The Coast News
VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 11, N0. 5
March 1, 2024
Planners OK apartments at retail site
TOOLS
to succeed
96-unit complex now goes to Vista council
San Marcos Unified apprenticeship program offers construction-minded students a ‘leg up’ on their future. Story on 9.
By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL senior Travis Connelly, a student in the construction pathway, works on a shed project on campus Feb. 25. San Marcos Unified is the only district in North County to receive the state’s pre-apprenticeship designation. Photo by Laura Place
San Marcos moves to avoid bus-only lanes By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — The City Council adopted a new policy on Feb. 13 prohibiting the replacement of vehicle travel lanes or medians with bus-only lanes in response to SANDAG's plans for rapid transit that could run through the city. The resolution was brought forward at the request of Mayor Rebecca Jones, who expressed concern about the possibility of a bus-only lane being implemented in San Marcos — specifically along San Marcos Boulevard — as part of SANDAG's
THE CITY’S prohibition on bus-only lanes was a response to SANDAG’s proposal for rapid transit between Escondido and Carlsbad via San Marcos Boulevard. Stock photo
proposal for rapid tran- agency's 2025 Regional sit between Carlsbad and Plan initial concept. Escondido, outlined in the For this route, as
well as the proposed rapid transit connection between Carlsbad/San Marcos and Riverside County, the agency is considering the possibility of utilizing bus-only lanes to increase efficiency and convenience. While the 2025 Regional Plan is months away from being finalized, and recent SANDAG discussions have also focused on the possibility of shared bus lanes, Jones said she felt compelled to bring forward a policy maintaining local control over bus-only lanes in the city. “I felt it was important
to move forward with this, given that we were ready to start taking action to bring it forward anyway,” Jones said. “I don’t really want anything outside of San Marcos deciding what we do in our city.” Approved in a 4-1 vote, the adopted policy prohibits bus-only lanes from replacing a general purpose vehicle lane or substantially modifying or replacing a median; limits bus-only lanes to roadways where sufficient vehicle throughput can be TURN TO BUS LANES ON 5
Super Tuesday
Cheers, Vista!
Flower power
A look at the local races in the March 5 primary in California, plus the lone proposition on the ballot.
The last few weeks have been very good for the already very good beer scene in Vista.
The team at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad has kept busy getting ready for today’s opening day.
Story on 5
Story on 15
thecoastnews.com
VISTA — The city’s Planning Commission has given the green light to a proposed 96-unit apartment complex planned to replace a retail and office building along South Santa Fe Avenue. The project at 1070 S. Santa Fe Avenue, submitted by developer Ambient Communities, would replace the two-story commercial center known as Monte Vista Plaza with three residential buildings ranging from two to three stories. Eight of the 96 units are planned to be deed-restricted for very low-income households, or those making up to 50% of the area median income, or AMI. Robert Honer, principal at Ambient Communities, said the project would “upcycle” the 1980s-era commercial building and continue adding needed housing along the South Santa Fe corridor. Over the past few years, this corridor has seen the opening of the 126-unit Rylan Apartments at Main Street and the 42-unit Found Lofts at Terrace Drive, as well as the recent approval of the 183-unit Kensho project off Guajome Street. “This will be one of a few new developments in the area,” Honer said. “It’s further down South Santa Fe than a lot of the previous development, so we wanted to design a residential community that continued the vision of the South Santa Fe corridor further east from Vista Village.” The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project at their Feb. 20 meeting. It will now go to the Vista City Council for review and final approval. Due to its inclusion of affordable units, the project is eligible for a density bonus that increases the allowed density from 30% to 35%. The project was also granted two concessions, reducing the front and back yard setbacks and a waiver to reduce the required common open space. Because of the affordable units and the project’s location within a half mile of public tranTURN TO APARTMENTS ON 5