The Coast News, Sept. 25, 2009

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94

THE COAST NEWS

MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

VOL. 23, NO. 39

ble a u l Va pons cou Page on 10 B

HARBOR DAYS FUN Oceanside kicks it 17th

By Alyx Sariol

century-style at its annual Harbor Days event B1

SAY CHEESE! See if you can spot your face in a collage of pictures from the annual Oktoberfest event in B11 Encinitas

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SEPT. 25, 2009

Changes in store for mass transit

THISWEEK

TWO SECTIONS, 44 PAGES

.com

Doggie paddling out Above, Murrieta resident Michelle Callahan and her pup Gertrude ride the last wave in after their heat during the Surf Dog Surf A Thon at Dog Beach in Del Mar on Aug. 13. The event raised money for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Below, Newport Beach pup Kiapet practices her moves in between heats. Right, Rancho Santa Fe resident Lynn Scully and her miniature horse Paddy trot out on the catwalk as part of the Costume Contest. Photos by Daniel Knighton

Neighbors blast long-delayed La Costa development By Bianca Kaplanek

CARLSBAD — A group of Carlsbad and Encinitas residents is suing Carlsbad, angry over City Council’s approval of an 83-acre development on the northeast corner of La Costa Avenue and Rancho Santa Fe Road. The project, known as La Costa Town Square, has been part of the city’s development plan since the 1970s. Originally proposed as a strip mall, it has been redesigned and scaled back to include a 284,900-square-foot shopping center, 55,000 square feet of office space and 64 single-family homes. The lawsuit contends, among other things, that the city failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and didn’t adequately consider the environmental impacts. “The reality is they hid the truth,” said Everett DeLano, the attorney representing the citizens group, North County Advocates. “Ten or 20 years ago, they said this was planned. So why complain now? Today’s today. “Now is the time to think about those impacts,” DeLano said. “What’s disturbing about the current analysis is that they ignored the mitigation for blasting and for traffic in Encinitas, Carlsbad and on Interstate 5 because it would be too

much for the developer to pay for. That doesn’t suffice. Isn’t this just a gift to the developer?” Residents are primarily concerned with traffic and a 100,000-square-foot building that could accommodate a bigbox store they say is inappropriate for the residential neighborhood. The city said when Rancho Santa Fe Road was widened a few years ago, it accounted for the increased traffic that would be generated by the project. Residents disagree, saying a recent traffic study couldn’t accurately consider traffic and safety impacts on nearby schools because it was conducted in July when classes weren’t in session. “There’s already been 130 accidents year-to-date on La Costa Avenue,” said Rob Mayers, one of about 25 or 30 people who attended a Sept. 16 rally at the site. “How much will that increase with more cars?” Bob and Martha Baron, who have lived on La Costa Avenue for 20 years, said it’s rare to see motorists driving within the speed limit. “Coming out of my driveway is like entering a freeway,” Martha Baron said. “It didn’t used to be like that. It’s unfair. This is a beautiful

RALLY AT RECESS Nine-year-old Zach Fuller, left, and his brother, Alex, 12, gave up recess at Mission Estancia Elementary School on Sept. 16 to rally against a proposed development on the northeast corner of La Costa Avenue and Rancho Santa Fe Road. The boys said they would like to see a park on the site because Stagecoach Park, which is just around the corner, is always too TURN TO DEVELOPMENT ON A18 busy. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

CARLSBAD — Carlsbad and the rest of North County will be facing public transit changes over the next few years as a result of statewide and city budget cuts. The North County Transit District, or NCTD, presented its Mobility Plan to City Council on Sept. 22, detailing its efforts to cope with a smaller budget. “We thought we’d have $10 million,” said Julie Austin, director of policy and strategic planning. Due to a loophole in a state law, NCTD will be facing a 20 percent shortfall in its budget as the government makes cutbacks statewide. NCTD will be redesigning the transit system for the first time in seven years facing the additional challenges of a smaller budget. The goal is to continue providing service to more than 12 million riders without having to eliminate service. One of the major focuses of the redesign is to assess which routes that are currently serviced by 40-foot buses can use a smaller bus instead. NCTD is looking to have smaller buses comprise at least 25 percent of its fleet in the future. “We’re trying to provide more with less,” Austin said. “This area is right for smaller buses.” Mayor Pro Tem Ann Kulchin applauded NCTD’s work in providing clean and attractive buses and trains to the residents of North County. However, she suggested that many people are probably unfamiliar with the transit system and that more could be done to encourage people to try it out. “It’s not just a bus,” said Kulchin, referring to a stereotype of public buses as an unappealing form of transportation. “The buses are good looking and the colors are nice.” Carlsbad is currently served by seven bus routes, with transportation to Legoland, Carlsbad Village, business parks and the Westfield shopping plaza.Two Coaster stops connect Carlsbad residents to the Sprinter, Metrolink and Amtrak for long distance traveling. NCTD is also looking to decrease its carbon footprint, increase partnerships with companies to provide shuttle TURN TO TRANSIT ON A18


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