City planning staff presented the draft five-year consolidated plan that would direct Lakewood's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds over the next five years, including a single-year action plan for the first year.

The presenter told the commission that the federal grants come through HUD and that Lakewood's available annual allocations are relatively small compared with larger jurisdictions: "we typically get about $500,000 in CDBG funds and about $300,000 in HOME funds," the planning presenter said. Staff said public outreach and two public hearings contributed to the draft goals and priorities.

The draft plan proposes five overall goals: advance economic development and equity, prevent and reduce homelessness and housing instability, support diverse rental and homeownership opportunities, support public infrastructure improvements, and stabilize existing residents and neighborhoods. The presenter said the city's emphasis will be mostly housing- and infrastructure-related because of the funding scale.

Key quantitative proposals in the draft five-year plan include:
- Rehab 20 owner-occupied single-family homes for low-income homeowners.
- Provide emergency assistance to 60 households (programs to prevent displacement, move residents to safer properties, and assist with relocation expenses).
- Assist 90 individuals with emergency assistance for displaced residents.
- New HOME-funded tenant-based rental assistance focused on deposit assistance to serve about 50 individuals over five years.
- Construct 8 affordable single-family units with nonprofit partners (Habitat or local homeownership centers) and 5 affordable units inside multifamily developments.
- Infrastructure projects intended to serve approximately 20,910 residents (counted by census block groups) over five years and demolish up to 15 dangerous buildings for redevelopment.

Staff described a phased approach: year 1 emphasis on housing; year 2 on infrastructure near Edgewater Park (sidewalks, lighting) using CDBG funds in 2026; year 3 returning to housing projects; years 4 and 5 concentrating on additional infrastructure needs such as sidewalk and street lighting work near Pine Street and Seminole Road by Taie Elementary.

Commissioners asked about permitting and regulatory barriers to building housing. The presenter said permitting reform is underway: "the director now is working on a new software system to allow easier permitting, kind of tying up some of the loose end that we had multiple different applications..." That change is intended to streamline applications and reduce duplicative submittals.

Why it matters: CDBG and HOME funds are targeted to households at or below 80% of area median income. With Lakewood's allocations modest in size, staff emphasized targeting projects that can be completed in small phases (blocks or short sidewalk segments) where federal rules and compliance burden can be managed.

What happens next: staff continue public outreach and will take the consolidated plan through the city's advisory boards and Council for final adoption and to submit required HUD documents. The plan as presented is a draft and subject to public comment and revision.

Sources and limits: The presenter summarized outreach and draft metrics; actual funding awards, program details, and final household counts will be set in the adopted plan and annual action plans submitted to HUD.