This part is about ready-made building plans that a town has already approved. The housing agency may give grants to towns and tribes to pick such plans. At least a tenth of the money goes to country areas. Towns must report on what the plans led to. If the plans are not used in five years, the money may have to go back.
“(A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units; and (B) includes-- (i) an accessory dwelling unit; (ii) infill development; (iii) a duplex; (iv) a triplex; (v) a fourplex;”
The section defines a covered structure as a low-rise or mid-rise structure with no more than 25 dwelling units, and lists as included an accessory dwelling unit, infill development, a duplex, triplex, fourplex, cottage court, courtyard building, townhouse, multiplex, and any other structure of at least two dwelling units the Secretary considers appropriate.
What the document actually says
“(A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units; and (B) includes-- (i) an accessory dwelling unit; (ii) infill development; (iii) a duplex; (iv) a triplex; (v) a fourplex;”
That sentence, in plain words
The building must be low or middling in height. It can hold up to 25 homes. A small extra home on a lot counts. So do buildings split into two, three, or four homes.
What this is about
This kind of building sits between a single house and a tower. Builders sometimes call it missing middle housing. The list names the shapes it can take.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
“The term ``prereviewed designs'', also known as pattern books, means sets of construction plans that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance with local building and permitting standards to streamline and expedite approval pathways for housing construction.”
The section defines prereviewed designs, also called pattern books, as sets of construction plans a locality has already assessed and approved as meeting local building and permitting standards, so that approval for housing construction moves faster.
What the document actually says
“The term ``prereviewed designs'', also known as pattern books, means sets of construction plans that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance with local building and permitting standards to streamline and expedite approval pathways for housing construction.”
That sentence, in plain words
These are building plans a town has already checked. The town has said they meet its rules. Using one makes getting a permit faster.
What this is about
A builder normally draws plans and waits for review. A ready-made plan skips much of that wait. Some places call the set a pattern book.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible entities utilizing funds appropriated for such purpose to select prereviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, except that such grant awards may not be used for construction, alteration, or repair work.”
The section authorizes the Secretary to award grants, from funds appropriated for the purpose, to eligible entities to select prereviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in their jurisdiction, and bars the grants from paying for construction, alteration, or repair.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible entities utilizing funds appropriated for such purpose to select prereviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, except that such grant awards may not be used for construction, alteration, or repair work.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may give grants to towns and tribes. The money pays them to pick ready-made building plans. Those plans are for buildings with homes at mixed prices. The money may not pay for building or repair.
What this is about
The grant covers the choosing and checking, not the work. Picking a plan takes staff time and review. That is what the money is for.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“(1) the need for affordable housing in the service area of the eligible entity; (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a State agency; and”
The section requires the Secretary, in reviewing applications, to consider the need for affordable housing in the applicant's service area, the presence of high opportunity areas in its jurisdiction, its coordination with a State agency, and its coordination with State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities.
What the document actually says
“(1) the need for affordable housing in the service area of the eligible entity; (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a State agency; and”
That sentence, in plain words
One thing to weigh is how badly the area needs homes people can pay for. Another is whether it holds spots rated as high in chances. A third is whether the town works with a state office.
What this is about
A high opportunity area is a term set by a federal rule. The law does not say how to weigh these matters. It says only that they must be looked at.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas.”
The section requires the Secretary to ensure that at least 10 percent of the money available for grants in each fiscal year goes to eligible entities in rural areas. A rural area is defined in the section as any area other than a city or town with a population of less than 50,000.
What the document actually says
“Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas.”
That sentence, in plain words
Some of the money each year is held for country areas. That share is at least 10 percent.
What this is about
A set-aside is money kept back for one group. Here the group is places outside towns of 50,000 people. The floor of 10 percent is a minimum, not a cap.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“(1) the impacts of the activities carried out using the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing; (2) the prereviewed designs selected using the grant amounts in their communities; (3) the number of permits issued for housing development utilizing prereviewed designs; and”
The section requires the Secretary to make grant recipients report on the effect of the funded work on the production and supply of affordable housing, the designs they selected, the number of permits issued for housing using those designs, and the number of housing units produced in developments using them.
What the document actually says
“(1) the impacts of the activities carried out using the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing; (2) the prereviewed designs selected using the grant amounts in their communities; (3) the number of permits issued for housing development utilizing prereviewed designs; and”
That sentence, in plain words
The town must report what the money did for the supply of affordable homes. It must say which ready-made plans it picked. It must count the permits given for homes built from them.
What this is about
A permit is a town's approval to build. Counting permits shows whether the plans got used. Counting finished homes shows what came of it.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “shall”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“collect, identify, and disseminate best practices regarding such designs and make such information publicly available on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
The section requires the Secretary, so far as possible, to encourage localities to post information on the selected designs and the benefits of using them, and to collect, identify, and spread best practices about those designs, putting the information on the Department of Housing and Urban Development website.
What the document actually says
“collect, identify, and disseminate best practices regarding such designs and make such information publicly available on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency must gather what works well with these plans. It must share what it learns. The information goes on its website.
What this is about
One town's plan can help another town. Sharing saves the second town the work. The agency is also told to urge towns to post their own.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any grant funds received under this section if the selected prereviewed designs submitted under this section have not been adopted”
The section lets the Secretary require an eligible entity to return grant funds if the prereviewed designs it selected have not been adopted within the five years after it received the grant, unless the Secretary extends that period.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any grant funds received under this section if the selected prereviewed designs submitted under this section have not been adopted”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may ask for the money back. That can happen when the picked plans are not taken up.
What this is about
The town has five years to put the plans to use. The housing agency can give it longer. If nothing happens, the money can be pulled back.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
The document says “can”Who acts: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHow: statuteSec. 209 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Secretary may set aside not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated in a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under this section and pregrant technical assistance to prospective applicants.”
The section lets the Secretary hold back up to 5 percent of the money appropriated in a fiscal year to give technical assistance to grant recipients and to help prospective applicants before they apply.
What the document actually says
“The Secretary may set aside not more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated in a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under this section and pregrant technical assistance to prospective applicants.”
That sentence, in plain words
The housing agency may keep back part of the money each year. That share stops at 5 percent. It pays for help to towns that got a grant and towns thinking of applying.
What this is about
Technical assistance is expert help with the work. A small town may not have staff who know this. The help can come before the town even applies.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Each distinct thing the section does: the definitions of covered structure and prereviewed designs, the grant authority and the bar on construction spending, what the Secretary must consider, the rural set-aside, the reporting duties, the duty to publish information and best practices, the power to require repayment, and the technical assistance set-aside.
The full list of structures inside the definition of covered structure is summarized rather than quoted item by item, as are the other definitions in the section.
The definitions of unit of general local government and Indian tribe come from section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and high opportunity area from section 1282.1 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Neither is indexed here.
