The first draft of the Trails Master Plan was released for public review in 2015. City staff incorporated public input and then studied the potential environmental impacts of the plan according to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. This study resulted in a report called a “Mitigated Negative Declaration,” which summarizes the potential environmental effects of implementing the plan and how they will be mitigated. Certain projects within the plan will undergo additional environmental study prior to construction.

Once public review of the environmental report was completed, city staff responded to the comments received. The plan and the report went before the City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Commission for review, and Planning Commission to make a recommendation to approve the General Plan Amendment, and subsequently onto the City Council for final approval.