Voters might not want big changes along San Francisco's waterfront—but one powerful agent there, the Port of San Francisco, is examining new ways to do the business of building in the face of pressures from sea level rise and opposition politics.
"Port [of San Francisco] staff has produced the 2014 Waterfront Land Use Plan Review (Waterfront Plan Review”[sic]), a draft report for public review and comment," according to the Port of San Francisco website. "This report chronicles the changes and events along the Port of San Francisco waterfront from 1997 to 2014, guided by the Waterfront Land Use Plan."
San Francisco Chronicle Architecture Critic John King got an early look at the plan and wrote an article detailing the report. Among his observations, that "voter skepticism about extra building heights shapes the tone and recommendations of the report," thanks to Proposition B. Port staff began working on the report, however, prior to the voter approval Prop B, "which requires that any plans to increase the heights allowed on port-owned land must go to the ballot."
The report offers several alternatives for "how best to seek voter blessings" and addresses the need to address sea level rise predicted as an outcome of climate change. King quotes the report directly: "Sea level rise will be a game-changer for the port and adjoining neighborhoods over the next 100 years….many port finger piers are likely to be flood prone by 2070-80."
King provides more details on the findings of the plan, especially regarding the development that's already taken place in the port since 1977, and looks ahead to the first public hearings scheduled for the plan.
FULL STORY: Port: Time for a new view of the S.F. waterfront's future

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

Federal Funding Cuts Spark Concern Among Wildland Firefighters
Federal firefighting forces, already underresourced, are being slashed even as wildfires become a year-round problem.

A Sustainable Future for LA: Updating the OurCounty Plan
Los Angeles County is updating its Sustainability Plan to refine its vision for climate action, environmental justice, and community well-being, with residents encouraged to participate by taking the OurCounty 2025 Update Community Survey.

A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes
Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
City of Bakersfield
Standridge Inc.
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service