Encinitas Municipal Code § 6.2 Public Services and Facilities

The impacts upon public services created by the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan are minimal. This section of the plan looks at the effect of land use changes to fire service, police service, the county library, school districts, and other public services.

Public services are citywide services provided for the protection, health, and safety of the community's individuals. School and library facilities also are a part of the public facilities. The general plan makes provisions for each of these public services. This specific plan specifically addresses public services and points out any necessary changes to each service as a result of the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan.

Fire protection to the planning area is provided by the Encinitas Fire Department through Station No. 3 located at 801 Orpheus Avenue. Currently, response time for the plan area is meeting level of service standards. Implementation of the specific plan will not significantly impact the fire services in the area. Existing citywide fire service impact fees should ameliorate any changes to service demand created by changed development intensities in this plan.

Police protection is provided by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department under contract with Encinitas. The Sheriff's Department Substation, located at 175 North El Camino Real, currently serves the plan area.

Public Safety Element Policy 1.11 of the general plan states the city's goal of one 24-hour deputy per 10,000 residents. Current service levels exceed this standard by providing six 24-hour units per 10,000 residents. Police service will not be impacted significantly as no significant changes to existing development patterns and intensities are taking place.

Existing library services are provided by the 4,100 square-foot Encinitas Branch of the County Library located at 540 Cornish Drive. Another branch library is located in Cardiff at the Cardiff Towne Center which totals 1,540 square feet. Existing library facilities do not meet county library standards which is calculated as 0.35 gross square feet of library space per person. Based on a 2010 population projection of 65,600, the City of Encinitas will need library facilities totally approximately 22,960 square feet.. These additional facilities will be needed to serve the entire city as well as the specific plan area.

The specific plan area is served by the Encinitas Union School District, San Dieguito Union High School District, and Mira Costa Community College District. The individual schools serving the specific plan area are Paul Ecke Central Elementary School, Oak Crest Junior High School, San Dieguito High School Academy, La Costa Canyon High School and Mira Costa Community College.

The proposed specific plan build-out could potentially add 166 elementary students based on generation rates of 0.39 students/single-family dwelling unit and 0.20 students/multi-family dwelling unit. The specific plan could potentially add 77 junior high students and 160 high school students based on generation rates of 0.12 students/dwelling unit and 0.25 students/dwelling unit. These projections are based on the net difference between existing conditions and specific plan build-out of residential units.

The school districts currently collect school impact fees assessed on new development to provide financing for future facilities, however, the current fees do not adequately meet the districts' need for financing the facilities generated by new development. A mitigation agreement with developers will be required to address the impact of development on the school districts and to identify the additional financing of school facilities.

The specific plan area is served by the 2.7-acre Orpheus Park located at 482 Orpheus Avenue, the 9.3-acre Paul Ecke Sports Park located at 400 Saxony Road, and the proposed 12.9-acre Moonlight Beach Park Master Plan located at Moonlight Beach between B and C Streets in downtown Encinitas. The City recognizes the need for additional parks and is currently evaluating potential park sites.

It is not anticipated that other public services such as hospitals, utilities, and general city administration will be impacted by the provisions of the North 101 Corridor Specific Plan.