Prohousing Designation Program
Application Authorization
PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Amy Nicholson
Supervising Planner
August 4, 2026
1 Background
Maintain
Designation
Renew designation
before January 2027 to
maintain eligibility
Increase Grant
Competitiveness
Additional points or
priority for State
housing and
infrastructure funding
Support Housing
Goals
Reinforces
commitment to
housing for all income
levels in community
1 3
2 2
Changes to Program
KEY CHANGE: HCD now requires additional documentation and a formal public participation process for the Prohousing Designation.
Initial Prohousing designation
Self-Scoring for Land Use, Housing
Production, Development Cost
Reduction, Financial Subsidies
No formal public participation
CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
vs.
PREVIOUS REQUIREMENTS
Self-Scoring for Land Use, Housing
Production, Cost Reduction and
Financial Subsidies
Documentation regarding
homeless encampment
practices
Public participation process
Prohousing designation renewal
3 Progress Since Initial Designation
Housing Ordinances &
Long-Range Plans
Capital Facility Fee (CFF) Pilot
Program Waiver for Affordable*
Housing Developments
Streamlined Design Review for
Affordable* Housing Projects
50% Reduction in Permit Fees for
Affordable* Housing Developments
Development Cost
Reductions
Missing Middle Housing
Tiny Homes on Wheels
Streamlined Review of Duplex and Duet
Units
North Station Specific Plan update
in progress
South Santa Rosa Specific Plan
in progress
IMPLEMENTED SINCE 2023
* 100% of units deed-restricted as affordable
4 Public Participation Process
30-DAY
PUBLIC REVIEW
STAKEHOLDER
OUTREACH
PUBLIC COMMENTS
CONSIDERED
SUBMIT
APPLICATION TO
HCD
This Council report item satisfies one component of HCD’s Diligent Public Participation Process.
COUNCIL
PRESENTATION
Scoring Framework
5 FAVORABLE
LAND USE
ACCELERATION OF
HOUSING PRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT COST
REDUCTION
FINANCIAL
SUBSIDIES
Example: Density Bonus
Program beyond State
law
Example: Permitting
processes that take less
than four months.
Example: Waiver of
development impact fees
for residential development
with affordable units
Example: Regular funding
for preserving assisted
units at-risk of conversion
to market-rate uses
30 POINTS REQUIRED FOR DESIGNATION
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF CITY’S SCORE = 89 POINTS
Recommendation
The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends that the Council:
Receive information regarding the City's renewal application for the California Department of Housing and Community
Development's Prohousing Designation Program
Receive public comment as part of the required Diligent Public Participation Process
By resolution, authorize staff to submit the renewal application to the California Department of Housing and Community
Development
6 Questions?