CARLSBAD — The future of Carlsbad's flower fields remained uncertain after the city wrapped up a series of workshops in early March addressing the future development of agricultural land off Cannon Road.

The land, which presently consists of open space and farming operations such as flower and strawberry fields, has been the center of controversy in recent years, as the city discusses future development of the roughly 307 acres, most of it east of Interstate 5.

City officials have said Proposition D, approved by voters in 2006 to protect what is called the Cannon Road Agricultural Lands, encompasses the existing Carlsbad Flower Fields — and three additional parcels — as open space.

However, it is the definition of open space that has had residents and the city at odds.

The city has proposed that open space can be defined as “gathering places,” such as golf courses, civic centers and sports parks.

However, many who attended workshops last fall said they want the agriculture to stay.

The city has said it too supports agriculture, but property owners have said that the flower-growing business in the area is dwindling, and many growers need to sell the land to move elsewhere.

San Diego Gas & Electric owns a little more than 200 acres, the largest portion of the Cannon Road Agricultural Lands. Much of the property, on the eastern side of the freeway, is home to strawberry fields.

The 53.4-acre Carlsbad Flower Fields are exempt from development as they were protected in 1996 by the city. The popular tourist attraction is home to the ranunculus, and owned by the Carltas Company, the development arm of the Ecke flower-growing company, along with the 45.6 acres just north of the Carlsbad Flower Fields. An additional 26.4 acres just north of Legoland is now owned by M&A Gabaee.

In 2005, when word spread that the agricultural land may be up for sale, a group of residents calling itself “Concerned Citizens of Carlsbad” brought an initiative forward to put on the ballot for the 2006 elections.

Shortly thereafter, another group calling itself “Carlsbad Citizens for Usable Public Places” announced it would put a competing initiative, Proposition D, on the ballot as well. The initiative, endorsed by members of City Council, eventually passed by a narrow margin.

The city set up a Proposition D Citizens Liaison Committee and held two large workshops last fall, with four smaller ones earlier this month. Each workshop focused on an aspect of development of the property, said Cynthia Haas, manager of economic and real estate development for the city of Carlsbad. Haas said the groups discussed passive, active, cultural and civic uses for each of the three properties in question. Passive uses such as parks and trail, active uses such as sports parks and golf courses and cultural uses such as museums were discussed.

Haas said the next step will be for the findings from the recent workshops to be integrated and brought before the public once again in April.

The city has hired Partners for Livable Communities to take the public input gathered from the workshops and put together a conceptual plan for development.

For more information or to voice an opinion on the development, visit the city’s Web site at www.carlsbadca.gov.