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Planning commission reviews objective design standards for downtown multifamily projects
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Summary
City planners and PlaceWorks presented draft objective design standards (ODS) for downtown multifamily and mixed-use development to speed state-mandated ministerial review and preserve downtown character. Commissioners supported adding graphics, prohibiting certain low-quality materials and clarifying frontage and fencing rules before the March public hearing.
The City of Hollister continued its Phase 3 zoning work with a presentation of draft objective design standards (ODS) intended to streamline design review for qualifying multifamily and mixed-use projects in the Downtown Mixed Use (DMU) district.
Senior planner Amber Cameron said the ODS are funded by a REAP 2 grant and are intended to create objective, measurable design criteria so staff can conduct ministerial checklist reviews without subjective judgment. Associate principal Greg Goodfellow of PlaceWorks summarized outreach to date (a mailed postcard open house and an online survey with 72 responses) and walked commissioners through the draft structure: separate chapters for block‑scale multifamily and house‑scale projects, topics including site design, pedestrian experience, building form, historic-character compatibility, open space and landscaping, and an appendix checklist for staff review.
Goodfellow emphasized that the ODS do not rezone property or change density; they set measurable standards (for example, minimum pedestrian‑path widths and transition zones adjacent to historic contributors) so eligible projects can be reviewed ministerially. He said the standards are designed to preserve downtown walkability, lighting, tree canopy and historic elements while allowing developers predictable, numerical criteria.
Commissioners asked whether the checklist scores categories equally (Goodfellow: yes), whether materials can be regulated (yes), and urged staff to prohibit low-quality or corporate-style facades and chain-link fencing in street-facing contexts. Staff agreed to add figures and photographic examples to the draft and to expand the prohibited-materials language and fencing guidance for visible frontage zones.
Staff will incorporate the commission’s feedback, add illustrative figures to the packet and return the ODS for a March 26 recommendation to city council; the first city-council reading is scheduled for April 20.
