Policy & Legislation
Infill Program Public Meetings Reveal Disparate Opinions
Lively October and November 2007 stakeholder meetings on the largest of Prop. 1C's programs presented the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) with often-conflicting program design ideas. The meetings were the first public step in developing guidelines for the new $850 million Infill Incentive Grant Program.
Major issues discussed at the Sacramento meeting on November 2, 2007, included:
- What infrastructure should be eligible for funding -- offsite items such as roads and parks? Onsite infrastructure such as parking and sewer connections? Development impact fees?
- How can HCD measure whether the infrastructure is "integral" to a development's financial feasibility, as required by the law?
- What criteria should the department use to determine loan amounts -- number of homes, affordability levels, density?
- What weight should be given to affordability in the ranking criteria?
Similar issues arose at the five other meetings held around the state.
The department plans to issue draft guidelines for public comment in late November 2007. Housing California will continue to be heavily involved in commenting and lobbying on the program's design.
This year, the legislature gave HCD authority to spend $300 million of the $850 million and passed the implementing legislation, SB 86.
Of the $300 million, $60 million will be awarded for brownfields clean-up through the state treasurer’s CalReUSE Program. HCD will award the remaining $240 million.
For more information on the program, see our previous article or visit HCD's website.
Contact Julie Snyder, (916) 447-0503 x 102 or .
