Excerpt:

Since developer SunCal submitted a new Measure-A compliant plan for the development of Alameda Point on March 22, some local Alameda politicians have been curious as to whether SunCal will apply for a density bonus.

A density bonus allows for developers to build more market rate housing units than a city normally allows on a piece of property if it builds, or it sets aside an area for someone else to build, certain desirable things on that property. Under California law, if a developer sets aside 10-20 percent of the houses it intends to build on a site for low or medium-income housing, then it can apply to the government of the city where it is developing the property to build up to 35 percent more market-rate housing on the same site than the city would normally allow for development.