| Carlsbad is a resort town in the North County | | | | quiet charm and grace of the city. This |
| area of San Diego County in California. | | | | number of residential areas and population is |
| Situated right on the shores of the Pacific | | | | expected to be achieved by 2010, and the |
| Ocean, the city is blessed with an abundance | | | | numbers can only be increased by a majority |
| of both natural and manmade features, as well | | | | vote of the Carlsbad residents. These |
| as a vibrant lifestyle, active culture and | | | | measures are in line with the Carlsbad city |
| laid back local residents. Aside from the | | | | council's attempts to actively maintain the |
| aforementioned Pacific Ocean, Carlsbad is | | | | "livability" of the city, in an age when |
| also surrounded on all sides by majestic | | | | living conditions from times past are in |
| mountain peaks and gorgeous lagoons. All of | | | | danger of being wiped out by |
| these natural features combine to provide | | | | commercialization and urbanization. One of |
| long time residents as well as first time | | | | the other means by which Carlsbad residents |
| visitors with stunning vistas that are | | | | have sought to preserve the state of their |
| breathtaking in their natural unspoiled | | | | city is by encouraging a more pedestrian |
| beauty. Indeed, very few places in the | | | | oriented community that is less dependent on |
| country-and even in the whole world-can | | | | cars as a means of transport. They also |
| compare to the awesome natural sights that | | | | encourage more interaction among neighbors, |
| Carlsbad can offer. Carlsbad has had a long | | | | in the hopes of fostering a more |
| and colorful history ever since it was | | | | "people-oriented" community. To achieve these |
| established as a small coastal village in the | | | | and other lifestyle improvement goals, the |
| early 1900s. Although it has been | | | | city council has implemented four programs: |
| around-albeit as a small settlement-since | | | | Livable Streets, Traffic Calming, Planned |
| that time, it was only in July 16, 1952 that | | | | Development, and Neighborhood Design |
| Carlsbad was incorporated as a city. Even | | | | Standards. The livable streets program calls |
| then it remained a fairly small town, | | | | for planting trees on either side of the road |
| especially when compared to other communities | | | | between the edge of the curb and the |
| around California. It is this small town | | | | homeowner's property line. This will allow |
| charm that is really a large part of what | | | | the trees to form a sort of canopy over the |
| makes the city so unique and distinctive even | | | | road, which will make drivers drive slower, |
| to this day. When it was incorporated as a | | | | as well as to make a cooler, cozier and all |
| city in 1952, Carlsbad had a population of | | | | around more attractive street. The width of |
| only about 7,000 people and its total land | | | | the road will also be narrowed down to 34 |
| area covered only 7.5 square miles. Over the | | | | feet wide as opposed to the old standard of |
| years, the city has grown both in terms of | | | | 42 feet. The Traffic Calming program has been |
| population and land area, due to the influx | | | | put in place to address the various issues |
| of new residents as well as various land | | | | that come with increased automobile traffic |
| annexations. By January 1 of 1998, the city | | | | in residential streets. This program will |
| had grown to a land area of more than 42 | | | | entail strict implementation of speed limits, |
| square miles, with a total population of more | | | | as well as monitoring of present traffic |
| than 73,000 people. For better or for worse, | | | | situations in the affected areas and |
| this growth in land area is not going to | | | | identifying any problems as soon as they come |
| continue any further, as all the surrounding | | | | up. Among other things, the Planned |
| islands in the county have already been | | | | Development Ordinance seeks to increase the |
| annexed. Which is just as well, as the | | | | land area of public assembly spots and |
| relatively small land area of Carlsbad keeps | | | | recreational spaces, implement new guidelines |
| it from experiencing the negative effects | | | | that govern the size and usage of private |
| that has befallen so many large cities. | | | | residential properties, and discourage the |
| During the November 1986 election by the | | | | building of cul de sacs and private gated |
| residents of Carlsbad, it was voted that the | | | | communities. Finally the Neighborhood Design |
| maximum number of residential properties in | | | | Standards program will encourage the building |
| the city would at most be 54,599, housing a | | | | of houses and facades that will encourage |
| combined total of 135,000 people. This will | | | | more interaction among neighbors. |
| effectively limit the number of new residents | | | | |
| in the area, and is intended to preserve the | | | | Carlsbad California real estate for sale. |