Carlsbad Council adopts investment board, sewer fee changes and accepts Coastal Commission edits; several measures pass unanimously

The Carlsbad City Council on May 2025 voted to adopt a package of ordinances and to accept suggested modifications from the California Coastal Commission that are necessary for local coastal program (LCP) certification.

The actions passed included final adoption of Ordinance No. 490 establishing an Investment Review Board; adoption of amendments to the Carlsbad Municipal Code (Chapter 13.1, Section 13.1008 A–M) governing sewer benefit area fees; and council acknowledgment and approval of the Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications to both the Village & Barrio objective design standards and the citywide objective design standards manual so that those standards can take effect within the coastal zone.

Those certifications are required for the objective design standards to be effective in the coastal zone and to satisfy Program 1.11 of the city’s housing element, staff said. Associate Planner Shelley Glennon told the council that the Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications are “narrowly limited to compliance with the existing local coastal program policies” and that city staff reviewed and accepted the changes.

On the Village & Barrio objective design standards, resident and architect Laurie Robbins urged the council not to approve the Coastal Commission changes in their current form unless staff corrects what she described as document inconsistencies and elements she said are “out of scale and character,” including allowance for long blank walls and conflicting awning-size specifications. Council members and staff responded that the standards will be revisited about two to three years after initial adoption to evaluate implementation and make refinements.

Votes at a glance: - Consent calendar (items 1–5): moved and seconded; passed unanimously. - Ordinance No. 490, Investment Review Board (second reading/adoption): motion to adopt; passed unanimously. - Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 13.1, Section 13.1008 A–M (sewer benefit area fees) (second reading/adoption): motion to adopt; passed unanimously. - Village & Barrio objective design standards — introduction/acknowledgment of Coastal Commission suggested modifications and direction to transmit for LCP certification: motion to approve; passed unanimously. - Citywide objective design standards — introduction/acknowledgment of Coastal Commission suggested modifications and direction to transmit for LCP certification: motion to introduce ordinance; passed unanimously.

Staff said that if the council did not accept the Coastal Commission modifications, the Coastal Commission would not certify the LCP amendment and the objective design standards would not be effective in the coastal zone. City planner Eric Lardy and Associate Planner Shelley Glennon were available during public hearings and answered council questions about the process and timing. The council anticipates Coastal Commission certification to follow within one to two months after the council’s action.

Ending: The bundle of measures was framed by staff as necessary to implement state-mandated objective standards for housing projects and to ensure the city’s LCP conforms with Coastal Commission policy. Council members said they expect ongoing refinements as projects are processed under the new standards.