Planning Department seeks up to $800,000 in PDA grant to support housing element rezoning work

Planning Department staff reported March 16 that the city submitted a Priority Development Area (PDA) planning grant application to MTC/ABAG in late February seeking $800,000 of a maximum $1,200,000 eligible award to support rezoning and the housing element work program.

Staff said the grant would fund outreach, feasibility analysis, public engagement workshops, consultant visualizations and additional modeling required by the state (HCD). Joshua Schwietzke told commissioners the PDA designation overlaps substantially with the city’s well‑resourced neighborhoods and that the grant would help the department meet mayoral timelines for housing element implementation.

When asked about timing, staff estimated awards would be made by early to mid summer and funds available by fall; staff further offered to circulate the grant application to commissioners on request.

The department noted that MTC/ABAG typically requires a companion resolution unless the proposal is called out in a certified housing element and an adopted work program, in which case a resolution is not required. Staff said the grant application fits that exception but the Commission must be formally aware of the submission on the record.