FAQ Topic: Priority Development Areas 2020

Sometimes government can get a little carried away with the acronyms, click here for a full list of the acronyms and their definitions.

By nominating a PDA, San Rafael is prioritizing a community-driven planning process looking at housing, jobs and services, and intensified land uses within this area.  Jurisdictions are required to conduct this process for this PDA by 2025 in order to maintain the PDA-designation. To help facilitate this process, designated funding is provided to jurisdictions with … Continued

No. Local jurisdictions are not required to comply with Plan Bay Area. Further, the designation of a PDA does not obligate or mandate the local jurisdiction to comply with or meet any of the jobs and housing growth projections that will be developed as part of Plan Bay Area.

No. The PDA is first a funding tool and is part of Plan Bay Area, a regional plan which is strategic document only.  By State law (California Government Code Section 65080(b)(2)(K), Plan Bay Area cannot supersede local land use authority. Any changes to local planning and land use policies are solely the authority and control … Continued

The primary benefit of creating a PDA is access to funding for a community-driven planning process.  The PDA provides access to funding sources such as grants, which can be used for land use and circulation planning, as well as needed and planned infrastructure improvements.

Plan Bay Area 2050 is a long-range plan charting the course for the future of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Plan Bay Area 2050 will focus on four key issues—the economy, the environment, housing and transportation—and will identify a path to make the Bay Area more equitable for all residents and more resilient in … Continued

The most common funding source for a PDA is the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program, which is administered by MTC. Established in 2012, OBAG taps federal funds to maintain MTC’s commitments to regional transportation priorities while also advancing the Bay Area’s land-use and housing goals. Cities and counties in the Bay Area can use … Continued

Yes! The purpose of a PDA designation it to begin a community-driven planning process. Through this planning process, we will continue to refine the PDA boundaries based upon community input.  Additionally, MTC/ABAG provides access to funding for jurisdictions with PDAs to help facilitate this process.

Yes.  After a PDA has been designated, it can be removed at any time by the local jurisdiction. This process is known as a rescinding a PDA.  A designated PDA can be removed by the City Council adopting a resolution rescinding the PDA.  While removing the PDA is immediate, it may continue to appear as … Continued

No.  A PDA is a tool that provides access to funding for area planning and needed and/or planned infrastructure improvements.  A PDA holds no authority or power over environmental review or exemptions prescribed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). However, a PDA can provide a funding source to develop and adopt community-driven planning processes. … Continued