Plan Bay Area adopted by regional planners

Bay Area planning officials adopted a regional plan early Friday morning that aims to steer development toward urban areas near mass transit and stem suburban sprawl.

The votes by the boards of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments to approve what's known as Plan Bay Area concluded a seven-hour meeting crowded with sign-waving critics and a three-year process involving dozens of public hearings across the region.

The plan, through 2040, melds the association's regional housing plan with the commission's regional transportation plan, and is the Bay Area's attempt to satisfy state legislation that requires 18 metropolitan areas to develop strategies to house future population growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

Plan Bay Area lays out a strategy that encourages Bay Area cities and counties, which control land use, to put the majority of the 2 million additional people expected to move to the region in the next three decades in areas near public transportation. It establishes about 160 "priority development areas," zones cities and counties have identified for future growth, mostly denser development.

In walking distance

The areas are generally within walking distance of shopping, dining, recreation and public transportation, including rail stations. They include urban areas such as Mission Bay in San Francisco, Oakland's Jack London Square and downtown San Jose as well as suburban centers including downtown San Rafael, Walnut Creek and Fairfield and Suisun City's waterfront.

The plan hopes to direct 77 percent of future growth to those areas with incentives including grants for affordable and higher-density housing and priority in receiving transportation funds not already committed for other uses.

The idea of encouraging denser development and greater use of public transportation has angered many conservative groups, particularly in Marin County and southern and eastern Alameda County who believe the plan is an effort to control development and eliminate the suburban lifestyle.

Critics showed up at Bay Area Plan meetings in increasing numbers as the plan rolled forward, and they dominated the crowd of about 400 at Thursday's meeting at the Oakland Marriott. Groups of opponents from Marin and San Jose chartered buses to the session. Many of them waved signs reading: "No Plan Bay Area," "One size doesn't fit all" and "Marxist Transportation Commission doesn't speak for me."

More than 120 people spoke at the hearing, most of them to blast the plan. Several insulted the commission and board members or pleaded with them to reject the plan, which they called unconstitutional and socialist.

Susan Kirsch a member of Marin Citizens, a group opposing the plan, marched to the podium with about 100 supporters waving signs.

"This plan has been wrong from the start," she said. "You don't represent me. You don't represent us. What we demand is the right to vote."

Backers outnumbered

Plan supporters, including transit, open space and clean air advocates, were outnumbered but argued that the region needs to cut air pollution and slow climate change, sentiments that drew boos from the opponents. Many were younger people who argued that they want alternatives to cars.

"I represent a generation that doesn't want to drive everywhere," said Clarissa Cabansagan, transportation advocate for TransForm, a regional transit advocacy group.

Adoption of the plan probably won't stop the fight over it. Critics plan to sue, challenging its constitutionality. And since the plan needs to be updated every four years, planners will soon be starting over.