(North County Beat) – After extended public deliberation and a months-long hiatus for reassessment, the developer of Quail Meadows Apartments, Baldwin & Sons, has unveiled a revised proposal for what was initially slated to be the city’s largest residential complex.
Originally, the project stirred significant controversy with its plan for 485 apartments spread across two six-story buildings on a 12-acre site along Quail Gardens Drive. Critics likened the design to “subpar Soviet-style architecture” and voiced concerns ranging from heightened traffic on an already congested road to potential obstruction of ocean views.
In response to community feedback, Baldwin & Sons has scaled back their ambitious initial vision. The latest proposal reduces the total number of units to 448, a decrease of 37 from the original plan. The revision also emphasizes affordability, with 90 units now designated as affordable housing. Building heights have been reduced from six stories to four, and design aesthetics have been refined.
The updated Quail Meadows Apartments will feature two main buildings. Building 1 will offer 44 affordable units and 168 market-rate units, while Building 2 will house 46 affordable units and 190 market-rate units. Both buildings will incorporate two levels of underground parking. Additionally, a separate two-story fitness center and community amenity building, complete with an outdoor pool, will be situated north of Building 1 along Quail Gardens Drive.
To address traffic concerns, the proposal includes plans for a roundabout at the intersection of Kristen Court and Quail Gardens Drive, pending final council approval, serving as the primary entrance to the complex. A secondary access point at the property’s south end will allow right-in/right-out traffic onto Quail Gardens Drive.
The development site, formerly a commercial plant nursery, is bordered by neighborhoods of duplexes and single-family homes, with a commercial office and the future Sunshine Gardens Apartments site located nearby. Despite adjustments to mitigate concerns such as noise and light pollution, some residents remain opposed to the scale and location of the project.
Steve Gerken, a local resident critical of the development, acknowledged Baldwin & Sons’ efforts to reduce the project’s footprint and height but insisted that more adjustments were needed. He emphasized the importance of developing affordable housing in Encinitas while maintaining neighborhood integrity and minimizing adverse impacts on residents.
Throughout the planning process, Baldwin & Sons COO Nick Lee has argued in favor of the project, citing its potential to alleviate the city’s housing shortage, accommodate local workers, and provide housing opportunities for younger residents who wish to remain in their hometown.
