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