OCCOG Wraps Up Comprehensive REAP 1.0 Grant Program

OCCOG developed and implemented a long list of projects funded by the Sub-Regional Partners (SRP), Regional Early Action Program (REAP 1.0) grant. The $3.6 million grant, received in 2020, was part of a $47 million award to SCAG funded from Assembly Bill 101 (2019) to provide housing planning and process improvement services to cities and counties.

The following is a list of the OCCOG educational programs and tools developed and implemented to support jurisdictions increase affordable housing in Orange County:

Housing OC Video Series – a series of 11 videos to explain housing policies using whiteboard graphics.
ULI Technical Advisory Panels – two webinars and reports were produced: “Conversion from Industrial to Housing” and “Preparing for Infill Housing in Retail and Office Developments”.
ArcGIS Licenses and Custom Tools – Comprehensive Geospatial Solution and 3-D Site Visualization Services to support member jurisdictions update and implement housing elements using site inventory & opportunity finder, housing scenario builder, and housing production capacity reports.
3-D Visualizations – As part of the above project, OCCOG’s consultant team provided custom UnReal Engine-generated 3-D visualizations for use by jurisdictions in public outreach for housing-related projects, as well as trained jurisdiction staff to use custom-created Orange County-specific design elements in Esri GIS-based software.
Objective Design Standards Toolkit – To help jurisdictions comply with new housing law, this guidebook provides samples of design elements that can be incorporated into city policies. OCCOG also provided a webinar and one-on-one technical assistance with ODS-related work.
HousingSoCal.org website – part of a partnership with Ventura and Gateway Cities COGs, OCCOG developed a new public-facing website to help property owners make decisions about building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). The website includes tools that allow residents to look up what can be built at their address, the approximate cost of building an ADU on their property, design inspiration and easy access to ADU information for their jurisdiction.
ADU “How To” Toolkit – Customizable communication templates for jurisdictions to download and edit for use in ADU outreach to their residents. PowerPoint, postcards, fliers, FAQs and a virtual townhall were included in the toolkit.
Technical Memos – Memos covering the topics of ADU affordability, ADU amnesty and parking guidelines
Model Ordinances – a package of six ordinances and additional guidance and appendices ready for approval by city councils covering six topics: Density Bonus, ADUs, AB 2011 and SB 6, SB 9, Residential Care Facilities and Motel Conversions. OCCOG hosted a webinar and office hours with the legal team that developed the ordinances to enable jurisdictions to ask questions and get more personalized technical assistance.
Pro-housing Designation Education and Application Assistance – OCCOG hosted a webinar and offered one-on-one technical assistance to support cities in obtaining the Pro-housing Designation.
Housing Webinar Series – Webinars were conducted covering the topics of community outreach for housing topics, housing legislation and understanding the builder’s remedy.
Orange County Housing Finance Trust and Orange County Housing Trust – REAP grant funds were provided to two Orange County housing trusts to support their efforts to develop new affordable housing for Orange County residents.
On-call Services Bench — OCCOG provided additional consultant support and technical assistance to OCCOG member jurisdictions for planning-related activities and will continue through February, 2024.
Watch for more programs to support affordable housing to come with the release of REAP 2.0 funding in early 2024.