CDBG PRO Housing: Addressing Zoning, Permitting, & Building Code Barriers to Affordable Housing

Dane County is seeking proposals from local municipalities for implementation-ready planning and policy activities to remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (CDBG PRO Housing) Program. The proposed projects should align with Dane County's Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) and prioritize projects that can demonstrate tangible outcomes within the contract period. Some key aspects of the proposal include: • Updating land use policies, community plans, and development guidance to advance local housing goals • Streamlining and modernizing local permitting processes and procedures to make it easier to build new housing • Addressing outdated zoning, subdivision, or land use codes that limit housing types or density • Increasing the production of affordable, workforce housing and/or agriculture workforce housing • Improving housing access near jobs, services, and transit Applicants must demonstrate readiness indicators, such as draft ordinances, identified consultants, internal staff capacity, governing body awareness or direction, or alignment with planned adoption timelines.