Comments on: Carlsbad community fights trail development http://thecoastnews.com/2009/12/carlsbad-community-fights-trail-development/ Making Waves in Your Neighborhood Sun, 19 May 2013 00:03:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Alana F. http://thecoastnews.com/2009/12/carlsbad-community-fights-trail-development/comment-page-1/#comment-6987 Alana F. Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:42:33 +0000 http://thecoastnews.com/?p=39457#comment-6987 I have been taking my dogs to this trail since we moved into the neighborhood a year ago. My dogs and I have met many friends and neighbors here and we have enjoyed going there on a daily basis, until now. My husband and I went to a city council meeting last spring where many, many members of the community showed up and gave eloquent speeches as to why we should preserve this beautiful area as open space for the citizen of Carlsbad. It was indicated by mayor Bud Lewis during that meeting that they were going to purchase the property only to say today they don’t feel it’s a responsible use of taxpayer money since “94% of of the site is already set aside as open space.” In the meantime we are locked out of our beloved nature filled neighborhood meeting space and trail while the property owners decide what to build on it. The city council has not been forthcoming on this issue and we will continue to pressure them until we get the use of our open space back.

]]> By: Agnes Allie http://thecoastnews.com/2009/12/carlsbad-community-fights-trail-development/comment-page-1/#comment-6986 Agnes Allie Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:38:42 +0000 http://thecoastnews.com/?p=39457#comment-6986 This is one of the worst travesties of the city of Carlsbad. For years, this trail has been used by many members of our community, from infants in backpacks, to elderly folks. It is a very serene place. Carlsbad could have purchased it for a song, yet they let a developer buy it without a second thought. Obviously Carlsbad’s city council isn’t really interested in open space. Bud Lewis said the land could be developed while people could still use the trail — tell me, Mr. Lewis, what of the gate that is locked and blocking all access to the trail??

There has already been a fire on the land due to the new owner carelessly allowing their workers to use a torch. These new owners have not abated the weeds, as they are supposed to, for fire prevention. At least when people and animals would walk on the trail, it would maintain it and keep the weeds under control. Now, with hardly anyone using it, it will be overgrown and a huge mess, which this new owner will most likely not clean up.

When I purchased my home adjacent to this trail, I went to the city and asked them what would happen to the trail. They told me it was designated to forever be a nature trail for the city, and it would be in the custody of the city forever. So I guess the city lied to me. This new owner also doesn’t realize that we owners adjacent to the trail have an easement — the owner is assuming control of that easement — not so fast!

The city, along with Ms. Ketabian, need to be sure the owner knows that this trail needs to be allowed to be accessed by citizens. They do not “own” this trail and they have no right to restrict access to it. By rolling over and allowing this to happen, the city is showing us they care only about developers and not about the people of Carlsbad. I hope everyone remembers that when it is time for elections. From Alga Norte being stalled (Stallga Norte) to this trail being gated off — these are major missteps which have occurred thanks to our current city council.

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