Planning Commission adopts amendment allowing Coastline Church to defer parking expansion, requires off-site leases

The Carlsbad Planning Commission on July 2 approved an amendment to the site development plan for Coastline Church at 2215 Calle Barcelona that lets the church delay construction of a planned parking expansion and use off-site parking under lease agreements until the expansion is built.

Senior planner Kyle Van Lewin told the commission the roughly 6.5-acre site is in Village J of the Arroyo La Costa master plan and that the amendment would allow the parking-lot expansion to occur after building additions rather than concurrently. Van Lewin said no physical changes to the approved development are proposed with this amendment and that staff has determined the project’s environmental effects were already analyzed in the Arroyo La Costa Master Plan environmental review and mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Staff recommended adopting the resolution in Exhibit 1 to the staff report, including the CEQA finding on page 7 that the project “complies with CEQA based on prior environmental review.”

Applicant Edward White, a member of the church board, said the church is running a capital campaign called “Reach More” and wants to double the worship center’s size without taking on new debt. White said constructing the new parking would cost about $2,500,000, and the church prefers to defer that expense while using off-site parking for occasional overflow. White said the church has negotiated a lease with El Camino Creek Elementary School for overflow Sunday parking at $1,000 a month and has a separate arrangement with the adjacent sports-park lot, which is owned by the San Dieguito Union High School District. Pastor Aaron Jane described the congregation’s desire to remain a community partner and noted the church hosts trainings and events for local agencies.

Van Lewin and the applicant said the existing campus currently has 189 on-site spaces; the proposed expansion would add about 34 spaces. Staff’s parking calculations include a conservative estimate for occasional large-attendance services (for example, religious holidays) that assumes adult-assembly use and increases the assembly-space parking requirement used in the total.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the timing and enforcement of off-site parking leases and the logistics for shuttle service or walking routes from the school and park lots. Van Lewin said securing the leases and providing evidence to the city is a condition of approval that staff will verify prior to issuing building permits.

Commissioner Heubinger moved to adopt the resolution in Exhibit 1 of the staff report, including the finding on page 7 that the project complies with CEQA based on prior environmental review; Commissioner Burrows seconded. The motion passed 4–0 with Commissioners Burrows, Foster, Heubinger and Chair Means voting in favor and Commissioners Peter Mears, Alicia Lafferty and Commissioner Stein absent. The resolution number cited in the hearing record was referenced as Amendment 202.5001.

The commission’s action is limited to the amendment described in the staff report; the approval is subject to the conditions listed in Exhibit 1, including the requirement that the church secure off-site parking leases before building permits are issued. Staff also noted that certain planning commission decisions are final but may be appealed to the City Council.

Votes at a glance: Adopted — Amendment 202.5001 (Coastline Church site development plan amendment), motion by Commissioner Heubinger, second by Commissioner Burrows; vote 4–0; outcome: approved. Condition example: proof of off-site parking leases required before building permits will be issued.