8E Consent 2019 0916 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

File Number: 19-492 SB 2 Planning Grants Program: On March 28, 2019, HCD released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for approximately $123 million in revenue earmarked for local government planning grants. Under this grant program, local governments are provided an eligibility allowance based on community population. The City of San Leandro falls within the “medium localities” category, which is eligible for up to $310,000 in grant funding. The purpose of the Planning Grants Program is to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments to update planning documents to: • Accelerate housing production; • Streamline the approval of housing development; • Facilitate housing affordability; • Promote the development of housing; and • Ensure geographic equity in the distribution and expenditure of allocated funds. Details on the SB 2 Planning Grants Program can be found on the HCD website here <http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/planning-grants.shtml>. The administration of this Planning Grant Program is governed by guidelines provided by HCD, which can be located here <http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/planning-grants/docs/SB2-Planning-Grant-G uidlines.pdf> and are also attached. A summary of the guidelines is as follows: • The call for applications for grant funding is open through November 30, 2019; • HCD anticipates that the timeframe for awarding the grant is approximately two to three months from the date of application filing; • Activities eligible for the grant funds include, among others: a) updates to General Plans and Zoning Ordinances to promote or accelerate housing production; b) environmental analyses that eliminate the need for project review; c) local improvements to the permit process to expedite local planning review; d) establishing and implementing special districts and zones such as a workforce housing opportunity zone; and e) rezoning for “by-right” supportive housing, for special needs populations and for multi-family housing in high resource areas; and • To be eligible for grant funds, the local government agency must: a) have a certified and compliant Housing Element; b) have completed the required Annual Progress Report (APR) on the Housing Element and submitted the APR to HCD; and c) demonstrate that the project will support a nexus to accelerate housing production. The program guidelines require that the grant request be accompanied by an adopted City Council resolution, which endorses the request. Analysis The Planning Grants Program provides an opportunity and funding for the City of San Leandro to evaluate the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance and develop objective design and development standards. In 2017, Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) was signed by the Governor, establishing a mandated, ministerial Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/11/2019 41