Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept up to Three Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($310,000) in Senate Bill (SB) 2 Planning Grants Program Funds for Work on General Plan Updates, Zoning Ordinance Amendments, and Environmental Review Consistent with State Laws to Streamline Housing Production. (Planning, Building & Transportation 481005)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Adoption of this resolution would authorize the City Manager to submit an application for the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) grant funds available from the SB 2 (Building Homes and Jobs Act) Planning Grants Program and enter into a Standard Agreement with HCD to accept the grant funds. The City of Alameda (City) is currently eligible to receive over-the-counter, non-competitive grant funds of up to $310,000 to fund General Plan updates, Zoning Ordinance amendments, and environmental review work that is consistent with SB 2 criteria to streamline housing production. The grant funds will be used to reimburse the Planning and Building Fund for expenditures on the City Council-directed work program.
BACKGROUND
On April 16, 2019, the City Council endorsed an Annual Report on the Status of the General Plan and Housing Element and directed staff to proceed with:
* Streamlining the review process for housing development;
* Developing "objective design standards" to expedite design review of housing projects;
* Revising current policies, regulations, and fees to increase accessory dwellings, affordable and workforce housing, and affordable-by-design units; and
* Updating the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to increase climate change protection.
In 2019, HCD launched the Planning Grants Program under SB 2, which was part of a 15-bill housing package signed by former Governor Jerry Brown to address the state's housing shortage and high housing costs. Specifically, SB 2 established...
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