The margin favoring rejection of Carlsbad's Measure A, on a proposed retail and dining center to be built along the shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon, continued to widen Friday, the San Diego County Registrar of Voters reported.
With around 2,250 votes remaining to be counted, the "no" votes from Tuesday's special election totaled 19,425, or 51.5 percent, compared with a "yes" vote of 18,282, or 48.5 percent.
The margin of 863 votes at the end of Thursday's count grew to 1,143 today.
Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said more ballots will be counted over the weekend, with the next batch of results due Monday.
The development planned by Los Angeles-based Caruso Affiliated is opposed by environmental groups and mall owner Westfield, until recently the owner of a shopping center near Carlsbad's northern city limits.
Caruso wants to build on 15 percent of the 203-acre property and leave the rest as open space. A popular family-owned U-pick strawberry farm alongside Interstate 5 would be allowed to remain in operation.
The plans were approved last year by the Carlsbad City Council, but opponents — concerned about the size of the proposed buildings and worsening traffic congestion — collected enough petition signatures to force it to a public vote.
