SPUR supports the staff recommendations related to Coyote Valley as outlined in the October 22 staff memo. We urge the Task Force to embrace all of the staff recommendations. They will go a long way in changing both the regulatory framework and the assumptions of the real estate market so that San José can refocus its plans for growth inward, rather than outward.

Under current policies, California is projected to miss its 2030 climate goal, emitting 25 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon dioxide equivalent over the goal of 259 MMT. To correct course, the state needs to move expediently to electrify buildings. SPUR urges staff to set strong decarbonization requirements by tightening the gas baseline, in order to lead to broad adoption of all-electric new construction.

SPUR believes it is imperative for reasons of racial and social equity, the environment, and sound urban planning that light rail and frequent bus routes continue to operate every 15 minutes on weekdays as they did prior to the pandemic and, therefore, support "The 90% Plan" as proposed by VTA staff.

The redevelopment of Moffett Park is a project of critical regional significance. The area offers significant opportunities to advance our region's housing, environmental, economic, and transit goals. SPUR has joined with SV@Home, Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area Housing Action Coalition, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and the Bay Area Council to lay out some core principles that should guide Sunnyvale's development.

Around the world, building major transit projects is notoriously difficult. Yet the Bay Area has an especially poor track record: Major projects here take decades from start to finish, and our project costs rank among the highest in the world. SPUR offers policy proposals that will save time, save money and add up to a reliable, integrated and frequent network that works better for everyone.

SPUR’s report More for Less examines how the Bay Area can reverse its poor track record of delivering large, complex public transit projects on time, on budget and without major defect. This companion report details one of our most significant recommendations: to establish Infrastructure Bay Area, a specialized entity that would lead the procurement and delivery of all the region’s major transit projects.

SPUR urged adoption of a Neighborhood Tenant Preference Program for affordable housing. Jurisdictions such as the City and County of San Francisco and New York City have already adopted such programs for affordable housing developments that they subsidize with San Francisco providing a local resident preference for 40% of the units and New York City 50%.

California’s housing crisis is due in part to a failure to build enough new housing. Many California cities view housing as less fiscally beneficial to build than other types of development. SPUR and California Forward explore whether cities that receive a low share of the state property tax would have an incentive to produce more housing if their share of the property tax was increased.

SPUR has written a letter urging the City of San José General Plan 4-Year Review Task Force to recommend to the City Council that aggressive Climate Smart vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction and mode split goals be adopted for the General Plan and calling for the citywide elimination of minimum parking requirements and the adoption of very low parking maximums for all new development.

SPUR supports the proposed ordinance to amend San Francisco's building code to require all-electric new construction, phasing out the use of natural gas in residential and commercial buildings. The ordinance advances the state's goals to achieve eighty percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It does not impact existing buildings, additions, or alterations.

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