the City Council an amendment to allow taller buildings in Carlsbad. Two hotels have requested permission to add a 4th floor (the Carlsbad standard is three floors) in a building with a 45-foot height (a height approval is also needed). By offering ocean view rooms on the fourth floor, the two hotel chains stated that they would then be able to obtain more revenue from these rooms.

We hope, when the final vote goes before the City Council, that the Council Members advocate for the residents of Carlsbad, not for the profit of the hotels. We hope they will uphold the scenic and uncluttered beauty of our city and Envision Carlsbad’s defining attribute, “small-town feel of our beach-side community,” for all residents and visitors to Carlsbad.

With this amendment, Carlsbad will have FOUR floors of bright lights at night instead of three; thus, the resort will appear much larger and more noticeable than any other hotel in Carlsbad.

The residents were well served when Commissioner Scully (who cast the lone vote against the amendment) rightfully pointed out that, without the amendment, the two hotels can still build a beautiful quality hotel within three floors as all the other hotels in Carlsbad have done.

Now, with the approved additional floor, the resort will obviously impact the countryside.

At the meeting, the hotels claimed that four floors “will give more open space”. Regardless, the resort will be larger.

The argument of “more open space” could support requests to add floors to any commercial building in the city. Thank goodness, the buildings in Carlsbad are only three stories, wider rather than higher and thus less obtrusive.

Thank you Carlsbad Council for generally, in the past, not approving more floors, more lights, more obstruction of the panoramic views.

Each Commissioner mentioned a concern for setting a bad precedent, yet five Commissioners voted for the precedent-setting amendment. Other hotels (and commercial developers) will justifiably say that, if the Commission granted approval to these two hotels, then they too want to “improve their amenities” and gain “a view of the ocean” with more floors. They will capitalize on this new amendment and could rightfully call it favoritism to specific hotel chains if they too don’t get amendments to achieve “better resort amenities.” In fact, at the meeting on March 18, the hotel management company also pointed out a precedent that was set years ago. These two hotel chains want similar treatment given to another hotel in Aviara that exceeds the standard height and number of floors. When will it stop? It won’t.

The Commissioners frequently said that they will be more vigilant in the future about more floors in tall buildings — why not now?

The fight for the residents isn’t over. Only the Planning Commission voted to approve the additional floor within the additional height.

It still needs to be approved by the Council Members who must continue to stand firm against the push for taller buildings…. that have more floors to light up the sky.

Madeleine Szabo,

Carlsbad

19 comments:

  1. I hope the council does the right thing and votes no for more taller and larger hotels. Carlsbad is a coastal jewel and should not be ruined by over zealous developers.

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  2. If you're disappointed by this in Carlsbad, you're living in the wrong city. Carlsbad has been about unlimited development for the last 25-30 years. Why do you think the 5 backs up coming into Carlsbad? Because of all the traffic backing up off of Palomar Airport Rd. They could at least add a separate lane there, but no...

    -MGJ

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  3. Good commentary by Madeline Szabo. I hope Carlsbad Council stands firm. The 4-1 Carlsbad Planning Commission decision is weak, obviously swayed by special interests.

    There is no correlation proven between having more open space because taller building are permitted and constructed. That's just another development tool, an illusionary "proxy" as in higher density translates into more affordable housing. At least they aren't trying to say if you allow higher buildings, we can build more affordable housing on the "open space."

    Dave Roberts says that Solana Beach does have an initiative similar to Prop A. I believe he called in Prop T? Not sure of the letter designation. JG, I mean MGJ is correct. Carlsbad has been catering to expanding development, for years. Once again, thank goodness the activists and the voters passed Prop A, here.

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  4. Where's Norby in all this? No doubt working behind the scenes to push "vibrancy."

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    1. He doesn't get a pension....

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    2. No one mentioned a pension. The dude gets paid though, make no mistake about that. There's not a high-density project he's met yet that he doesn't like...and promote...for pay.

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  5. Go downtown to get a look into your future with the spring break crowds. Carlsbad don't follow Encinitas with their failed planning and F grade work just because some RSF developer has you enamored by one tall project you think is the future. Think again.

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    1. Huh? Could you be more cryptic, please?

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  6. Sounds like it is time the Carlsbad City Council fires 5 of those Commissioners and gets some caring residents who will stand for the current zoning on that board.

    Their Council has the opportunity to show they appreciate the position they have been entrusted with by the voters. I hope they do so.

    Here in Encinitas, the HEU is proposing 3 story apartment bldg's every where they can in spite of the fact that the voters will get their say and demand nothing higher than 2 stories.

    Planning can't seem to get it and are just wasting their and our time at a great cost for a nothing result come election time. Sweep, sweep ,sweep the whole bunch out of here if there is ever to be any progress made.

    With more independent candidates to join the one hopeful keeper we have now if she doesn't blow it before then, a majority could happen that finally would be our long awaited true representational body. Dreaming on.

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  7. I'll take Carlsbad streets and forward minded politicians over Encinitas Prop A for $2000 Alex.

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  8. This story, which is about the needs and interests of local residents is an interesting contrast to the story about Spock Block--which is where council is placing their attention. I think that citizens are interested in serious issues like safety and protection of our unique environment and quality of life. These are the types of issues that I would like to see our city focus upon.

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  9. I'll take former Encinitas council candidates for $1000!

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  10. Only two things wrong with Carlsbad...1- no roundabouts. 2- The didn't lower the train.

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    1. they have 2 roundabouts. one at border with Oceanside. the other at legoland. I am not aware of any grade separation except at la costa, palomar, and oceans HW101 train crossing.

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  11. Not true, there is now a Roundabout at the entrance to C-bad on 101, and they are trying to figure out how to lower the train through downtown as we speak...

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    1. Lowering the train through out north county should be the primary focus of every city. Except Encinitas, they are too dumb to know a good thing when they need it.

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    2. By "lowering the train," do you mean trenching the tracks?

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    3. 9:33 AM

      Did you just move here? We've been trying to get the tracks lowered for years but it will cost a lot of money and no funds are yet available. So who is "to dumb to know a good thing"?

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  12. Unfortunately for those Carlsbad residents who don't appreciate the changes implemented by Mayor Hall and his regime you have to realize their council has been lured and rewarded by billionaire corporations/developers in ways that won't be shared. The city's "people who matter" believe it is their vision for the world is the only way. Big financing wins and that equals high rises and mega-malls. Good luck driving through Carlsbad in the future you can be guaranteed the freeway will be locked until the planned caltrans improvements in 2035.

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