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Kingsburg planning commission weighs objective design standards for multifamily housing
Summary
City staff proposed adopting objective design standards for multifamily developments — and some ADUs — to meet state requirements, reduce subjective review, and give applicants clearer expectations. Staff said drafts and consultantsresources will be returned to the commission for consideration in January.
HOLLY OWEN, community development director for the City of Kingsburg, told the Planning Commission on Oct. 9 that staff will begin drafting objective design standards for multifamily housing, including potential guidelines for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), to satisfy state requirements and provide clearer, enforceable expectations for future projects.
The move responds in part to state legislation and the city—s housing element programs: "Objective means objective," Owen said, explaining that standards must be measurable, verifiable and free of personal judgment so applicants and reviewers know what is required. She cited Senate Bill 35 as a major driver of the state—s emphasis on such standards.
Owen said the objective standards would apply primarily to multifamily-zoned parcels outside Kingsburg—s form-based code area (for example, parcels north of Sierra) and could draw from existing documents such as the form-based code and the North Kingsburg Specific Plan. "This is the enforceable way to do this," she said, adding that the standards would be…
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