Standard Infill Guidelines

Residential and Mixed-Use Projects

1. Location: The project must be within an existing urbanized area, and not within the regional greenbelt or any other important natural resource area. The project must be within 1/2 mile (10 min. walk) from major transit service (bus, rail or ferry) or a downtown. Major transit service is defined as a rail stop (existing or planned with significant funding established), ferry stop, or a bus stop served by 6 or more buses per hour during the peak commute period. Projects that do not meet this location requirement but are within 1/2 mile of a major job center or commercial district will be considered.
   
   
2. Minimum Density: The project should have an overall density of at least 20 units per net acre. Density is defined as the number of dwelling units divided by the total land area devoted to residential uses, including associated parking and private driveways, private yards, ancillary buildings, and non-public parks and play structures associated with the residential uses. Projects of lower density may be eligible for endorsement if they are significantly higher than the average local density but still in character with the surrounding neighborhood.
   
   
3. Affordability: Housing and mixed-use proposals must make an effort to address affordable housing needs of moderate to low and/or very low-income households as identified in the jurisdiction's Housing Element. This includes, but is not limited to, making a fixed percentage of the units affordable to these households or contributing land or other resources dedicated to such affordable housing. The plan must, at a minimum, meet the local inclusionary housing requirement. Higher percentages of affordable housing, lower income targets, and long-term affordability are encouraged.
   
   
4. Pedestrian-Oriented Design and Transportation Alternatives: The proposed project should be planned to integrate with existing street patterns, walkways and bicycle paths. The project should be pedestrian-oriented and should provide easy pedestrian and bicycle connections to services and public transportation. Mixed-use projects should include active uses (such as retail) at street level. Car sharing, bicycle racks, street furniture, pedestrian amenities, and other features that help encourage walking, biking, and other alternative modes of transit are encouraged.
   
   
5. Parking: The number of parking spaces should not exceed minimums set by the jurisdiction's zoning code. We support developers in seeking reduced parking requirements for transit-oriented developments. We encourage innovative parking strategies that reduce the area dedicated to surface parking, such as tandem, shared, or stacked parking. The project should reduce the visual and safety impacts of surface parking by screening and/or locating it away from pedestrian areas.
   
   
6. Size: The project should have at least 20 units; depending on our review capacity smaller projects may be considered. Greenbelt Alliance may also review smaller projects if they have an exemplary design, an unusually high level of affordability, or other significant benefit. Neighborhood-scale infill plans and projects (such as specific plans, neighborhood plans, master plans, and other plans and projects that occupy multiple city blocks and may have a considerable impact on the surrounding neighborhood) will be evaluated using our Neighborhood-Scale Infill Guidelines.
   
   
7. Community Input: The developer should make a good faith effort to address neighborhood concerns and should contribute amenities and services that meet needs of local residents when feasible.
   
   
8. Environmental Considerations
   In addition to issues addressed in the EIR or other environmental review, Greenbelt Alliance will consider a project's provision of parks/open space, preservation of heritage trees, and protection/mitigation of important habitat that would be directly or indirectly affected by the project.
   

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