Letter to the Editor: Carlsbad City Council Should Approve Quarry Creek

In Carlsbad, the consideration of smart growth, mixed-use development is foremost in the minds of residents, community leaders and public officials. The city’s adopted General Plan emphasizes the importance of well-balanced community development to accommodate the current population and future growth.  Key among the city’s priorities is providing housing that is affordable and located in areas most capable of supporting residential growth.

A proposed residential community that is in sync with the city’s goals and offers regional benefits in the way of cultural and natural resource preservation is being considered next week by the Carlsbad City Council.  Quarry Creek, proposed by the McMillin Companies, is planned in northeast Carlsbad near major roadways, employment and commercial centers.  The community includes 656 single- and multi-family market-rate homes, along with parks, public trails and 85 acres of open space.  

During the last five decades, the McMillin Companies has built more than 30,000 homes and developed 17 master-planned communities throughout San Diego County, including two in Carlsbad. We have established a brand of professionalism, quality and trust within the local community - but we aren’t resting on our past accomplishments. The Quarry Creek project will provide more than half of the site as permanent open space, will provide protection for the culturally significant El Salto Falls and has been recognized by State and Federal Wildlife Agencies as exceeding habitat protection goals, while at the same time providing the housing the City needs to meet State mandates and local housing goals.

We believe the City of Carlsbad is the quality community that it is today due to the careful and thoughtful planning that has been done by the City, and which we have reflected in the design of the Quarry Creek project. We have been meticulous in following the rules established by the City and the City has conducted a rigorous analysis of the projects impacts - and solutions have been identified for those impacts. Not the least of which is more than three million dollars towards traffic improvements in both the City of Carlsbad and the City of Oceanside.

The City of Carlsbad has a need, and a State mandate, to provide affordable housing to its residents.  We believe Quarry Creek is the best option and location to fulfill this requirement.  We agree that it is important to provide affordable housing that hardworking people can afford to buy – people who want to experience home ownership and have a place to plant their roots and raise their families. The Quarry Creek site is an ideal location for this housing – close to services, shopping and employment, and directly served by transit.

The McMillin Companies looks forward to a favorable consideration of Quarry Creek by the Carlsbad City Council and the future role the community will have in the betterment of our region.

Mark McMillin is the President and CEO of the Corky McMillin Companies. Quarry Creek will be considered by the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m. To show your support for the project, please plan to attend the hearing or contact the Council by email at council@carlsbadca.gov or by phone at 760-434-2830.