CARLSBAD, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Carlsbad City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to move forward with plans to demolish the long-standing Carlsbad Village Plaza and replace it with a mixed-use development, including 218 rental apartments. The decision sparked opposition, with some residents voicing concerns over maintaining the character of “Old Carlsbad.”
The development will include two five-story buildings, with 27 units designated for low-income households, and a parking structure with spaces for electric vehicles. The plan also includes restaurants and shops in front of the housing units.
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Robert Medina, a Carlsbad resident, expressed frustration, questioning the claim that adding 218 units would reduce traffic. “Right now, they contend that by putting 218 units, it’s gonna reduce traffic—that’s nonsense,” he said.
Medina also voiced concerns about the impact on local businesses, including a Smart & Final and a pharmacy that serves low-income and elderly residents, many he says walk to the plaza because they don’t own cars.
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“This is going to displace elderly families who rely on this pharmacy,” he said…