Constrained Policies

The region’s challenges can be traced to the intersection ofLAND USE AND HOUSINGHOW LAND USE ANDHOUSING POLICESPRODUCE MULTIPLEBENEFITSOpen Space and Habitat: Emphasizinginfill development and focusinggrowth around urban centersand transportation nodes willdiscourage sprawling “leapfrog”development, slow the rate of landconsumption and help protect importantopen space on our urbanperiphery.Water: Greater emphases on multifamilyand non-traditional housingand green building practices helpreduce per-capita water consumption,particularly for residential irrigationuse.Energy: Balanced land use growthpatterns will reduce VMT and thefuel demands for vehicle travel.Mixed land uses near transportationservices can save consumersup to 512 gallons of gasoline peryear. Households in transit-orienteddevelopments drive 45 percentless than residents in auto-dependentneighborhoods.FIGURE 2.2Before and After Photo-MorphSource: SCAGneighborhood that combines a shopping area with nearby residencesmakes it easier for people to walk for some of their trips(see Figure 2.2). Highway-adjacent commercial development,however, tends to require auto travel for all trips.At the same time, decisions made about transportation alsoaffect what and where we build. Freeway interchanges usuallyencourage development of auto-oriented stores and services,while transit and pedestrian amenities stimulate “Main Street”business and residential development nearby.We are still growing – the region is expected to add anotherseven million residents by 2035. The new arrivals are membersof our own growing families and those attracted by the strongregional economy and we can expect this growth regardless ofthe land use decisions we make. However, by linking responsibleland use and transportation planning, we can accommodategrowth while maintaining the region’s mobility, livability,prosperity and sustainability.THE PLANSustainably planning for land use and housing in SouthernCalifornia will maximize the efficiency of the existing andplanned transportation network, provide the necessary amountand mix of housing for our growing population, enable adiverse and growing economy and protect important naturalresources.15