Calthorpe Clashes With Environmentalists

The Bay Citizen reporter Jonathan Weber says that Calthorpe's "version of green development favors megaprojects that create the density needed for efficient mass transit. But these huge developments are anathema to many environmentalists and community activists — and the divisions reflect a growing split among people usually thought to be on the same side."

The most heated argument surrounds the Saltworks project in Redwood City, which involves building some 12,000 housing units on San Francisco Bay salt ponds owned by Cargill, the agribusiness company. For Mr. Calthorpe, who designed the project, it’s just the kind of high-density project we need — close to mass transit, jobs and major cities."

Environmentalists believe all 1,400 acres of salt ponds should be restored to wetlands.