Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Grant Program

The Department is soliciting applications through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) under the Environmental Protection Fund Smart Growth Program from eligible towns, villages, cities, counties, regional planning entities, and not-for-profit organizations to advance the preparation and adoption of one of the following: • A new or updated comprehensive plan for an entire town, village, or city that integrates smart growth principles as described in section V below, pursuant to Town Law §272-a, Village Law §7-722 or General City Law §28-a (hereinafter “Comprehensive Plan Grant”) • Preparation and local adoption of a new or updated comprehensive plan for an entire county that integrates smart growth principles as described in section V below, pursuant to General Municipal Law §239-D (hereinafter “County Comprehensive Plan Grant”) • A new or updated community wide zoning regulations (i.e., local law, ordinance) for a town, village, or city that would implement an existing comprehensive plan that supports smart growth principles for the community (hereinafter “Comprehensive Zoning Grant”) • Amendment of existing zoning regulations for part of a town, village, or city to implement an existing comprehensive plan or previously adopted area plan that integrates smart growth principles (hereinafter “Zoning Amendment Grant) • A new or updated area plan for part of a town, village, or city that supports smart growth principles for the community, and which plans may include, but would not be limited to, transit-oriented development plans and downtown/hamlet area plans (hereinafter, “Area Plan Grant”) The comprehensive plan establishes the land use planning policy of communities in New York State and articulates the community vision and goals to guide official decision making. State law requires that all zoning regulations (i.e., local law, ordinance) be in accordance with a comprehensive plan; therefore, zoning and land use regulations are an important tool in implementing the goals of the comprehensive plan. Lack of a comprehensive plan, or an outdated comprehensive plan that no longer reflects the conditions and wishes of the community, can put a local government at risk of legal challenges to planning and zoning decisions. Applications are encouraged from those communities that do not have a comprehensive plan. Some municipalities desire to focus planning, zoning, development and/or conservation efforts in priority areas, such as downtowns, central business districts, Brownfield Opportunity Areas designated by the Secretary of State, areas accessible to transit, critical environmental areas, or historic neighborhoods, among others. A comprehensive plan often addresses local and state planning and development goals, including clean energy siting, greenhouse gas reductions, downtown revitalization, equity and housing affordability, among others. Area plan projects must result in a holistic planning framework for the area of the town, village, or city that is the subject of the plan.By preparing comprehensive or area plans that support smart growth principles, community stakeholders have the opportunity to evaluate local resources, develop goals and a comprehensive strategy for the best and most efficient use of those resources, propose future projects, and adopt a municipal-wide or area plan that will guide development to maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits for the community. Planning should address a wide range of issues including, but not limited to, appropriate physical development, economic development, transportation patterns, natural and built resource inventories, affordable housing and demographic trends. An effective comprehensive or area plan should: • include a strong public participation process to develop public consensus on a vision for the future through community visioning, public meetings and workshops, focus groups, charrettes, etc. •determine appropriate land uses to implement community goals and objectives • provide a sound, rational basis for local decision making, including the adoption of zoning and local land use regulations Smart Growth encourages several best practices for community planning and development including but not limited to: • Development in areas where water and sewer infrastructure is available;• Redevelopment of existing community and municipal centers;• Protection of important historic and natural resources;• Walkable neighborhood designs with multi-modal-oriented streetscapes;• Development around transit lines in the form of transit oriented development;• Promotion of equity, such as affordable housing and environmental justice; and• The promotion of siting and development of community-scale clean energy facilities. Comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, and area plans must incorporate these Smart Growth principles to make the most efficient use of community resources, affirmatively provide access to housing across all income levels, reduce the property tax burden, promote sustainable economic development, and enhance equity and quality of life for people and households of all incomes, backgrounds, ages and abilities. Zoning regulations will effectively codify the smart growth principles articulated in an adopted comprehensive plan. Zoning regulations must advance smart growth principles by providing flexibility in the type of uses allowed in zoning districts, access to housing across all income levels, creating a zoning map that prioritizes equitable investments throughout a community, and by creating a streamlined and accessible development review process. Zoning regulations can also serve as an effective tool to encourage denser development through the elimination of parking minimums and to protect sensitive natural resources and farmland. Most importantly, strong zoning regulations can guide thoughtful development which balances environmental protection, economic development, and equity. In this respect, the Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Grant Program seeks to reverse and alleviate the disproportionately negative impacts of zoning on historically underserved and disenfranchised communities.New York communities are faced with increased risks related to climate change, such as more intense and frequent rain events, increased and extended droughts, greater coastal storm flooding, and periods of extreme heat. Comprehensive plans provide a mechanism for local governments to address climate risks on a local level. The comprehensive plan, zoning regulations, or area plan can set a course for clean, affordable, and reliable energy and transportation; safe and energy efficient businesses; protection of farmland and forestlands to avoid loss of natural resources; and overall healthy communities. Thus, the comprehensive plan, zoning regulations, or area plan should support the New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals and Smart Growth principles, consider asset risk assessments, and incorporate and advance emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and renewable energy strategies. The lack of housing availability and affordability in NYS—with its deleterious impacts on economic development, equity and quality of life—has reached crisis proportions. Governor Hochul is addressing the issue through her Pro-Housing Communities Initiative. Smart Growth planning and zoning is part of the solution in a variety of ways—providing housing for professionals, such as teachers and nurses, that allows them to live where they work; creating vibrant, livable communities with expanded housing options for older New Yorkers who wish to downsize and remain in their community, thus freeing up their previous homes to the next generation of growing families and younger professionals; and strengthening opportunities for new and expanding businesses in NY communities through greater workforce housing options. Smart Growth promotes the creation of diverse housing options for people of all ages, incomes, abilities and backgrounds—with an emphasis on compact, mixed-use, mixed-income and affordable housing in municipal centers and previously developed areas, such as hamlets, downtowns, central business districts and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) districts, among others. In many places, post-war land use planning and zoning practices excluded this type of housing and enabled low-density, single use, suburban sprawl, with its concomitant predominance of large-lot, single-family, detached housing subdivisions. Reversing that trend starts with inclusionary planning and zoning that enables all types of housing. Applications to prepare or update a municipal comprehensive plan, county-wide comprehensive plan, or area plan may only include one plan per application. Applications to establish or update zoning regulations for an entire town, village, or city should be in accordance with a comprehensive plan duly adopted by the local government (town, village, or city) by September 30, 2024. Likewise, applications to establish or update zoning regulations for part of a town, village, or city should be in accordance with an area plan duly adopted by the local government (town, village, or city) by September 30, 2024.Written questions will be accepted until June 17, 2024. Questions should be submitted by e-mail to contact@example.gov or in writing to: NYS Department of State Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure, Attn: SGCP RFA Questions, 99 Washington Avenue, Suite 1010, Albany, NY 12231. When corresponding by e-mail, clearly indicate the subject as “24-OPDSG-6 RFA Questions.” To the degree possible each inquiry should cite the RFA section and paragraph to which it refers. Responses to questions received by June 17, 2024, will be posted by July 9, 2024, on the Department’s website at https://dos.ny.gov/funding-bid-opportunities.No responses will be provided to inquiries made by telephone, social media, or contacting DOS staff directly via email or telephone. It is recommended all applicants review the final responses. The response to questions received during this time period will be the official response by the Department and will be incorporated into the Request for Applications. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Set Aside: No Total MWBE Participation Goals: 30% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Contracting Goal: 6% Due date:07/31/2024 4:00 PM Live Webinar May 22, 2024. Questions due June 17, 2024. Contract term: Three Years County(ies): All NYS counties Business entities awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: See attached prior awards document.