EBLC Housing Endorsement Criteria & Submission form

The East Bay Leadership Council believes that addressing the current housing shortage is essential for cultivating economic growth, ensuring environmental protection, and fostering diverse and inclusive communities. That’s why we are proud to share that EBLC will begin using our influence to help advance projects that might otherwise fall short of critical votes at public hearings. Read the full announcement from our President & CEO.

Endorsement Process

All development projects will be considered for support and endorsement based on the East Bay Leadership Council’s project endorsement criteria, laid out in the form below. The project must signficantly align with these factors to be considered for endorsement.

The completed form will be submitted to an EBLC Housing Project Endorsement Subcommittee for review. The subcommittee will make a recommendation for support or no position to EBLC’s Executive Committee, who will make a final determination.

If EBLC decides to endorse a project, the organization will begin publicly advocating for the project through such means as support letters, public hearing attendance, and project promotion to local leaders.

Endorsement Criteria Form

Name

Company

Project Title

1. Does this project maximize density, demonstrate adaptive re-use, and include affordable units?

Developments within existing cities and urbanized land help to preserve valuable open space. Community/neighborhood developments should encourage higher density, allowing for more affordable units. The project should approximately provide a net residential density of 60+ units per acre within a ½ mile of high-quality transit hubs and 30+ units to the acre in other settings as appropriate. Smaller projects will be considered, if they have a substantial nexus with EBLC’s standards, and/or involve multiple smaller projects allowing for the potential of creating a more viable neighborhood/community. Housing developments placed on underutilized land, vacant lots, unoccupied storefronts, parking lots, abandoned fields, decaying older commercial structures, and on contaminated land that has or will be cleaned-up to residential standards will also be considered.

2. Does the project demonstrate a mix of uses to maximize economic impact?

Housing developments that integrate residents’ activities such as work, shopping, entertainment, and recreation help advance the economic vitality of the community in which they are built. If not incorporated into the development, the proximity of the project to other amenities such as retail stores, restaurants, job centers, and other frequently used and visited services will be considered. Similarly, if the project will help a planned retail center reach critical population mass for development, this will also be considered. Maximizing the economic impact of new housing development is critical to the East Bay’s future.

3. Does the project facilitate transit use?

Projects located with easy access to transit, job centers, and/or town or neighborhood centers facilitate transit use and improve mobility for people with disabilities. Neighborhoods, as well as public spaces, should seek to serve the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and micro-mobility options. The location should promote the use of public transit and alternatives to single occupant vehicle trips. Housing within a ½ mile of transit services and/or job centers or within a ½ mile of a town or neighborhood center that will provide a potential growth for transit is considered an ideal location. Projects that are planned around future transit services/locations that are planned with identified funding but not yet built, such as the Hercules Hub, will also be given consideration.

4. Does the project advance environmental sustainability and demonstrate innovation in environmental design?

The application of green-building guidelines is an important component of advancing environmental sustainability through housing construction. Projects are encouraged to be designed externally to promote ecological health, including the integration of natural landscape, gardens, open space, and water conservation, while internally applying green building practices (e.g. advantageous solar orientation) that conserve natural resources and use energy efficiently. Projects that exhibit unique or innovative solutions to environmental challenges (e.g. wildfire mitigation) will be given special consideration.

5. Does the project advance inclusive community input?

Participating in an inclusive community engagement process that elevates the voices of historically marginalized populations ensures all community input is taken into consideration. The project applicant should demonstrate a good faith effort to engage with underrepresented communities (including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, unhoused individuals, and those facing economic insecurity) and address impact concerns from those populations as appropriate.

6. Does the project help create a more diverse and inclusive community?

Diverse and inclusive communities are central to building an equitable and thriving region. Projects should advance the goals of creating more diverse and inclusive communities through project design, housing options, and direct community investments. In these ways, we ensure that homes are available for people of all backgrounds, abilities, ages, incomes, and professions.

7. Does the project address displacement?

Displacement of existing residents without replacing existing housing stock is detrimental to building diverse and thriving neighborhoods. If the project is replacing existing housing stock, measures should be taken to address displacement and provide stability for impacted residents (e.g., relocation benefits, first right of return, replacement of units at an equivalent level of affordability). If applicable, describe how the project addresses displacement.

8. Project Timeline

We understand that next steps could be difficult to determine at times. To the extent possible, please include the estimated project timeline and/or next steps. We will prioritize projects that are closer to being finalized.

Download PDF Version of the Form

Download Form

FAQs

Even if your project does not meet all of EBLC’s criteria, we strongly encourage you to still submit an application for endorsement. We will consider all aspects of the project to make a decision.
The completed form will be submitted to a housing project endorsement subcommittee for review. The subcommittee will make a recommendation for support or no position to EBLC’s Executive Committee, and the Executive Committee will make a final determination.
Reviewal time may vary but we expect an endorsement determination to be made within 60 days.
The EBLC will not, under any circumstances, make your submission public or use the information provided here to oppose your project. All information you submit will be held confidentially by EBLC.
A support position from the East Bay Leadership Council’s Project Endorsement Subcommittee may include:
1. A letter of support for the project from the East Bay Leadership Council which will/can be circulated publicly at the developer's discretion.
2. Subcommittee and organizational advocacy of the project, including attendance at public hearings by a Subcommittee representative or EBLC staff, and individual meetings with government officials.
3. Project promotion to EBLC’s board of directors and general membership.

Housing Endorsement News

Featured

Jul 11, 2024

East Bay Leadership Council Taking New Approach to Housing Advocacy

Jul 11, 2024

For the first time in our more than 80-year history, EBLC will begin evaluating and endorsing proposed housing projects. We believe these efforts will not only help win the hearts and minds of community leaders but win desperately needed victories for housing projects hanging in the balance of local decision-makers.

Jul 11, 2024

EBLC Housing Endorsement Criteria & Submission form

Endorsement Process

Endorsement Criteria Form

Download PDF Version of the Form

FAQs

What should I do if my project does not meet all of the criteria?

Who will review my completed application?

When will I hear back after I submit the form?

Will EBLC use information submitted through this form to oppose my project?

What will happen if EBLC decides to endorse my project?

Housing Endorsement News

Questions