Letters: Neglect, double standards at Clark Avenue Apartments

The contentious Clark Avenue Apartments project has reared its ugly head again. Two years ago, despite a unanimous Encinitas Planning Commission denial and vociferous resident opposition, the City Council approved the 199-unit apartment in a 4-0 vote.

Our District 2 representative, Councilmember Kellie Hinze, wasn’t even present.

Now, the developer has requested a permit extension for the project. For two years, the property has sat vacant and neglected, with trash and brush piling up. Homeless individuals have been occupying the structures, resulting in a fire last year.

Just this week, neighbors on Clark reported that the homeless are back, and still, neither the city nor the developer has taken action to address these problems.

During the community participation meeting in 2021 and other city meetings, the developer repeatedly assured us they would be good neighbors. So far, they have been anything but.

The Clark Avenue Apartments are the only density project without a main access artery. They’re wedged in the back of an old neighborhood, some known as Tortilla Flats, and squeezed against the freeway. Clark Apartments’ sole entrance is Union Street via Saxony Road, a road so narrow that two cars can barely pass each other safely.

Meanwhile, Clark Avenue — used for exits — is so tight that two cars can’t pass at the same time. An 80-year-old community, this project disproportionately affects one of the last primarily Hispanic communities in Encinitas. Without proper traffic mitigation, the safety of pedestrians and cyclists will be at serious risk.

The city’s traffic study for the Clark project was completed during the Covid era. Since then, as people have returned to work and new ADUs and construction have surged, traffic conditions have changed significantly. A new traffic report is needed to reflect these current realities.

Additionally, the increase in new ADUs and home construction has led to a parking shortage for residents. The Clark Avenu Apartments project will not provide enough parking, causing overflow into our neighborhoods.

Furthermore, it appears the Clark Avenue Apartments are being held to lower air quality standards than other approved developments. Piraeus Point, another high-density development located just two miles north also along the freeway, underwent a more stringent air quality review after being flagged for significant air quality issues. This prompted a more rigorous study (Health Risk Assessment) and the application of another air quality standard called NESHAP.

Yet, despite the Clark Avenue Apartments being even closer to the freeway — just 50 feet away — the air quality was deemed insignificant, meaning NO Health Risk Assessment was required and NESHAP was not needed. In the name of environmental justice – Clark apartments should be held to the same high level of scrutiny as the other developments.

Why the difference? Diesel particulates are linked to cancer and other serious health issues, and residents should expect our city leaders to hold developers accountable to protect our neighborhoods and their new residents. Why is the Clark Apartment project being held to a lower standard with a less thorough review?

Our community is asking: Why hasn’t the developer honored its promises? Why isn’t the city conducting a realistic, updated traffic study? If Piraeus Point is held to higher standards, has the city changed its policy on freeway proximity and impacts on Clark Apartment residents’ health?

If so, doesn’t Clark Apartments also deserve a review? We need to address these critical oversights, and we hope the renewal process isn’t merely an administrative formality.

With the upcoming election, we have a crucial opportunity to improve Encinitas’s future. Residents deserve a council that truly cares about the community — one that fosters affordable housing, preserves our unique coastal character, and manages infrastructure with foresight and responsibility.

It’s time to vote out the incumbents who have failed to prioritize these values and bring in new leaders who will protect and serve and have the ability to plan smartly for the future.

Cynthia Sheya Palmer
Encinitas