Wednesday July 7th, 2010 was an important Planing Commission meeting for all of us. The Commissioners, the staff, the developer, and the representatives of Lowe’s worked diligently until 10 pm to discuss and review all the critical issues pertaining to this project and to make sure this new development would not make the already congested intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road more difficult and frustrating. At the end the majority of the Commissioners agreed that the project was a good use for the site which has been sitting vacant for a couple of years and has become an eye sore.

I am proud to have presided over this session as the Chair of the Planning Commission and to have provided ample time and opportunity for all views to be heard, and all issues to be examined and considered to the Commissioners’ satisfaction. I voted positive on this project because after thorough examination I believe Lowe’s will be a great supplement to our city and will serve our families well.

Here is the editorial published by North County Times on the Planning Commission’s decision:

EDITORIAL: Carlsbad right on Lowe’s OK

OUR VIEW: Palomar-El Camino area needs retail area

By the North County Times Opinion staff — opinion@nctimes.com

We are heartened to see the Carlsbad Planning Commission give initial approval to a proposed development at the intersection of Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real, and trust the City Council will extend its blessing, too.

The project, requested by the Sudberry Development company, proposes a 153,974-square-foot Lowe’s home improvement store, a gas station, food court and small bank on the wedge-shaped corner property that was once home to the former Olympic Resort.

While we generally agree that attracting high-tech industrial, engineering and biotech companies ought to be the priority, we recognize the role that retail and like commercial services have for both nearby workers and residents.

We note that the San Diego Association of Governments projects 56 percent employment growth in the next 20 years in Carlsbad —- and we assume much of that will come about as the city’s business parks attract tenants. With a 15 percent overall vacancy rate for industrial property in the city and a 29 percent overall vacancy rate for office space, according to CB Richard Ellis property reports, there is plenty of available space to locate nonretail businesses.

What is constrained is the availability of good locations to site this kind of project.

Thus, we don’t see this project as provoking a “Katy bar the door” explosion of big-box projects that some people genuinely fear.

Posted in Editorial on Friday, July 9, 2010 12:01 am