Encinitas residents voice opposition to proposed parking lot for homeless living in cars

ENCINITAS (KUSI) – Encinitas residents spoke out Thursday night against a proposed overnight parking lot for homeless people living out of their cars.

A forum held by the North County Citizens Coalition at the Encinitas Library saw residents, along with local leaders like County Supervisor Kristin Gaspar and Encinitas City Councilmember Tony Kranz urging the city not to move forward with the plan.

The proposal is called the Safe Overnight Homeless Parking Program and it aims to create a “safe parking” lot for homeless people on privately owned land, the Leichtag Commons, a farming campus off Saxony Road.

Some residents say there is no guarantee current homeless families living in their cars in Encinitas would have the priority. Others say the city did little to notify them or keep them informed of the program.

The city council is set to vote on whether to approve the contract for the parking lot on January 22.