News

December 2019 Board Report

Friday, December 13, 2019

To: Board of Directors From: Nancy Pfeffer, Executive Director, COG, Gerald Caton, Chair, Economic Development Working Group, COG Subject: COG Proposal to the State for a Gateway Cities Trial Program to Financially Incentivize Cities to Rezone Non-Residential Properties into New Housing Developments Background: The COG’s Economic Development Working Group has been communicating with representatives from the Governor’s Office on the development of Gateway Cities’ economic development initiatives which will assist in the implementation of State’s priorities. One of the State’s highest priorities is solving the housing supply and affordability crisis. In response to this crisis, the Economic Development Working Group has developed a proposa...

Overview of COG Proposal (December 11, 2019)

Friday, December 13, 2019

Proposal to have the State financially incentivize communities that choose to rezone underperforming office, industrial and commercial sites into new housing developments The nature of retail sales has changed significantly in the past decade as more and more businesses are selling their goods and services online instead of utilizing “brick and mortar” stores. As a result, property owners and communities have been faced with the challenge of finding suitable tenants to replace former commercial uses. At the same time, the State, facing a crisis in the development of housing, has become more assertive with local governments on mandating the development of additiona...

Proposal to Incentivize the Gateway Cities to Rezone Non-Residential Properties into New Housing Developments

Friday, December 13, 2019

State Housing Crisis – Need for Multiple Solutions The State of California is facing a housing supply and affordability crisis. In response to this crisis, the California Legislature recently passed numerous pieces of housing legislation. Governor Newsom on October 9, 2019 signed 18 of these bills into law. The Governor has a stated goal of developing 3.5 million new housing units by 2025. The twenty-seven incorporated communities of the Gateway Cities, the most densely populated sub-region of the State, are offering an additional method of producing significant housing units which will help the Administration meet its ambitious housing goal. The proposed Gatewa...