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FOCUS <br />Application for Priority Development Area Designation <br />Frequently Asked Questions <br />Page 3 of <br />Designation Questions <br />What are the benefits of designating priority development areas? <br />Several benefits exist. First of all, the identification of priority areas forms a <br />foundation for a coordinated regional planning strategy for where growth should <br />go and where incentives should follow. Secondly, designation informs regional <br />agencies of jurisdictions that want and need assistance in these areas. <br />Additionally, a regional expression of priorities can help connect with State <br />efforts and programs. <br />Who will designate priority development areas and when will they be <br />adopted regionally? <br />Designation of priority development areas is a voluntary process. Only those <br />areas submitted by local governments in their application for priority <br />development area designation will be considered for designation by regional <br />agencies. The areas recommended by the review committee will be presented in <br />Fa112oo~ to ABAG for regional adoption as designated priority development <br />areas. <br />What will it mean to be designated a planned or a potential priority <br />development area? <br />Through the application review process, areas will be categorized based on where <br />they are in a planning process and be recommended for designation as a planned <br />or potential priority development area. This distinction will enable planned areas <br />to be eligible to apply for capital and planning grants, and potential areas to be <br />eligible to apply for planning grants when an application for funding is available. <br />Potential areas are areas that have not yet completed sufficient planning work to <br />establish capital needs, while planned areas have. <br />Incentive Questions <br />What types of grants and technical assistance will be available <br />through the next incentives application process for designated <br />priority development areas? <br />Designated priority development areas will be able to apply for planning grants <br />and capital grants, depending on the area's planning status. Examples of <br />planning grants include funding for new area-wide specific plans or precise plans, <br />to update one of these plans, for an EIR to implement a plan, etc. Examples of <br />capital grants are funding for transportation projects, including bicycle & <br />pedestrian projects, housing projects, water/sewer capacity, parks/urban <br />greening, streetscape improvements, etc. A suite of technical assistance services <br />are being developed by regional agencies. Examples of technical assistance <br />include assistance with policy development to implement existing plans, model <br />ordinances, economic analysis, photosimulations to depict future conditions, <br />local workshops and tours, etc. Feedback provided on the application for priority <br />development area designation regarding these types of grants and technical <br />assistance will allow regional agencies to develop an incentives package than can <br />truly be tailored to the needs of local governments. <br />For more information, visit <br />httn://www.bayareavision org/focus/applicationprocess html. <br />