From the UT:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/25/plan-for-carlsbad-strawberry-fields-plan-draws/
A costly, well-organized campaign to build a Nordstrom-anchored shopping, entertainment and open-space destination on the shore of a Carlsbad lagoon ended with the City Council’s unanimous approval late Tuesday night.
“This project is compatible with my vision and my values,” said Councilwoman Lorraine Wood before the vote. “A true leader makes a decision based on what they feel is right.”
Several hundred people attended the Carlsbad City Council meeting, where more than 130 residents spoke before the council voted to approve the Caruso Affiliated-backed citizen initiative without changes. The only other choices for the council were to call a special election or take 30 days more to study the plan.
“You have my word that we will surpass your wildest expectations,” Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of the company, told the council as he explained his Agua Hedionda South Shore Specific Plan, also called the 85/15 plan, and presented a short video.
Carlsbad is the third Southern California city this year to see a citizen-led initiative backed by private financing power its way around the municipal development review process. The Carson City Council unanimously approved an initiative in April to allow construction of a stadium to be shared by the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, and Inglewood approved a similar one in hopes of getting the St. Louis Rams.
Caruso’s initiative has been a polarizing issue for many in Carlsbad. Some speakers Tuesday said it would be wonderful, “a crown jewel for the community” and “an incredible gift,” while others said it would bring much more traffic and pollution, that the publicity campaign was deceptive because it emphasized open space and not the shopping center, and that many people were misled to sign the petition in support of the initiative.
The Los Angeles-based developer and his staff have spent more than three years in Carlsbad, meeting with residents and business owners and hosting bus trips to his shopping center The Grove in Los Angeles. Caruso built a strong following for the project, and many of those residents came out in support of it Tuesday night.
Read full article here:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/25/plan-for-carlsbad-strawberry-fields-plan-draws/
Nordstrom will help put Carlsbad on the map of upscale coastal towns, which is good for real estate values.
But I can sympathize with the opponents about how it went down, and still agree with George Carlin – government is bought and paid for:
https://youtu.be/hYIC0eZYEtI
It’s kind of funny reading about a councilperson talk about leadership. It’s kind of like listening to Barney Fife talk about good police work. If it happens, it’s accidental, and not to be expected consistently.
To be clear…
– The 85/15 group gathered enough signatures of registered Carlsbad residents to be put in front of the City Council for a decision.
– The duly elected Carlsbad City Council unanimously voted to approve
To all the nimbys complaining about the decision. All the rules/laws were followed. If you don’t like the decision maybe it’s time to consider running for City Council.
Carlsbad City Council…
Republican Matt Hall
Republican (with labor ties) Keith Blackburn
Republican Mark Packard
Republican Lorraine Wood
Republican Michael Schumacher
And fyi for those that don’t know…
In the California State Legislature, Carlsbad is in the 36th Senate District, represented by Republican Patricia Bates, and in the 76th Assembly District, represented by Republican Rocky Chavez.
In the United States House of Representatives, Carlsbad is in California’s 49th congressional district, represented by Republican Darrell Issa.
Agree on the leadership – besides aren’t you supposed to be representing what’s best for the constituents? Doesn’t sound like it here:
“This project is compatible with my vision and my values,” said Councilwoman Lorraine Wood before the vote. “A true leader makes a decision based on what they feel is right.”
I think it will be a net positive for Carlsbad all in all.
But Carlsbad seems more a Costco Town LOL.
Lots of kids etc…
Ever go there on a Saturday, that place is completely packed.
Carlsbad has the family-friendly part down.
Get off the I-5 at Cannon Road to see the Nordstom Center, upscale outlet mall, the Sheraton up on the hill, etc. Visitors will be impressed with quality, and if they stumble upon the West Steakhouse or West Bistro it will clinch it.
If they get off at any other Carlsbad exit, they will think the city’s general plan was written on the back of a napkin after a long night at the Golden T.
@Jiji FWIW the Costco is jammed 7 days a week – Saturday isn’t much worse than any other day. Not sure how everyone can shop during a random weekday, and it’s a lot worse now that the overflow parking is taken up by the strip mall they strapped onto the property. And that doesn’t even take gas into account!
Jim’s right about the master plan, though – I was explaining to someone today what living in Irvine is like versus Carlsbad/Vista. It’s like Carlsbad slept through (hungover?) the master planning lectures and read some quick cliff notes. Better than nothing, but it’s not Irvana, not by a long shot (and to be fair, Irvine didn’t have the old town legacy).
How did you like me slipping in that Golden T reference! 😆
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-tee-cocktail-lounge-carlsbad
I, for one, am beyond excited about this. There’s many reasons I live here…easy access to Nordstrom is one of them. 🙂 I was just driving to UTC yesterday thinking I can’t wait for the Carlsbad Nordstrom to open.
Ah yes the Golden T, never been in there. But, then again, dive bars are not my thing. Personally, I rather miss Bob’s (dive) Pizza. I used to love to call Bob up, tell him what I wanted, and then he would tell me what he would make me.