Housing

7th Cycle RHNA Timeline

SCAG is currently beginning work on the 7th RHNA cycle, which will cover the planning period from October 2029 through October 2037*.

Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program of 2019 

With an allocation of $47 million in Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) funding  from the state in 2019, SCAG implemented a robust technical assistance and funding program focused on accelerating housing production by providing resources to local jurisdictions, subregional partners, and community-based organizations.

The program focused on implementing Connect So Cal 2020 and supporting cities and counties in developing their 6th RHNA Cycle housing elements, along with land use plans, policies, and other programs to support meeting their housing goals. The REAP 1 program funded a range of adopted land use plans, development streamlining tools, financing strategies, and planning strategies to identify best practices that can be scaled across the region. Best practices and case studies can be found in the resource library.

Full REAP Project List

• REAP 1.0 County Investment Profiles
• REAP Brochure

SB 79 Frequently Asked Questions: SCAG Mapping Requirements

Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) establishes statewide standards to streamline housing development near transit by defining and mapping transit-oriented development (TOD) zones and stops. SB 79 aims to accelerate transit-oriented housing production by making qualifying projects an allowed use on sites zoned for residential, mixed-use, or commercial development if the project meets applicable requirements. 

The legislation requires metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), like SCAG, to develop and maintain a map identifying and classifying Tier 1 and Tier 2 TOD zones around major transit stops. The statute provides that the MPO map should be prepared in accordance with the guidance prepared by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD provided the SB 79 Advisory Clarifications on Definitions (HCD Clarifications) on March 20, 2026, and issued additional clarifications via a letter to SCAG on June 25, 2026. The statute and the HCD Clarifications informed the SCAG SB 79 Approach and Methodology that was approved by the Regional Council on July 2, 2026. 

How Do I Determine Whether My Jurisdiction Contains SB 79-eligible Tod Stops And Zones?

Step 1: Are you an urban transit county? 

The first step in assessing SB 79 eligibility is to identify eligible urban transit counties. The statute defines urban transit counties as a county with more than 15 passenger rail stations. As of July 1, 2026, Los Angeles County is the only urban transit county in the SCAG region. Orange County will become an urban transit county when the OC Streetcar opens for revenue service. 

Step 2: Do my stations meet the definition of a TOD stop and does the transit service type and level of frequency qualify as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 station? 

Being an urban transit county does not mean that SB 79 applies to every transit stop. SB 79 applicability is determined by the transit service type and level of frequency. To qualify as a Tier 1 station, a major transit stop must be served by heavy rail or by very high-frequency commuter rail (72 daily trains across both directions). 

To qualify as a Tier 2 station, a major transit stop must be served by light rail, high frequency commuter rail (48 daily trains across both directions), or bus service meeting the standards of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21060.2 of the Public Resources Code. 

Considerations for planned projects are addressed under the “How are future or planned services treated?“ question.

How Are Bus Stops Evaluated As Tod Stops/Tier 2 Stations Under SB 79?

SB 79 eligible bus service must first qualify as a major transit stop and eligible bus service includes: 

• Bus rapid transit, OR
• The intersection of two major bus routes with a frequency of service of at least 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak hour periods
• Additionally, SB 79 establishes more stringent criteria for eligible bus service which includes the requirement of:
  • A full-time dedicated lane and
  • Frequency of service of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak periods

How Is “A Service” Defined When Calculating Frequency For Commuter Rail?

Commuter rail service is calculated at the station level and must account for service over the last three years. 

The HCD Clarifications state, “In assessing whether a station meets this threshold, frequency is based on the total number of trains serving the station, including trains operated by multiple commuter rail services where applicable. This approach reflects the overall level of transit access and frequency experienced by riders at a given stop.”   

The SCAG map reflects HCD’s clarifications by accounting for multiple rail services serving the same station. 

How Are Future Or Planned Services Treated?

Based on the statute and HCD Clarifications issued on March 20, 2026, and June 25, 2026, eligible planned transit projects are mapped when they meet the following conditions: 

• Projects with construction funding in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program
• Projects with a locally preferred alternative as part of the environmental process

Additionally, when a new transit route or extension is planned that was not identified in the applicable regional transportation plan on or before January 1, 2026, those stops shall not be eligible as transit-oriented development stops unless they would be eligible as Tier 1 transit-oriented development stops. If a county becomes an urban transit county subsequent to July 1, 2026, then bus service in that county shall remain ineligible for designation of a transit-oriented development stop.

How Are Pedestrian Access Points Defined And Mapped?

A pedestrian access point is any applicable station entrance, boarding platform access point, or location of a transit stop as defined and depicted on the applicable MPO SB 79 map. 

SCAG utilized general transit feed specification (GTFS) data, when available, to map pedestrian access points for bus, commuter rail, and light and heavy rail stops. However, for light and heavy rail stations, GTFS data points are typically represented by a ‘0’ which represents the station location/the platform and a ‘2’ which represents access points to a station including but not limited to elevators, escalators, and stairs. 

When both a ‘0’ (station/platform) and ‘2’ (access points) are available, SCAG utilizes the ‘2’ point. However, when a ‘0’ is the only point available for planned projects, SCAG will utilize this information except for circumstances when a project is operational or when a planned project has construction drawings with sufficient level of detail as identified by the transit operator. In these circumstances, SCAG will work with the transit operator to identify and map the pedestrian access points and provide the corresponding latitude and longitude coordinates for inclusion in future GTFS publications. 

For planned projects with federal transportation improvement program funding and a locally preferred alternative, the pedestrian access points for these projects will be developed in close coordination with the transit operator and will include either the center point of the platform or the nearest street intersection, based on data availability, with the goal of siting them as close to the future station as possible. 

Given the complexity and time required for manual mapping, additional refinements to stops that are currently mapped and the addition of planned projects without available GTFS data will be incorporated into a future map update after July 1, 2026.

What Is Included In The SB 79 Stops, Zones, And Tiers Map? 

The map includes applicable TOD stops by tier and the associated TOD zones. Zones are identified using 200-foot, quarter-mile, and half-mile distances measured from the pedestrian access points. The map also displays the SCAG region, county, and city boundaries for reference. 

The SB 79 statute includes provisions that a radius beyond the quarter mile does not apply to cities with less than 35,000 people. Accordingly, the SCAG region SB 79 map will only include the 200-foot buffer and the quarter-mile buffer for cities that have a population under 35,000.

Are Tod Zones Measured From The Station Center Or Pedestrian Access Point?

Zone boundaries are identified using the distance from the pedestrian access points.

How Does SB 79 Apply If A County Becomes An “Urban Transit County” After The Bill’s Implementation Date? 

Once a county exceeds the 15 operational passenger rail station minimum to qualify as an urban transit county after the July 1, 2026, effective date, SCAG will proceed with only evaluating the rail services in that county because bus service in that county will remain ineligible for designation of a transit-oriented development stop. If the rail stations meet the statutory definitions for qualifying heavy/light/commuter rail services, then the rail stations will be included in the TOD stops, zones and tiers map developed by SCAG. As noted under the “How often will maps be updated?” question, SCAG will update the region’s SB 79 map when a new county becomes an urban transit county.

What Are The Differences In The MPO’s Role Versus HCD’s Role In SB 79 Implementation? 

    HCD sets statewide guidance and interpretive standards and oversees compliance. 

• MPOs, like SCAG, are required to develop the SB 79 map of TOD stops and zones for their region, based on the statute and HCD clarifications.
• Local jurisdictions are responsible for SB 79 implementation at the local level. 

Where Should I Send Questions About SB 79 Implementation? 

Questions about SB 79 implementation including but not limited to TOD alternative plans, how to treat historic properties, capacity analysis, and the California Environmental Quality Act should be directed to the HCD. Questions and contact information should be submitted to the HCD portal, and the HCD staff will follow up. 

How Often Will Maps Be Updated? 

SCAG will update the SB 79 map when a new county becomes an urban transit county and on an annual basis. SCAG is in the process of developing an approach and timeline for annual map updates. 

Who At SCAG Should Jurisdictions Contact With Questions About The SB 79 Map? 

Questions about the SB 79 map can be submitted via email to sb79@scag.ca.gov. 

Case Study Library

REAP 1.0 Project Case Studies

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Transit-Oriented Development Partnership (SCAG Program)

Project Amount: $273,690

SCAG and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) created a partnership to fund a three-part program promoting housing production near Metro transit stations. Each part accelerates housing delivery and includes evaluating station access, parking strategies, joint development strategies, housing-supportive community outreach, and industry forums. The goal of the partnership is to plan for nearly 10,000 housing units on transit-adjacent properties.

Housing Impact

This work resulted in the successful completion of three Metro projects: a Joint Development Strategy, a Community Collaboration for Equitable Housing Acceleration plan, and Innovative Housing Solutions strategy, all of which are complimentary and bring Metro to achieving its goal of facilitating the development of 10,000 housing units by 2030.

Regional Value

In October 2021, Metro adopted an aggressive goal for the Joint Development Program to complete 10,000 housing units, at least 5,000 of which will be income-restricted, in the next 10 years. The Metro Transit-Oriented Development Partnership project developed robust, strategic plans to accelerate the delivery of units as sites become available for development, creating a meaningful difference in the regional housing crisis.

Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts Projects (Housing and Sustainable Development)

Project Amount: $1,280,000

SCAG-funded projects to implement tax increment financing districts, including enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EIFDs), across the region to housing production. Specifically, these projects call for products or programs tied to accelerating housing production and community needs that can be best practices for cities in the region and provide reliable funding sources.

Housing Impact

SCAG funded seven EIFD studies across the region, with potential to capture approximately $3.1 billion to fund housing production, public facilities, infrastructure, parks, and economic development efforts. To date, the cities of Covina and Yucaipa have successfully developed EIFDs. Covina has an estimated lifetime value of $27 million and has identified six potential projects for funding. Yucaipa has an estimated value of up to $32.9 million over the district’s lifetime and has identified six potential projects for funding.

Regional Value

EIFDs can play a critical role in shaping the future of regional infrastructure and economic development. EIFDs foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including local governments, developers, and community groups, which can lead to more comprehensive planning and implementation of regional projects, such as affordable housing. These projects pursued a longer-term housing production strategy by creating ways to fund housing production and related infrastructure.

Objective Development Standards (Housing and Sustainable Development)

Project Amount: $1,221,456

The Objective Development Standards project supported the cities of Montebello, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, and South Pasadena with objective development standards and streamlined entitlement and permitting processes to accelerate multi-family residential and mixed-use development.

Housing Impact

The project resulted in the development of 13 custom zone standards, four permit application improvements, and 40 process improvement tools. This was accomplished by analyzing existing policy documents, development standards and regulations, and permit procedures identifying areas to streamline the permit process, simplifying and consolidating permit application forms, and clarifying existing or new development standards. Recommendations were shared with cities to help appropriately calibrate them to meet the cities’ needs.

Regional Value

The Objective Design Standards project provided technical assistance to jurisdictions to streamline their residential permitting processes. These projects resulted in adopted ordinances for participating cities, which are expected to reduce uncertainty and permitting time for housing permits.

Project 1 Bundle	Project 2 Bundle
City of Montebello	City of Grand Terrace
City of Sante Fe Springs	City of Newport Beach
City of Santa Monica	City of Westminster
City of South Pasadena	City of Coachella

Call for Collaboration

Project Amount: $1,000,000

SCAG partnered with the California Community Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to combine SCAG’s $1 million contribution of Regional Early Action Planning funds with matching funds. The Call for Collaboration was the first of its kind at SCAG, partnering with philanthropic organizations to fund nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals. The program funded several grants for nonprofit organizations to increase community involvement in local planning and housing initiatives, fostering diverse community-driven activities to create more housing in communities facing historic racial inequities. 

Housing Impact

The program was oversubscribed four times, issuing $1.3 million in grant awards to 15 nonprofits. Projects varied but mostly focused on housing elements, overlay zones, land trusts, local control, and community benefit agreements. Overall, the program created community engagement, reaching 16,670 participants at convenings, workshops, advisory councils, focus groups, and other public events. The project also engaged with more than 100 city planners and city representatives.

Regional Value

Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)	Los Angeles County	Orange County	Ventura County
Lift to Rise
Inland Empire Community Land Trust	LA Forward	People for Housing Orange County	Central Coastal Alliance United for Sustainable Economy (CAUSE)
Neighborhood Housing Series of the Inland Empire	Long Beach Forward	THRIVE Santa Ana
Just San Bernardino	Social Justice Learning Institute
Inland Equity Community Land Trust	LA Voice

Housing Policy Leadership Academy

Project Amount: $815,823 

The Housing Policy Leadership Academy (HPLA) offered a 10-month educational and training program across eight cohorts to explore how different policy solutions shape the physical and social landscape, to influence the capacity to produce housing for all, and to study how to proactively accelerate housing production. The online training course gathered local leaders in monthly sessions to explore the relationship between policy, planning, and housing development. The HPLA program was funded by the state’s Regional Early Action Planning grant program of 2019 and supports the region’s efforts to accelerate housing production and meet Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals.

Housing Impact

A total of 154 participants completed the program. Graduates include 18 mayors and city council members, seven policy advisors, six planning commissioners, and 23 planning and housing department professionals. Participants of the academy represented 34 jurisdictions across the SCAG region.  

All participants concluded their work with a research project and policy proposal. Some members noted plans to continue working on the initiatives they started in class and seek stakeholder support, local approvals, and funding to implement the policy recommendations. Popular proposal topics included creating accessory dwelling unit incentives, building community ownership through community land trusts, and incorporating overlay zones to build more affordable housing. Notable proposals moving forward include a plan to re-zone a publicly owned courthouse parking lot in the San Fernando Valley for affordable housing, establish the Coachella Valley Community Land Trust, develop a limited equity housing cooperative in Santa Ana, and establish an overlay zone that would allow faith institutions to develop their land for affordable housing in Fullerton.  

Regional Value

By building a coalition of informed advocates, this initiative strengthens local housing efforts and enhances collaboration between communities and state agencies to address the growing demand for housing solutions. This program was widely successful, recognized by the National Association of Regional Councils, and replicated by the San Diego Association of Governments. 

SCAG Regional Rail Station Area Housing Analysis

Project Amount: $717,444

The SCAG Regional Rail Station Area Housing Analysis supported efforts across the region to accelerate housing production at all income levels at or near regional rail stations (e.g., Metrolink). More specifically, the analysis stimulated residential development in select station areas with the most development potential by systematically identifying opportunity areas, coordinating with local jurisdictions, and implementing actions that will drive the production of housing and housing-supportive infrastructure. 

This project consisted of four phases: completing a system-wide scan of housing potential near regional rail stations, identifying station areas with higher housing potential, working with nine jurisdictions to develop individualized work plans, and preparing housing implementation strategies for all nine jurisdictions. 

The nine jurisdictions that volunteered to participate in this study:

Buena Park	Corona	San Bernardino/Omnitrans
Oxnard	Riverside	Pomona
Rancho Cucamonga	Laguana Niguel	Fullerton

Housing Impact

Work efforts for each of the nine projects included helping jurisdictions identify sites and parcels for Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocations, analyzing existing zoning and specific plans, and identifying zoning code modifications necessary to attract housing development. The participating cities received an implementation strategy including, but not limited to: 

A station market.	Targeted performance strategies setting up transparent reporting for housing production in the station area.
Tailored land use strategies.	Assistance in implementing the state's newest housing laws.
Tailored finance and infrastructure strategies.	Station area visualization.

Regional Value

Transit-oriented development projects are crucial for housing growth because they promote the efficient use of land, reduce dependency on cars, and foster more environmentally friendly and economically efficient communities. This project helped maximize opportunities for station area housing production and identify common themes and challenges for station area housing production.

Gateway Housing Trust Fund (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $464,238

The Gateway Housing Trust Fund increases local production of affordable housing by contributing to available funding for affordable housing and leveraging available matching funds. The project completed the requisite feasibility study and established the Gateway Cities Affordable Housing Trust in February 2023.

Housing Impact

The Gateway Cities Affordable Housing Trust was formed in February 2023 with the majority of Gateway Cities joining, the formation of the Trust Board, the acquisition of seed funding, and an initial funding award to a development of 32 extremely low-income units. The trust issued a second notice of funding available in February 2024 and received 10 applications for just over $18 million in funding—over three times the amount available—which demonstrated the demand for the funding.

Regional Value

Housing trust funds provide powerful tools to align financial resources with the goal of sustainable, long-term housing growth. This project is a model for many subregions to create incentives and accelerate housing production.

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Redevelopment of Commercial Parcels 
to Sustainable Housing – South Bay Cities (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $308,250

This project identified potentially underutilized or underperforming commercial properties—strip arterials, regional malls, office buildings, and industrial parks—as candidates for redevelopment into housing. The project’s goal was to identify such properties to accelerate housing development conversion amid commercial vacancies and declining commercial presence. 

Housing Impact

This project included evaluation of 11 sites across six cities for commercial-to-residential conversion suitability, identifying five key considerations for commercial-to-residential conversions. The project increased guidance for redeveloping underperforming retail developments and other outmoded non-residential uses, prioritizing infill and redevelopment of underutilized land to accommodate new growth, increase amenities, and bolster connectivity in existing neighborhoods. The project also created a tool to effectively prioritize redevelopment locations that maximize walking as a mode of transportation.

Regional Value

This model project can be used as a best practice to address housing shortages, revitalize underutilized areas, promote sustainable land use, reduce vacant properties, increase housing affordability, and support walkable, mixed-use communities.

Imperial County Colonias Housing Infrastructure Needs Assessment (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $293,193

The unincorporated colonias are rural, low-income communities located along the U.S.-Mexico border lacking infrastructure and housing. Nine of 15 colonias in Imperial County are in unincorporated areas of the county. The Imperial County Colonias Housing Infrastructure Needs Assessment identified and prioritized infrastructure needed to increase housing stock in the unincorporated colonias of Imperial County, such as sidewalks, curbs and gutters, stormwater systems, and more. In these rural communities, the lack of infrastructure created a significant challenge to developing affordable housing.

Housing Impact

This assessment of current infrastructure and the analysis of needed improvements benefited current and future housing projects across several colonias communities by identifying and addressing foundational infrastructure needs. The project outlined 24 critical infrastructure improvements, with detailed housing and infrastructure needs assessments for each of the 15 colonias communities.

Regional Value

Supporting housing in the Imperial Colonias provides significant social, economic, and environmental benefits, addressing longstanding challenges in these underserved communities. By investing in housing solutions in the Imperial Colonias, SCAG addressed systemic issues, uplifted communities, and promoted long-term sustainability.

Affordable Housing Catalyst Fund Investment Plan – Coachella Valley (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $283,550

The Affordable Housing Catalyst Fund project is part of the housing action plan created by Lift to Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing affordable housing in the Coachella Valley. The project identified funding opportunities for affordable housing development throughout the Coachella Valley, especially for projects that would be otherwise difficult to finance.

Housing Impact

The project provided operational funding for the development and execution of pre-development loans for housing construction throughout the Coachella Valley Association of Governments subregion. In total, the fund helped finance nine separate projects, creating 691 new housing units.

Regional Value

Catalyst funds are useful tools that can cycle available funding to projects at all phases of development, but especially those that are still working through the planning and entitlement phase. This project benefited members of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments community by identifying funding opportunities for affordable housing development and providing a new funding opportunity for development.

Digital Utility Data Inventory Tool for Housing (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $276,000

The city of Palmdale, on behalf of North County Transportation Coalition, developed a Digital Utility Data Inventory Tool for Housing. This comprehensive utility data inventory and interactive online viewing tool, displaying built and future master-planned utility infrastructure supportive of housing development in the Palmdale area, includes data for the city of Palmdale and adjacent unincorporated Los Angeles County areas. By providing developers access to this tool and data, the project will improve application submission accuracy, reduce utility information inquiries to city staff, and allow for more informed development design and planning.

Housing Impact

The project helped the city of Palmdale make significant progress in enhancing its geospatial capabilities, and the new tool has facilitated geographic information systems (GIS) mapping of more than 150 miles of the stormwater pipe system. The city has successfully transitioned key GIS services and bolstered online security. The tool provides parcel information, including the Assessor’s Parcel Number, seamlessly linked to the Assessor’s Portal, and offers precise cost estimate calculations for sewer and stormwater pipe connections, addressing crucial cost drivers identified by Palmdale officials. With 10 map layers featuring high-resolution aerial imagery and easy integration of future visual reference layers, the tool optimizes efficiency without additional coding.

Regional Value

Geospatial tools provide valuable insights for housing-related decision-making. This tool can be recognized as a best practice for accessing geospatial data and performing preliminary estimates.

Ventura County Vehicle Miles Traveled Adaptive Mitigation Program for CEQA Streamlining (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $273,690

The Ventura County California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Adaptive Mitigation Program is a multifaceted effort to provide mechanisms for clear and consistent application of VMT reduction strategies to streamline the CEQA review process for 2021-2029 Housing Element programs that lead to housing development in Ventura County. The program is intended to develop capacity and standards that provide several options for avoiding or mitigating potential CEQA significant impacts due to project VMT.

Housing Impact

This project produced a Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC)-adopted regional optional adaptive management mitigation program for use by any CEQA lead agency to reduce a VMT “significant” impact to “less than significant” by choosing VMT-measurable mitigations from the VCTC list. To date, 11 jurisdictions have adopted the optional VMT-reduction adaptive management mitigation program.

Regional Value

Regional mitigation programs to reduce VMT can effectively address congestion impacts across the SCAG region. This approach benefits residents in several ways. It streamlines transit and active transportation modes, provides greater transportation choices, and saves residents money. Additionally, the shift to VMT analysis encourages more infill and transit-oriented development, which often results in lower living costs when considering both transportation and housing expenses.

From Parking to Housing in Pomona

Project Amount: $269,054

Housing Impact

A total of 154 participants completed the program. Graduates include 18 mayors and city council members, seven policy advisors, six planning commissioners, and 23 planning and housing department professionals. Participants of the academy represented 34 jurisdictions across the SCAG region.  

All participants concluded their work with a research project and policy proposal. Some members noted plans to continue working on the initiatives they started in class and seek stakeholder support, local approvals, and funding to implement the policy recommendations. Popular proposal topics included creating accessory dwelling unit incentives, building community ownership through community land trusts, and incorporating overlay zones to build more affordable housing. Notable proposals moving forward include a plan to re-zone a publicly owned courthouse parking lot in the San Fernando Valley for affordable housing, establish the Coachella Valley Community Land Trust, develop a limited equity housing cooperative in Santa Ana, and establish an overlay zone that would allow faith institutions to develop their land for affordable housing in Fullerton.  

Regional Value

By building a coalition of informed advocates, this initiative strengthens local housing efforts and enhances collaboration between communities and state agencies to address the growing demand for housing solutions. This program was widely successful, recognized by the National Association of Regional Councils, and replicated by the San Diego Association of Governments. 

San Fernando Valley Vehicle Miles Traveled Tool for Housing (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $215,000

The San Fernando Valley Council of Governments (SFVCOG), in collaboration with four of its member jurisdictions (the cities of Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, and San Fernando), developed a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) Housing Site Suitability Tool to help SFVCOG jurisdictions better collaborate to identify areas that can sustainably support additional housing. The tool visualizes baseline residential tour VMT per capita and identifies low VMT areas within the subregion optimal for developing new housing.  Development in these areas can support overall reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles because they are located near major employment centers and other primary destinations and include better access to transit and a mix of land uses to support sustainable travel behavior.

Housing Impact

A VMT reduction strategy module was included in the VMT housing tool, leveraging state-of-practice research developed by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. End users can apply a range of VMT reduction strategies to their proposed residential project and estimate the reduction benefit, leveraging tailored data within the tool to modify inputs and assumptions to be more applicable to the SFVCOG region.

Regional Value

A key advantage of adopting a regional approach in developing the SFVCOG VMT Housing Site Suitability Tool is that it creates consistency in technical methodologies for identifying housing opportunity areas, which can significantly reduce implementation costs for local jurisdictions within the SFVCOG subregion. By establishing a standardized methodology across all jurisdictions, the SFVCOG VMT Housing Site Suitability Tool enhances collaboration and streamlines processes, making it easier to address housing challenges collectively and effectively.

Surplus Land Inventory – San Gabriel Valley (Subregional Partnership Program)

Project Amount: $198,009

The project involved assessing all publicly owned parcels in the San Gabriel Valley and, in coordination with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and member cities, developing parameters to evaluate parcels for development feasibility. This included evaluating site parameters and how the projects would score in various state funding programs for affordable housing. The focus on affordable housing was designed to identify potential projects for the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust (SGVRHT). As part of this work, outreach meetings and interviews were held with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and cities, as well as to support implementation of the California Surplus Land Act, a law that requires local agencies to prioritize the use of surplus land for affordable housing, parks, and open space.

Housing Impact

This project identified and evaluated the development potential of more than 600 publicly owned parcels and nearly 500 nonprofit owned parcels, prioritizing sites near public amenities. Each parcel was scored to evaluate its development potential and competitiveness for various affordable housing funding sources. This project provided the SGVCOG, SGVRHT, and the member cities with resources to better understand the development opportunities on publicly owned and nonprofit-owned sites. The project also fulfilled priorities in housing elements of several cities within the SGVCOG region.

Regional Value

This project provides cities with a mechanism to evaluate and better understand the development opportunities of publicly owned land. City staff received a list of publicly owned parcels and an evaluation as to whether these publicly owned sites were good candidates for the development of housing, especially at affordable levels. The city staff can use this information to pursue projects on these sites.

Other To Residential Toolkit

Project Amount: $137,740

The Other-to-Residential Toolkit is a unique tool that guides planners and policymakers step-by-step in facilitating more residential development in their jurisdictions by converting underutilized non-residential (retail strip centers, gas stations, brownfields, and golf courses) land uses to residential. The step-by-step guide serves as a broad framework and sequence of activities to explore site conversions, including feasibility assessment, strategies to catalyze change and engage community stakeholders, and possible road maps for jurisdictions to pursue. 

Housing Impact

In 2023, the American Planning Association Los Angeles and American Planning Association California chapters awarded the Other-to-Residential Toolkit an Award of Excellence in the Best Practices category, recognizing how innovative planning practices can create lasting communities of value.

Regional Value

With the growing housing crisis across the state and the built-out nature of cities in the SCAG region, the Other-to-Residential Toolkit provides a resource for decision-makers to think outside the box to stimulate more housing production.