Objective Design and Development Standards Project

ODDS Project Status

The City adopted objective design standards and permitting procedures for new residential development projects in May 2022 through adoption of Ordinance 669. Additional study of residential projects in the NCRO-2 zoning district will commence through 2023.

What's the "ODDS" Project?

Recent changes to State law require that cities adopt and act on residential development applications based on whether or not the project complies with objective design and development standards (ODDS).

ODDS require no interpretation or personal judgment, as opposed to subjective standards that are subject to interpretation and which may cause different people to disagree based on their personal perspectives and opinions. Cities will not be able to apply subjective standards to new development, losing control over their design. To help cities update their regulations and standards to comply with state law, the State made grant funds available under the Senate Bill 2 (SB2) Planning Grant Program.

A summary of project milestones and timeline are shown in the graphic below.

The City hired Good City Company, a consultant company with in-depth experience in community planning in the Peninsula, to manage the ODDS project.

Take a Virtual Walk With Us!

In this virtual tour, we explored residential design in neighboring communities that help create housing that blends in with the existing community. Please follow along with the Virtual Tour Maps attached in the Supporting Documents section below.

Past Meetings and Events

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
- 5/5/2022: City Council adoption of revised Ordinance with objective standards (Ord. 669). Meeting Details | Agenda Packet.
- 1/20/2022: City Council Public Hearing to consider draft Ordinance with objective standards. 1/20/2022 Meeting Notice | 1/20/2022 Meeting Agenda Packet
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS
- November 16, 2021: Meeting details | The Planning Commission recommended City Council adoption of the draft ordinance. Staff report includes the draft ordinance, the revised Municipal Code chapters in redline, and the community outreach summary.
- October 28, 2021: Meeting details | The Planning Commission heard staff's report, discussed the draft ordinance, and continued the public hearing to the November 16, 2021 special meeting.
ODDS POP-UP OPEN HOUSE: August 12, 2021 at 3 PM. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the City's table to pick up important resources and share their residential design preferences!
ODDS PROJECT UPDATE AND PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL: July 15, 2021 at 7:30 PM. View the recording of the presentation and check out the staff presentation here. Thanks to everyone who tuned in!
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #1: April 6, 2021 at 7 PM. View the recording of the workshop and check out the staff presentation here. Thanks to everyone who participated!
The visual preference survey results are available to download under the "Supporting Documents" section at the bottom of this page. Thanks to all who participated!
Planning Commission Study Session 2/11/2021: ODDS project overview

What is the purpose of the ODDS project?

Recent changes to State law require that cities adopt and act on residential development applications based on whether the project complies with objective design and development standards. Objective standards require no interpretation or personal judgment, as opposed to subjective standards that are subject to interpretation and which may cause different people to disagree based on their personal perspectives and opinions. Adoption of clear rules and regulations provide predictability to the community and developers upfront in the development process.

Category: ODDS Project

What does the ODDS project entail?

This Program will include outreach to the community to study opportunities and constraints to residential development in zoning districts with subjective development and design standards. Following the outreach phase, the City's consultants Good City Co. will draft updated objective residential development and design standards to comply with State law. It is critically important that the City update current regulations to clearly lay out objective standards that reflect that community’s vision, in the absence of which the City will have minimal ability to shape the design of new residential developments.

Category: ODDS Project

What happens if a City does not adopt ODDS?

If the City does not adopt ODDS for residential development, the City will have very little control and ability to shape the design of new residential development proposals, including certain projects submitted to the City under State Law streamlining provisions (SB 35). The Planning Commission or City Council would continue to review projects per current Zoning Ordinance and Design Review standards, but would not be able to deny a project or reduce the number of units within residential development proposals based on subjective design review standards.

Category: ODDS Project

What is the ODDS project schedule?

The City has hired planning consultants Good City Co. to guide the work under the SB2 Planning Grant Implementation Program. The consultant team and City staff are developing a detailed community outreach and public meeting schedule, beginning in early 2021. Following discussions with the community, the City hopes to release draft updated residential development and design regulations in October 2021, followed by public hearings at the Planning Commission and the City Council. Updated regulations will be adopted by February 2022.

Category: ODDS Project