The San Francisco Bay Plan contains the policies that the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) uses to determine whether permit applications can be approved for projects within the Commission’s jurisdiction, which consists of the Bay, salt ponds, managed wetlands, certain waterways and land within 100 feet of the Bay.  On October 6, 2011, the BCDC unanimously approved an amendment to the Plan to update the 22-year-old sea level rise findings and policies and more broadly address climate change adaptation.

The amended plan includes a new Climate Change section and revisions to four existing sections: Tidal Marshes and Tidal Flats, Safety of Fills, Protection of the Shoreline, and Public Access. Climate change provisions call for project based risk assessments that incorporate future sea level rise and a regional sea level rise adaptation strategy and encourage innovative sea level rise adaptation and habitat preservation and enhancement in undeveloped areas vulnerable to future flooding.

The Commission will continue to evaluate each project proposal on a case-by-case basis. However, the policies in the San Francisco Bay Plan that generally discourage building in shoreline areas that are vulnerable to current or future flooding have been modified with this amendment. The new policies encourage development in suitable low-lying areas provided that flood risks are addressed, and encourage habitat preservation and enhancement in suitable areas.

During the 26-month process of considering the Bay Plan climate change amendments, the Commission held 36 public hearings, workshops and stakeholder meetings; met with local governments; and extended the public comment period for several months. Throughout this process, BCDC’s staff revised and refined the amendments to respond to the ideas advanced by stakeholders, local governments and the general public. In the end, the amended policies were supported by the business community, developers, labor, environmental organizations and local government, and the Commission unanimously approved the amendments.

The original San Francisco Bay Plan was completed and adopted by the BCDC in 1968 and was transmitted to the California Legislature and the Governor in 1969.  Since then, the Bay Plan has been amended periodically and the BCDC continues to systematically review the Plan to keep it current. The date of the most recent amendment adopted by the Commission is printed at the end of any amended policy section.