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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

June 29, 2006

High Marks on Smart Growth Scorecard

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Morgan Hill and Gilroy ranked 10th and 29th, respectively, out of 101 Bay Area cites on the first Smart Growth Scorecard issued by the nonprofit Greenbelt Alliance. The two-year study rated cites and counties on policies already on the books, rather than "on-the-ground" development efforts that exemplify smart growth trends but have yet to be codified, Greenbelt field representative Michele Beasley said.

Gilroy's overhaul of downtown Monterey Street, for instance, will bring 15 foot-wide sidewalks that are ideal for outdoor cafes similar to those already found in downtown Morgan Hill. But the absence of a written policy encouraging such construction prevented Gilroy from maximizing its points in the area of development standards, one of eight categories that cities and counties were graded on.

"Overall, what we were seeing is that the counties are doing a better job of planning than cities," Beasley said, adding: "In every policy area there are certain cities that excel."

Both Gilroy and Morgan Hill earned high marks for growth limits, park proximity to homes, and mixed-use development. But Morgan Hill trumped its neighbor to the south by earning strong scores for crafting clear design and development standards and for allowing a greater number of housing units per acre. Morgan Hill earned a top ranking despite scoring zero points in the area of affordable housing policy.

Gilroy and Morgan Hill earned 45 percent and 56 percent, respectively, of the possible points on the smart growth scorecard. Those scores exceeded the average 34 percent for all cities. Overall, the Greenbelt Alliance found that cities across the Bay Area had a lot of work to do ensure smart growth.

"More than half the region's cities lack urban growth boundaries to keep development from sprawling out onto surrounding farms and natural areas," the report states. "More than half also lack park proximity policies, which ensure that every resident lives within walking distance of a park. Cities are also not doing enough to reduce parking requirements and increase density, to create walkable neighborhoods and accommodate growth sustainably.

"All these policies are reasonable and within reach," the report states. "They are all being done well by some cities in the region."

The score card is the second of three environmental reports that the Greenbelt Alliance plans to release this year. A report released in May identified 400,000 acres of Bay Area green space threatened by development, as well as a million acres preserved by various smart growth policies. The next report, expected in October, will provide a 12-step program that shows cities how to grow internally and avoid sprawl.

To view copies of the first two reports, visit www.greenbelt.org. For hard copies, call Beasley at 983-0856.

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