Community Development

The Community Development Department (CDD) focuses on creating a livable community that balances the needs of residents, property owners, and businesses. CDD is responsible for the review of development and building activity to ensure compliance with zoning, building and fire codes, achievement of economic development goals, and establishing and advancing the City's General Plan and other citywide initiatives. Specifically, CDD assists the community in establishing:

• land use plans,
• affordable housing and neighborhood plans,
• economic strategies and business support services,
• programs that protect and support existing residents through rent stabilization, tenant relocation and other support services, and
• quality design of new development through the City's development review process.

The Department also provides technical and policy support to the City Manager and other City Departments.  

Our Divisions

The Department is comprised of four Divisions:

• The Building Division reviews all construction plans and inspects buildings to ensure compliance with building and fire codes. 

• The Economic Development Division manages programs to expand the local economy, liaisons between businesses and the City organization and guides redevelopment of city-owned lands. This Division is the liaison to the Downtown Committee and Visual Arts Committee.

• The Neighborhoods and Housing Division handles a variety of neighborhood and housing-related programs, including the Below-Market-Rate (BMR) affordable housing program, a grants program for neighborhood associations, administers Community Development Block Grants and HOME funds, and leads the City's funding partnerships on developing new affordable housing in the City. The Division also administers the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA) program. This Division is the liaison to the Council Neighborhoods Committee and the Rental Housing Committee.   

• The Planning Division is responsible for preparing and implementing the City's General Plan and zoning regulations, in addition to processing and reviewing applications for new development, new or modified land uses, and the preparation and implementation of long-range plans regarding growth, sustainability, and housing citywide. This Division is the liaison to the Development Review Committee, the Administrative Zoning/Subdivision Committee, and the Environmental Planning Commission. 

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