Located just miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Carlsbad community has become one of the most popular places to live -- that is if the residents can find a place to live.

As its popularity has grown, so has the population. Officials estimate there is a need for several thousand more apartment units. The severe shortage of housing, the lack of buildable sites and the city's strict development controls have created a dilemma that will be hard to solve.

Yet, as more and more cities around the nation embrace smart growth initiatives, developers are making inroads into solving these types of challenges.

In Carlsbad, one project is about to make a dent in the availability of housing in the area. Dubbed The Summit at Carlsbad, the new 143-unit complex began construction in May. As a project that is home of the California Gnat Catcher -- a small bird that is on the environmental list -- as well as a wetlands sanctuary, the development team was sensitive to not only the needs of the community, but the requirements of the delicate eco-system surrounding the project, as well.

Above is a rendering of The Summit at Carlsbad, a new 143-unit complex designed to preserve nearby wetlands and to include 29 "affordable housing" units.

The project in itself is a case study in development. The developer, Pacific Properties, became involved in the project about two years ago, when the previous developer was running out of money and running out of patience for the long process. Purchasing the land without entitlements, the firm pushed forward and received the required entitlements to move to the next stage.

The site -- a 20-acre parcel on Marron Road, just east of El Camino Real -- has a topography that includes a relatively flat mesa, which slopes moderately, then steeply, down to three sides of the property. Two small canyons drain to portions of the site, and an abandoned reservoir is on the site as well.

Key to the development was the repair and preservation of nearby wetlands that serves as a breeding ground for the California Gnat Catcher, a small bird that calls this land home. It also houses vegetation, such as the disturbed coastal sage scrub, the southern willow scrub and other plantings that are vital to this area.

Other elements came into play. How much affordable housing could this complex contribute to the community? How would housing density issues be addressed?

As the development team moved forward, each element was carefully examined.

To accomplish preserving the wetlands and the California Gnat Catcher habitat, the developer agreed to remediate 12 acres of the site to the city and donate it in perpetuity to open space for the habitat, using only 8 acres of the site as the land "platform" for the complex. By clustering the housing, and leaving these 12 acres undisturbed, lot coverage is only 26 percent, well below the 60 percent that is allowed.

Turning to Joseph Wong Design Associates, a San Diego-based architectural firm, the design of the project began to take form.

The 8 acres will house 13 three-story buildings detailed in the California craftsman style drenched in earthen hues and trimmed with meticulous stonework. These luxury apartments will include details such as cathedral ceilings, upgraded appliances and high-speed Internet access, as well as lush landscaping throughout the groomed grounds. A recreational/leasing office building, which includes game rooms, an exercise room and a pool area complete the environment. Great care was taken to limit the heights of the buildings to blend in with the surrounding developments.

Once the environmental issues were studied, other concerns such as traffic and the ability to provide affordable housing were examined.

To help with the chronic traffic congestion in the city, the developer agreed to hold 18 apartments off the market until the new College Cannon Road extension is complete. Although this new road is several miles from this project, it will help alleviate traffic in the general area.

Within this community, 29 units have been designated for occupancy by residents that meet low-income guidelines. In a further effort to provide affordable housing for the city, the developers were able to create an excess of affordable units, providing 20 percent of the project to serving this need, as opposed to the 15 percent required by the city. These 29 units will be offered at 80 percent of the area's median income level.

As housing needs becomes more critical, multifamily developers will have more opportunities. For those who are willing to take the risk -- and think outside the box -- the solutions will not only provide improvements to the neighborhood living environment, they will contribute to the resident's quality of life. That is, indeed, the best approach to smart growth.

Stockhausen is an executive vice president with Pacific Properties, a multifamily developer. He is responsible for land acquisitions in the Western United States.