Recapping North County’s biggest storylines

2024 covered a lot of ground in North County. Battery farms, sand nourishment, homelessness and more sparked controversy, progress and more

Dec 29, 2024

NORTH COUNTY — In recapping 2024, today will focus on the cities are some of their respective top issues or events.

There was lots of movement this year from battery facilities in Escondido and Valley Center, to a first-of-its-kind sand nourishment project in Oceanside. However, housing development is arguably the biggest issue in each city with residents pushing back against projects across the board.

Here are some of the biggest topics this year. Drop a comment if you agree or saw something else with a bigger impact.

Carlsbad

Windsor Pointe remains a debacle and the facilities’ reputation has spread across the county. Residents, again, were clamoring for the massive changes or shutting down the beleaguered permanent housing project in the Barrio neighborhood.

Tenants also shared their experiences to some neighborhood residents detailing some squalor living conditions such as black mold, broken doors and elevators, feces, drug dealers and more. The city of Carlsbad, the lease holder, removed ConAm as the property manager after letters from former Carlsbad Police Chief Mickey Williams and current Chief Christie Calderwood. Calderwood also witnessed a woman enter the property by pushing through an exterior door and finally a change was made. The issue is contentious with the city and San Diego County pointing fingers at each other.

Another big development was the redevelopment of Carlsbad Village Plaza. Residents have raged against the project, which was subject to two delays with the Planning Commission before being recommended to the City Council, which approved the project.

There will be 218 multi-family apartments in two five-story buildings, a five-story parking structure with 289 spaces and 51 additional surface spots on 4.12 acres. There are also two, one-story commercial buildings with a combined 13,800 square feet.

In election news, former District 2 candidate Kevin Sabellico faced claims of devising a “plot” to target Councilwoman Priya Bhat-Patel. A complaint was filed with the San Diego County Democrat Party by an intern for Sabellico claiming he would leak a supposed affair if she did not support his campaign. The claims were declared unfounded by the party.

Finally, longtime City Manager Scott Chadwick announced his resignation in November as he took the chief executive officer job at the Port of San Diego. Chadwick spent seven years at the city, six of which were as city manager. Assistant City Manager Geoff Patnoe was hired as Chadwick’s replacement and started on Dec. 19.

Del Mar

Trains! The everlasting issue of where to move the railroad tracks is ongoing and still a hot-button issue. Del Mar’s SANDAG representative, Terry Gaasterland, sought to start the tunnel before the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which elicited a strong rebuttal from neighboring Solana Beach.

SANDAG presented a trio of options, with each generating strong responses from residents about the problematic tracks. Officials have stated bluff stabilization efforts are unsustainable for the long term, but a solution remains elusive for now.

In the world of housing, Del Mar was one of five cities to file a lawsuit over Senate Bill 9, which was ruled unconstitutional by a state court in April. SB 9 allowed for cities to allow for lot splits in single-family residential zones. The bill was authored by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

Del Mar joined Redondo Beach, Carson, Torrance and Whitter, who filed suit together citing the law infringed on charter cities’ rights to run and manage their municipal affairs and failed to ensure the creation of affordable housing, according to The Coast News.

The judge ruled the state could not prove upzoning would result in more affordable housing, which the cities argued is defined as below market rate.

Encinitas

Development is arguably the biggest issue in the city. The new mayor, Bruce Ehlers, and new councilmen, Luke Shaffer and Jim O’Hara, each ran on fighting against state mandates and trying to control density within the city.

The controversial Quail Gardens project, along with two projects on La Costa Avenue, to name a few.

Refer a friend

Other issues include stormwater issues, which the three men also ran on. Flooding has plagued Leucadia and residents along Vulcan Avenue for years, which is one reason the previous City Council supported the proposed one-cent sales tax increase.

Much of those funds would have been used to address stormwater projects and problem areas, although many residents felt the council could redirect those funds to other issues.

Another big issue facing the city is so-called road diets, especially along Santa Fe. The City Council recently pressed pause on those plans amid a heated council meeting two weeks ago.

Many residents, especially those who live along the road, say it’s dangerous and causes issues with access to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.

Other challenges facing the city include crime, where some want to bring on at least one (if not more) sheriff’s deputy and addressing a new fire station.

Escondido

Some of the city’s top issues were its growing budget deficit, which led the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, public safety, Escondido Downtown Business Association and the City Council, among others, to stump for the one-cent sales tax increase.

The city was staring down the barrel of a $28 million annual deficit in the coming years, but with the tax increase, the city is reversing its trajectory and sees a new era coming.

Another challenge facing the city is the contract with the California Center for the Arts Escondido. The current contract expired on June 30 and the city released a request for proposal for other operators, including the CCAEF, to submit bids.

Since the city’s budget deficit has become a roadblock, negotiations will also include who is responsible for about $5.8 million in modernization projects. However, with the passage of the sales tax measure, it is unclear of the status of the contract, but city sources feel confident a deal will be done.

As the city waits for its tax revenue to fill coffers, the Grand Avenue Vision Project is in full swing. The project reimagines Grand Avenue to be more walkable, adding traffic circles and injecting more public art into downtown.

A housing development nearby, known as Palomar Heights, is nearly complete and boasts 510 townhomes, apartments and senior apartments, 6,000-square feet of retail, a rooftop, wine bar and a fourth-level restaurant.

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the city is homelessness. About two weeks ago, the city cleared an encampment along Escondido Creek due to public health risks from “extreme” levels of two types of bacteria found in the water.

However, hope is on the horizon with the new sales tax, which some of which will be used to address the issue as the city is home to the largest homeless population in North County.

Another big story was the proposed Battery Energy Storage System in Eden Valley between Escondido and San Marcos. The project proposes a 320-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage with 1,280MWh of capacity. The facility would interconnect with SDG&E’s Escondido switch yard and provide up to four hours of storage, according to project developer AES.

Another project is being proposed by Valley Center by siblings with 65.4 acres for solar panels 15 feet high and more than 13 acres battery storage. The solar panels would generate about 10 megawatts of electricity, while the batteries would store 40MW of power.

Oceanside

The city was rocked in April when the iconic Oceanside Pier suddenly burst into flames. The fire, which North County Pipeline first reported on X, engulfed the hammerhead and destroyed Ruby’s Diner and the Brine Box.

Since then, investigators from the ATF and insurance companies have worked to determine a cause. The Oceanside Fire Department said foul play was not a cause. Regardless, the city began removing debris earlier this year.

Full repairs and rebuilding a structure is expected to take another 30 months or so. City staff estimates the cost of the repair may reach $20 million. However, the most of the pier was quickly reopened after the city blocked several hundred feet at the end of the pier to ensure the safety of visitors.

Frontwave Arena opened in September and cemented the city as North County’s entertainment capital. The arena is home to the San Diego Sockers indoor soccer team, the San Diego Clippers, the G-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, concerts, events and more.

Olympic legend Simone Biles kicked off her 30-day U.S. tour at Frontwave after Biles returned from the Paris Olympics. The Los Angeles Clippers also hosted the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA preseason game.

Like everywhere else in North County, development is a big issue. Lots 5 and 20 in downtown are slated for redevelopment, along with a proposal for 900 units at Moon Nursery on Oceanside Boulevard.

Also, there are proposals to redevelop the site of the Regal Oceanside movie theater, 901 Mission Ave. and between 801 and 815 Mission Ave. The Regal project would bring more than residential units, while the other two would bring more than 500 units combined.

In August, the city was stunned when a gang-motivated attack hospitalized four people after being beaten with baseball bats. Oceanside police arrested two suspects in September.

MainStreet Oceanside welcomed a new chief operating office to kick off the new year, but a sexual harassment lawsuit saw the organization fire Gumaro Escarcega in October. The suit also names MainStreet Oceanside as a defendant and alleges Escarcega harassed Haley Riggi, MainStreet’s lead event coordinator, who said she “was force to resign” from the organization on Oct. 9, her attorney told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Finally, the city named a winner for its first-of-its-kind sand replenishment pilot project in January. The project aims to replenish the city’s southern coastline.

The city approved the first location in November. International Coastal Management of Australia will begin the pilot project for its “living speed bumps” concept on the beach segment from Tyson Street Park to Wisconsin Avenue.

The living speed bumps concept proposes to construct one multi-purpose offshore artificial reef and two headlands, supported by nearshore and onshore beach nourishment

San Marcos

The city made a splash in June when it opened the first-of-its-kind bike facility at Bradley Park. The eight-acre facility at Bradley Park features runs for beginners, intermediate and expert riders, according to Mark Olson, the city’s director of parks and recreation. The park is geared for BMX and mountain bike riders.

Also, the city finally completed its long-awaited San Marcos Creek Project with an official opening in October. The $100 million project addresses flooding and restores 1.5 miles of habitat, improves multimodal transportation accessibility and adds more outdoor spaces. It runs from Bent Avenue west to Via Vera Cruz.

Also, the famed Restaurant Row will be getting a makeover with a controversial redevelopment plan. Plans call for 202 residential units, more than 10,000 square feet of commercial space and a 1.5-acre park.

The park includes a rolling plaza, pickleball courts, a small amphitheater, two playgrounds and two dog parks. Some residents have expressed concerns about the closure of several businesses including 55 Yardline, among others.

On a more positive note, San Marcos’ Fred Warner, who graduated from Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, was the starting middle linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl in February. Unfortunately, Warner and the Niners lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 25-22, in overtime.

Solana Beach

In May, the city completed the Solana Beach Shoreline Project, which pumped 700,000 cubic yards of sand along 7,200 feet of beach (340,000 cubic yards on 7,800 feet in Encinitas). The project nearly tripled Solana Beach’s shoreline and sand will be replenished every 10 years.

It took nearly 20 years for the project to get off the ground, according to reports.

Two longtime City Council members retired this year. Dwight Worden retired in September and said it was due to recent health issues.

The city finally received approved permits for its new Marine Safety Center earlier this month, The Coast News reported. The project has been 10 years in the making for a new two-story building in the same “general location” with offices, locker rooms, a training room and parking. The maximum height will be 24.4 above the proposed grade.

On a darker note, Jade Jenks’ murder conviction was upheld and she will serve a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, The Coast News reported. Jenks killed her former stepfather, Thomas Merriman, co-founder of Butterfly Farms in Encinitas in 2023.

Prosecutors said the motivation for Jenks was when she found nude photos of herself on Merriman’s computer. Jenks had a “fixer” to help kill Merriman, but the fixer couldn’t go so he sent a friend, who did not help with the killing and left before, according to The Coast News.

Vista

Development and homelessness were two of the bigger issues this year. First, the city was rocked when Supervisor Jim Desmond proposed a massive $335 million regional campus for healing in May at Green Oaks Ranch.

Residents organized and pushed back as Green Oaks Ministries sorted through several proposals to develop 110 acres off Sycamore Avenue adjacent to the Shadowridge Crossings neighborhood. Eventually, Solutions for Change won the bid in July for $10.5 million and will take possession of the land in the first quarter of 2025.

The bedrock of the Solutions for Change model is a comprehensive 700-day vocational program known as Solutions Academy. It prepares families through career pathways, work experience, leadership training, family management skills, teamwork, financial literacy, personal development, accountability and connection.

While the Green Oaks Ranch saga was playing out, the city also engaged residents regarding the old Burlington Coat Factory site two blocks west of State Route 78 between Shadowridge Drive and Thibodo Road.

Excel Property Management submitted an application for a mixed-used development for about 250 townhomes and condos and about 8,000 square feet of commercial space on 8.25 acres.

Residents in the Shadowridge neighborhood voiced concerns about the density and worry about parking and traffic impacts. Some said adding breweries or something like Del Mar Highlands’ sky deck, a grocery store or other commercial uses rather than housing as the site sits near one of the busiest intersections in the city. Other ideas included building out a trail behind the property or adding other services.

The City Council also approved an agreement with Wakeland Housing Development Corporation and Tideline Partners for two projects to bring 126 affordable units to the city near downtown. The projects were voted on separately to avoid a public vote.

The City Council also unanimously approved moving forward with drafting an ordinance permitting cannabis consumption events on public property and extending operating hours for dispensaries during its Aug. 27 meeting. The council’s decision on operating hours aligns with state laws for bars, although dispensaries have an earlier closing time.

A dispensary will be allowed to operate from 6 a.m.-10 p.m., in line with state law, although businesses cannot sell to medicinal cannabis customers until 9 a.m. due to regulations under Measure Z.

Finally, pickleball! The council approved an additional eight pickleball courts at Brengle Terrace Park and removing courts at Thibodo Park. It was a big win for residents at Thibodo Park and pickleball players as the city nets six new courts.

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