SPUR Planning Policy Area

Planning

We Believe: Growth can be good and should be directed to areas
that will support equitable development and sustainability.

Our Goals

• Leverage growth to create great neighborhoods and public spaces.

• Protect and expand open space.

• Concentrate new jobs and housing in downtowns and near major transit hubs.

• Grow up, not out.

SPUR Report

Model Places

Over the next 50 years, the San Francisco Bay Area is expected to gain as many as 4 million people and 2 million jobs. In a region where a crushing housing shortage is already threatening quality of life, how can we welcome new residents and jobs without paving over green spaces or pushing out long-time community members?

SPUR Report

A Downtown for Everyone

Downtown Oakland is poised to take on a more important role in the region. But the future is not guaranteed. An economic boom could stall — or take off in a way that harms the city’s character, culture and diversity. How can downtown grow while providing benefits to all?

SPUR Report

The Future of Downtown San José

Downtown San José is the most walkable, transit-oriented place in the South Bay. But it needs more people. SPUR identifies six big ideas for achieving a more successful and active downtown.

SPUR Report

The Future of Downtown San Francisco

The movement of jobs to suburban office parks is as much of a threat to the environment as residential sprawl — if not a greater one. Our best strategy is to channel more job growth to existing centers, like transit-rich downtown San Francisco.

SPUR Report

Getting to Great Places

Silicon Valley, the most dynamic and innovative economic engine in the world, is not creating great urban places. Having grown around the automobile, the valley consists largely of lowslung office parks, surface parking and suburban tract homes. SPUR’s report Getting to Great Places diagnoses the impediments San José faces in creating excellent, walkable urban places and recommends changes in policy and practice that will help meet these goals.

SPUR Report

Secrets of San Francisco

Dozens of office buildings in San Francisco include privately owned public open spaces or “POPOS.” SPUR evaluates these spaces and lays out recommendations to improve existing POPOS and guide the development of new ones.

Updates and Events


SPUR Comments on the San Francisco Housing Element 2022

Advocacy Letter
SPUR urges the City to develop stronger implementation mechanisms to develop specific policies and implementation strategies for equity priority geographies and cultural districts on a faster timeline, create more incentives for housing in well-resourced areas, and commit to reforming the approvals process.

SPUR Joins 13 Organizations in Calling for the Removal of Parking Minimums in San José

Advocacy Letter
On June 14th, the San José City Council voted unanimously to adopt the staff recommendation to prepare an ordinance that removes mandatory parking minimum requirements citywide, updates the City’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) requirements and develops a program for ongoing monitoring and compliance for the citywide TDM program. San José has taken a critical step in ensuring that the costs of building parking are based on market demand and not arbitrary required minimums.

SPUR Comments on San José Guadalupe Encampment Strategy and Policy

Advocacy Letter
SPUR submitted this letter in response to the San José city staff’s report and update on the status of the city’s Encampment Management and Safe Relocation Strategy ahead of a Federal Aviation Administration deadline to comply with regulations to clear out encampments in Guadalupe Gardens.