To the Honorable Members of the Carlsbad City Council,

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Carlsbad Planning Commission and Carlsbad City Council to deny approval of the mixed-use development project SDP 2023-0014, which involves the demolition of Carlsbad Village Plaza to make way for 218 residential units, a 350-car garage, and several small commercial buildings. We present the following reasons for our request:

1. The project will remove the only grocery store in Carlsbad Village, creating a food desert.
2. It will eliminate the village's only pharmacy, a critical resource for seniors and residents with limited mobility.
3. The only neighborhood hardware store in Carlsbad will be lost.
4. All current tenants of the shopping center will be evicted and are unlikely to return, with the loss of local jobs.
5. Retail space will be reduced by 77%, and the cost of the new retail spaces will be prohibitively high.
6. Increased vehicle miles traveled will result as residents are forced to drive further to access similar retail establishments.
7. The project contradicts the objectives of the Carlsbad Village and Barrio Master Plan, which emphasizes preserving neighborhood character and meeting the daily needs of residents.

Personal Impact Statement:

As a longtime resident of Carlsbad, living just a mile and a half from Carlsbad Village Plaza, I frequently use my bicycle to run errands due to our household's decision to maintain only one car. The proposed redevelopment would significantly increase my reliance on car travel, contravening the city’s efforts to reduce car trips. Additionally, the aesthetic changes and increased traffic pose a safety risk for bicyclists and pedestrians alike, transforming what are currently convenient and enjoyable outings into burdensome tasks.

In light of these points, we urge you to act in the community’s best interest by rejecting the proposed development of SDP 2023-0014. Please consider the long-term effects such a project would have on the fabric of our community and the daily lives of its residents.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Martin Danner