California planning low-carbon oasis where cars aren't king

[marmar]

California planning low-carbon oasis where cars aren't king

Date: 17-Dec-12
Country: USA
Author: Braden Reddall and Rory Carroll


[font size="1"]A freight train is reflected in standing water near vacant industrial land and salt marshes in Newark, California, December 13, 2012.
Photo: Robert Galbraith[/font]


Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that.

With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest.

The marshes could be turned over to birds, satisfying environmentalists, or paved over with single family homes, like most of the Bay Area.

Newark planners envision something different, which might satisfy both - or neither: 2,500 new homes, mostly townhouses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs across the Bay. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/67416

[KamaAina]

1. "You'll end up in a situation where we have housing that people don't want"

In urban California? Is he high?? This isn't Stockton. As mentioned, it's right across the Bay from Silicon Valley. The new train across the Dumbarton Bridge is pretty far down on the region's prioroty list, but the existing ACE train to Santa Clara and San Jose is nearby.

[NYC_SKP]

2. ACE train goes to Stockton, in fact!

I agree, the silliness that if they build it they won't come is countered by the surprising number of mid-rise mixed use projects that can be seen in Sunnyvale and Mountain View along El Camino and Sunnyvale Saratoga Road and, really all over Santa Clara county.

It's smart planning but has its detractors!

[KamaAina]

3. It does indeed

but that is one loooooooooooong ride.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Compared to the drive through Tracy, over the Altamont, etc....

It's a breeze!