Infill development occurs on sites that have been bypassed by previous development or on developed sites where the current use is no longer optimal or desirable. Infill development projects vary in size from single-family dwellings and multi-family developments on scattered lots to large mixed-use developments covering a city block. Infill development can rejuvenate a neighborhood and provide more housing and other opportunities. On the other hand, infill development can cause controversy in the neighborhood due to the potential loss of local open space, change in community appearance, and potential traffic impacts. In many Bay Area communities, infill will be a central strategy for meeting future housing needs. Implementation of an effective infill strategy will require use of a variety of related strategies, including mixed-use, second units, rezoning land for residential use, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment. An emphasis on infill will also require a finer-grain approach to planning and development, relying less on the availability of large parcels of undeveloped land and more on making better use of the land that is within the urbanized area.

Benefits

• Reduces the front-end costs of development since infill sites are typically already served by utilities and other infrastructure.
• Provides units that are accessible to public transit and close to jobs.
• Revitalizes older neighborhoods and supports local businesses.
• Increases the value of surrounding properties.
• Accommodates additional housing in areas that are already developed instead of furthering suburban sprawl that consumes open space and agricultural lands on the edge of urbanized areas.
• Provides sites that often are well suited for multiple family developments because more units can offset higher land costs and make housing more affordable.

During the Housing Element Process...

• Inventory Parcels. Prepare and disseminate a current, accurate inventory of vacant and under-utilized land parcels. This activity should be part of the identification of adequate sites required for the housing element.
• Review Densities. Allow for sufficient density on infill sites so that development is economically feasible.
• Review Development Standards. Review and correct excessively high or inappropriate development standards, especially parking requirements.
• Seek Allies. Gain support for infill housing from environmentalists and transit advocates.
• Address Area-wide Impacts. Examine and deal with infill impacts, such as traffic, on an area-wide basis instead of on a project-by-project basis. Use master EIRs where appropriate.
• Potential Programs and Actions
• Adopt Policies. Adopt general plan policies that encourage infill development. Strong policy statements need to be in place that can be used to support the approval of controversial infill developments.
• Revise Standards. Revise development standards to make infill development feasible and to allow development of irregular, small, or otherwise substandard parcels.
• Assemble Lots. Consolidate infill parcels into larger, more easily developable sites where feasible.
• Promote Joint Development Projects. Initiate development of surplus public lands as a joint venture with non-profit and for-profit developers.
• Focus Redevelopment Efforts. Initiate, expand, or redirect redevelopment efforts to assemble parcels and otherwise support residential infill activities.
• Provide Common Parking. Provide municipally owned parking facilities in areas where it is impractical for each infill project to have its own parking.
• Adopt Design Guidelines. Establish design guidelines to ensure compatibility with the surrounding area and reduce potential opposition.
• Address Infrastructure. Address potential aging problems and the capacity of affected roadways, sewer, and water systems before encouraging infill activities.
• Adopt Variable Impact Fees. Vary impact fees by area depending upon road and utility systems that currently exist.
• Lease Space for Public Use. Consider leasing ground-floor space for community or civic uses, thereby making the development project more financially feasible.
• Provide Loans or Guarantees. Assist with loans or loan guarantees for development projects containing a certain percentage of affordable units.
• Use Inclusionary Fees. Use in-lieu fees from inclusionary housing programs to subsidize infill developments containing affordable units.
• Practice Conflict Resolution. Anticipate, plan for, and resolve conflicts between builders and local interest groups.

Resources

San Francisco Estuary Project received an EPA grant for Green Infill - Clean Stormwater. The program has four purposes: to 1) move several viable integrated flood control, stormwater pollution prevention projects towards completion and demonstrate their efficacy as regional models, 2) offer incentives to local government to initiate innovative zoning and code modifications to promote green, stormwater friendly infill, 3) document the environmental and economic outcomes and benefits of a variety of green infill projects, and 4) publicize the project successes to the local governments, regional, and subregional agencies of the 101-city, nine-county Bay Area.

Green Infill Clean Stormwater links two important regional programs: San Francisco Estuary Project's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and FOCUS, a regional incentive-based development and conservation strategy for the Bay Area. FOCUS unites the efforts of four regional ABAG, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the Bay Conservation and Development into a single program that encourages future growth in areas near transit and within the communities that surround the San Francisco Bay. Concentrating housing in these areas offers housing and transportation choices for all residents, while helping to reduce traffic, protect the environment, and enhance existing neighborhoods. Because local elected officials, city managers, city planning directors and public works directors are beginning to collaborate on strategizing for FOCUS, Green Infill Clean Stormwater is reaching the primary audiences needed to cause real programmatic changes in land use/development patterns.

Urban Land Institute's Infill Housing: Myth & Fact

California Statewide Infill Study was conducted during 2004 - 2005, through the Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) at the University of California, Berkeley. The principal investigator was Professor John D. Landis of the Department of City and Regional Planning (DCRP), and the project manager was Heather Hood, Director of Community Partnerships, IURD. The website for the study also contains a GIS database that is designed to be "a tool for pinpointing potential 'infill' sites throughout the state of California. Such parcels are located in areas that have already been urbanized, but the sites are either completely vacant or have structures assessed at extremely low valuations, relative to the land itself."