ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council voted Wednesday to postpone a decision on an appeal challenging the approval of the proposed Quail Meadows housing development, rescheduling the matter for further review on Feb. 12.
The project, set to be built along Quail Gardens Drive, includes a 448-unit apartment complex with 90 affordable housing units, representing one of the city’s largest contributions to affordable housing.
The appeal was filed by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER) and Encinitas Citizens for Responsible Development. The groups cited concerns about environmental impacts, stormwater infrastructure and compliance with state and local regulations.
During the council meeting, Brian Flynn, representing SAFER, presented two main arguments. He claimed the project is not exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and argued it is inconsistent with the city’s Local Coastal Program, making the approval of a Coastal Development Permit inappropriate.
“Because there is a discretionary Coastal Development Permit required for this project, this project triggers CEQA, regardless of the by-right label that it’s been given,” Flynn said, highlighting issues with wildlife assessments, air quality emissions, and cumulative environmental impacts. He urged the council to grant SAFER’s appeal unless these concerns are resolved.
Maria Miller, a spokesperson representing applicant Baldwin & Sons, defended the project’s compliance with state and local standards, noting that the California Coastal Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extensively reviewed it.
“We worked very closely with environmental agencies,” Miller said. “We walked the sites with them multiple times, every design iteration has been run through staff at the Coastal Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, so they’re very aware and supportive of the project.”
Miller emphasized the project’s affordable housing contributions, explaining that the number of affordable units increased from 72 to 90 while the overall unit count was reduced from 485 to 448.
“We believe that 90 units is the largest contribution to low-income housing in the history of the city of Encinitas,” Miller said.
The council voted unanimously to continue the matter to February to allow further analysis of the legal and technical issues raised during the meeting.
“What I’m going to ask is that the applicant and the appellant prepare arguments on the issue of CEQA analysis,” Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz said. “I apologize for everybody who was prepared to speak tonight, but we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to hear these arguments as well.”
