[mc32]

They have similar mechanisms in place, but this is more understandable because SM is composed mostly of small cities (under 100k inh), so any new development must take into account traffic impact and offer some way to mitigate that or in some way address the foreseen impact. In addition, each municipality (town, whatever) has relics of 1950s height restrictions reflective of their town sizes.

It does not help that back in the planning phases of BaRT, San Mateo co. in the late 1950s, opted out of the system. Now they are plagued by a mediocre public transit system and they're in a catch-22. They don't have the density to sustain a working public transit system, so one does not get built and they don't allow higher densities due to the adverse effects on traffic. Eventually BaRT will reach San Jose, via the East Bay.... the idiocy.

I think if SJ plays its cards right, it could take away the clout back from SF. Back in the 80-90s (the hardware days) SJ (the 237 triangle) was more or less the 'capital' of SV (as the peninsula was more amorphous and one could not annoint P.A. or Sunnyvale the capital of SV, for example)