For the purposes of the grant program established in Section 53545.13, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Capital improvement project” means the construction, rehabilitation, demolition, relocation, preservation, acquisition, or other physical improvement of a capital asset, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 16727 of the Government Code, that is an integral part of, or necessary to facilitate the development of, a qualified infill project or qualified infill area. Capital improvement projects that may be funded under the grant program established by this act include, but are not limited to, those related to all of the following:

(1) The creation, development, or rehabilitation of parks or open space.

(2) Water, sewer, or other utility service improvements.

(3) Streets and roads, parking structures, or transit linkages and facilities, including, but not limited to, related access plazas or pathways, or bus and transit shelters.

(4) Facilities that support pedestrian or bicycle transit.

(5) Traffic mitigation.

(6) Qualifying infill project or qualifying infill area site preparation or demolition.

(7) Sidewalk or streetscape improvements, including, but not limited to, the reconstruction or resurfacing of sidewalks and streets or the installation of lighting, signage, or other related amenities.

(b) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(c) “Eligible applicant” means any of, or any combination of, the following:

(1) A nonprofit or for-profit developer of a qualifying infill project.

(2) A city, county, city and county, public housing authority, or redevelopment agency that has jurisdiction over a qualifying infill area.

(3) (A) A city, county, city and county, public housing authority, or redevelopment agency that has jurisdiction over a qualifying infill area and applies for funding jointly with an “owners’ association,” as defined in Section 36614.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, for a business or property improvement district that includes the qualifying infill area.

(B) Prior to receiving funding, but after being awarded a grant, the joint applicants described in subparagraph (A) shall submit to the department documentation from the local permitting authority demonstrating that the actual number of permitted housing units associated with the qualifying project is equal to or greater than the number of housing units in the grant application.

(4) The duly constituted governing body of an Indian reservation or rancheria that has jurisdiction over a qualifying infill area or a tribally designated housing entity as defined in Section 4103 of Title 25 of the United States Code and Section 50104.6.5 that is the developer of a qualifying infill project.

(d) “Qualifying infill area” means a contiguous area located within an urbanized area (1) that has been previously developed, or where at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the area adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses, and (2) in which at least one development application has been approved or is pending approval for a residential or mixed-use residential project that meets the definition and criteria in this section for a qualified infill project.

(e) (1) “Qualifying infill project” means a residential or mixed-use residential project located within an urbanized area on a site that has been previously developed, or on a vacant site where at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses.

(2) A property is adjoining the side of a project site if the property is separated from the project site only by an improved public right-of-way.

(f) “Urbanized area” means an incorporated city or an urbanized area or urban cluster as defined by the United States Census Bureau. For unincorporated areas outside of an urban area or urban cluster, the area must be within a designated urban service area that is designated in the local general plan for urban development and is served by the public sewer and water systems.

(g) “Urban uses” mean any residential, commercial, industrial, public institutional, transit or transportation passenger facility, or retail use, or any combination of those uses.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 660, Sec. 12. (AB 1010) Effective January 1, 2020.)