Housing Site Suitability Scorer
Interactive map tool for evaluating Santa Clara County locations for housing development. Click any location to score its suitability based on transit access, nearby services, environmental safety, and equity indicators.
About This Tool
Scoring Categories
Transit Access (default 30%)
Distance to nearest high-frequency transit stop. Rail and BRT stations score higher than local bus stops.
Services & Amenities (default 20%)
Count of essential services (grocery, pharmacy, school, park, library, medical) within a half-mile walk.
Environmental Safety (default 20%)
Absence of natural hazard exposure. Deductions for fire, flood, and liquefaction risk.
Equity / AFFH (default 20%)
Based on TCAC/HCD Opportunity Area designations and CalEnviroScreen indicators.
Infrastructure Readiness (default 10%)
Proximity to existing developed areas, commercial corridors, and utility infrastructure.
How to Use This Tool
1. Click the map: Click any location on the Santa Clara County map to see its suitability score (0–100) and detailed breakdown.
2. Adjust weights: Use the sliders in the right panel to customize how each scoring category contributes to the composite score. All weights sum to 100%.
3. Use presets: Quick-set the weights using predefined presets: Balanced, Transit First, Equity Focused, or Risk Averse.
4. Toggle overlays: Show/hide map layers: suitability heatmap, transit stops, fire hazard zones, flood risk areas, and equity priority communities.
5. Interpret scores: Green zones indicate high suitability; yellow = moderate; red = low. Each location shows detailed hazard and transit info.
Data Sources (Planned for Full Version)
- • GTFS transit feeds from VTA, Caltrain, BART, and other Bay Area operators
- • OpenStreetMap for service and amenity locations
- • Cal Fire Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)
- • FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
- • CalEnviroScreen 4.0 from OEHHA
- • TCAC/HCD Opportunity Area Maps
- • Census and American Community Survey demographic data
⚠️ Disclaimer & Limitations
This is a v1 prototype using illustrative data for demonstration purposes. Scores are based on modeled approximations, not precise geospatial analysis. Map overlays (fire zones, flood areas, equity communities) show illustrative boundaries only — they are not official delineations and should not be used for legal or regulatory purposes.
Do not use this tool for official planning decisions. Full data integration with the sources listed above is planned for future versions. Always verify findings with authoritative sources and conduct detailed site analysis before making planning or investment decisions.
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