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Housing and Land Use Committee

Chairperson: Michael Covarrubias, President, TMG Partners
Staff Lead: Andrew Michael, Vice President, Sustainable Development, 415-946-8707

Regional Housing and Land Use Committee is implementing a strategy to support legislative change on sustainable land use and housing. For land use changes to be made effective we advocate for state, regional and local reform that would result in more housing and employment centers be networked to accessible mass transit options. The triple purpose is to reduce congestion (increase mobility, reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to trips from home to work, and provide for ample housing for all in the right places). We advocate that state infrastructure bond funds should support regional smart growth plans, infill, and transit-oriented development.

Current Priorities
1. Create policy conditions to facilitate smart growth and sustainable development in the Bay Area.
a. Advocate to improve the California Environmental Quality Act to streamline permits for smart growth housing to be permitted and built.
b. Develop policy framework with California 2020 to comprehensively change to responsible land use throughout the region.
2. Work in collaboration with other businesses and stakeholders to participate in the “Focus our Vision” process that has identified hundreds of specific areas where new housing growth can be accommodated within existing communities, near jobs, and close to transit.

 
Next Meeting

 

Housing and Land Use Committee
Brown Bag Lunch Meeting
Thursday December 18, 12:00 – 2:00p.m.
Offices of the Bay Area Council

Join us for two exciting and prescient discussions

With the recent passage of SB 375 some are saying that we are on the verge of a planning revolution in California; that the era of the suburban subdivision is dead and we are on the verge of a rush towards a more sustainable urban living lifestyle.  Others are saying, not so fast, it will take a lot more than this bill to change our development habits.  Where does the truth lie?  What does ABAG think?

We have LEED, Build it Green, Green Point, Earth Advantage, and an ever growing list of certification programs for green building standards.  However, we do not yet have a program capable of measuring a building’s overall traffic impact and VMT generation versus a business as usual development model.  Can we quantify the C02 savings of infill TOD buildings?  Find out in our Cool Neighbors presentation. 

Meeting Agenda

12:00 – 1:00p.m.
Christy Riviere, Senior Planner, ABAG
Discussion on SB 375 and what this new law means for planning and development in the Bay Area

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Ann Cheng, Senior Planner, Transform (formerly TALC)
Discussion on “Cool Neighbors”

Space is limited – RSVP required phone 415-946 8727 or E-mail LStraub@bayareacouncil.org