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Compact Development Endorsement
Developer Information Center
 Are
you interested in having an infill development endorsed by our Compact
Development Team? Click on the links below to find out more.
General Goals of the Endorsement Program
Endorsement Guidelines
Endorsement Process
Endorsement Timeline
Endorsement Benefits
Endorsement Application Packet
Endorsement News
Getting Involved
General Goals of the Endorsement
Program
- Discourage Urban Sprawl: There are ample
opportunities within our cities and existing community urban growth
boundaries to provide for new growth. Promoting infill projects also
helps to revitalize our older cities as more desirable places to live.
- Promote Public Transit and More Transportation
Choices: Housing that is easily accessible by major transit services
will directly support transit use and reduce automobile congestion.
- Provide for Mixed Uses Within a Neighborhood:
In order to decrease auto dependency, land uses should be mixed within
a neighborhood—with the aim of providing for the integration of
activities—housing, work, shopping, entertainment, recreation,
etc.
- Promote Affordability: Housing affordable
to families and individuals at different income levels is essential
to the social and economic vitality of our communities.
- Promote Innovative Community Design:
Residential and mixed-use developments should be designed to maintain,
enhance or create livable streets, neighborhoods and public spaces oriented
to the pedestrian. A mix of housing types within a neighborhood will
allow for a mix of residents of varying age groups, income levels and
household types.
- Minimize Cost of City Services: Housing
and mixed use development at even slightly higher densities than typical
suburban densities allows for more cost-effective city services.
To view a fact sheet about the Compact Development Endorsement Program,
click here. (200KB
pdf)
Endorsement
Guidelines
Each evaluation will consider the context of the project (location, local political landscape, demographics,
public funding, publicly owned land, planning and legal context, etc.).
The guidelines may be applied and weighted differently depending on the
context. The guidelines will be used as a lens through which reviewers
will look at proposals, rather than as a checklist of criteria for projects
to meet. Final endorsement is at the discretion of Greenbelt Alliance.
Greenbelt Alliance has two sets of guidelines for two different types
of housing and mixed-use development. Our standard infill guidelines address
smaller-scale projects. Our neighborhood-scale infill guidelines address
larger projects and plans. Neighborhood-scale plans and projects include
specific plans, neighborhood plans, master plans, and other plans and
projects that occupy multiple city blocks and may have a considerable
impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Actual housing unit count, square
footage or acreage of these plans and projects may vary from city to city
depending on city size and surrounding areas.
Please contact Greenbelt
Alliance to see which category is appropriate for your proposed
development. Because neighborhood-scale infill must also be
approved by a committee of the Greenbelt Alliance Board of Directors,
please note that these reviews may take up to two months to complete.
Also, note that we generally defer to the San
Francisco Housing Action Coalition on San Francisco endorsements.
Commercial Projects (Non-Residential)
Greenbelt Alliance will also consider non-residential projects that demonstrate
efficient use of land, innovative design, pedestrian orientation, integration
with public transit, and those that support downtown revitalization or
make appropriate re-use of a brownfield (contaminated) site.
Endorsement
Process
The endorsement process is simple.
First, before submitting an application, please contact Marla Wilson at (415) 543-6771 or by email to confirm the project's eligibility and scale and Greenbelt Alliance's current capacity to review applications within your timeframe.
Then submit an endorsement application (below). Endorsement team members will review the project according to our guidelines. The review includes a site visit; review of documents; and conversations with the developer, city planning staff, and key community leaders who have taken a position on the project. The reviewers report to the team, which then makes a decision whether or not to endorse. Neighborhood-scale projects then proceed to the Board for final approval.
Endorsement
Timeline
Generally, Greenbelt Alliance will only take action on a project after
a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) or draft negative declaration
has been prepared and site plans are made available. However, Greenbelt
Alliance may "conceptually"
endorse a project prior to completion of detailed plans and environmental
review, if it is deemed necessary to give support to a worthwhile project
early in the approval process.
Projects and plans should be submitted at least one month before an endorsement is needed. For a neighborhood-scale project, the review may take as long as two months.
Endorsement
Benefits
Endorsement by Greenbelt Alliance typically consists of the following:
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Letter of Support: All developers receive a letter
of support when their plan or project is approved by Greenbelt Alliance.
Letters may also be sent to the City Council, Planning Commission, or
other decision-making body as specified by the developer, and to the
planning staff contact.
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Active Advocacy: Greenbelt Alliance may also actively support an endorsed development project at hearings and at other public forums. The level of such advocacy will depend upon various factors, including the availability of Greenbelt Alliance representatives and whether such effort is clearly needed in order for the project to win approval. Please contact Greenbelt Alliance to discuss how we can most appropriately advocate for your endorsed project.
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Endorsement Materials: Developers whose projects
have been approved by the Compact Development Team may choose to
purchase items from Greenbelt Alliance to further showcase the endorsement.
Contact Marla Wilson at (415) 543-6771 or by email for
information on purchasing a plaque or construction site banner to
publicize your CDT endorsement.
To view testimonials from developers of endorsed projects, click
here.
(200KB pdf)
Endorsement
Application Packet
We encourage developers to contact us at the earliest possible date, preferably at the schematic design stage of the project.
Once you’ve discussed the project with Greenbelt Alliance staff
and agreed on a timetable for the review, choose and download the application
(below) that applies to your project and complete it by the deadline. Submit
your application electronically to Marla Wilson. Also,
please ensure that all drawings, schematics, and other papers are easily
reproducible on letter- or legal-sized paper.
Neighborhood-Scale Infill Application (Word doc, 187kb)
Standard Infill Application (Word doc, 180kb)
Please send these materials to:
Marla Wilson
Compact Development Team
Greenbelt Alliance
631 Howard Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94105
If you have questions, feel free to contact Marla Wilson at (415) 543-6771 or by email.
Endorsement News
Click here for news on recently endorsed projects around the Bay Area.
Getting Involved
The Compact Development Team generally meets once a
month to review and endorse projects. If you would like to join the CDT, email
us with your resume and a cover letter.
Other Organizations that Endorse Infill Projects:
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (limited endorsements):
(415) 749-5093
Housing
Leadership Council of San Mateo County: (650) 872-4444
San Francisco Housing Action
Coalition: (415) 541-9001
Santa
Clara Housing Action Coalition: (408) 501-7851
Sierra
Club, Bay Chapter (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and San Francisco
Counties): (510) 848-0800
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter (San Benito, San Mateo and Santa
Clara Counties): (650) 390-8411
Sonoma
County Housing Coalition: (707) 573-4916
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