Coastal Commission approves 120 townhomes near South Ponto Beach
The California Coastal Commission voted 7-4 to approve land-use changes for a 120-unit rental townhome project near South Ponto Beach in Carlsbad, including 24 affordable units. Residents opposed the development, saying the 11-acre parcel should remain open space and become a park, and nearly 100 people spoke at the Oceanside meeting. Commissioners said creating a park was outside their authority, though they acknowledged concerns about coastal park access.
The commission’s 7-4 vote at the Oceanside Civic Center allows H.G. Fenton Co. to pursue 120 rental townhomes, 24 of them affordable, on an 11-acre Carlsbad site called Planning Area F. The parcel lies between South Carlsbad Boulevard and Interstate 5.
About 3.8 acres, known as F West, would restore and improve native habitat, add public trails and shops or services for visitors, and allow flexibility for later changes. Nearly 100 people spoke, mostly in opposition; residents sought a coastal park, while city officials said state law limited denying housing. The project still needs City Council approval.
The decision may affect Carlsbad residents near South Ponto Beach, future renters, and affordable-housing seekers. It could ease some housing pressure by adding 120 rental homes, including 24 below-market units, while leaving nearby residents without the coastal park some wanted. Because the City Council still must approve the project, local debate over open space, housing obligations, and coastal access may continue, with implications for how other California coastal communities balance development and public recreation.