Environmentalists Settle Lawsuit on Plan Bay Area

Two down, two to go. Rarely has a regional transportation/land use plan been sued by so many diverse groups. Environmentalists settled with Bay Area regional planning agencies with assurances that the 2017 plan will better account for GHG reductions.

2 minute read

June 24, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


"The Sierra Club, Communities for a Better Environment, and Earthjustice argued in their lawsuit that Plan Bay Area is too weak in reducing air pollution, including greenhouse (GHG) emissions," writes Denis Cuff of the Contra Costa Times. 

In addition to better tracking of GHG reductions, Matt Williams, transportation committee chair for the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter, said that the June 18th settlement [PDF] "calls for regional agencies to track and disclose progress in getting housing built in city and county priority development areas." 

The lawsuit on the adoption of Plan Bay Area last July was directed against the Bay Area's two regional planning agencies, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

According to the Earthjustice press release, the settlement also focuses on how freight movement affects public health, particularly in vulnerable communities.

"This settlement requires the agencies to create a real plan for reducing the harmful pollution from trucks and trains moving freight through already highly polluted communities," said Maya Golden-Krasner, staff attorney for Communities for a Better Environment. 

"In March, the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area dropped its lawsuit against the plan in exchange for a commitment that the agencies do more to plan for housing growth in the 2017 plan," adds Cuff, leaving two outstanding lawsuits, according to to a phone call with John Goodwin, spokesman for MTC:

Bob Egelko of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that the former suit was filed by "the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation...They contend the plan would illegally require high-density development - 'stack and pack,' as the foundation described it - and had failed to consider less-restrictive alternatives."

The latter suit, also called "Stop Agenda 21", was discussed here recently.

Friday, June 20, 2014 in Contra Costa Times

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 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing