The Coast News, Aug. 10, 2012

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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. 26, NO. 30

AUG. 10, 2012

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Specific plan goes on ballot

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By Bianca Kaplanek

separate entrance into an upscale hotel, and instead use an existing small road into a community speaks volumes for Hilton Hotels’ blatant lack

DEL MAR — Voters will decide whether to move forward with downtown revitalization after council members voted unanimously at the Aug. 6 meeting to adopt the village specific plan, certify the accompanying environmental impact report and place the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot. According to the voter summary, the village specific plan is a set of measures designed to improve the vitality of downtown by implementing the goals of the community plan, developed in the 1970s, to have a pedestrianoriented, vibrant and economically productive area that serves the needs of residents and visitors. Traffic congestion, restrictive land-use laws, a lack of parking and competition from neighboring communities have been cited as threats to future viability. The village specific plan proposes improvements to walkability, safety, traffic flow and parking. It also changes zoning codes to incentivize private development. Improvements would be implemented in phases during the next 30 years to maintain “the unique character that defines Del Mar,” the summary states. Although work on the current proposal began in July 2011, city officials have been discussing ways to improve the central commercial zone for decades. As written the current plan features some major changes, including reducing Camino del Mar, the main thoroughfare through the downtown area, from four lanes to two and adding roundabouts at Ninth, 11th and 13th streets. It will also allow increased building heights on the west side of the roadway to a maximum of 26 feet. Since July 2011, council members have discussed the proposal at 22 meetings.After a draft plan was released in

TURN TO RESORT ON A22

TURN TO BALLOT ON A22

BOOGIE ‘BABES’ Carlsbad residents Sherrie Washburn and LaVonne Reiter are in their 70s but that doesn’t stop them from hitting A11 the waves.

INSIDE TWO SECTIONS, 52 PAGES

Arts & Entertainment . . . . A7 Baby Boomer Peace . . . . . B16 Camp Pendleton News . . . . B11 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . B20 Coastal Cosmos . . . . . . . . A13 Comics & Puzzles . . . . . . . B19 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . . . . A14 Hit the Road . . . . . . . . . . . A10 Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . . A23 Legendary Locals . . . . . . . . B6 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . B15 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A12 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . . . B5

HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 CALENDAR SECTION: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com COMMUNITY NEWS: community@coastnewsgroup.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: letters@coastnewsgroup.com

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS Sell your car at any price, or any one item $150 or less for free! Go online to www.coastnewsgroup.com or call our free ad hot line at (760) 436-1070. Deadline is Monday at 4 p.m.

GOTTA HAND IT TO YOU Ashland, N.C. resident Jenny Vess celebrates the Del Mar Beer Fest using her giant beer-holding hand. The fest, held at the racetrack, gave patrons the opportunity to sample more than 70 different flavors of beer. Photo by Daniel Knighton

Neighborhood makes plea to city council By Christina Macone-Greene

CARLSBAD — Residents from the Hanover Beach Colony made numerous recent pleas for help at a Carlsbad city council meeting regarding multiple concerns with their new neighbor, the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa. Since the hotel opened its doors in late June, this 112home family community has experienced negative impacts on Ponto Road such as an increase of commercial and guest vehicles, speeding, noise levels and foot traffic in their neighborhood. The pleas occurred during the general public comment portion of a council meeting where city council members only listen. But Mayor Matt Hall directed staff to collect a comprehensive list of concerns from residents. Since then, residents and city staff have met to discuss the concerns. Sandra Ferguson, who lives at the Hanover Beach Colony, said the worries initially began when hotel building permits were pulled around 2005. “The level of concern has

Residents in the Hanover Beach Colony have growing concerns over the amount of traffic and increased activity on Ponto Road following the opening of the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa this year. Courtesy photo

all come to fruition tenfold,” she said. One of the major problems occurring is that residents, hotel guests and commercial vehicles are now all utilizing Ponto Road, a small

street. “We understand the city wanting a hotel and the tax revenue it will bring our beautiful beach town,” Ferguson said. She continued, “However, to not build a


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