Our Carlsbad

General Information about Carlsbad

• Incorporated: 1952
• Temperature averages: January - 58 degrees; July - 73 degrees
• Average annual rainfall: 10 inches
• Area: 42.19 square miles
• Current population: 100,100.
  • 15% - younger than 18
  • 19% - older than 65
  • 95.5% - high school diploma
• General Plan: Developed in 1960s, updated 1973 & 1994-1998; new update - spring 2008
  • A comprehensive, long range policy document, which establishes the physical, social and economic goals of the community and serves as a guide for the future development of the city.
• Growth Management Plan (GMP): Approved by voters in 1986
  
  • Cap on population: 154,000 later adjusted to a number between 118,000 and 124,000
  • Cap on dwelling units: Initially 54,599, reduced to 51,799 in 2002
  • As of January 1, 2008 - 44,017 dwelling units
  • Currently at 85% of build out
  • At build out , 40% open space (includes lagoons and Habitat Management areas)
• Habitat Management Plan: Established 2004
  
  • Preserves approximately 5,750 acres of existing/proposed open space
• Inclusionary Housing Element: Established 1993, updated 1997
  
  • Requires each new residential project set aside 15% of residential units for affordable, low income housing dedicated to families who make 80% or less of Area Median Income in San Diego County.
• Four School Districts
  
  • Carlsbad Unified School District
  • Encinitas Union School District
  • San Dieguitos Union High School District
  • San Marcos Unified School District

Features Unique to Carlsbad

• Four Golf Courses: La Costa, Aviara, The Crossings, Rancho Carlsbad
• Car Country Carlsbad: 12 dealerships
• Three malls: Westfield Shopping Town (Plaza Camino Real), the Forum, Carlsbad Premium Outlets
• Three lagoons: Agua Hedionda , Buena Vista, Batiquitos

Top Three Employers

• Four Seasons Aviara (1000 employees)
• Carlsbad Unified School District (950 employees)
• City of Carlsbad (834 employees)

Property Tax Revenue - Top Three Sources

• Callaway Golf: $145 million
• Aviara Resorts: $129.5 million
• KSL La Costa Resort: $129.4 million

Tourism

• 1965: La Costa Resort opened
• 1985 Mayor Mary Casler established the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 1988: Agreement with Ecke family to keep the Flower Fields in production for perpetuity
• 1997: Four Seasons Aviara opened
• 1999: Legoland opened
• Number of hotel rooms: Over 4400 plus time share units by the end of 2008
• Number of parks: 22 public parks covering 240 acres of land

Tourism Tax Revenue - Top Three Sources

• La Costa Resort and Spa
• Four Seasons Aviara
• Hilton Gardens Hotel

Sales Tax Revenue- Top Three Sources

• Costco
• Toyota of Carlsbad
• Hoehn Mercedes Benz