The buildout analysis is a planning tool that provides an important baseline for communities by demonstrating development as it could occur if no changes are made in current zoning. The Community Development Plan follows this effort to provide assistance to communities to help balance transportation, economic development, housing, and open space and resource protection needs. The buildout presentation provides a context for local decision-makers to make informed decisions about future growth since it demonstrates potential maximum development and allows communities to examine their existing regulations to determine if they are growing and will continue to grow in the manner they choose.

Communities should feel free to use their own buildout analyses. The analysis provided by EOEA is intended to provide accurate information about the community as input to local decision-makers. Communities should use whatever information they think most accurately reflects the development potential of their community.

Executive Order 418 has two sections. The first section addresses the Community Development Plan program. The second section addresses Housing Certification and discretionary funding. DHCD has developed a list of criteria (available on the DHCD web site) for communities to meet in order to be deemed "Housing Certified" (i.e. providing or working toward providing housing for a broad range of incomes). Communities certified by DHCD will be given priority when applying for certain state discretionary grants offered by DHCD, EOEA, EOTC and DED. A list of discretionary grants also appears on the DHCD web site. Housing Certification is a prerequisite for non-competitive grant program eligibility. Note: Housing Certification is not a prerequisite for the CD Plan Program.

It is estimated that communities will need approximately 12-14 months to prepare their CD Plan.