Carlsbad CA— The No vote leads, unofficially, by 1,556 votes with approximately 300 Mail/Provisional ballots still to be counted as of 3:30pm, February 29, 2016.

• No: 20,362 – 51.99%
• Yes: 18,806 – 48.01%

According to the registrar, approximately 300 votes remain to be counted. The registrar has up to 30 days to certify the election results. Once certified by the registrar, the Carlsbad City Council will certify the results at its next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

What’s next?

After the vote becomes official:

• The ordinance approving the plan would be rescinded 10 days following the election certification by the City Council.
• The land use designations would remain as they are today, with visitor-serving commercial development allowed on 48 acres and the other 155 designated for open space.
• At any time, Caruso Affiliated could submit the Agua Hedionda South Shore Specific Plan, or another plan, to the city via the traditional development process, which includes California Environmental Quality Act analysis and review by the California Coastal Commission.
• The City Council may not approve an ordinance for the Agua Hedionda South Shore Specific Plan for 12 months following its certification of the election results.
• If Caruso Affiliated terminates its contract with SDG&E to purchase the land, another party could purchase any or all of the property, at the discretion of SDG&E, the current landowner.