CARLSBAD — The Carlsbad City Council has, for now, opted not to endorse a proposed state constitutional amendment that seeks to return land-use and zoning control to local governments, citing concerns about transparency and a desire to view the finalized ballot language.
The initiative, backed by the nonprofit Our Neighborhood Voices, argues that recent state laws have eroded local authority over housing and land use decisions. The proposed measure, if approved by voters, would override several state mandates allowing increased residential density and reduced municipal discretion over housing developments.
Councilmember Melanie Burkholder brought the item forward after it was reviewed by the city’s legislative subcommittee, which includes herself and Councilmember Teresa Acosta. Burkholder expressed strong support for the measure, warning that the state’s “unfunded mandates” could strain the city’s finances and infrastructure.
“Our Neighborhood Voices provides us a way to push back,” Burkholder said.
However, Acosta said she was hesitant to support the initiative without knowing when it would appear on the ballot or seeing its final language. She noted that the League of California Cities is already advocating for similar goals and should continue to lead the effort.
“I think the League of California Cities is the organization that is most successfully and productively advocating,” Acosta said. “There is no silver bullet and no single way to fix the issue.”
She also referenced a previous City Council resolution aligned with the goals of local control.
“I don’t want unintended consequences for supporting ONV when we are very aligned in what we want,” Acosta said. “Local control is very important to us.”
Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel echoed Acosta’s concerns, saying she could not support the measure without greater clarity.
“I’m not saying no at all, I’d like to see the full language first,” Bhat-Patel said. “It’s appealing on the surface… but the reality is right now, there is no clarity and specificity. I want to make sure we have that – especially if my name is going to be on there.”
Councilmember Kevin Shin also expressed support for the measure’s intent but questioned the initiative’s transparency and the tone of its messaging.
He noted that the initiative’s website was the “only means of transparency” available and did not disclose who is behind it or how contributions are spent. He took particular issue with a claim on the site’s “lies versus reality” page that states leaders view “suburbs and single-family neighborhoods as exclusionary and racist.”
“When you put that word out there… I’m taking that extremely seriously as a person from my perspective – you’re not messing around with that word,” Shin said. “Before I can say I’m all about this, I want to see some things cleaned up.”
Burkholder pushed back against her colleagues’ concerns, emphasizing that endorsing the initiative would not amount to campaigning.
“This is really for the city’s residents, not for council members,” she said.
Mayor Keith Blackburn voiced his support for the measure and stated that he was comfortable being listed as the sole endorser of the proposal. He also acknowledged the concerns raised by other council members as valid.
Several other North County cities, including Oceanside, Encinitas, and San Marcos, have already endorsed the initiative. Oceanside passed a resolution in support in 2021, and Encinitas approved it by majority vote in May.
