The city of San Diego was one of six cities in California to earn the state's Prohousing Designation, a recognition for committing to policies and practices that will help remove barriers to housing production.
On Thursday, San Diego -- along with Citrus Heights, Fontana, Oakland, Roseville and West Sacramento -- joined Sacramento in the designation. The California Department of Housing and Community Development also announced the launch of the Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program to reward Prohousing cities.
"These communities have stepped up to implement policies that aggressively eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and drive the growth of housing throughout the state," said Gov. Gavin Newsom. "This is one of many innovative approaches the state is taking to create greater accountability and reward municipalities willing to do their part to help collectively tackle the need for more housing.
San Diego News
Get San Diego local news, weather forecasts, sports and lifestyle stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC San Diego newsletters.
"This is the right approach and I look forward to seeing more communities join in this effort," he said.
Newsom's fiscal year 2019-2020 budget established the Prohousing Designation Program as part of a spectrum of support, incentives and accountability measures intended to help meet California's housing goals. The designation provides incentives to cities and counties in the form of "additional points and/or other preference in the scoring of competitive housing, community development and infrastructure funding programs administered by HCD," a statement from the state reads.
San Diego-specific actions include: updating community plans to provide zoned capacity in the city for more than 98,000 additional housing units, creating the affordable ADU Bonus program, waiving density limitations and allowing for a floor area ratio-based density bonus for development that provides affordable housing and infrastructure amenities.
"Housing is the solution to homelessness, a key strategy for climate action and a path to economic opportunity for all -- and we're doing everything we can at the city of San Diego to build more homes at prices our residents can afford," Mayor Todd Gloria said. "By passing prohousing policies at the local level and leveraging new tools and funding provided by the governor and the Legislature, we will continue to build more homes, so everyone has a stable place to live."
Cities which have earned the designation are also eligible for community development resources through the PIP Program. The competitive program offers $25.7 million in additional funding to Prohousing cities to help accelerate housing production and preservation.
The Prohousing Designation is awarded when a jurisdiction submits an application with local policies that reduce barriers to housing production. Jurisdictions must receive a minimum score of 30 on the application.
Cities and counties that receive the designation must demonstrate they are promoting "climate-smart" housing in a variety of ways.
"Prohousing cities demonstrate they are ready and willing to be part of the statewide housing solution to getting at least 2.5 million new homes by 2030, by eliminating many of the barriers to building affordable housing near daily destinations," said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. "As promised, the state is ready and willing to award grants to Prohousing cities with the new Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program, to help get smart planning over the finish line."
