Bay Area's Controversial Growth Plan Approved

Laura Dixon and the Bay City News Service write about the "marathon joint meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) at the Oakland Marriott" on July 18. The controversial Plan Bay Area was approved late Thursday night over the protests of hundreds of Marin, some of whom had arrived by chartered bus, and Santa Clara residents, many who argued that "such a plan should be subject to a public vote". Others claimed that "the plan would give the government undue authority to dictate where and how communities are allowed to develop housing." Still others charged the plan represented "social engineering" and "a plot to force low-income housing on wealthy communities".

Other groups, including Oakland-based TransForm, successfully asked for more funding for affordable housing and public transit funding.

Jeremy Madsen, executive director of the regional conservation organization, Greenbelt Alliance that's also behind the initiative, Grow Smart Bay Area, wrote, "One of the big (and pleasant) surprises from the night was the inclusion of an amendment that links funds from the One Bay Area Grant program to the production, acquisition, and rehabilitation of affordable homes."

According to Madsen, highlights from the plan include:

• No sprawl for 30 years—100% of new growth will be within existing urban boundaries
• Nearly 80% of new homes and over 60% of new jobs will be near public transit

With approval by the region's metropolitan planning organization (MTC) and coalition of governments (ABAG), the Bay Area joins the San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento regions in adopting regional growth plans that comply with the 2008 state law, SB 375.