Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

I. H. A TRAVEZ DE LA FRONTERA:LAND USE VISIONING 17Funders Highlighted:International Community FoundationThe San Diego Foundation“Las Californias and Los Laureles Canyon areboth examples of smart growth challenges inbinational settings.”— Richard Kiy, International CommunityFoundationCollaboration across borders between the UnitedStates and Mexico is not always easy. Cross-bordercollaboration on issues that affect both sides, such aswater pollution, environmentally and ecologicallysensitive areas, and rapid housing developments canbe even tougher. But with hard work anddetermination, cross-border collaboration is possible.This profile demonstrates how a foundation has beenable to address the concerns of rapidly growing,poorly planned communities on both sides of theU.S./Mexico border.Project ProfileRecognized as the fastest growing urban areas in theUnited States and Mexico, respectively, the San Diegoand Tijuana metropolitan areas are showing signs ofunmanaged urban sprawl spreading into land reservedfor protected wildlife.With a combinedRecognized as the fastestpopulation of fourgrowing urban areas in themillion, the growthUnited States and Mexico, threatens therespectively, the San Diego biological integrity ofand Tijuana metropolitan the open spaceareas are showing signs of triangle betweenunmanaged urban sprawl Tijuana, Bajaspreading into land reserved California, Mexico,for protected wildlife. Tecate, BajaCalifornia, Mexico,and San Diego, Calif.,as well as the quality of life for residents in Los LaurelesCanyon, an urban canyon in western Tijuana thatdrains into the Tijuana estuary, a wetland ofinternational importance on the U.S. side.The two projects described in this profile addressdifferent types of smart growth challenges. The LasCalifornias Binational Conservation Initiative focuseson the area between San Diego, Tijuana, and Tecate,which is becoming rapidly urbanized, with boomingpopulation growth and little zoning and land useplanning at the municipal level. “If growth continuesat its current pace (12-acres per day), there will be a48-mile urban barrier between public lands that areunder conservation management on the U.S. side(39,527 acres) and intact ecosystems on the Mexicanside,” according to Anne McEnany, director ofsustainable communities at InternationalCommunity Foundation (ICF).A view of sprawling development in the Los Laureles Canyon from the U.S.side. (Source: International Community Foundation).Meanwhile, in the urban canyons of Tijuana,including Los Laureles Canyon, erosion andpollution problems have gotten worse as explosivepopulation growth in Tijuana has left many withoutaffordable housing. To find shelter, people areillegally moving onto Mexican federal lands in LosLaureles Canyon, where they dig into the steep sidesof the gorge and build homes out of found materials,17Loosely translated, “Blurred Borders: Land Use Visioning.”EQUITABLE PUBLIC INVESTMENTPart III: Section 1: Promoting Equitable Public Investment 48