Prohousing Designation

An application to renew the Town’s Prohousing Designation has been drafted and is available for public review.

Review Period:  The 30-day public review period is from November 12, 2026, to December 12, 2026.  

Comments:  Please submit written comments via email to: kvoge@townofwindsor.ca.gov or via regular mail or in person at: Town of Windsor, P. O. Box 100, Building 400, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor.

Contact: For questions, please contact Kim Voge, Planner III, at kvoge@townofwindsor.ca.gov or 707-838-1106.

Town Council Meeting: A public meeting with the Town Council is tentatively scheduled for January 20, 2027, for the Council to consider adopting a resolution authorizing the Prohousing Designation application.

The Town of Windsor received the California Prohousing Designation on July 14, 2023. The designation was valid for three years. The Prohousing Designation signifies a commitment to meeting the Town’s fair share of the state’s housing needs, creating equitable and sustainable communities, and dismantling exclusionary land use policies. All jurisdictions in Sonoma County currently have the Prohousing Designation.

In addition to the benefit of Prohousing policies supporting a range of housing opportunities, the Town is eligible for grants and financial incentives because of the Prohousing Designation. The Town may receive priority processing or funding points when applying for certain funding programs, including Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG), Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), Solutions for Congested Corridors (SCCP), Local Partnership Program (LPP), Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program (STPG). 

Examples of successful grant applications based on the Town of Windsor Prohousing Designation are provided below:

1. Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP)

The Prohousing Designation allows jurisdictions to apply for the competitive Prohousing Incentive Pilot (PIP) Program. This program is managed by the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). PIP is designed to reward Prohousing jurisdictions with additional funds for affordable housing production and preservation.

The Town was awarded a $650,000 grant award in the PIP Round 3 incentive program. In April 2026, the Town finalized a grant agreement to utilize these funds to incentivize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and accessibility upgrades for existing residences. The grant award recognized the Town’s commitment to expanding affordable housing opportunities and supporting a vibrant, inclusive community. The Town recognizes accessory dwelling units as an important way to provide affordable housing within single-family neighborhoods while maintaining the character of the neighborhoods. Accessibility upgrades can help senior citizens and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes and/or to age in place. Program details for implementation of the PIP grant are anticipated to be available in Summer 2026.

2. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC)

On August 31st, 2023, the California Strategic Growth Council announced $19.9 million in funding to be awarded to the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria and the Town of Windsor as part of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC). The AHSC Program makes it easier for Californians to drive less by making sure housing, jobs, and key destinations are accessible by walking, biking, and transit. AHSC is part of California Climate Investments, which uses billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars to fund projects that reduce harmful emissions, protect public health, strengthen local economies, and support natural environments.

The grant includes a $10.24 million award to the Kashia Tribe toward building the Kashia Windsor Apartments, a 54-unit affordable housing project for Tribe members that is planned in northwest Windsor. Envisioned as a mixed-use development containing a public gallery for education and outreach, new headquarters offices for the Tribe, and 54 affordable homes for Tribe members, the project site is located at the north end of the Old Redwood Highway corridor, with convenient access to public transportation, jobs, and services in Windsor.

The grant also includes $9.1 million for the Town of Windsor to make bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements within a one-mile radius of the Kashia Windsor Apartment project. The transportation funds will be used to advance the Town’s plans for “complete streets” along the Old Redwood Highway Corridor, further enhancing accessibility and safety for all users and modes of transportation. The grant also was used to help fund an extension of a multi-use trail through Windsor to access the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit’s (SMART) station.

The Kashia Windsor Apartments project is a partnership between Burbank Housing Development Corporation and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewart Points Rancheria. The project is currently in the plan review process in anticipation of building permit issuance and commencing construction activities in Fall 2026. 

 3. One Bay Area Grant (OBAG)

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopted the One Bay Area Grant Round 4 (OBAG 4) grant program in January 2026. The OBAG 4 program is managed by MTC in partnership with the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority (SCTCA) and other county transportation agencies in the Bay Area. The OBAG 4 regional program is a flexible source of funding for local priorities that also align with MTC initiatives and services across the Bay Area. Jurisdictions with a Prohousing score of at least 30 points are awarded extra points in the competitive scoring of MTC grant applications.  

  • In 2022, the Town was awarded $3 million in OBAG funds for improvements to the Windsor Road/Windsor River Road Intersection.
  • In 2025, the Town was awarded $2 million in OBAG funds to implement bicycle and pedestrian improvements to the downtown interchange at Old Redwood Highway/Lakewood Drive/US Highway101. These improvements were planned in the Connecting Central Windsor plan.
  • Through the OBAG Round 4 program, the Town is seeking additional funds for the planned bicycle and pedestrian improvements at the downtown interchange.

Resources

More information is available at the links below:

HCD’s Prohousing Designation program: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-research/prohousing 

Downtown Pedestrian & Bicycle Crossing of US 101: https://www.townofwindsor.ca.gov/1567/Downtown-Pedestrian-Bicycle-Crossing-of- 

Connecting Central Windsor: https://www.townofwindsor.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21553/Connecting-Central-Windsor-2018 

Old Redwood Highway Corridor Enhancement Plan: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1090/DocumentsStandards

Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria: https://www.stewartspoint.org/

Burbank Housing Development Corporation: https://www.burbankhousing.org/