Carlsbad Council orders removal of temporary domes, asks staff to design non‑roundabout options for Kelly and Park drives

Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously to remove the interim ceramic dome traffic circles on Kelly Drive this summer and asked staff to develop alternate long‑term designs that exclude roundabouts.

The council approved two actions: immediate near‑term changes to remove the ceramic domes, restripe and repave the roadway while school is out of session, and a direction to develop and return with alternate design concepts that do not include roundabouts. The council also indicated support for considering “all‑way” stop control and additional pedestrian crossings as part of near‑term safety improvements.

The issue drew more than a dozen speakers and extended discussion. Tom Frank, the city’s Transportation Director and City Engineer, reviewed the three options before the council: (1) proceed with the currently designed project that includes two roundabouts at Kelly & Hillside and Kelly & Park, buffered bike lanes and pedestrian improvements; (2) direct staff to develop alternate concepts without roundabouts; and (3) a near‑term package to remove the interim traffic circles, restripe, repave and add all‑way stops. Frank said the near‑term work could be completed this summer with a change order and fund transfer.

Residents who live on or near Kelly Drive described daily speeding, blocked driveways during school pickup and concerns about collision risk around the temporary domes. Kevin Fisher, who lives at 4875 Kelly Drive, told the council he watches the intersection for eight hours a day and called the intersection “really dangerous” because drivers coming off El Camino Real often do not slow from 55 to 25 mph. Crossing guard Sheila O’Neil, who said she stood at Hillside and Kelly throughout the school year, said: “it is a mess. It is truly a mess,” and described children and bikes mixing with traffic at pick‑up times.

Not all speakers supported removing roundabouts. Some residents and a few commenters favored roundabouts or other traffic calming features, and several speakers urged more comprehensive bike and trail connections along Park Drive. Steve Linke, a resident who previously served on the Traffic Mobility Commission, said roundabouts present conflicts for pedestrians and cyclists because there is no full stop control and bike lanes often terminate before roundabout entries.

Councilmembers repeatedly cited safety near Kelly Elementary School as a priority. Councilmember Shin moved to adopt the near‑term improvements (removal of domes, restriping and all‑way stops) and also supported staff returning with non‑roundabout alternatives; the motion was seconded and the council voted to approve options 2 and 3. The council’s vote reinstated more conventional traffic control and ordered staff to prepare alternate designs without roundabouts for future council consideration.

City staff said they will perform the near‑term work while school is out of session and will return with design alternatives and recommended crosswalk locations for council review. Tom Frank also said staff will study connectivity beyond the project limits to better link Park Drive trail gaps to the coast.

The council’s action leaves open the longer design question: staff will bring back alternative designs that aim to address resident safety and connectivity concerns without roundabouts, and the council will decide whether to authorize final design and construction funding at a later meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the near‑term change order and directed staff to develop alternate concepts without roundabouts; the motion passed unanimously.