Plan for Big Floral Mart Splits North County

For years, people in the California floral industry have talked about a massive, multipurpose facility where scores of growers and sellers could buy and sell, ship and receive their flowers from anywhere and to anywhere in the world.

Then last fall, the Paul Ecke family decided that the all-under-one-roof wholesale floral center could be more than just talk. Today, they are trying to “add flesh” to the discussion, said Christopher Calkins, an Ecke representative who is helping the family try to get the North County floral trade center off the ground.

Calkins said the envisioned 50-acre facility, on unincorporated land surrounded by Encinitas, could centralize North County’s floriculture community in what would be the largest floral wholesale location in the nation.

The family’s enthusiasm for the floral center is not shared by city officials in Encinitas and Carlsbad, however.

The Encinitas City Council on Monday voted not to support the Eckes’ plan unless they allow their 945-acre parcel--which includes the land for the floral center--to be annexed by the city.

“We’d like to promote the flower industry, but not at the cost of losing control of that land,” said Encinitas Mayor Marjorie Gaines.

“By not annexing, we leave everything up in the air. . . . That parcel of land is going to have a significant effect on the future of this area.”

On Tuesday, the City Council of neighboring Carlsbad joined Encinitas in opposing the Eckes’ flower center. Voting against the project, council members expressed fears that the floral center would add traffic to La Costa Avenue in the southern part of the city.

Frustrated by the opposition in the two cities, Calkins will present the Ecke proposal to a county committee today. If it approves, the Board of Supervisors will consider the project later.

The site for the center is on Ecke ranchland that was excluded from the new city when Encinitas was formed last year. The land is under county jurisdiction.

Calkins said the Ecke family opposes annexation by Encinitas. In order to survive, he said, the flower center must remain outside the city.

“We don’t feel the city would have the sensitivity to the agricultural community,” Calkins said. “They (Encinitas) would always have an issue that is more important to them than the flower industry.”

Although they say they want Encinitas’ approval, Calkins said the Ecke family is taking its case to the supervisors because it feels that a study of the proposal will alleviate fears surrounding the project.

“Right now, we can’t even get a study to show if this will work or not. . . . That’s all we’re asking for,” Calkins said.

Mayor Gaines disagreed that the Ecke project would be hurt by falling within city limits. She expressed concern that other developments on the property “would spring up” that would affect Encinitas adversely.

“We don’t think they should be allowed to do that (go to the Board of Supervisors),” said Gaines. Because the city would feel the effects of traffic and other new development near the proposed floral center, “the city should be in the decision-making process regarding that land,” she said.

Carlsbad Councilman Eric Larson said he favors the idea and thinks it would give a “big boost” to the floral industry.

“This could go a long way to helping the industry because, with the center, a grower could get all his selling done in one place and cut down tremendously on costs,” said Larson, who also manages a local flower auction.

“It would also be a great attention-getter.”

Not all North County flower growers agree.

“I just don’t like the idea because they want to stay separate (from Encinitas) and I find that a bit negative,” said Lucas Voorhees, who has run Hilltop Nursery for 16 years.

“I really haven’t been convinced that this would be of a great deal of value to the community.”

Voorhees said reaction to the Ecke proposal has been mixed because, like him, some feel the floral industry wouldn’t be helped by the presence of a floral trade center.

Calkins said he hopes that the reaction to the Ecke proposal will be positive so it can be brought back to the Encinitas City Council later this year.

“I would hope that it would go before the (Encinitas) voters before the end of the year,” Calkins said.