Land Use

A website — www.whatmighthavebeen.squarespace.com — highlights (with illustrations) a number of plans around the region that would have given the Bay Area a much different look today if they had come to fruition. Read More

The Census Bureau last week released 2017 population estimates for the nation’s cities and towns, showing that cities in the South (especially Texas) and the West are posting the largest gains. What about closer to home here in the Bay Area? Which jurisdictions are seeing the fastest growth in percentage terms and which jurisdictions are seeing the largest numeric increases in population? Although none of the nine county region’s cities and towns made any of the nationwide “Top 15” lists, a number of locations saw steady or even – dare we say it – moderate growth. Since 2016, this population Read More

March's Map of the Month from MTC and ABAG Executive Director Steve Heminger looks at Bay Area "Opportunity Zones" designated by the State of California Department of Finance (DOF). From the Executive Director's latest report to the MTC Commission and ABAG Executive Board: The federal tax bill, passed in December 2017, allows investors to defer or eliminate capital gains on investments made in “Opportunity Zones”. These zones must be designated by the governor in each state from a set of eligible Census tracts. Governors must select no more than 25 percent of eligible tracts statewide. Federal Read More

February's Map of the Month from MTC and ABAG Executive Director Steve Heminger looks at Bay Area jurisdictions subject to — or exempt from — Senate Bill 35 (Wiener, 2017) requirements to streamline the approval process for certain kinds of housing developments. From the Executive Director's latest report to the MTC Commission and ABAG Executive Board: A jurisdiction is subject to SB 35’s streamlining requirements if it has not made sufficient progress toward its Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) goals, or if it failed to submit its latest Housing Element Annual Progress Report. Read More

Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are neighborhoods near transit and other amenities that city or county governments have identified and approved for future growth. PDAs are key to the "Focused Growth" strategy at the heart of Plan Bay Area 2040, the nine county region's long-range transportation and land use plan. Applications are due March 5, 2018 for three MTC PDA assistance programs (Planning, Technical Assistance, and Staffing) that will help local governments plan for and implement PDAs within their jurisdictions, and thereby help the region achieve its goals for the environment, economy Read More

Living in the Bay Area, we all know the “Big One” is (probably) coming. But how likely, and when? October’s Map of the Month tries to convey the Bay Area 30 Year Earthquake Risk both in terms of probability of an earthquake occurring anywhere in the Bay Area as well as probability for any given major fault within the region. As can be seen, there is a roughly 3 in 4 chance the Bay Area will experience a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake over the next 30 years, according to the United States Geological Survey. Read More

The 2017 North Bay Wildfire Affected Areas Map displays the geographic extent of the four 2017 North Bay Wildfires, as well as the number of structures damaged or destroyed within the fires’ perimeters. The map gives a good sense of just how large the fires were, and how destructive. In addition to the lives lost, there were nearly 6,000 structures reported as damaged or destroyed within the Tubbs Fire alone (#2), taking out a major chunk of Santa Rosa’s (and the wider region’s) housing stock. In response to this regional emergency, MTC and ABAG have offered technical assistance, staff Read More