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Adopt a resolution to comply with State housing law in accordance with Metropolitan Transportation Commission requirements for One Bay Area Grant 3 Funding
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to comply with State housing law in accordance with Metropolitan Transportation Commission requirements for One Bay Area Grant 3 Funding.
SUMMARY:
The State of California passed numerous laws over the last decade to stimulate low- and medium-income housing production. The California Government Code requires local agencies comply with these changes which include surplus public land reporting, reduction in accessory dwelling unit local ordinance rules, and new opportunities for multi-family zoning and development. As part of the One Bay Area Grant 3 (OBAG 3) funding process, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requires that local agencies adopt a resolution (Attachment A) ensuring that a funded local agency complies with State housing law and is not in violation of the law.
The Solano360 Specific Plan for the Fairgrounds property includes plans and requirements for various transportation, transit, and parking improvements. In 2023, the Department of Resource Management (Department) was selected for a $2.1 million competitive federal grant award through the OBAG 3 program for the first phase of the Solano360 Mobility Hub. The Department of Resource Management needs to begin exercising the grant funds for preliminary engineering of the Mobility Hub but must first meet various regional, State, and federal funding requirements. In order to facilitate use of OBAG 3 federal grant funds, the Board must adopt the MTC resolution which is one of the last steps in the funding process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. The Department will exercise Transportation Development Act Article 4 and 8 funds, amongst a variety of other potential future grant funds, in order to fully fund the construction and local match requirements that are required for project delivery. Construction of the Mobility Hub using grant funds will only occur after all environmental and design portions are completed and will require a future action by the Board to recognize the grant funds.
DISCUSSION:
On December 11, 2012, the Board approved the Solano360 Specific Plan and certified the Environmental Impact Report for the phased redevelopment of the Fairgrounds property which includes plans for various transportation, transit, and parking improvements. The $2.1 million competitive federal grant award through the OBAG 3 program provides funding for the first phase of the Solano360 Mobility Hub. The Mobility Hub improvements include a new parking area, electric vehicle charging stations, pedestrian sidewalks, landscaping/lighting, bike lanes, and a transit stop near the northern portion of the Fairgrounds property. The Mobility Hub anticipates including a parking structure in a future phase once other portions of the Solano360 Specific Plan are developed.
As the Bay Area regional transportation planning agency, MTC can add requirements for agencies that receive regional discretionary federal grant funds. MTC has supplemented the federal funding rules by requiring local agency commitments to Complete Streets for pedestrians and cyclists, transit investments, timely grant fund delivery, State code compliance, and affordable housing numbers. The MTC resolution for the Board’s consideration requires Solano County comply with State laws regarding the Surplus Land Act, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), density bonus requirements for multi-family development, and asserts there are no alleged violations of State housing laws. Solano County remains compliant with the Surplus Land Act through notice and sale of property and does not have any known violations of State housing law.
Over the last few years, the California Government Code has been amended multiple times to incentivize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Generally, the amendments are intended to encourage the development of ADUs in cities and counties to provide additional affordable housing units. The amendments are often intended to remove or minimize development constraints and restrictions, such as property line setbacks, square footage limitations, or building permit fees and permitting timelines. Solano County follows the variety of ADU code changes.
The State’s density bonus law requires the County provide a density bonus beyond what current zoning may allow for multi-family development that meets certain criteria. The criteria include providing a specific percentage of very low-, low- or moderate-income housing units and requiring that the labor force meet prevailing wage requirements. Solano County follows the density bonus law.
With the Board’s adoption, the Department will submit the resolution to MTC and obligate the OBAG 3 grant funds for Solano360 Mobility Hub Phase 1 preliminary engineering. Department staff will return to the Board to seek authorization for construction of the Mobility Hub Phase 1 project after design is complete.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to not adopt the resolution; however, this is not recommended because development of the Mobility Hub, as part of the Solano360 Specific Plan, is facilitated through this process.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Department staff solicited input from Solano Transportation Authority, City of Vallejo, SolTrans, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION