The Carlsbad City Council could vote as soon as next month to approve a new upscale mall on the shores of the Agua Hedionda lagoon. But some residents say citizens should be allowed to vote on the developer’s plan.
North County’s League of Women Voters asked the council Tuesday to put the project on the ballot, rather than approve it outright.
“Our concern is that the normal project approval process has not been followed," the league said in a written statement.
League of Women Voters representative Connie Ulrich said the group has not taken a position on the plan, but is against city approval without a public vote.
“We believe that the proposed project requires a normal comprehensive staff review, independent third part review to evaluate compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and opportunity for public input,” Ulrich said.
The group's concern is the developer, Caruso Affiliated, has collected signatures for a citizen’s initiative to support the ballot. The city and the developer can avoid the usual rigorous process of complying with California’s Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
The San Diego County Registrar of Voters is currently counting those signatures. If they make up more than 15 percent of the city’s registered voters, the city council can choose to either approve the project or send it to a special election. Either way, they might not be able to make any changes if the plan is approved.
The site is on sensitive habitat, and though the plan preserves 85 percent of the lagoon-front property, detailed engineering drawings of the 15 percent to be developed aren't available. Approving the development without more scrutiny would be unwise, the league says.
Revenue questions
Carlsbad Finance Director Kevin Branca is focused on whether the financial forecasts in the plan add up, rather than the environmental issues.
He said city staff are working on a review of the consultant’s projections before the council has to make a decision.
A Westfield Mall — just three exits up Interstate 5 — has put on hold its plans to complete a major remodel this year, until the future of the Caruso development on the Agua Hedionda Lagoon is known.
Branca said Caruso’s specific plan is projected to generate an extra $2.6 million to $4 million a year in sales tax for Carlsbad. Westfield has estimated its now delayed remodel would generate an extra $1.2 million for Carlsbad’s general fund.
A Caruso-affiliated consultant said there is enough business in the area to support all the stores.
Branca said it’s challenging to assess the accuracy of these projections, but he will have a report before the end of August when the council is likely to vote.
