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Carlsbad council directs staff to remove onshore oil and gas facility allowances from local code
Summary
After a staff report on state and federal jurisdiction, council voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare code and Local Coastal Program amendments to prohibit onshore oil and gas facilities within city limits and coastal zone.
Carlsbad City Council voted June 23 to direct staff to prepare amendments to the Carlsbad Municipal Code and the local coastal program to prohibit onshore oil and gas facilities within the city.
Assistant Director of Community Development Eric Lardy reviewed state and federal authority on offshore and onshore drilling and noted recent state statutes (including SB 1137 and AB 3233) that restrict oil and gas facilities near sensitive uses and give cities greater authority to remove references to oil and gas facilities from local zoning. Lardy said the city's municipal code retains 1980s language that would allow limited onshore facilities in specific heavy commercial and manufacturing zones but that state law and the local coastal program now effectively preclude new facilities.
Councilmember Shin moved to direct staff to prepare the code amendments; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Staff estimated processing the amendment (including public hearings and Coastal Commission review) would take roughly six months to initiate local changes and one to two years for coastal program approval.
Councilmembers said the action was intended to remove any ambiguity in local regulations and to align city documents with current state law and policy.
