What could be a more attractive addition to Agua Hedionda than a shopping center?

Post Title: Ten Reasons to Vote “No on A” in Carlsbad’s Special Election

Post Date: January 30, 2016

What follows is a list of reasons I voted no on Measure A. They tell the story of how a billionaire L.A. developer persuaded elected officials to agree to put our city’s quality of life at risk. On February 23 we’ll find out if he succeeded.

1) Dishonest “citizen-led” initiative campaign

The Agua Hedionda 85/15 Specific Plan Initiative was launched by a trio of residents hardly representative of the city’s diverse community: the only volunteer on the lagoon’s foundation board, composed mostly of corporate executives, like the owner of the land the developer wants to buy (SDG&E) and the developer Rick Caruso’s own corporate representative; a former CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce; and a former city planning commissioner.

2) Faulty air quality analysis

The city’s 9212 Report calls for “further analysis of cumulative air quality impacts and documentation of construction emission and Carbon Monoxide hot spots assumptions.” Not good news for trail walkers carrying inhalers.

3) City council ignores constituents, caves to corporate interests

On August 25th the city council unanimously approved the developer’s plan, refusing to allow a vote of the people as promised, or even a 30-day cooling-off period to hear from their constituents.

4) False claim: outside interests funded referendum

Westfield Corporation’s VP for corporate relations declared, “Westfield is not providing any support, financial or otherwise, to the referendum drive” after mayor Matt Hall teamed up with Caruso to make that claim. They then invented other unnamed “outsiders,” clueless that thousands of Carlsbad residents would be offended by the council’s rude dismissal of their concerns at the August 25 meeting.

5) Dishonest promise to save the strawberry fields

On page 5 of the Specific Plan Description Appendix N “Transportation Impact Analysis,” you’ll find, “The site is currently occupied by the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields and other agricultural uses, and these will continue to operate in a different configuration and at a reduced level.” It’s no surprise the strawberry fields are not featured in the “Yes on A” campaign.

6) Barely seen in mailers and TV ads: a 13-acre mall

A shopping center is hard to find in the deceptive glossy mailer, “A Bird’s Eye View of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon 85/15 Plan”

7) Campaign donations to council members

The owner of the Carlsbad Strawberry Company donated $5000 to Matt Hall’s 2014 mayoral campaign, $4260 to councilmember Michael Schumacher.

8) More traffic, more promises

If projections are too low, local traffic will be a nightmare. If projections are too high because online retail customers continue their flight from large department stores, or another deep recession hits, the failed project could become Carlsbad’s Stonehenge by the Lagoon, a legacy of city leaders who thought they could get something for nothing.

9) Elected leaders give up control of amendments to the plan for 15 years

“The City Planner’s sign-off, or refusal to sign-off shall be final. There shall be no administrative appeal of the City Planner’s sign-off or refusal to sign-off”(Agua Hedionda 85/15 Specific Plan, 6.13.2.2, p. 153). The one person responsible for approving amendments to Caruso’s plan is three reporting levels removed from those we’ve elected to act in our best interests.

10) Analysts agree revenue overstated, threat to small businesses understated.

The city’s 9212 Report (Table 5, p. 36) found Caruso overstated all projected revenues for the city. A second analyst found he incorrectly designated his proposed shopping center a “super-regional” mall, allowing him to expand the projected market area. Phony promises of a larger, wealthier customer base hide the likelihood of local small business failures.

Final Straw

Proponents of Measure A, as well as our mayor and city council, claim Caruso’s project is the best we can hope for to cover those 48 acres of commercially zoned land and to get public access to trails and open space. Don’t listen to them. The city has a lease with SDG&E to allow for a park and recreational uses, open to the public, in 90 acres of open space. Spurred on by the passing of Prop D, the city set aside $5 million to make that happen.

As for the 48 acres of commercial land, check out the “General Plan Table 2-4: Characteristics of Commercial Land Uses” on the city’s website. You’ll find many options more attractive than a shopping mall. What goes in there will depend on the wisdom and judgment of our elected leaders. Unfortunately, the current bunch seems eager to transfer their responsibilities to a billionaire L.A. developer.

Title: The Riehl World | Author: Richard Riehl | From: Carlsbad | Blogging since: 2011