Carmel Valley restaurant and hotel plan seeking 35-foot height increase

The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board heard an update on the Costa Azul project, which includes three new restaurants, a 112-suite hotel and a six-story office building on the vacant lot at Valley Centre Drive and Carmel Valley Road.

The board saw preliminary and conceptual elevation plans for the cul-de-sac near Tio Leo’s Mexican restaurant and the Hampton Inn San Diego, with “fast casual” restaurants in front and density of the office building and hotel stacking toward the back.

Fred and Hunter Oliver, who also built the neighboring Residence Inn, are the developers behind the project. They will be asking the board to approve a 35-foot height increase over the 60-foot zoning to build to 95 feet. The developers believe there is a precedent, as the neighboring Marriott was granted a 12-story hotel and eight-story office building.

In the past six months, the Olivers have been working with the city on a second access point on Old El Camino Real, by the Carmel Valley Shell Station. Hunter Oliver said he believes the new entrance and exit point for office workers and hotel guests and staff will help alleviate adding congestion onto El Camino Real.

The traffic generation, building heights and architecture for this highly visual corner for Carmel Valley will be the main issues the board will be addressing as the project moves forward, according to Carmel Valley Planning Board Chair Frisco White.