Albany commission backs nominations for three new Priority Conservation Areas to seek regional grants

The Parks and Recreation Commission on May 8 voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt resolutions nominating three new Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) and amend the existing Albany Hill PCA so the city can pursue regional grant funding.

A staff member described the Priority Conservation Areas program as a regional tool administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). "Priority conservation areas are designated geographical areas identified and nominated by local jurisdictions and Association of Bay Area Governments or ABAG as significant to be protected and improved to support the Bay Area's regional conservation resilience and sustainability objectives," the staff member said.

Staff said PCAs are eligible for specific grant rounds administered by MTC and ABAG, and that, as of 2023, the program had awarded more than $300 million across the Bay Area. The city’s nominations — two on the waterfront (one recreation-only and one recreation-plus-climate-adaptation) and a priority tree‑canopy area tied to the street-tree management plan — were designed to qualify under the program’s updated eligibility rules.

The presenter said the waterfront acreage was split into two adjacent PCAs because the climate-adaptation designation requires at least 75% coverage of mapped vulnerable areas; a larger recreation-only PCA covers higher-elevation portions that do not meet the 75% threshold for the adaptation layer.

"Recognized PCAs are eligible to apply for funding for projects within the PCA," staff said, noting that a forthcoming PCA grant round will include approximately $8 million in competitive funds for projects that meet program goals.

After brief questions from commissioners about whether PCA designation would restrict future development, staff said the designation does not alter local zoning or preclude development: it simply makes areas eligible for regional conservation and resilience funding. "It in no way undermines or otherwise alters a city or a jurisdiction's ability to move forward with current zoning or future zoning amendments or development plans," a staff member said.

Commissioner Chan moved to recommend the City Council adopt a resolution to submit the nominations; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with all present commissioners recorded as "Yes." Staff will forward the adopted resolution and nominations to ABAG by the June 13 submittal deadline and said ABAG/MTC staff will integrate the new and amended PCAs into Plan Bay Area 2050 later this year.

The commission’s support makes the city eligible to seek PCA grant funds when the program opens its next competitive round later in 2025.