San Diego

Voicing concern that a planned 138-unit apartment project in Talmadge may not meet the spirit of the Mid-City Community Plan, planning commissioners on Thursday delayed any decision on an appeal of the project until they can visit the neighborhood.

Talmadge residents told the Planning Commission members that the three-story Kensington Park Garden Apartments, scheduled to go up on 44th Street between Meade Avenue and Monroe Avenue, would worsen traffic congestion and the already limited on-street parking. They also said the apartments would create a “walled corridor effect” that would “irrevocably alter” the neighborhood’s charm.

Developer Steve Drogin asked the commissioners to deny the appeal. He said the project’s developers had done their homework and should not be penalized because they “play by the rules” established by the city.

The city planning staff and director approved a permit for the project in January. Despite that, Commissioner Paula Oquita felt the design of the project did not create “a general effect in the neighborhood that would retain compatibility.”

Board Chairman Ron Roberts said he would have to be convinced there was “an obvious defect” in the one-year-old Mid-City Community Plan before he would vote against the project.

The commissioners voted to visit the neighborhood and meet again March 19.