Golf course project to move forward

By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer | Tuesday, November 2, 2004 10:03 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD ---- Calling it a "wonderful day for Carlsbad," Mayor Bud Lewis announced Tuesday evening that the city's habitat management plan had gotten its final sign-offs from federal wildlife officials.

That means the long-sought city golf course project can finally proceed, Lewis said at the start of the City Council meeting.

Lewis wasn't the only one celebrating something as Tuesday's meeting concluded. Developers who had come to witness the council's vote on two projects said afterward that they couldn't believe that no one from the audience spoke against either of their projects.

The first project, transforming the Carlsbad Raceway into a business park, has been opposed in recent weeks by two groups ---- one wanting to save the entire property, and the other wanting to preserve an old skate park on 6 acres of the site.

No one from either group spoke at the meeting, which observers said set records for speed. Within about six minutes, the council approved its "consent calendar" ---- its list of items approved without discussion ---- said the Pledge of Allegiance, gave an invocation and adjourned.

Both developments, which were getting their final plan check approvals, were on the consent calendar.

"If you came in late, you missed it," said Allen Jones, vice president of H. G. Fenton Co., which owns the raceway property.

Just after the meeting ended, one person who had planned to comment on the second project ---- the Carlsbad Oaks North business park plan ---- walked in. Diane Nygaard of Preserve Calavera said she had submitted a letter to the city earlier in the day opposing the project. She added that she was unhappy the council went so rapidly through its agenda.

In her letter, Nygaard wrote that her organization does not believe the project's developers have complied with a series of requirements, including having financial guarantees for the road construction and plans for sewers and drainage systems. The project is being approved in haste and city hasn't been responsive to her group's concerns, she wrote.

Looking over her letter after the meeting, a representative for the developer said, "There's nothing in here that's accurate."

Ted Tchang of Techbilt Cos. said grading would begin within several weeks.

That's also the timeframe for the start of grading on the raceway property, Jones said.

Both projects are near Palomar Airport Road in eastern Carlsbad.

The proposed golf course, which is located along Palomar Airport Road near Interstate 5, has faced years of delays. City officials thought they had everything done four years ago only to find out that the state Coastal Commission had decided to review the project. With that process complete and the city's habitat plan receiving its final check-offs, Carlsbad can start grading the property, city officials said.

Carlsbad needs to start work in 2004 in order to comply with its permits. After a little work, construction crews will take a break for several months because that's the nesting season of the endangered California gnatchers, birds who reside in coastal shrub habitat.

Work is scheduled to conclude in 2007.

Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.