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Press Release

June 28, 2006

Contact:
Tom Steinbach, Executive Director, (415) 543-6771

New Report Finds Region is Not Prepared for Growth

Low Scores Could Improve if Cities, Counties Share Good Policies

"If it's done right, new growth can make the Bay Area a better place to live," said Tom Steinbach, Greenbelt Alliance's Executive Director. "But right now, the region doesn't have the policies in place to make sure that happens."

The Bay Area Smart Growth Scorecard evaluates 101 cities:

• Cities are scored in seven policy areas: preventing sprawl; making sure parks are nearby; creating homes people can afford; encouraging a mix of uses; encouraging density in the right places; requiring less land for parking; defining standards for good development.
• On average, Bay Area cities score 34% (of a possible 100%), meaning cities are doing only a third of what they could be to achieve smart growth. Petaluma has the highest score, with 70%; San Jose is second, scoring 69%.

The Scorecard evaluates eight counties (San Francisco is treated as a city):

• Counties are scored in five policy areas: managing growth; permanently protecting open space; preserving agricultural land; conserving natural resources; and offering transportation choices.
• On average, Bay Area counties score 51%. Alameda County is the top-scoring county with an overall score of 66%.

The reports' findings also include:

• Only 25 of 78 eligible cities (cities not bounded by water or other cities) have urban growth boundaries to define where development should and should not go.
• Only 31 of 101 cities require parks to be within walking distance of every resident.
• Fifty-nine of 101 cities have inclusionary ordinances, which require new residential developments to include affordable homes.
• Seventy-nine of 101 cities allow a mix of homes, shops, and jobs in their downtowns and near transit, making it easier for people to walk from one to another.
• Five of eight counties have open space districts; only Napa and Solano Counties are missing public agencies to purchase and protect open space. Sonoma County scores 100% on open space protection—the only perfect score for a county—for its strong funding commitment to protecting farmland as well as parks.

Steinbach said that cities and counties, like students after a midterm exam, could still bring up their scores. "In every area, at least one city or county is doing well, whether it's a city that is encouraging walkable neighborhoods, or a county that is preserving its agricultural land," he said. "Cities and counties can share the tools they're using to deal with growth—and the entire region will benefit."

The full report, with scores for each city and county, is available at www.greenbelt.org.

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For 50 years, Greenbelt Alliance has been the San Francisco Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places, with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Fairfield, and Santa Rosa. www.greenbelt.org