Policy & Legislation
Committee Mulls Best Use of Planning Dollars
How should the state spend $90 million from Proposition 84, broadly designated for "planning grants and planning incentives?" Give funds to communities that build affordable homes? Reward "good actors" who are ahead of the planning curve? Assist cities that have not updated their General Plans?
Advocates for cities, the environment, and nonprofit and for-profit developers shared these ideas and more at a hearing of the Assembly Local Government Committee on March 14, 2007. HCA's Julie Snyder urged the committee to ensure any planning documents funded with the money -- e.g. General Plans and Specific Plans -- clearly result in land availability and policies that promote affordable-home development.
Committee chair Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, plans to amend her AB 1253 to direct spending of the funds. Senate Local Government Committee Chair Gloria Negrete McLeod outlines her ideas for the funds in SB 167. Legislative leaders have not yet indicated whether these bills -- or others -- will serve as the vehicles for allocating the funds.
Contact: Julie Snyder, (916) 447-0503 x 108 or jsnyder@housingca.org.
