There is a significant difference between a PDA and both a Transit Priority Area and a Transit Priority Project;. While there may be overlap in the areas defined as a PDA, TPP, or TPA, they are not directly related or linked. A PDA is a planning and financing tool that is part of the Plan … Continued
A Transit Priority Area is a geographic area within ½-mile of a major transit stop included in a Transportation Improvement Program or a Regional Transportation Plan. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has identified the Transit Priority Areas for the Bay region, which are mapped and can be accessed on their website. San Rafael has two Transit … Continued
There are a number of changes since 2013 that warrant reconsidering a new PDA for the North San Rafael/Northgate area, and establishing a new PDA for the Southeast San Rafael/Canal area. First, the region is in a housing crisis. The City Council has directed staff to continue to seek opportunities for new housing and preserving … Continued
No. The San Rafael General Plan 2040 update has been in process for the last two years and is near completion. A draft of the General Plan 2040 is expected to be published for public review within the next month. The designation of a new PDA would not impact the current work on or the … Continued
Environment review streamlining refers to the level of environmental analysis a development project is required to perform as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires that all development projects in California conduct some level of environmental analysis. In many cases, a city will conduct a comprehensive environmental analysis for a neighborhood as … Continued
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.