San Francisco Peninsula Struggles with Growth Plan

The Bay Area is finalizing its plan to comply with state legislation to reduce vehicle emissions from transportation. "Plan Bay Area" has aroused fears of regional government and more, which were expressed at a recent public meeting.

2 minute read

May 3, 2013, 8:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Bill Silverfarb writes on how the plan - written by the Bay Area's two regional planning agencies, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments to meet state legislation (SB 375: The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008) was received by some of the 200 attendees at the meeting in Foster City, including Foster City Councilman Art Kiesel.

“They are pushing mixed-use developments at public transit centers. That’s OK. But it is nothing new. It’s New York City revisited,” Kiesel said. “They are trying to push a global plan but then say ‘it’s up to you locals.’ What if I don’t want this?”

Fortunately, Silverfarb also interviewed Egon TerplanRegional Planning Director of SPUR (San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association), who analyzed the plan with Ethan Lavine.

Those who oppose the plan do so because of a “fundamental misunderstanding,” he said.

Land use lies with local governments. The plan gives no power to enforce where housing is built,” Terplan said.

Terplan and Lavine's analysis appear in the SPUR blog on April 29: "What You Need to Know About Plan Bay Area". 

Plan Bay Area formally combines two existing regional planning processes, the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. The goal is to better link regional transportation planning and funding with a projection for future land use. 

The housing allocation process has long been resented by many city councils - and the residents they represent on the affluent San Francisco Peninsula (San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County). Heretofore, the RTP had been more of a contest of what transportation projects to fund - but it took on more of a land-use focus with SB 375. With land use, housing, and regional planning agencies, Plan Bay Area was sure to be controversial with many at the hearing.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in The San Mateo Daily Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight