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Solvang workshop favors objective village standards, staff to draft 49% "new-structure" carve-out for R-3 lots
Summary
At a March 13 joint workshop, Solvang planning staff and review committees discussed converting subjective guidelines to objective standards for the Village Design District, proposing that new buildings be limited to 49% residential gross floor area to preserve DRC design control for commercial-majority projects.
Solvang officials and advisory committees met March 13 to workshop changes to objective design standards for R-3 (multifamily) lots inside the Village Design District, focusing on how to balance state housing law with the towns Danish-village character.
Rafael, a city planning staff member leading the session, said the city must adopt objective standards for projects that are majority residential under state law and noted the Housing Accountability Act constrains subjective denials of housing. "The city can require a Danish design element through the objective standards," Rafael said, framing objective rules as a measurable baseline for future proposals.
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