After much discussion, evaluation, controversy and time, a portion of Carlsbad's Ponto area development was approved and will now move ahead.
The Ponto Beachfront Village Vision Planhas been in the planning stages for years, and there have been numerous hurdles to overcome, including concerns about environmental impact, noise, and increased traffic to the area. The Ponto area lies just east of the Coast Road/Carlsbad Boulevard (historic Route 101), north of La Costa Avenue and south of Poinsettia, an undeveloped area with views (in some places) of the Batiquitos Lagoon and the ocean.
The main project, the Ponto Beachfront Village Vision Plan (links to the plan overview on the City of Carlsbad site), calls for 3 hotels, a couple of residential neighborhoods, some mixed use development and parking, and the approval has been given for the Hilton Carlsbad Beach Resort and Spa - 215 hotel rooms on 3 floors with conference room space, a restaurant offering a view of the ocean.
Projections are for the hotel to possibly be ready next spring, ahead of schedule.
The overall vision also includes plans to "realign" the coast road to add room for a park along the ocean near the campground - I love the word "realign," seems they could just say they are moving the road. That will be a treat for commuters and visitors - hopefully this will not be done during the peak months of summer. But providing a park area for residents and visitors along the ocean is a plus.
I have to admit I have mixed feelings about this. The economic advantages are obvious for Carlsbad and the South Carlsbad Redevelopment Project. But it is always hard to see coastal land disappearing - this area is not being used for the most part although there are some small businesses closer to the northern end such as Ponto Storage and folks park here when parking overflows along the coast road - but thinking about this now-vacant area being turned into a residential and tourist area is sad in some ways.
Looking South toward Encinitas just west of the Coast Road - the Ponto Beachfront Resort Development Area off Avenida Encinas
But I'm pleased to see how much evaluation and the time that has gone into the planning, and the involvement of the community in presenting concerns that were subsequently addressed in the design.
Stay tuned for updates as this area begins to develop.
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