The Planning Commission consists of seven members appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. Members must be residents of Carlsbad and normally serve four-year terms.

Duties 

• Implementation of the General Plan: Makes recommendations to the City Council regarding implementation and updating of the General Plan. When needed, provides recommendations to the Council regarding policy issues that affect long-range planning for the city.
• Review of development projects: Provides timely recommendations to the City Council when the Planning Department has completed its review of a development project for compliance with the General Plan and all zoning, subdivision and environmental ordinances. Provides a forum for public input into the review of development projects. Provides clear, concise findings to the City Council to support the recommendations of the Commission.
• Implementation of the Growth Management Program: Provides report to the City Council on the local facilities management plans once the Planning Department has completed detailed review. Reviews annual Capital Improvement Program for consistency with Growth Management Program.
• Pro-active capacity: Identifies potential problems and opportunities facing the city. Suggests special studies when appropriate.
• Committees: Serves on special committees or task forces as requested by the City Council.

Source: Carlsbad Municipal Code, Chapter 2.24

Meetings

Agendas and supporting materials for the next meeting and meetings over the last three months are linked below. Materials for meetings taking place before that are available on our online public records portal.

How to participate

The city welcomes your involvement. Meetings are open to the public and can be watched live on the city website.

Comment in person

• If you desire to speak about a “public hearing” item, a “Request to Speak” form should be filed with the minutes clerk BEFORE the item is announced. A time limit of three (3) minutes is allotted to each speaker.  You may not give your time to another person.  Groups can select a single speaker/representative as long as three (3) other members of your group are present. Group representatives have ten (10) minutes unless that time is changed by the Chair.

Comment in writing

• Written correspondence received by the Planning Division (planning@carlsbadca.gov) before 10 a.m. the Wednesday preceding a regular meeting will be included as part of the agenda packet materials for that item.

• Correspondence received later will still be delivered to the Planning Commission by different means. Please submit your comments to the Planning Division by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to have your comments printed and shared with the commission in advance of the meeting. The city cannot guarantee that any written correspondences received after 2 p.m. the day of the hearing will be printed or shared with the commission. However, you may still exhibit the material or speak to it by reference during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Back to the main Boards & Commissions page