Normal Heights Community Planning Group

Welcome to the Normal Heights Community Planning Group’s (NHCPG) Web page. The NHCPG meets the First Tuesday of every month from 6pm to 8pm at the Normal Heights Community Center (on 4649 Hawley Blvd.)

Normal Heights was named for the San Diego Normal School, a teacher’s college that was the forerunner to San Diego State University. A major early influence on the community was Bertram J. Carteri, who arrived in 1916 and began to build single-family bungalows in 1920. With the completion of the #11 double-track trolley line in 1924, Carteri began to build what is now known as the Carteri Center on Adams Avenue between 33rd, Felton, and 34th Streets. Originally, these streets were 36th, 37th, and 38th but were changed after annexation to the City in 1925 because they did not continue in the proper order the City’s street numbering system.

The Normal Heights Community is made up of three neighborhoods, which are Adams North, Adams Park, and Cherokee Park. Adams North is developed as a predominately single-family neighborhood, while Adams Park and Cherokee Park include a broader mix of single-family homes, older apartment courts and large apartment developments.

What is a Community Planning Group?
There has been long-standing citizen involvement in planning in the City of San Diego. The City Council adopted policies in the 1960s and 1970s that established and recognized community planning groups as formal mechanisms for community input in the land use decision-making processes. Community planning groups provide citizens with an opportunity for involvement in advising the City Council, the Planning Commission, and other decision-makers on development projects, general or community plan amendments, rezonings and public facilities. The recommendations of the planning groups are integral components of the planning process, and are highly regarded by the City Council and by staff.

In 1966, the San Diego City Council formalized this government-citizen relationship with the adoption of Council Policy 600-05. The organization and structure of the relationship were further clarified in 1976 by the City Council’s adoption of Council Policy 600-24, ‘Standard Operating Procedures and Responsibilities of Recognized Community Planning Groups.’ Under this policy, citizens who want to participate in the planning process are able to form “officially-recognized” planning groups. The City Council recognizes one official planning group in each community. Groups work with City staff to formulate and implement the General Plan and community plans, and to advise the Planning Commission and City Council on projects.

Election of Planning Group Board Members
Community planning groups are officially recognized by the City Council to advise the City. It is essential to the success of recognized community planning groups that broad community participation occurs. The San Diego City Council adopted policies in the 1960s and 1970s that established and recognized community planning groups as formal mechanisms for community input in the land use decision-making processes. Community planning groups provide citizens with an opportunity for involvement in advising the City Council, the Planning Commission, and other decision-makers on development projects, general or community plan amendments, rezoning, and public facilities. The recommendations of the planning groups are integral components of the planning process, and are highly regarded by the City Council and by staff.

More information about Planning Groups is available on the City’s site.

To hear more about the Normal Heights Planning Group you may contact President Jim Baross at [email protected] or attend a meeting. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month.

How can you involved?
If you are interested in becoming a member or have any questions or concerns please fill out the Contact Us box bellow.