Traffic commission recommends against one-block overnight parking ban on Garfield Street, urges citywide approach

The Carlsbad Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission voted Jan. 6 to recommend against adding an overnight parking ban limited to one section of Garfield Street and instead asked the City Council to pursue a broader strategy addressing overnight vehicle parking across the city.

The commission considered a proposed ordinance to add a new municipal code section restricting overnight parking on both sides of Garfield Street from the 26100 block to the 20100 block between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Lieutenant Dave Velasco of the Carlsbad Police Department presented staff findings, including community feedback, calls for service and a fiscal estimate for signage.

The commission’s recommendation came after about a dozen public speakers described both the neighborhood impacts and the needs of people living in vehicles. Resident Laurie Robbins pressed the commission to act on sanitation and safety in the area, saying, “Please don’t wait for an accident to happen. Install stop signs at the intersection of Grand and Madison.” Other…