The Robertson Ranch Master Plan, soon to be considered by the Carlsbad City Council, will add approximately 140 acres of open space to the Calavera Nature Preserve. This additional open space area will increase the preserve's area by more than 50 percent, creating a contiguous open space corridor that stretches from Agua Hedionda to Lake Calavera.
According to representatives of The Corky McMillin Companies the master plan for Robertson Ranch implements the key elements of the City of Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan by preserving sensitive habitat areas, restoring agricultural areas with native vegetation and providing hiking and walking trails for the public to enjoy.
"The Robertson Ranch addition to the Calavera Nature Preserve offers a unique opportunity to expand the city's nature preserve and also to add to the network of hiking trails for public use," said Brian Milich, senior vice president at McMillin. "On behalf of our partners Brookfield Homes and the Robertson Family, we look forward to working with the City and the community to implement the goals of the Habitat Management Plan in a way that maintains and enhances the beauty and natural wonder of Carlsbad."
The Carlsbad City Council and Carlsbad residents have worked for years to ensure that the sensitive open space areas in the City are preserved and restored. Carlsbad resident Gary Hill has been an active supporter of efforts to create a comprehensive trail system that connects open space areas throughout the City. Hill agrees with the prospect for additional open space and managed trails at Robertson Ranch.
"The Robertson Ranch open space area represents a critical link between the Calavera Hills Open Space Preserve and the open space system around Agua Hedionda Lagoon," Hill said. "The design of the Robertson Ranch Master Plan represents the balance between open space and housing that we need as we plan the future of our community."
According to Hill, who is community development director at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, the best case scenario is one which allows people to experience nature but with limited access via trails, so that native habitat is protected.
"I'm for open space with access, like what is proposed at Robertson Ranch, where there are trails sensitively located within the open space areas, utilizing different opportunities like the SDG&E easement and connecting to other existing trails in the community," Hill said. "My preference is to have trails between houses and open space, not just within neighborhoods, so that you might see birds and animals and get a learning experience."
In 2004, Carlsbad became the first of seven North County cities to approve its portion of the Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan. Working with wildlife agencies, the Coastal Commission and the public, the City created its Habitat Management Plan to establish guidelines for long-term conservation and management of sensitive species and habitats. The guidelines apply to all housing, commercial and industrial development within city limits.
The proposed 140 acres of permanently preserved open space at Robertson Ranch represents more than one-third of the 398-acre property. In addition, another 17 acres in the Master Plan will be designated for other open space uses, including a City Park and various community recreation areas.
Expansion of the citywide trail system is included in the plans for Robertson Ranch as well. Several miles of community and multi-use recreational trails are proposed to be added. One of the proposed pathways heads north from Cannon Road and ties into existing trails that take hikers to Calavera Lake. Other unpaved trails included in the city's plans utilize water district and SDG&E easements to take hikers from the extreme western end of the Robertson Ranch property through open space areas to the eastern side to connect with existing Calavera Nature Preserve trails.
The City also plans to utilize the Robertson Ranch property to continue a multi-use recreational trail along College Boulevard. This proposed trail, wider than the sidewalk and consisting of decomposed granite, would bring walkers and bicycle riders south from Carlsbad Village Drive and then southwest to El Camino Real.
The 110-acre Calavera Nature Preserve and 134-acre Calavera Hills (Phase-II) open space includes property donated and restored by Calavera Hills homebuilders McMillin and Brookfield Homes. More than 60 percent of the final phase of the master-planned community was required to be set aside as open space. In addition, comprehensive wetlands replanting and restoration of native vegetation has been completed. Similar work is planned at Robertson Ranch as well.
As it is with the Calavera Nature Preserve, management of the expanded area would be provided in perpetuity through an endowment established by McMillin and Brookfield. The preserve, which also includes Calavera Lake, is home to 200 different plant and animal species and provides several public hiking trails.
The Robertson Ranch Master Plan was reviewed by the Carlsbad Planning Commission in May. A public hearing before the City Council later this summer will allow the community to learn more about the Robertson Ranch open space and trail system and the quality new home neighborhoods. Following City Council approval, the open space restoration and the creation of the new neighborhoods at Robertson Ranch could begin in late 2007.
According to representatives of The Corky McMillin Companies the master plan for Robertson Ranch implements the key elements of the City of Carlsbad's Habitat Management Plan by preserving sensitive habitat areas, restoring agricultural areas with native vegetation and providing hiking and walking trails for the public to enjoy.
"The Robertson Ranch addition to the Calavera Nature Preserve offers a unique opportunity to expand the city's nature preserve and also to add to the network of hiking trails for public use," said Brian Milich, senior vice president at McMillin. "On behalf of our partners Brookfield Homes and the Robertson Family, we look forward to working with the City and the community to implement the goals of the Habitat Management Plan in a way that maintains and enhances the beauty and natural wonder of Carlsbad."
The Carlsbad City Council and Carlsbad residents have worked for years to ensure that the sensitive open space areas in the City are preserved and restored. Carlsbad resident Gary Hill has been an active supporter of efforts to create a comprehensive trail system that connects open space areas throughout the City. Hill agrees with the prospect for additional open space and managed trails at Robertson Ranch.
"The Robertson Ranch open space area represents a critical link between the Calavera Hills Open Space Preserve and the open space system around Agua Hedionda Lagoon," Hill said. "The design of the Robertson Ranch Master Plan represents the balance between open space and housing that we need as we plan the future of our community."
According to Hill, who is community development director at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, the best case scenario is one which allows people to experience nature but with limited access via trails, so that native habitat is protected.
"I'm for open space with access, like what is proposed at Robertson Ranch, where there are trails sensitively located within the open space areas, utilizing different opportunities like the SDG&E easement and connecting to other existing trails in the community," Hill said. "My preference is to have trails between houses and open space, not just within neighborhoods, so that you might see birds and animals and get a learning experience."
In 2004, Carlsbad became the first of seven North County cities to approve its portion of the Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan. Working with wildlife agencies, the Coastal Commission and the public, the City created its Habitat Management Plan to establish guidelines for long-term conservation and management of sensitive species and habitats. The guidelines apply to all housing, commercial and industrial development within city limits.
The proposed 140 acres of permanently preserved open space at Robertson Ranch represents more than one-third of the 398-acre property. In addition, another 17 acres in the Master Plan will be designated for other open space uses, including a City Park and various community recreation areas.
Expansion of the citywide trail system is included in the plans for Robertson Ranch as well. Several miles of community and multi-use recreational trails are proposed to be added. One of the proposed pathways heads north from Cannon Road and ties into existing trails that take hikers to Calavera Lake. Other unpaved trails included in the city's plans utilize water district and SDG&E easements to take hikers from the extreme western end of the Robertson Ranch property through open space areas to the eastern side to connect with existing Calavera Nature Preserve trails.
The City also plans to utilize the Robertson Ranch property to continue a multi-use recreational trail along College Boulevard. This proposed trail, wider than the sidewalk and consisting of decomposed granite, would bring walkers and bicycle riders south from Carlsbad Village Drive and then southwest to El Camino Real.
The 110-acre Calavera Nature Preserve and 134-acre Calavera Hills (Phase-II) open space includes property donated and restored by Calavera Hills homebuilders McMillin and Brookfield Homes. More than 60 percent of the final phase of the master-planned community was required to be set aside as open space. In addition, comprehensive wetlands replanting and restoration of native vegetation has been completed. Similar work is planned at Robertson Ranch as well.
As it is with the Calavera Nature Preserve, management of the expanded area would be provided in perpetuity through an endowment established by McMillin and Brookfield. The preserve, which also includes Calavera Lake, is home to 200 different plant and animal species and provides several public hiking trails.
The Robertson Ranch Master Plan was reviewed by the Carlsbad Planning Commission in May. A public hearing before the City Council later this summer will allow the community to learn more about the Robertson Ranch open space and trail system and the quality new home neighborhoods. Following City Council approval, the open space restoration and the creation of the new neighborhoods at Robertson Ranch could begin in late 2007.