Over the past thirty years, California's growth pattern has consumed tremendous quantities of land for sprawling low-density development. The Central Valley, the nation's most productive and prolific agricultural region, will be threatened if current sprawling land-use patterns continue. Already, more than 12 percent of the Valley's farmland has been paved over. If this pattern of low-density sprawl continues, the Valley will lose more than one million acres of farmland by the year 2040, much of it on the best soil for growing crops. In the meantime, a significant portion of the California economy stands at risk.
Agriculture is California's number one industry.
Similar development in other metropolitan areas has spawned a massive increase in vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled by the public, and caused significant environmental harm. Overall vmt in the state is projected to nearly double to 488 billion in the next two decades. Based on these disturbing facts, there is a growing concern that the traditional means of accommodating growth in California's population is in need of serious reform.