Resolution Opposing the Draft Plan Bay Area

Passed by the San Francisco Republican Party

May 15, 2013

WHEREAS the San Francisco Republican Party (SFGOP) understands the importance of expanding transportation, infrastructure, water, power, etc.; 

WHEREAS the SFGOP strongly supports property rights;

WHEREAS the SFGOP opposes the creation of additional layers of regulation and bureaucracy in the local planning and approval process;

WHEREAS the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) have proposed a Draft Plan Bay Area which would centralize planning and authority by taking planning control away from cities and counties;

WHEREAS the Draft Plan Bay Area would force low-density communities to construct high-density housing with below-market-rate units, irrevocably altering the character of these communities;

WHEREAS the Draft Plan Bay Area would force communities to reduce roads and parking for cars, thereby limiting transportation options, especially for families, the elderly and disabled;

WHEREAS the Draft Plan Bay Area fails to solve existing problems with public highways, parking and public transit in many areas;

WHEREAS the Draft Plan Bay Area reduces freedom of choice for Bay Area residents in selecting where and in what type of housing to live;

WHEREAS an unelected, appointed committee created the Draft Plan Bay Area without any mandate for such scope from the people;

WHEREAS the Draft Plan Bay Area ignores the limits of property development restrictions already in place under current law,

BE IT RESOLVED that the SFGOP:

Opposes the Draft Plan Bay Area and encourages ABAG and associated organizations to abandon its implementation;

Encourages cities within ABAG to vocally oppose the Draft Plan Bay Area, and if left without other choices, withdraw from the organization; and

Recommends decisions on local and regional planning be made at the local level by private citizens in conjunction with officials elected by the people to make these decisions, and not appointed bureaucrats.