Description
Infill development encourages building within existing urban areas to efficiently use land and infrastructure, reduce sprawl, and support sustainable transportation. Under CEQA, infill development generally refers to projects on vacant or underutilized land within an urbanized area where at least 75% of the surrounding land uses are considered “qualified urban uses”. These uses typically include residential, commercial, public institutional, and transportation facilities.
Implementation Details
- Prioritize public and private infill development near major job centers and transit lines identified in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Opportunity Index.
- Use accessibility and screening tools to prioritize projects with short travel distances and high walk/bike access potential.
- Align project siting with VMT thresholds and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/ Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) indicators to reduce regional VMT.
Mitigation Potential
Infill development places housing, jobs, and services closer together, reducing the distance between origins and destinations. Reduced distances can encourage walking, biking, and transit use.
For more details, see CAPCOA, T-55. Infill Development, pg. 224-227 for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Equity-driven infill development should support affordable housing near job centers, schools, and transit corridors. Prioritize investments in areas with high need for mobility and access, while including anti-displacement policies and community benefits agreements to protect long-term residents from rising land values and gentrification pressures.
Funding Sources
Local municipalities can offer financial incentives and reduce regulatory burdens such as expensive fees, complex zoning requirements, and long development review times. Other funding sources include the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program (California Department of Housing and Community Development), the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program (Southern California Association of Governments / Western Riverside Council of Governments), the California Recycle Underutilized Sites Program (California Pollution Control Financing Authority), and the Community Development Block Grant Program (California Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Examples/Case Studies
City of Cotati, CA – Urban Infill and Compact Development
The City of Cotati facilitates infill development in a number of ways, including promoting smaller attached residential units, working with developers of multi-family housing and mixed-use projects, and providing density bonuses for projects that provide affordable housing.
City of Irvine Community Land Trust
The Irvine Community Land Trust (Irvine CLT) in Irvine, California, serves as a prominent example of a successful community land trust aimed at developing sustainable and permanently affordable housing. Established by the city, the Irvine CLT focuses on infill development to create housing that adheres to the city’s green housing standards, incorporating features such as energy and water-saving utilities and low-energy appliances.