Encinitas council OKs downtown restrictions

Encinitas council OKs downtown restrictions


By JP(JP)

It authorized its Planning Department to process the Encinitas Union School District's request to rezone the old Pacific View School campus to allow for housing and offices. It also accepted a Cardiff Town Council roster of people to ...


ENCINITAS -- The Encinitas City Council voted 4-0 Wednesday to approve three related items in its downtown business districts.

The council agreed to create restrictions that would limit ground floors of buildings on South Coast Highway 101 to retail businesses only.

It authorized its Planning Department to process the Encinitas Union School District's request to rezone the old Pacific View School campus to allow for housing and offices.

It also accepted a Cardiff Town Council roster of people to scrutinize the controversial Cardiff Specific Plan.

Councilman Dan Dalager, a business owner in downtown Encinitas, did not participate in the retail-only or school campus vote. Councilwoman Teresa Barth, who lives in downtown Cardiff, excused herself from the Cardiff Specific Plan vote.

Reserving ground floor spaces for retail businesses in downtown Encinitas will keep the bustling business district "vibrant," council members said.

"What we need to do is protect and enhance, if possible, the vibrancy (of downtown)," said Councilman Jerome Stocks, "so 30 years out, we have a resident-serving, visitor-serving downtown. That's what this ordinance protects. I don't want a bunch of lawyers moving in and buying up retail stores and bank locations and setting up their offices on the ground floor of Highway 101."