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Planning commission approves ODS update with Chapter 5 removed, 10‑foot separation set
Summary
The commission voted 3–0 to recommend City Council adopt revisions to the Residential Objective Design Standards that add rules for single‑family/duplex types and ADUs, remove Chapter 5 (a checklist), and set inter‑building distance separation at 10 feet while exempting single homes on single lots in rural/state residential zones.
The Murrieta Planning Commission voted 3–0 on May 13 to forward revised Residential Objective Design Standards (ODS) to City Council after amending staff's recommendation.
Dennis Watts, senior planner with the planning division, summarized the changes as a staff effort to comply with recent state housing laws and to add objective standards for single‑family, duplex, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) configurations. "I also have Ellen Loomis, beside me. He's with PlaceWorks who is assisting with the update as well," Watts said during the presentation. PlaceWorks consultant Alan Lewis illustrated new site typologies such as lane courts and residential drives and urged standards to improve livability, including decorative paving, landscaping and shade trees.
Commissioners debated the ODS' proposed reduction of minimum distance separation between structures. Alan Lewis told the commission the design goal is to allow smaller for‑sale products that the market is building: "We're seeing this across the board ... fairly densely packed development of single family, sometimes duplex homes." After discussion, Commissioner Woycek moved to adopt staff recommendations with exceptions: remove Chapter 5 from the ODS, set distance separation at 10 feet, and exempt one home on one lot in rural and state residential zones; Chairman Rubin seconded. The motion carried 3–0.
Why it matters: staff said the amendments aim to create objective, ministerial review standards so qualifying housing projects can be processed without discretionary hearings and to reduce the risk that the city will be found by state reviewers to have standards that make some lawful projects infeasible. Staff also noted the city used SCAG REAP grant funding to hire PlaceWorks at no cost to the city.
Next steps: staff will prepare the ordinance and the code amendments for City Council consideration, with a target to introduce the ordinance on June 2 and return for second reading June 16.
