Improving Planning in San Francisco

The Wall Street Journal talks with Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, about where the city is heading and how it needs to change.

1 minute read

May 2, 2011, 10:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


Metcalf talks about how to channel growth into higher density areas, and the transportation challenges facing the city. He also discusses some of the ways planning in the city needs to improve.

"WSJ: What is wrong with San Francisco's planning process, and how would you fix it?

Mr. Metcalf: The civic culture is San Francisco values democratic process more than it values results. So we have created a system for decision-making that just takes a really long time. I want it to be easier to get a good project approved in San Francisco than a sprawl subdivision out at the edge of the region. Right now, it takes years for even modest-size apartment buildings to be approved. We need to change our decision-making process so that the zoning matters, rather than building in endless opportunities for renegotiating the rules on every little project that is proposed. Right now, each project is its own battle, and many that comply with zoning [rules] are rejected."

Thursday, April 28, 2011 in The Wall Street 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

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