Coastal Commission to vote on 120-unit rental project on contested Carlsbad shoreline

A long-running dispute over an 11-acre coastal parcel in Carlsbad may reach a turning point as the California Coastal Commission reviews a request to change the land’s designation from “unplanned” to residential and commercial. Developer H.G. Fenton, who bought the site in 2022, seeks approval for a 120-unit rental townhome project that includes more than 340 parking spaces.

The city points out that the area has been zoned for such uses since 2016, and the amendment would simply bring the master plan into compliance. Grassroots group People for Ponto contends the site is the last unprotected coastal land in the region and urges that at least seven acres become a public park, citing a petition with over 20,000 signatures. Michael Sebahar, a longtime activist, envisions the space for concerts, sunsets, and community events.

If the commission votes in favor, the proposal will still require approval from the Carlsbad City Council, expected to consider it early next year. The outcome will shape the balance between new housing and open-space preservation along a heavily developed stretch of California’s coast.