City Council Postpones Decision on Quarry Creek Project

After listening to more than 50 speakers Tuesday night, the Carlsbad City Council postponed its decision on the 656-home Quarry Creek development project.

The Corky McMillin Companies would develop the proposed units on the 156-acre former rock quarry site located on the border of Carlsbad and Oceanside, south of state Route 78 and west of College Boulevard. The majority of the speakers campaigned for an alternative plan that would reduce the number of proposed homes and restrict development of an undeveloped portion of the land known as the panhandle.

Critics of the plan cited the development’s impact on the site’s historical significance, open space, density and traffic as major concerns.

Among the opponents was Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, who said her city remains opposed to the project. Although the developer has agreed to a list of traffic improvements Oceanside requested be a part of the project, Sanchez said she still has concerns about the impact on traffic and urged council members to reduce the number of units and not allow development of the panhandle.

“I ask you tonight to consider the historic importance of these lands to our region, to our two cities,” Sanchez said. “For all of us and our future generations, consider that all of the negative impacts of this project will be born by Oceanside residents.”

Mel Vernon, tribal captain of the San Louis Rey Band of Mission Indians, talked about the site’s Native American history.

“When a construction project proposes development on an area known to hold our cultural resources, our preference is always for that land to be avoided so that the cultural items beneath the soil are not disturbed,” Vernon said.

Earlier in March the Carlsbad Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan with several modifications, including that the project be limited to 600 homes and avoid the panhandle for most development. After the developer noted that they would need to retain the proposed 656 units to make the project viable, the commission asked The Corky McMillin Companies to provide financial data for the City Council to review.

During the five-and-a-half hour City Council meeting, some opponents of the plan requested the financial data and argued that the company can make money from fewer homes.

“The developer says at this level it’s not economically feasible. I think you need to ask and pursue that a little bit more,” said Fred Sandquist, president of the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and protection of Batiquitos Lagoon. “The planning commission recommended that the developer provide that information, but I certainly didn’t hear it tonight.”

Supporters of the project said Quarry Creek provides much-needed affordable housing and preserves open space.

“I do think at the end of the day you should take into consideration that a significant amount of the property is being preserved,” said Marcela Escobar-Eck, the former planning director for Carlsbad. “We do need to accommodate the housing that ultimately we’re going to need within the city of Carlsbad.”

Rachel Hartman, who manages Mira Costa Apartments in Carlsbad, agreed that the city needs more affordable housing and said there is always a waiting list for her affordable housing complex.

“This project will go a long way to help the city satisfy its need for affordable housing while providing a beautifully planned project next to shopping and transportation,” Hartman said.

Todd Galarneau, a senior vice president at The Corky McMillin Companies, said the company has worked with the city on this project for almost a decade and has consistently compromised on the project, providing 56 percent of the site as open space and 44 percent developed. Galarneau requested the City Council approve 656 homes so the project is viable.

“We’ve been flexible and accommodating. As the vision has changed over the years, we’ve worked with it,” Galarneau said. “We’ve got a project that we think both McMillin can be proud of and the city can be proud of as well.”

At almost 11:30 p.m., council members agreed to close the public hearing and continue City Council discussions to the April 2 meeting.