May 28 marked the last public workshop of the initial comment period for the update to Plan Bay Area, the groundbreaking regional strategy that envisions no sprawl for the next generation and focuses the majority of new development near transit.
First adopted in 2013, this plan gets a reboot every four years to account for updated population projections and other factors. Thanks to everyone who turned out for this first round of workshops to tell the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) that you want the region to grow smart.
The format of the public workshops was much more accommodating to attendees this time around. Instead of having to wait your turn to give public comments, the entirety of the workshops was in an open house format. Each station educated attendees about a different aspect of Plan Bay Area, had at least one well-informed MTC or ABAG staff member, and allowed attendees to submit written comments.
Greenbelt Alliance sent representatives to each of the Plan Bay Area workshops in all nine counties and tweeted popular sentiments from attendees and the most interesting tidbits from the workshops’ displays. Here are some of the highlights:
At the San Mateo #planbayarea workshop. Walked here from Caltrain; walking home after. #TOPW (Transit-Oriented Planning Workshop) -SR
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 7, 2015
Top vote getter for #planbayarea goals is providing enough housing at Santa Clara workshop as well -UP pic.twitter.com/8Gn0dDlM2S
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 7, 2015
Can we guide growth to make our communities more affordable? Hot topic at #PlanBayArea workshop in Napa tonight pic.twitter.com/uNEab1UxTh
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 8, 2015
#PlanBayArea Nabeel Al-Shamma wants walkable, safe, bike-friendly neighborhoods for his family in Sonoma County. pic.twitter.com/j5H1q4iY1J
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 8, 2015
A snapshot of SF #PlanBayArea pic.twitter.com/nYqBxLyHgy
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 14, 2015
"What r the biggest challenges facing the Bay Area?" #PlanBayArea pic.twitter.com/irzcRgcovx
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 14, 2015
#PlanBayArea in Marin. Good vibes, policy makers, leaders. Supervisor Kinsey and Bay Trail's Maureen Gaffney are here pic.twitter.com/yP0O5JBCz9
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 29, 2015
What to expect for the #PlanBayArea process in 2015 pic.twitter.com/EdvBqllgvB
— Greenbelt Alliance (@gbeltalliance) May 14, 2015
On June 10, MTC commissioners will weigh in on $750 million in grant programs aimed to help carry out Plan Bay Area. Your voice can make a difference in shaping those programs so that they support the right development in the right places. To find out more, contact Matt Vander Sluis at mvandersluis@greenbelt.org.
Photo: Joe Parks via Flickr
