PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92025 PERMIT NO. 94
Inside: 2015 Spring Home & Garden Section VOL. 29, N0. 12
MAKING WAVES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
MARCH 20, 2015
Study of fairgrounds’ impacts kicks off By Bianca Kaplanek
are actually remitting (transient occupancy tax) because they’re renting for less than 30 days, and we’re cashing those checks,” Bar-
DEL MAR — A long-awaited study to determine the impacts events at the Del Mar Fairgrounds have on Del Mar and Solana Beach is finally getting underway. At the March 16 meeting Del Mar City Council approved a $90,000 contract with Economic & Planning Systems, a land-economic consulting firm. The study is a requirement of a February 2013 settlement between the two cities, the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority and the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which governs the fairgrounds. It will determine the costs associated with services such as law enforcement and emergency responders, capital replacement and maintenance of infrastructure provided by Solana Beach and Del Mar. The study must also assess how much money the two cities receive from transient occupancy and sales taxes, off-track betting and all other receipts and income directly paid or generated by the activities. “All in all it’s basically to look at the overall revenues that are generated associated with the fairgrounds’ presence and their operations, their events and then also to
TURN TO RENTALS ON A15
TURN TO STUDY ON A15
Signaling of spring The Paper Kite butterfly from Southeast Asia lands on one of the many unique blooms in the terrarium of the Butterfly Jungle at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The exhibit opened on March 14 and runs through April 12. See full story on page A20. Photo by Ellen Wright
Short-term vacation rentals soon to be allowed in Carlsbad By Ellen Wright
CARLSBAD — The City Council received an update on the conflicting policies and practices regarding short-term vacation rentals in the city at a meeting Tuesday. Staff also presented the city with a draft for zoning changes to allow for short-term vacation rentals. Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio called the current rules unclear, hard to follow and difficult to enforce. Short-term vacation rentals, which are rentals offered for 30 days or less, are not addressed in the city’s municipal code or in zoning regulations. Anything not allowed in the municipal code is generally considered prohibited. That hasn’t stopped the rentals from operating in the city.
A search on VRBO.com turns up about 350 short-term vacation rentals in Carlsbad. The city is currently receiving transient occupancy tax from 43 rentals. The tax is $1 per room per night. Image from VRBO.com
About 400 short-term rentals are operating in Carlsbad, mostly in the coastal corridor. During the last fiscal year, the
city collected $333,000 in transient occupancy tax from 43 rentals. “While were saying they’re not allowed, we do have business licenses for 43 vacation rentals who