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State exploring detailed strategy for growth

Posted by: Maven on November 8, 2009 at 6:39 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle, this column by John King:

“With little fanfare and a modest budget, work has begun that could lead to something California has never had – an explicit government vision for how and where the state should grow.

The official action is modest, a $2.5 million contract to devise a set of detailed growth scenarios for California, from classic suburban sprawl to compact development focused on older cities. The goal is to produce a single “preferred scenario” – one that conceivably could be used to prod local governments to accept or reject new construction.

This sort of top-down planning would alter politics in California, where cities and counties for decades have deflected any initiatives that might crimp their autonomy. The difference now: legislative efforts to reduce the state’s carbon emission levels, and voter support of a high-speed rail system that could put now-distant portions of the Central Valley within commuting distance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Proponents say there’s no way to make wise long-term decisions without data to gauge the impact of different patterns of growth when it comes to matters such as energy or water use.

“When you’re building infrastructure, you have to take into account all the different statewide goals,” said Cynthia Bryant, director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. “We haven’t done scenario planning at a statewide level, and it’s something we need.” …”

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

November 8, 2009 · Filed Under Development & Population

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