Officials forecast need to adapt development model: to retreat from some areas, build in others, and reduce reliance on cars.
"The worldwide issue of climate change has a local twist: It's altering the Bay Area's long-running debate over how and where to grow.
"Some officials are suggesting that some bayside areas may need to be abandoned in light of studies that indicate San Francisco Bay could rise several feet by 2100 because of sea level changes. Conversely, other areas along the bay could be developed so that new projects shield low-lying existing communities.
"At the same time, the call to reduce carbon emissions - a factor in global warming - is being used to argue for dense new development in the region's urban core, rather than on the outskirts of auto-reliant suburbs."
The Bay Conservation and Development Commission is calling on a "nuanced approach" to development -- evaluating other ideas rather than just putting a halt to growth -- pointing to wetlands as great for flood control and the need to protect extant communities.
Ken Kirkey, of the Association of Bay Area Governments: "This is a region that thinks of itself as a leader. If we want to be a leader in responding to climate change, we can't just buy Priuses. We need to talk about where and how we live."
FULL STORY: Climate change may alter bay growth patterns

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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