Bill Fulton to Head new SD Planning Department (San Diego, Nice: 2013, neighborhoods)

[sschibuola]

Four Things to Know About San Diego’s New Planning Director | Voice of San Diego


I don't know him very well, but had the chance to work with him on a couple of projects when he had his own consulting firm in between public-sector assignments. As the article says he is the real-deal when it comes to Smart Growth, Transit Oriented Development and all that New Urbanism stuff. If you believe in that stuff (and I do), it's a good move for SD.

[earlyretirement]

That's great sschibuola! I always love that feeling when someone you personally know or met and had a good feeling makes it into a position where they can make a difference. Excellent!

[Think4Yourself]

I don't know anything about him. Is he a developer stooge like all the previous planning heads?

[sschibuola]

Originally Posted by Think4Yourself

I don't know anything about him. Is he a developer stooge like all the previous planning heads?

Mmmmm . . . that's actually a bit of a nuanced question. As an advocate of Smart Growth, he would, all other things being equal, tend to favor higher density infill development in the existing urban area to lower-density development on the fringes. All other things being equal, developers always want more density. So in that way he might be considered as allied with developers.

But in the sense I think you mean . . . no - that's not my impression of the man. I believe that's also why Filner's is splitting up "Planning" from the "Development Services" department . . . which were previously one department.

[sdhkshdcny09]

Originally Posted by sschibuola

Mmmmm . . . that's actually a bit of a nuanced question. As an advocate of Smart Growth, he would, all other things being equal, tend to favor higher density infill development in the existing urban area to lower-density development on the fringes. All other things being equal, developers always want more density. So in that way he might be considered as allied with developers.

That's good to hear, considering there's hardly any large, developable land on the fringe anyways...

Higher density could really transform San Diego into an awesome city.

[sav858]

Good for San Diego, I hope he is able to guide some good planning and development in the city. Hopefully they can get their City of Villages plan or some other Smart Growth plans going. I actually still have one of his books from college, "The Reluctant Metroplolis", about LA.

Now if only SANDAG could get rid of their Executive Director Gary Gallegos with someone more transit oriented.

[kettlepot]

I only know Bill Fulton from the news articles, but what I have read is very encouraging. However, higher density is all about the details. To take it to the extreme, Huffmans were higher density development - a bad idea poorly executed which left a bad taste towards density in older neighborhoods which persists to this day. I believe Bill Fulton will see to the details.

If I hear or see anything different, I'll keep you posted.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Thanks for sharing sschibuola!

Based on the reputation he doesn't appear to be someone that would just slap buildings around the downtown with little regard to bigger picture planning.

I have always admired planners after seeing the realities of the many obstacles there can be.

This sounds like good news for urban SD to me.

[sdurbanite]

Some good stuff happening in SD these days! Removal of parking from the center of Balboa Park, a bike share program in the works, adding bike lanes, Padres playing well (LOL!)etc.

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

Some good stuff happening in SD these days! Removal of parking from the center of Balboa Park, a bike share program in the works, adding bike lanes, Padres playing well (LOL!)etc.

I totally agree. Nice changes. Plus it's nice to see some new and good restaurants being built up here in North County. Now I don't always have to go down in your neck of the woods all the time sdurbanite.