Planning commission recommends approval for Boulevard Beach commercial project with event space; parking and historic-context questions persist

The City of Carlsbad Planning Commission on Sept. 17 voted to recommend approval of the Boulevard Beach Commercial project, a three‑story building in the hospitality district that would combine retail and restaurant space with an indoor event center and outdoor terraces. The motion, described in the staff report as a “resolution recommending approval of a site development plan, conditional use permit and coastal development permit,” passed on a 5‑1 vote after more than two hours of staff and applicant presentations and public testimony.

Staff said the project site is just over a half acre within the Village and Barrio master plan area, immediately south of Magee Park and near St. Michael’s Church. The proposal would retain existing street trees on Carlsbad Boulevard, plant new parkway trees on Beach Avenue, provide three ground‑floor tenant spaces, a pedestrian plaza, 10 on‑site surface parking spaces and two upper‑level event terraces. The second floor would include about 5,100 square feet of interior event space and a 2,690‑square‑foot outdoor terrace; the third floor would provide roughly 3,000 square feet of outdoor seating and bar service and a bridal suite, staff said.

Staff told commissioners the event use is not expressly listed in the hospitality district rules but is similar to other visitor‑serving, hospitality uses the master plan anticipates and therefore can be approved with a conditional use permit if the required findings are met. Staff recommended conditions limiting event size to 250 guests,…