What should you know about Carmel Valley, California

1. Geography

Carmel Valley is a newer, master-planned community located in the north-western corner of San Diego, CA. It’s boundaries remain unchanged from the original community plan, and the 92130 zip code does not belong entire to Carmel Valley like many people believe. The truth is that remainder of the 92130 zip code is filled by the surrounding communities of Del Mar, Mesa, Pacific Highlands Ranch and Torrey Hills.
The “North City West” master plan was inspired by Kevin Lynch who wanted to reduce sprawl by confining development to the mesa tops, leaving the canyons untouched. The planned development is basically centered around an urban core surrounded by decreasing residential densities. Crowded residential areas were traded for more open space.
According to the City’s webpage, Carmel Creek, now largely marked by SR-56 and the CVREP corridor, was intended to meander freely to the sea, allowing water to return to the ground and providing residents with natural open space and recreational opportunities.
The North City Future Urbanizing Area (NCFUA) and Pacific Highlands Ranch border Carmel Valley to the north; while Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Torrey Hills border the community to the south; Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Mesa to the east, and Interstate 5 and Torrey Pines to the west.
Torrey Highlands, the easternmost section of Del Mar Mesa, is also part of Carmel Valley and the boundary between the city and Rancho Peñasquitos.
The location of the city, allows its residents a coastal living lifestyle, because it is literally minutes away from some of the most amazing beaches in southern California.

1.a Climate

The climate of Carmel Valley is categorized as a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Residents enjoys mild, sunny weather throughout the year.
The highest monthly average temperature in Carmel Valley for August is usually 71 degrees, while the lowest monthly average temperature in December is 56 degrees.
February is the wettest month with 2.4 inches of rain.
The annual average temperature in the area is around 63.0°F, and the annual precipitation is 12.12 inches.

2. Economy

The commercial center of Carmel is ideal for corporate offices, hotels, shopping and restaurants thanks to a variety of amenities and an easy access to much of San Diego County.
Companies with offices in this community include: US Bank, Scripps Health, Opera Solutions, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Fish & Richardson, Morrison & Foerster, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and The Allen Group.
The headquarters of Neurocrine Biosciences and ICW Group Insurance Companies are also located in this neighborhood.

3. Government

Local Carmel Valley government advising boards consist of the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board and the the Carmel Valley Recreation Council. The first board advises the City on development and land use, while the second one provides community input on parks and recreation.

4. Education

The community is known for some of the best schools in the Nation, and also, for the rigorous academics.
For the elementary schools, the northern section is part of the Solana Beach School District (K-6) which is in charge of the following institutions: Carmel Creek, Solana Highlands, Solana Ranch, and Solana Pacific.
The southern section is managed by the Del Mar Union School District (K-6), which operates these academic institutions: Ashley Falls, Carmel Del Mar, Ocean Air, Sage Canyon, Sycamore Ridge and Torrey Hills.
Overlaying the entire community, the San Dieguito Union High School District includes these middle schools and high schools: Carmel Valley Middle School, Pacific Trails Middle School, Earl Warren Middle School, Torrey Pines High School and Canyon Crest Academy (top 5 school, academically, in the state of California.)
A population of students who live in Mount Carmel attend West View High School, which is located in Torrey Highlands and belongs to the Poway Unified School District.
Notre Dame Academy and Del Mar Pines School are both K through 8 private schools, while Cathedral Catholic High School and San Diego Jewish Academy are K through 12 private institutions.
Some Carmel Valley residents attend schools in the bordering communities of Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills and Torrey Pines.

4.a Library

The Carmel Valley Brach Library, located at 3919 Townsgate Dr. San Diego, CA, is equipped with 9 adult & teen computers and 2 children computers all with Internet and Microsoft Word. Three of the computers are equipped with games.
Visitors are allow to have 60 minute sessions (maximum of 2 sessions per day per costumer).
WiFi access are available for the visitors who bring in laptops.
The Meeting/Community Room may be booked for use by the public for meetings during library hours, and there is an hourly charge of $50 unless the group is a non-profit 501C3.
Food or beverages are not allowed inside.
The library offers a variety of programs for people of all ages, such as Movie Monday, Infant & Toddler Story Time, Pre-School Storytime, Afternoon Story Time, Arts and Crafts for K-6th Graders, Child-Parent Book Club from September to May, Teen Book Club also from September to May, Scientists and Engineers of Tomorrow (SET Club), Lego Builder Club, Yoga Class for Seniors and a Bridge Club.

5. Infrastructure

5.a Transportation

The North County Transit District provides public transportation services to the communities nearby Carmel Valley.
The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board is seeking to bring more public transportation options to the community, because there is not enough of it in the area, and it feels that the neighborhood is somehow disconnected.
For that reason, at about 86.80% of the labor force in Carmel Valley primarily drives or carpools to work, and that’s why Carmel Valley has a higher percent of driving commuters than the typical neighborhood in San Diego.

Future plans for improving mobilization and transportation include, additional lanes for SR-56, express service on the Coaster and Sprinter, the re-location of the Sorrento Valley Coaster Station, as well as I-5 improvements.
The board hopes that the I-5/SR-56 connector project could also be moved up in timing for the resident’s convenience.

5.b Utilities

San Diego Gas and Electricity (SDG& E) provides these two services to the community, while Vallecitos Water District supplies water, waste water and reclamation services.
Trash, recyclables and yard waste collection is offered by EDCO, which also participates in numerous worthwhile efforts to enhance the quality of life in the region.

6. Points of Interest

Recreational options in Carmel Valley include many neighborhood parks, a community recreation center, athletic clubs, golf and the nearby beaches at Torrey Pines and Del Mar.
Open space areas and an extensive trail system are some of the benefits of being an early experimenter in smart growth, like Carmel Valley has been working towards since the start.
The Carmel Valley Park and Recreation Center is a wonderful place for families and get-togethers for Birthday and special occasion parties. The park offers a wide selection of facilities including: indoor multipurpose courts and fields, a game room with table tennis, outdoor basketball courts, outdoor fitness stations, tennis courts, amphitheater, two playgrounds, horseshoe pits, and picnic areas with barbeques.
These Adult Sport Leagues are also available in the community: softball (men’s and co-ed), co-ed kickball, co-ed volleyball, and men’s basketball. These sports are all played on different nights of the week and offer great opportunities for exercising and making new friends.
Some of the amazing southern California beaches are just minutes away from Carmel Valley; nearby is Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, home to one of two stands of the endangered Torrey Pine –a broad, open-crowned pine tree growing between 26–56ft tall in the wild, with 9.8–11.8 inches long leaves (‘needles’) in groups of five.

Conclusion

Besides all the recreational options that the community offers, families with children are also attracted by the large houses and award winning schools.
If you can’t wait to start enjoying all of this comfort and conveniences, please contact our Carmel Valley moving company.
Our Carmel Valley movers are famous for being careful, fast and experienced!

6 Reasons to Move to Carmel Valley, CA