LAND USE

What Was Measured?
Two things were identified in this indicator. 1) The amount of acreage per capita for a range of land uses in 1990 including residential, mixed use, commercial, industrial, dedicated open space (in both urban and rural areas), educational, institutional and infrastructure (e.g. roads, airports). 2) The density of housing per residential acre, and the number of jobs per acre in the cities in 1990.  While many agencies produce updates on parts of this information, comprehensive updating usually occurs on a five-year or longer cycle.

Why Is This Important
A healthy and sustainable community is one that provides for all the community's needs-housing, business, services, light and heavy industry, agriculture, and open space for both recreation and native habitat. To accomplish this, a county must provide for a balance of land uses.

A balance in land use designations is one factor in encouraging a diverse economic base. Locating housing near jobs and transportation can also aid in reducing congestion, air and water pollution, and loss of personal time. Similarly, the county's natural resources, recreational opportunities, and quality of life can be protected through a land use plan that preserves the county's rural and open space areas.

Infill development-locating new housing, commercial services, and community amenities in existing urban areas-is recognized within current urban planning and sustainable community philosophies as a way to revitalize older cities and protect surrounding rural, agricultural, or open space lands.  This can be achieved by converting currently developed lands to other uses (e.g. heavy industrial to mixed use) or promoting increased density and mixed use proposals in redevelopment areas.

Finally, from a tong-term perspective, well planned conversion of land uses through the general plan process, as opposed to developer requested zoning changes, is best for a community striving for sustainability.

What Was Found?
The vast majority of urban land in the county is located in the northern and eastern parts of the county.  Most of this is located in cities (incorporated) though there are pockets of urban county (unincorporated) lands.  The boundaries of developed urban areas are fairly stable except for along the coast, where there is continuing pressure to expand.

What Is The Trend?
The county's land use can not be compared with other areas because of the marked difference in natural and man-made conditions.  A scrutiny of future development patterns will indicate if the county is moving towards sustainable land use practices.

Sources: San Mateo County Transportation Plan, Land Use Report, March 1994 (draft); At Risk, The Bay Area Greenbelt. Greenbelt Alliance 1994

Researcher: Julia Bott