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Carlsbad reports surge in housing permits; staff says City rezoned 16 sites for up to 3,500 units
Summary
At its July 11 meeting the Carlsbad Housing Commission received the city's 2023 annual progress report showing a more-than-400% increase in permitted units from 2022 to 2023, driven by several multifamily projects; staff noted the City Council rezoned 16 sites to accommodate up to 3,500 new units and highlighted ADU and objective-design standard programs.
Scott Daniel, the city's senior planner, presented Carlsbad's 2023 annual progress report to the Housing Commission on July 11, saying the report is submitted to the state to document how the city has implemented its General Plan and housing element. "We do this annual progress report because it is required by state law," Daniel said.
Daniel told the commission the city recorded an "over 400% increase" in permitted housing units in 2023 compared with 2022, a jump he attributed primarily to several multifamily projects. He listed Marja Acres, Pacific Wind and Aviara Apartments, saying those projects accounted for roughly 47, 87 and 329 units, respectively, producing "nearly 500" additional permits when combined.
"The general plan was adopted by the city council in 2015 and is meant to be effective through 2035," Daniel said, adding that the annual report updates a suite of housing-element tables that track unit counts, affordability levels and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) activity. He described the ADU permit-ready program, which uses four preapproved plans to speed review for homeowners.
Daniel also summarized recent council actions: in January the City Council rezoned 16 sites across the city to accommodate up to 3,500 new units for lower- and moderate-income households, a step intended to provide buildable sites to help meet regional housing needs.
City Planner Eric Lardy added procedural context: the report was accepted by the City Council on March 19 and filed with state agencies and regional partners, including the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
Why it matters: the annual progress report fulfills state reporting requirements and shows how planning and permit activity are translating into potential housing supply. The rezoning action and objective design standards are intended to clarify development expectations and expedite housing production.
What's next: the commission had no substantive vote on the report; staff said the report was already transmitted to the state following council action in March.
