Carlsbad leaders reluctantly approve multi-use development, calling Sacramento ‘bullies’

CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Carlsbad City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to move forward with plans to demolish the long-standing Carlsbad Village Plaza and replace it with a mixed-use development, including 218 rental apartments. The decision sparked opposition, with some residents voicing concerns over maintaining the character of “Old Carlsbad.”

The development will include two five-story buildings, with 27 units designated for low-income households, and a parking structure with spaces for electric vehicles. The plan also includes restaurants and shops in front of the housing units.

Robert Medina, a Carlsbad resident, expressed frustration, questioning the claim that adding 218 units would reduce traffic. “Right now, they contend that by putting 218 units, it’s gonna reduce traffic—that’s nonsense,” he said.

Medina also voiced concerns about the impact on local businesses, including a Smart & Final and a pharmacy that serves low-income and elderly residents, many he says walk to the plaza because they don’t own cars.

“This is going to displace elderly families who rely on this pharmacy,” he said.

Bret Schanzenbach, president of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, supports the project, calling the plaza outdated and beyond its economic prime. “We think this development is going to be fantastic for Carlsbad Village. This mixed-use project brings much-needed housing,” Schanzenbach said.

Developers argue that the current plaza is no longer viable, with years of deferred maintenance and neglect. Patrick Tooley of Tooley Interests said, “The reality is that after decades of neglect, the retail buildings that exist here today are simply not viable in the long term.”

The project’s approval comes in the wake of state housing laws from Sacramento, which allow new regulations to override local zoning laws. These laws make higher-density housing more of a reality in Carlsbad.

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