KTPG News and Events

This page presents a repository of news items of interest to the community, especially those related to the overall mission of the KTPG Planning Group. You may also want to visit the: KTPG Meeting page * KTPG Subcommittee page * KTPG Projects page.

Utility Undergrounding at the June, 2011 KTPG meeting

Transformer survey results
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view the full survey.

At the June 8, 2011 meeting, the KTPG received a presentation from the undergroungind subcimmittee which included the partial results from an internet survey conducted to guage people's willingness to pay a one-time fee to achieve putting more of the equipment underground. After the presentation, KTPG apporved several motions on undergrounding:

  • KTPG endorses the educational document (PDF) prepared by Undergrounding Subcommittee and North Park Planning Committee’s Utility Box Task Force as an accurate reflection of utility box and undergrounding issues facing Kensington-Talmadge and the City of San Diego.
  • KTPG endorses formation of a City wide task force to address the negative aesthetic issues associated with undergrounding and utility box placement, through Council Policy and a City Ordinance. KTPG also endorses the task force working to ensure higher levels of service, such as higher internet access speeds.
  • If the above task force is formed, KTPG will nominate and approve a member of the KTPG for membership in the task force.
  • KTPG requests the Chair of the KTPG to send a letter to Councilmember Todd Gloria (PDF) asking for his support for the city-wide task force.

On June 14, 2011 the full results of the survey on underground transformers became available.

Aldine Slope Restoration Project - June 2011

The Aldine Slope Restoration Project will begin in June 2011. This will result in the closure of Aldine Drive during construction.

New KTPG Meeting Location - 2011

Regular KTPG meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of every month at Franklin Elementary Auditorium (4481 Copeland Ave., San Diego, CA, 92116 - see map, below). However, the schedule may vary. Please see the monthly agenda for meeting details. Subcommittee meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of every month be at Franklin Elementary, in a classroom or classrooms as listed on the agenda. Franklin Elementary charges KTPG $10 rent per year.


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Kensington planning group loses meeting place - January, 2011

The Kensington Community Church wanted to raise the rent on KTPG by 500 percent, from $25 to a $150 a month. It also took the planning group's space for their January meeting at the last minute. KTPG officers attempted to negotiate with the church, but they would not budge. KTPG does not receive funds from the city and is funded exclusively by donations. Donations collected at each monthly meeting average about $20. As a result of the church's actions, the KTPG is considering other meeting spaces, including Hoover High School and Franklin Elementary.

2011 Elections are coming up!

The 2011 KTPG Elections will be held Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Transportation & Safety Subcommittee - July 28, 2010
Utility Undergrounding Project

The Transportation & Safety subcommittee met July 28, 2010.  The subcommittee continued discussion on the Utility Undergrounding Project scheduled to begin in some parts of Kensington in 2012.  The agenda also includes a vote on the timing of the project.

KMAD Subcommittee - July 7, 2010

The KMAD Subcommittee will meet July 7, 2010.  The agenda includes an action item to review and approve KMAD petition, discuss and decide on methods to obtain petition signatures.

Kensington Clean Energy Festival - June 26, 2010

Learn about sustainability and how to power your home with the sun at workshops and on a walking tour at the Kensington Clean Energy Festival. This free public event features information on energy efficiency, solar photovoltaic systems, solar water heating, energy efficiency, water-saving technologies and solar financing and rebate programs. And best of all, find out about rebates that make going solar affordable.

Subcommittee Meetings - May 26, 2010

The Traffic & Safety and Membership & Communications subcommittees will meet on May 26.  The Project Review subcommittee will not meet in May.

The KMAD subcommittee will meet on June 2.

Heart of Kensington group receives preservation award

The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) bestowed a "People in Preservation award" to the Heart of Kensington at an awards ceremony on May 21, 2010.

Kensington 100

As of 2010, the Kensington neighborhood has been in the news for turning 100 in 2010. 

Special KMAD Forum - April 14, 2010

KTPG is hosting a special  public meeting to highlight the work KMAD Subcommittee has done concerning a possible maintenance assessment district for Kensington.

The KTPG elections were held March 10, 2010.  Bob Coffin, John M. Garrison, Gail  Greer, Guy Hanford, Sean Harrison, Sherry Hopwood, and Pam Hubbell were each elected to a two-year term.

Subcommittee actions - February, 2010

The KMAD Subcommittee voted to recommend the formation of a Maintenance Assessment District for Kensington.  This recommendation would be forwarded to KTPG for a full vote.  Ultimately, creation of a Maintenance Assessment District would require a vote by the community.

The Communications Subcommittee has voted in favor of KTPG subcommittees submitting the content of an approval action item so it can be listed in the full KTPG agenda ahead of the KTPG meeting.

The Project Review Subcommittee was prepared to consider a request to build a cell phone site, but that project request was put on hold and has now been withdrawn.

Subcommittee actions - January, 2010

The Elections Subcommittee has chosen some election procedures for the KTPG elections in March.

The Communications Subcommittee has voted to approve a recommendation providing greater notice for projects of a certain size and impact on the community.

The Project Review Subcommittee has voted a conditional approval of the Aldine Slope Restoration Project.

Website updates - December 2010

We have been expanding our website to better inform the community.   We have created a new section of the website for Projects.  This section is linked in the navigation header so it is highly visible throughout the site.  Within that section we now have web-page created to consolidate documents related to certain project, such as:

New KMAD ad hoc Subcommittee formed

KTPG voted to form a new subcommittee to investigate the formation of a Maintenance Assessment District for Kensington.  The KMAD subcommittee usually will meet on the first Wednesday of the month.  Please see the Subcommittee page and the KMAD Subcommittee page for more information about this subcommittee's activities.

Special Events

Presentation on Maintenance Assessment Districts

October 14, 2009 - the agenda for the October KTPG meeting includes a special presentation on Maintenance Assessment Districts.    The description from the agenda reads: 

Kensington Maintenance Assessment District ("KMAD")

Discussion of Maintenance Assessment Districts, what they do, how they are formed, what is included/excluded, etc. Should the KTPG pursue the possible creation of a KMAD? A. Field – City of San Diego (7:35 – 60 min)

Note: For additional information on MADs, please see the  San Diego Parks and Recreation Website on MADs. 


Residents, businesses and property owners were invited to attend this Land-Use Workshop Series to address the community-wide impact of commercial land-use decisions (public and private) on Kensington and Talmadge. Speakers presented our current zoning and which land uses are allowed in our neighborhoods.

While the City’s community plan update is still sometime in the future, early input is the most effective.  The workshops were hosted by the Ken-Tal Planning Group & Kensington Talmadge Business Association, with thanks to Vickie White (San Diego Planning Office) and students from the New School of Architecture.

Workshop #1 - Information Gathering
Thursday, February 26th, 2009

This first workshop focused on understanding the current situation in the community.  The City and students from the New School of Architecture presented information and answered questions on current zoning and land-use regulations. 

       Presentation from New School of Architecture (18MB PDF)

Workshop #2 - Discussion
Thursday, March 26th, 2009

A moderated discussion focused on identifying problems and aspects of how current regulations influence and shape the character of Kensington and Talmadge.

Workshop #3 - Community Consensus
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

The third workshop focused on the land-uses desired by the community and crafted a consensus report to the City to ensure that our voice is heard.