Election Looms for Agua Hedionda Project

CARLSBAD, CA—Voters are preparing for a special election on Feb. 23 to determine the fate of the controversial mixed-use Agua Hedionda 85/15 Specific Plan project spearheaded by developer Caruso Affiliated. As GlobeSt.com reported in August, the plan received unanimous approval by the Carlsbad City Council after six hours of presentations, public comment and deliberation. However, considerable opposition to the plan by some local groups overturned the approval by referendum and has spurred the special election, which could help make or break the project. While GlobeSt.com to date has been unable to get comments directly from Caruso on the project, we spoke exclusively with Lee & Associates broker Blair Havens, an expert on development in the Carlsbad market, on the subject.

GlobeSt.com: What can you tell us about Measure A and the Agua Hedionda 85/15 project?