PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
VOL. 27, NO. 11
APRIL 19, 2013
A mock-up design of a proposed EV charging plaza at Vulcan Avenue and E Street. Rendering courtesy of Evoasis
SAILING ALONG NICELY Despite grey skies and cooler temperatures last weekend, the Oceanside Harbor was still aflutter with marine activities, including this small sailboat cruising around. Sunny skies and coastal temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s are forecasted for this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Photo by Daniel Knighton
Council OKs S. Cedros traffic calming By Bianca Kaplanek
SOLANA BEACH — A proposal to slow traffic and increase pedestrian mobility on South Cedros Avenue moved forward at the April 10 meeting after council members authorized city staff to proceed with final design plans and advertise the project for construction bids. Representatives from the Cedros Avenue Design District Association made the initial request for a traffic calming and streetscape project in August 2011. City staff worked with property owners to create a preliminary design that originally focused only on the
FROM THE BEACH TO THE BEAT An admitted laid-back surfer-type, who later became a Sheriff’s detective, Robert Stevenson proves law enforcement takes all kinds. B1
A traffic calming project approved by council at the April 10 meeting calls for a curb pop-out and planter on this side of the Rosa Street intersection that would mimic the one already installed in front of 415 S. Cedros. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
Rosa Street and South Cedros installed by property owners. been expanded to include City staff continued to several additional improveintersection, where one curb pop-out in front of 415 S. work with the business comCedros was funded and munity and the project has TURN TO TRAFFIC ON A20
Two Sections, 56 pages Arts & Entertainment . A11 Food & Wine . . . . . . . . . A9 Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A22 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A17
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Ambitious EV charging plaza picks up speed By Jared Whitlock
ENCINITAS — In a sign of the times, a proposal calls for building the largest fast-charge EV plaza in California on the site of a former gas station. The goal: Help more locals get over “range anxiety” — the fear of being stranded should their electric vehicle run out of juice. The plaza took a step forward last week when the City Council agreed to consider leasing property on the corner of Vulcan Avenue and E Street to San Diego-based Evoasis. If the plan gets the OK, Evoasis would install eight EV stations on a plaza, and the land would serve as the home base for an electric car-sharing program. As proposed, the plaza would be able to accommodate all electric vehicles, and could charge 15 cars at one time. The 50-kilowatt charging stations will also be able to recharge the depleted batteries of models like the Nissan Leaf in as little as 30 minutes. For those electric cars that aren’t compatible with fast-charge technology, it would take around five hours for a full charge. Typically, most electric cars can go 60 to 90 miles with a full battery. Angus Clark, CEO of Evoasis said that Encinitas was chosen to host the plaza because a year’s worth of traffic data showed that more electric cars travel through Encinitas than anywhere else in North County. Plus, he said there’s an increasing appetite among locals for green transportation. “Encinitas has a reputation for being eco-friendly,” Clark said. “That’s well deserved from what we’ve seen. People drive electric cars or want to.” Clark’s company recently opened one fast-charging station in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. He added that the Encinitas plan for eight stations in one plaza is uncharted territory for the state in terms of size. Additionally, HulaCar, a subsidiary of Evoasis, plans to TURN TO PLAZA ON A20