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San Dimas introduces objective design standards for multifamily and mixed‑use projects
Summary
The council introduced an ordinance to add objective site and building design standards for multifamily and mixed‑use development, intended to preserve local design expectations while complying with state streamlining laws; staff did not include unlimited discretionary waivers and proposed limited waiver language as an alternative.
The San Dimas City Council on June 24 introduced Ordinance 13‑29, a municipal‑code amendment establishing objective design standards for multifamily residential and mixed‑use developments.
Community Development Director Louis Tirico explained that recent state housing laws have limited local discretionary review for certain by‑right projects and that objective standards allow the city to ensure appearance and site design while complying with streamlining requirements. The standards cover site‑design elements (parking, circulation, walls and open space) and building design (massing, articulation, colors and materials).
Tirico said the planning commission recommended allowing unlimited waivers subject to the commission’s approval, but staff and the city attorney recommended against discretionary waivers because that could conflict with state law and the city’s code. Staff offered an alternative to limit waivers to up to three waivers in each standards category, with procedural safeguards and ineligibility for projects not eligible for streamlining.
Council introduced the ordinance and waived further reading; the motion carried 5–0. Staff will return with final ordinance language and implementation procedures.
