A map of properties identified by local governments for potential housing development has been released by California officials.
The new Housing and Local Land Development Opportunity Map allows developers to view all sites identified by cities and counties for housing through their housing elements, as well as locally owned surplus and excess land, which may be subject to affordable housing requirements when disposed of through the Surplus Land Act.
Further, the map allows these sites to be overlaid with key datasets, including the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Tax Credit Allocation Committee opportunity maps to assist them in applying for state affordable housing funding sources and accessing streamlined benefits, said state leaders.
The Department of General Services (DGS), in partnership with HCD, released the interactive map.
At this time, there are housing element sites for 226 jurisdictions and locally owned surplus and excess sites for 87 jurisdictions on the map.
“We are excited to work with our state and local government partners to provide this new mapping tool to help developers identify local government-owned sites for affordable housing, and ensure the many sites identified through our robust housing element process are easier to find and acquire,” said HCD director Gustavo Velasquez. “Tools like this are part of our larger strategy to accelerate affordable housing production, to meet the goals California has laid out in its Statewide Housing Plan for more than 1 million affordable homes and 2.5 million homes total by 2030.”
According to state officials, developers have started to acquire sites from local agencies through the Surplus Land Act and, as of Jan. 24, are expected to develop 7,778 homes, including 5,627 affordable homes on acquired sites, in the coming years.
HCD is also hosting a webinar Feb. 24 to introduce this tool.
The map was created as a result of Senate Bill 6 by former Sen. Jim Beall and Assembly Bill 1255 by Assembly member Robert Rivas in 2019.
