Here’s our round up of stories in the City of Carlsbad this week, including:
- Housing plan next steps
- Expanded in-person services
- Earth Month events
- Flag drop-off boxes
- Summer camp sign ups
- Topics for next week’s City Council meeting
- New Carlsbad Reads Together events
- Northbound Poinsettia Lane off-ramp closure this weekend
- Changes to rail service this weekend
Housing plan approved by City Council
The Carlsbad City Council unanimously adopted and approved the City of Carlsbad’s updated housing plan for submission to the state.
The City of Carlsbad is required by state law to update its housing plan to ensure the city is meeting the housing needs of all members of the community. This includes updating city housing policies and designating space for about 3,900 new housing units by 2029.
The City Council approved the following policy amendments to the housing plan update that were proposed by the public, Planning Commission and Housing Commission:
- Included a program from smoke free housing
- Designated Site 13 – Zone 20 (located at the corner of Poinsettia Lane and Brigantine Drive) a low priority potential housing site that would only be included if another alternative site could not be identified in the southwest quadrant
- Removed the Ponto property from the potential housing sites with direction to find an alternate housing site elsewhere in the same quadrant
- Added a program objective to evaluate and consider the expansion of live-work units within commercial, citywide
The City Council also passed a resolution stating the city’s housing caps are preempted by state laws. After reviewing the draft housing plan, the state directed the city to adopt such a resolution in order to comply with new state housing laws that limit the ability for cities to impose building moratoriums and housing caps. Without the resolution, the state warned that the city’s updated housing plan may not be certified.
Next steps include submitting the plan to the state for final approval by April 15 and public input this summer on potential sites to rezone for future housing. Read more
In-person services expanded
Like many organizations, the city is in the process of adapting our operations based on recent changes in health restrictions, including expanding our in-person services. When it comes to resuming more in-person services, we will be taking a phased approach: Opened April 1
- Police and Fire Headquarters front lobby services
Opened week of April 5
- Community centers (10% occupancy, not to include Senior Center or Harding Community Center)
- Leo Carrillo Ranch Park’s historic structures and visitor center (25% occupancy)
- Libraries (browsing materials and self-serve checkout, limited days and hours)
- Cannon Art Gallery (25% occupancy, limited days and hours)
Opening week of April 12
- Building, planning and engineering counter by appointment only, 2 days a week
- Faraday cashier, 2 days a week
More details are available on this dashboard where you can quickly find out what is open for in-person services and when.
Celebrate sustainability during Earth Month in April
Earth Month activities are back! Carlsbad residents are invited to join the city in celebrating Earth Month with events and activities designed to help you reduce your impact on the environment and live more sustainably. Upcoming events include:
- E-Waste Drop-Off – April 10, 17 Waste Management Buyback Center, 5960 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
- Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off – April 10, 17
- Stericycle Collection Facility, 1145 E. Taylor St., Vista
- 10 Ways to Live a Sustainable Life Virtual Workshop – April 10 Register
- Virtual Composting Workshop – April 17, 10 a.m.Register
- Full event details and schedule
Flag drop-off boxes
Wondering what to do with an old, tattered American flag? The Cole and Dove libraries both have flag drop boxes so residents can make sure their old flags have a proper retirement. Keep an eye out for the drop boxes, which look like big, red mailboxes, outside both libraries. The boxes are available 24/7.
Summer camp registration now open
Let them get messy, try a new sport, sew a garment, experiment in the kitchen or just be a kid this summer! Laughter is guaranteed. Register for Carlsbad summer camps today! See full camp guide
City Council Look Ahead
The agenda for the next City Council meeting on 4/13 is now available. Topics will include:
- Rejecting bids for an off-leash dog park and other improvements at Poinsettia Community Park
- Purchasing additional portable speed feedback signs for four streets in the Village and Barrio
- Fulfilling state requirements for homeland security grants
- Amending city laws on elections, campaign disclosures and campaign contributions
- Annual work plans for the Library Board, Arts Commission and Historic Preservation Commission
- Update on city’s Arts & Culture Master Plan, with options for expansion
- Annual progress report on the city’s Climate Action Plan
- Choosing energy options for city accounts under new Clean Energy Alliance
Meeting starts at 3 p.m. Sign up by 2 p.m. if you want to provide live comments by phone. Otherwise, you can send your comment via email. Read more
Upcoming Carlsbad Reads Together Events
Who do you think WE are? Learn about the genealogy collection and programs available through the library for telling your ancestors’ stories and creating a family history narrative. This presentation on April 22 at 5:30 p.m. will cover accessing the library’s genealogy resources and include a case study illustrating how the genealogy collection at Cole Library was used to unravel a family mystery. The Human Library is a library where real people are the books and reading is a conversation! Living books (people with a particular life experience or story to tell) are available for you to “check out” for a specific borrowing time period on April 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. Every “book” represents a group in our society that is often subjected to prejudice or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, disability, social status, ethnic origin, etc. Read more
Carlsbad Works:
New valves improve water delivery Over the past few weeks the Carlsbad Municipal Water District operations crews and Construction Management and Inspection team have diligently worked days, nights and weekends to have new water valves installed at various locations throughout the city. The project repairs and replaces deteriorating or broken valves to improve water delivery, maintain high service levels to customers and reduces water loss.
I-5 ramp closure at Poinsettia Lane The City of Carlsbad isn’t working on the I-5 widening, but we partner with other government agencies to share information about projects affecting our community. This weekend, Caltrans and SANDAG crews will temporarily close the northbound Poinsettia Lane off-ramp so they can work on adding two new carpool lanes, one in each direction, on I-5. The ramp reopens April 12 at 5 a.m. Please drive extra carefully in the construction area.Read more
No rail service from Oceanside to San Diego April 10-11 – 12 The San Diego Association of Governments and North County Transit District will suspend all coastal rail line service between the Oceanside Transit Center and Santa Fe Depot during this weekend, April 10-11. No passenger or freight trains will operate beginning early Saturday morning through early Monday morning. The service suspension is part of a planned work schedule of rail closures that support routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. View a complete list of scheduled rail closures for 2021
- .Virtual and in-person classes for families and youth
- Virtual classes for adults 50+
- Library programs
- Cultural Arts
- Alga Norte Aquatic Center
- Teen activities
- Hike the city trails
- Upcoming virtual events Quick links
- COVID-19 Information
- City Manager’s Update
- Council Meeting
- InfoCity TV
- Hot Topics
- Community Vision
- Emergency Preparedness
- Social Media
Contact Us City of C arlsbad communications@carlsbadca.gov
