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Commission studies objective design standards for smaller buildings; debate centers on exterior corridors and affordability
Summary
Planning staff presented draft objective design standards for 1–4 unit and 1–3 story multifamily buildings intended to speed approvals and improve accessibility; commissioners and public commenters debated limits on single-loaded exterior corridors, façade treatments, and waiver processes. Staff stressed corridors are limited (not banned) and waivers/regular design review remain available.
Planning staff on June 4 introduced draft objective design standards (ODS) for 1–4 family dwellings and 1–3 story multifamily and mixed-use buildings, saying the standards aim to make missing-middle housing easier and faster to build while protecting accessibility and street-facing design.
Ruslan Fedebao, who presented the draft, tied the new ODS to the city’s prior adoption of 4–8 story ODS and cited a recent Jack London Square project as an example of how ODS-based ministerial review can accelerate approvals. He outlined key design considerations: simplified context-area methodology (block-face survey), minimum pedestrian…
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