PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 40, N0. 15
Housing
Lease deadline looms
SAN Man MARCOS -NEWS arrested in. hit-run
Encinitas surfing legend Don Hansen, founder of Hansen Surfboards, pictured in the early days.
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Original B&W photo by Tom Keck
By Leo Place
By Leo Place
TURN TO HOUSING ON 35
SAN MARCOS — THE Law enforcement has announced VISTA the arrest of a suspect who allegedNEWS ly struck and killed a 62-year-old man with his car in San Marcos and fled the scene in February. On April 2, detectives with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force arrested John Alvarado, 39, of San Marcos. He faces one charge of felony RANCHO hit-and-run and vehicSFNEWS ular manslaughter with gross negligence. The collision occurred on the evening of Feb. 21. The victim, Carey Dean Faust of Vista, was standing at the back of his own vehicle in the 100 block of North Pacific Street when he was struck by a vehicle. The suspect left his car at the scene and fled on foot. Faust was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information is encouraged to contact the San Marcos Sheriff’s Station at (760) 510-5200. ... On April 5, firefighters in San Marcos stopped the forward progress of a 3-acre brush fire that started shortly after 3 p.m. in the 500 block of La Moree Road, near the Center for Children and Families at Cal State San Marcos. Flames threatened structures in the 200 block of Walnut Hills Drive near a playground.
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Del Mar, Fair board revise housing plan DEL MAR — The Del Mar City Council and the Del Mar Fairgrounds board have amended an agreement for the study of developing affordable housing on the Fairgrounds property, as the state’s deadline grows closer for the city to obtain a lease. Del Mar and the 22nd District Agricultural Association board, which governs the Fairgrounds, first approved the exclusive negotiating rights agreement, or ENRA, in 2024. The agreement stated that the two entities would work together to identify a “mutually agreeable site” for a housing development by studying potential sites and setting standards for a long-term ground lease. This agreement is the result of several years of discussions between the two entities regarding the Fairgrounds’ potential assistance in creating 61 affordable housing units, which are required as part of the city’s 6th Cycle Housing Element. The amendment adds language aligning the ENRA with state housing laws, requiring all agreement actions and milestones to be approved by the 22nd DAA board, removes references to exclusivity with the city, and adds other clarifications, including that the District is not obligated to enter into a lease with the city. The 22nd DAA board approved the amendment last month, and the City Council ap-
April 10, 2026
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Surf icon dies Encinitas surf icon and Hansen Surfboards founder Don Hansen, 89, whose life spanned surfing, entrepreneurship and record-setting skydiving adventures, left a lasting mark on the community. Story on 5.
Seguro battery project withdrawn The developer behind a controversial battery energy storage facility proposed for the Eden Valley community, a residential area of unincorporated Escondido, has abruptly withdrawn the project. 6
FALLBROOK avocado festival F ALLBROOK
a vo cado
festiv al
April 19, 2026 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Downtown Fallbrook, Main Avenue Downtown Fallbrook, Main Avenue
• C r a f t & F o o d Ve n d o r s • A r t i s a n Wa l k • F r e e S h u t t l e s • Beer & Wine Garden • Live Bands • Guacamole Contest • Aw e s o m e Av o c a d o A t t i r e C o n t e s t • Av o c a d o Ho l d i n g C o m p e t i t i o n • Community Stage Entertainment & Kids Contests www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org