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What is the purpose of the Ponto Plan? |
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The Ponto Beachfront Village Vision Plan was developed with input from property owners, Carlsbad residents and other interested parties over an approximately two year period. It provides a guide for development and project design within the area. A vision for the area helps avoid a piecemeal approach to development, and a balanced and cohesive land use strategy that could be implemented. The Plan also ensures that the City can be more proactive in the provision of public or community amenities, such as biking, hiking and walking trails, parking and beach access. |
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What is the Vision for the Ponto Area? |
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Ponto is, and should remain a special place that can be enjoyed by all. The vision is for an active pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, area with a strong sense of place and a unique California Coastal Architectural character with enhanced access to the Beach. The area is envisioned to provide for a concentration of restaurants and shops that appeal to both residents and visitors and offer "people places" such as plazas and a community-based nature and art center. |
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Does the Ponto Plan change any of the existing zoning for the property? |
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No. Commercial, recreational and residential uses are currently permitted by the existing zoning for the property and no changes are proposed. The private property can be developed with or without the adoption of the plan. |
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Does the Ponto Plan approve any specific developments? |
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No. The Plan establishes development and design guidelines for the Ponto Area. It does not approve any specific development projects. Separate permits, review and public hearings(s) will be required for all future development projects. |
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What public/community amenities are included within the Ponto Plan? |
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The Plan provides for:
- A community trail that will protect community views to the lagoon and ocean. This will be a 10 to 12 foot wide multi-use trail that will connect to the regional trail around the lagoon.
- A pedestrian underpass (under Carlsbad Boulevard) to the State Beach entrance.
- A Wetland Interpretive Park and Boardwalk Trail.
- A community facility in the form of a Nature and Arts Center.
- Trails and pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- A Park on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard that includes benches and picnic tables.
- 104 public parking spaces on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard.
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Was appropriate environmental review completed for the Ponto Plan? |
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Yes. With the assistance of an independent consultant, the City completed an environmental assessment of the Ponto Plan. This assessment analyzed all potential environmental impacts that were foreseeable at the time of the review. The conclusion was that future development in conformance with the Vision Plan may have the potential to impact the environment unless mitigation measures are applied to the development in the areas of transportation/traffic, noise, biology, cultural resources and agriculture. Appropriate mitigation measures for these impacts were incorporated into the environmental assessment for the Vision Plan and will be applied to all future development proposals in the area. All individual development projects will require separate environmental review to determine their impacts.
Again, an overall vision anticipates environmental impacts on a more global scale, and instead of piecemeal. View the Ponto Beachfront Environmental Report.
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What studies were completed for the Ponto Plan? |
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- Comprehensive traffic analysis.
- Wetland Delineation
- Biological Resources Survey
- Cultural Resources Survey
- Development Potential
These studies assisted with development of the vision for the area, and identified impacts for use in the environment review.
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Does the Ponto Plan support the approved Local Coastal Program for the area? |
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Yes. The following features of the Ponto Plan support the Local Coastal Program approved for the area:
- Visitor-serving uses.
- Mixed-Use Development fronting on Carlsbad Boulevard (across from South Carlsbad State Beach).
- Hotel and timeshares.
- Bike/pedestrian path on the bluff edge overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon.
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Does the Ponto Plan support the State Parks Master Plan? |
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Yes. The Ponto Plan sets forth a vision to increase access to the beach and to provide other complimentary land uses. California State Parks staff believe new opportunities for commercial development in the Ponto Area can compliment the existing campground to provide benefit to its customers. The State Parks Master Plan assumes that 1) the area around the South Carlsbad State Beach will become increasingly urban, and 2) Carlsbad Boulevard will act as a present and future buffer against urbanized land uses. The State's Plan says, "The purpose of San Diego coast state beaches is to make available to the people, for their benefit and enjoyment forever, the scenic and recreational resources inherent to the coastal beaches and adjacent uplands of San Diego County." The Ponto Plan supports this purpose and is consistent with it. |
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What is the timing for implementation of the Plan? |
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The property within the Plan is all privately owned. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the timing for implementation. It is anticipated that some development may begin within the next 2 to 5 years. |
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Why can't the area just remain as it is? |
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Some 98% of the property within the Plan is privately owned and currently zoned to allow for development. None of the properties are zoned open space or intended for habitat management. If the property owners choose to develop, they may do so under existing zoning and general plan designations. The Ponto Vision Plan does not encourage development, The property owners may still choose not to develop. |
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