Margaret is a retired marketing consultant. She is also an avid gardener. Continue reading →

City Planner and Urban Designer, John Kriken is a Consulting Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects and a professor at the U.C. Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, for Graduate Studies in Urban DesignThe attempt to give form, in terms of both beauty and function, to selected urban areas or to whole cities. Urban design is concerned with the location, mass, and design of various urban components and combines elements of urban planningControls by central or local government over the use of land. Land-use planning is used to keep activities causing harmful externalities, such as noise or visual intrusion, away from places where they are believed to be particularly harmful. , architecture, and landscape architecture.. Continue reading →

Board member Raquel Donoso is the Executive Director of the Latino Community Foundation. Continue reading →

Outdoors lover and San Jose mover-and-shaker Teresa Alvarado brings her depth of experience in the public sphere to the Greenbelt Alliance board. Continue reading →

Michelle is an environmental planning consultant. Continue reading →

As Executive Director, Jeremy Madsen sets and implements the organization’s strategic goals and manages its operations. He frequently speaks on land conservation and smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Continue reading →

Hillary oversees the Development Department and the Outings program at Greenbelt Alliance. She is focused on bringing an innovative approach to Greenbelt Alliance’s fundraising strategies, working to further connect donors and supporters to Greenbelt’s critical work. Prior to joining Greenbelt Alliance, she worked at Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco and Friends of the Earth. Continue reading →

Fatema’s back in the Bay area for the summer, working as the Policy Volunteer Intern for Greenbelt Alliance. Continue reading →

Alexis is responsible for general administrative support for the San Francisco and field offices. Continue reading →

Michele is a San Mateo County native and has been working to protect open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. lands and create livable communities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties since 2004. She often speaks on affordable housingHousing that can be purchased or rented by a household with moderate, low, or very low income, based on a household's ability to make monthly payments necessary to obtain housing. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30 percent of its gross monthly income (GMI) for housing, including utilities. and smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Continue reading →

Kelly is excited to provide support to a new initiative that seeks to engage a broader audience around local planning and development issues through a web-based platform. Continue reading →

A city girl at heart, with a love of the outdoors, Tara is excited to support the Development team here at Greenbelt Alliance and learn about all the ways we can continue to make the Bay Area great. Continue reading →

Alex joined the Greenbelt Alliance team way back in the year 2011 as a lowly unpaid intern. He started showing up every day and has since conned his way into his current position as Communications Associate. Continue reading →

As a Santa Cruz-greater Bay Area native, Joel has worked passionately for environmental conservation and social equity much of his life. He continued building on his skills while earning a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Film from Hampshire College. Most recently, he served as the Community Engagement and Outreach Manager for the Louisiana Housing Alliance after receiving a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans. Continue reading →

Anu leads Greenbelt Alliance’s efforts in ensuring the right development happens in the right places in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties. A Bay Area native, Anu fell in love with the great outdoors during frequent early childhood frequent visits to California’s beautiful wildlife with her family. Continue reading →

Amie supports the Development Department’s event planning, membership initiatives, outings, and grant management where her love of fastidious organization is embraced. She enjoys meeting with members and learning what people love about the Bay Area.
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Adam brings a diverse background rooted in environmental and city planningControls by central or local government over the use of land. Land-use planning is used to keep activities causing harmful externalities, such as noise or visual intrusion, away from places where they are believed to be particularly harmful. to the Greenbelt Alliance team. His background allows him to lead cutting-edge research initiatives, public policy analysis, and mapping services. Continue reading →

Anna joined Greenbelt Alliance as Team Captain and Coordinator of Greenbelt Alliance’s 2013 Climate Ride Team. She’s working to recruit new riders, set up training rides and team events, and support team fundraising efforts. Continue reading →

Amy oversees the Communications Department, working across the organization to foster unified, creative and strategic communications for Greenbelt Alliance. Prior to joining Greenbelt, Amy worked in marketing sustainable engineering and higher education in Chicago, IL. Her past experience also includes serving as … Continue reading →

Melissa is a native San Franciscan who has been fortunate to live in many parts of the Bay Area over her life. She frequently speaks on agriculture and open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. conservation. Continue reading →

Ken has introduced countless children and adults to the delights of the nature and the greenbelt as an outdoor education teacher, park ranger, and hike leader. He is an entertaining storyteller and expert speaker on the natural world, including Bay Area geology, flora, and fauna. Continue reading →

Patty Leal is Greenbelt Alliance’s Finance Manager and has been involved in nonprofit accounting for more than 15 years. She spent several years in the telecommunications industry before realizing that her love of numbers could be combined with her passion for justice. Continue reading →

Ed Lee has over 19 years of experience in the nonprofit sector primarily in management or board roles with social justice organizations such as Public Advocates Inc., Californians for Justice, and the Center for Third World Organizing. Continue reading →

Duane works on the Policy Research team at Greenbelt Alliance, investigating barriers to infill developmentDevelopment of vacant land (usually individual lots or leftover properties) within areas that are already largely developed. and advocating for better growth managementA local program limiting the rate of community growth. Communities use a wide range of techniques to determine the amount, type, and rate of development desired by the community and to channel that growth into designated areas. Growth management policies can be implemented through growth rates, zoningThe division of a city or county by legislative regulations into areas, or zones, which specify allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for buildings within these areas; a program that implements policies of the general plan., capital improvement programs, public facilities ordinances, urban limit lines, standards for levels of service, and other programs. Examples include an annual cap on the number of building permits issued, tying new development intensityThe degree to which land is used. 0ften used interchangeably with densityThe amount of development per acre permitted on a parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. under the applicable zoning., intensity has a broader — though less clear — meaning, referring to levels of concentration or activity in uses such as residentialLand designated in the city or county general plan and zoning ordinance for buildings consisting only of dwelling units. May be improved, vacant, or unimproved., commercialA land use classification that permits facilities for the buying and selling of commodities and services., industrialThe manufacture, production, and processing of consumer goods. Industrial is often divided into "heavy industrial" uses (such as construction yards, quarrying, and factories) and "light industrial" uses (such as research and development and less intensive warehousing and manufacturing)., agricultural, recreation or parking. to infrastructureA general term for public (and quasi-public) services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply systems, other utility systems, and roads. capacity, or limiting the location of new development. (See Congestion management plan.) policies in our region. Continue reading →

Uri manages a new initiative that will take advantage of web and mobile technologies to connect Bay Area residents with each other and the information they need to affect change in their communities. Continue reading →

Lopa manages the cultivation and stewardship of Greenbelt Alliance’s Major Donors. She lives in San Francisco where she is committed to raising urban children in the most responsible and sustainable way possible. Continue reading →

Stephanie works on regional and statewide smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions, affordable housingHousing that can be purchased or rented by a household with moderate, low, or very low income, based on a household's ability to make monthly payments necessary to obtain housing. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30 percent of its gross monthly income (GMI) for housing, including utilities., and open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. protection policy development and advocacy. Continue reading →

A Bay Area native, Zoe received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia where she studied urban geography with a minor in migration and globalization studies. It was in Vancouver that she became fascinated with the urban environment. Continue reading →

Matt Vander Sluis leads open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. and community revitalizationThe renewal and improvement of older commercialA land use classification that permits facilities for the buying and selling of commodities and services. and residentialLand designated in the city or county general plan and zoning ordinance for buildings consisting only of dwelling units. May be improved, vacant, or unimproved. areas through actions or programs that encourage and facilitate private and public investment. This investment can include activities and programs designed to improve neighborhoods; strengthen existing businesses; encourage quality renovation and new construction; enhance public spaces and pedestrian amenities; ensure safe, efficient, and convenient traffic flow; attract new businesses; and contribute to the social and economic vitality of the area. campaigns across Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties. He frequently speaks on smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions and land conservation. Continue reading →

Ella provides support to our campaigns across the East Bay, particularly with community engagement around Walnut Creek’s West Downtown Specific PlanA plan addressing land use distribution, open space availability, infrastructureA general term for public (and quasi-public) services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply systems, other utility systems, and roads. and infrastructureA general term for public (and quasi-public) services and facilities, such as sewage-disposal systems, water-supply systems, other utility systems, and roads. financing for a portion of the community. Specific plans put the provisions of the local general planA statement of policies, including text and diagrams setting forth objectives, principles, standards and plan proposals, for the long-term future physical development of the city or county. The general plan is a legal document required of each local jurisdiction by the State of California Government Code section 653o1 and adopted by the city council or board of supervi¬sors. In California, the general plan has seven mandatory elements (circulation, conservation, housing, land use, noise, open space, safety and seismic safety) and may include any number of optional elements (such as air quality, economic development, hazardous waste, and parks and recreation). The general plan may also be called a city plan, compre¬hensive plan, or master plan. into action.. Continue reading →