The community plan update has begun with the plan review process expected to go to the City Council in November 2011.  The Uptown Planners and other appointed stakeholders  meet during  a separate meeting  from regularly scheduled Uptown Planner meetings so they can focus on input from all of the various interests in our community without interrupting the normal business of the planning group.

Thank you for your involvement  as it is important and this is an opportunity to speak to the city planners on important updates.

You can learn more at the following links:
 
City of San Diego General Plan
List of Community Plans:

The stakeholders  group will meet through October 2010 to provide input to the city who drafts the plan documents. Recaps of the process are available on the City of San Diego website. 

Historic Resources update:

You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you have been.  If you have any information that will help identify potential historic resources in your community this is helpful to the  Community Plan Update process.  The City of San Diego needs your help to identify historic resources that are important in our community. Historic resources include buildings, structures, objects, archaeological sites, landscapes, traditional cultural properties, and districts. These places may be significant as part of our history because of the first owner, builder or architect,  architecture itself, landscape design, neighborhood development, and commercial uses. If you have information about places in Uptown provide it to the city on this form.

Uptown Historic Survey

In 2006, consultants prepared the Uptown Historical Survey for approval by the city Historic  Resources board. It was not adopted based on the objections and concerns raised by community members because city staff changed  the definition of State recognized status codes.

Changing these codes appeared to redefine or eliminate further study of potentially historic resources and place too much weight on the recognizance "windshield" level study conclusions.  The study found that over ½ of the Uptown planning area was available for new development.  Since this area includes some of the finest and oldest areas of the city the results of the survey as presented had the potential to allow for demolition of a broad range of sites (Without considering the sites in context to the community, considering  associated historical figures or delving into an in-depth study prior to issuing demolition permits).

Surveys may also result in the subsequent preparation of historical district nominations. The results of that draft survey showing contributors and non-contributors to the historic fabric of the community was pulled from the city website while it is being updated.

Useful Web Sites

The Uptown Community Plan was adopted by City Council February 2, 1988 

• Existing Conditions Maps
  
• General Plan
• Map and Urban analysis
• San Dag website
  

The city is contracting for a new survey in conjunction with the upcoming Community plan update or may undertake this work themselves.  The results of this survey will have a significant impact on the established community character.

Additional Details

Uptown Interim Height Ordinance

In 2008, the City Council approved the Uptown  Interim Height Ordinance for a limited time. 

Uptown Planners and other community members showed the City Council that  the outdated concepts in the 1988 Uptown Community Plan  provided zoning for building heights up to 150 feet without allowing for increased density. This often resulted in conflcts between the development community and the planning group.

Community members made the case that continual approval of high rise buildings with over-sized units  had a significant cumulative  impact on the quality of life and  community character of Uptown.

Need More Information?

Special meeting/workshops:

This month, the city is sponsoring a series of charettes as follows: 

September 11  8:30 AM to 3 PM at the Balboa Park Recital hall;

September 16th 6:00 PM  to 9:00 pM at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom; and

September 25 , 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the Balboa Park Recital Hall.

The charettes will involve both community members and planners to develop urban planning design concepts for the community. The agenda content will be available from the city palnning and community investment department. 

Minutes or documents related to the Update  process will be announced at the Uptown Planners board meetings and are posted on the City of San Diego website.

The city provided a draft Community Planning  Update Guide which describes the process in detail.

The update and is being performed in conjunction as a cluster with the North Park and Golden Hill planning areas.