Concord City Council
September 12, 2023

1 COUNCILMEMBERS
Laura M. Hoffmeister, Mayor
Edi E. Birsan, Vice Mayor
Dominic D. Aliano
Laura M. Nakamura
Carlyn S. Obringer
Civic Center
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
www.cityofconcord.org
Concord City Council
Regular Meeting
Tuesday,
September 12, 2023
6:00 p.m. - Open Session Council Chamber
1950 Parkside Drive
and/or Various
telephonic/electronic
locations
*IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MEETING PARTICIPATION* Members of the public are invited to attend and participate at: Council Chamber, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, CA.

As a courtesy and technology permitting, members of the public may continue to provide live remote oral public comment via the City’s Zoom Platform. However, the City cannot guarantee that the public’s access to teleconferencing technology will be uninterrupted, and technical difficulties may occur from time to time. In those instances, so long as the public may still attend the meeting in person, the meeting will continue. Members of the public desiring to provide comments as a part of the meeting are encouraged to either submit written comments by 3:00 p.m. prior to the meeting or to attend the meeting in person.

Spanish interpretation is available in the Council Chamber during the meeting.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
The public is invited to participate in the City Council meeting using any of the following methods:

1. IN PERSON:
a.Members of the public can provide in-person comments in the Council Chamber.

Members of the public are encouraged, but not required, to fill out a speaker card. The Council Chamber will have seating available for members of the public to attend in person up to full seating capacity.

Please note
6:00 p.m.

Meeting Start
2 2. REMOTE:
a. Zoom:
https://cityofconcord.zoom.us/j/84951092732?pwd=cTNMM2dNMnkxWTVqdDRxRm 45cytHdz09 or Zoom Webinar ID: 849 5109 2732 and Passcode: 823217 b.Zoom Phone Numbers. Dial Toll Free: (669) 900-6833 or (346) 348-7799 or (253) 215- 8782.
c.During the meeting, each period for public comment will be announced, and participants may use the “Raise Hand” feature on Zoom to request to speak. If calling in via Zoom use *9 to raise and lower your hand. The meeting host will call on you, by name, and promote you to panelist in the webinar so you can be seen via your camera. Please enable your microphone when it is your turn to speak. In order to ensure the orderly administration of the meeting using this method, providing your name is encouraged, but is not required. (If you need instructions on how to use this feature, please contact the City Clerk by 3:00 p.m. of the meeting date at [email protected]).

3. EMAIL:
a.Public comments can also be submitted via email to [email protected]. Please note that emailed comments will not be read aloud by staff. Any public comments received up until 3:00 p.m. of the meeting date will be:

1. distributed to the Council before the meeting,

2. posted online for public inspection at
https://stream.ci.concord.ca.us/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/Search, and

3. inserted into the meeting record.
b.As emails containing public meeting comments are part of the official record, note that personal contact information may be published if it is included with your email.

4. TO WATCH OR LISTEN ONLY:
a.Watch on TV on Comcast Channel 28, Astound/Wave Channel 1026, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99
b.Watch the TV broadcast through the City’s website by following THIS LINK c.Watching Live Streaming of the meeting by following THIS LINK d.Join the Zoom webinar by following THIS LINK
3 OPEN SESSION

1. OPENING
Roll Call – Announcements/Consideration and Approval of Requests by Councilmembers to Participate Remotely Pursuant to AB 2449 Pledge of Allegiance – Councilmember Nakamura

2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
This is a 15-minute Public Comment Period for items within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction that are not on this agenda. Each speaker will be limited to approximately three minutes.

State law prohibits the City Council from acting at this meeting on any matter raised during the Public Comment Period. Please see “How to Participate” above.

3. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
The public is entitled to address the City Council on items appearing on the Consent Calendar before or during the City Council’s consideration of the Consent Calendar. Adoption of the Consent Calendar may be made by one motion of the City Council, provided that any Councilmember, individual or organization may request removal of an item from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.

If a request for removal of an item from the Consent Calendar has been received, the Mayor may defer action on the particular item and place the same on the regular agenda for consideration in any order s/he deems appropriate. Please see “How to Participate” above. a. Considering – approval of a Task Order with Advanced Mobility Group under the existing Master Service Agreement (MSA), Agreement No. CCA - 6073, approved by City Council on June 27, 2023, to provide staff augmentation services for the Transportation Division for $300,000 per fiscal year (for a total of $600,000) through June 30 2025; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.

Recommended by the Director of Public Works.

CEQA: Not a project under Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
b. Considering – adoption of Ordinance No. 23-6, entitled, "An Ordinance Amending the City of Concord's Development Code (Title 18) by Adding Chapter 18.152 - Objective Design Standards (2023-2031 Housing Element Objective 15.3) (PL23101 - DC)." Ordinance No. 23-6 was introduced on August 22, 2023, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading.

Recommended by the City Clerk.

CEQA: Not a “project” and/or exempt under to Public Resources Code Section 21065, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15378 and/or 15061(b)(3).
4 c. Considering – adoption of a Resolution accepting the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and authorizing the City Manager or designee to submit, on behalf of the City of Concord, the CAPER, consistent with the program rules which govern the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Recommended by the Director of Community Development.

CEQA: Not a project/exempt per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b), 15378, and/or Public Resources Code Section 21065. d. Considering – introduction of an Ordinance amending the Concord Municipal Code (Title 18) by amending Section 18.200.180 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to bring the regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units into compliance with state law by reading of the title only and waiving further reading (PL20005 - DC). Recommended by the Director of Community Development.

CEQA: Statutorily exempt, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h).

4. CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
The public is entitled to address the City Council on items appearing on the agenda before or during the City Council’s consideration of that item. Each speaker will be limited to approximately three minutes. Please see “How to Participate” above.
a. Residential Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction Workshop:

This item was opened on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 and further discussion was continued to Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Please note that public comment on this item was taken on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 and the public comment period has been closed.

Consider information provided by staff and during public comment, and provide feedback on elements to be incorporated into a Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Amendments to the Just Cause for Eviction Component of the City’s Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance. (Continued from September 5, 2023) Report by Sophia Huckabay, Housing Manager.

CEQA: Not a project/exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b)(3), and/or 15378.

5. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
Persons who wish to speak on Public Hearings listed on the agenda will be heard when the public hearing is opened, except on public hearing items previously heard and closed to public comment.

After the public has commented, the item is closed to further public comment and brought to the Council level for discussion and action. Further comment from the audience will not be received unless requested by the Council. No public hearing shall commence after 10 p.m. unless approved by majority vote of the City Council. Please see “How to Participate” above. 5 a. Considering – the following:
1) Introduction of an Ordinance amending Concord Municipal Code, Title 18 (Development Code) Section 18.20.030 (Definitions) and CDC Chapter

18.185 (Affordable Housing), by reading of the title only and waiving further reading.
2) Adoption of a Resolution amending the Inclusionary Housing Fee by amending Exhibit A to Resolution No. 78-6042 establishing fees and charges for various municipal services in the City of Concord. (2023 – 2031 Housing Element Programs 10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4) (PL23100 – MC). This item is continued to Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

CEQA: Not a “project” under Public Resources Code 21065, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c) or 15378 and; in the alternative, if deemed a “project,” exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).

6. CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence received at the City Council meeting will be listed here on the Annotated Agenda.

7. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Closed Session Announcements
City Manager or Staff Reports
Council Reports
a Announcing – the Mayors appointment of two Councilmembers to serve on a Council Ad Hoc Committee to advise the City Manager regarding planning efforts around Diablo Creek Golf Course; the ad- hoc will exist until final committee recommendations are made to the full Council or until September 12, 2024, whichever is sooner.

CEQA: Not a project/exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b)(3), 15262, and/or 15378.

8. ADJOURNMENT
Next Meeting: Special Meeting
Date: 9/19/2023 6:00 PM

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
There is a 90-day limit for the filing of a challenge in the Superior Court to certain City administrative decisions and orders which require a hearing by law, the receipt of evidence, 6 and the exercise of discretion. The 90-day limit begins on the date the decision is final (Code of Civil Procedure §1094.6). Further, if you challenge an action taken by the City Council in court, you may be limited by California law to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in the hearing or in a written correspondence delivered to the City Council prior to or at the hearing.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Law, it is the policy of the City of Concord to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If you are disabled and require a copy of a public hearing notice, or an agenda and/or agenda packet in an appropriate alternative format; or if you require other accommodation, please contact the ADA Coordinator Tianjun Cao at (925) 671-3243 or [email protected], at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Advance notification within this guideline will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility.

Staff Report
Date: September 12, 2023
To: City Council
From: Valerie J. Barone, City Manager
Reviewed by: William Tarbox, Director of Public Works
Prepared by: Abhishek Parikh, Deputy Director of Public Works – Transportation [email protected]
(925) 671-3129
Subject: Considering approval of a Task Order with Advanced Mobility Group under the existing Master Service Agreement (MSA), Agreement No. CCA - 6073, approved by City Council on June 27, 2023, to provide staff augmentation services for the Transportation Division for $300,000 per fiscal year (for a total of $600,000) through June 30 2025; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.

CEQA: Not a project under Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

Report in Brief
The City Council is being requested to approve a task order with the Advanced Mobility Group (AMG) under the Master Service Agreement (MSA), Agreement No. CCA - 6073, approved by City Council on June 27, 2023, to provide staff augmentation services for the Transportation Division for $300,000 per fiscal year (for a total of $600,000) through June 30, 2025.

AMG will perform the following transportation engineering tasks, as assigned by the City, as part of this task order:
 CIP design review
 Traffic Operations and Signal Timing
 TCP and Fiber design review

3.a3.a3.a

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.a
September 12, 2023
 Advanced technology implementation support
 Transportation Grant application support services
 Other on-call related duties as assigned
Recommended Action
Approve a Task Order with Advanced Mobility Group under the existing Master Service Agreement approved by City Council on June 27, 2023, Agreement No. CCA - 6073, to provide staff augmentation services for the Transportation Division for $300,000 per fiscal year (for a total of $600,000) through June 30, 2025; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.

Background
For the past five years, AMG has provided staff augmentation services to the City’s Transportation Division through the on-call contract and has helped the division provide transportation engineering services and project delivery. AMG has assisted the transportation staff in preparing multiple successful grant applications. Additionally, AMG staff has been assisting the city staff with the following tasks:
 Reviewing residents’ request and preparing technical analysis  Review Traffic Control Plans for City’s Capital Improvement Projects as well as utility construction projects
 Review design plans for City projects, including complete streets and bike lane projects.
 Field inspection of signing and striping and traffic signals for construction projects.
 Peer review of traffic impact studies, signal timings, and traffic operations studies
 Field review of sight distance and signal performance.  Provide design review of fiber optic plans.
 Review and update signal timings for intersections and update timing through City’s ATMS software
 Prepare grant applications for various Local, Regional and Federal grant programs
 Conduct capacity analysis along congested corridors
 Prepare technology report and documents
 Provide technical and program management support for IDEA grant and coordinating with MTC and CCTA

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.a
September 12, 2023
 Review consistency with the broadband master plan for the City In order to continue providing these services and manage heavy workloads within the Transportation Division, staff recommends AMG continue to provide on-call transportation engineering services to the City.

Financial Impact
There are sufficient funds in the Transportation Division’s operating budget for this Task Order.

Public Contact
The City Council Agenda was posted.

Attachment

1. Task Order with Advanced Mobility Group, with Exhibit A – Scope of Work/Rates for Engineering Staff Augmentation Services

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28 TASK ORDER
TASK ORDER NO: 1
PROJECT NAME: Engineering Staff Augmentation Services RELATED TO MASTER AGREEMENT WITH: AMG, MA #6073
This Task Order is made and entered into this 12th day of September, 2023, the City of Concord, hereinafter referred to as CITY, and AMG hereinafter referred to as CONSULTANT.

Whereas, the parties hereto entered into a Master Agreement dated July 1, 2023, for a not-to-exceed total amount of $400,000 per fiscal year from the effective date of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028, to provide professional services as needed ; and
Whereas, CITY desires CONSULTANT to perform certain tasks as hereinafter described for:

Engineering Staff Augmentation Services
Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, and conditions set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

SECTION 1 - SCOPE OF SERVICES
CONSULTANT will provide Professional Traffic Engineering/Planning Services per Exhibit A, a proposal from CONSULTANT dated August 4, 2023, attached hereto and made a part hereof.

SECTION 2 – STAFFING AND ORGANIZATION
CONSULTANT will provide staff technically appropriate for this project.

SECTION 3 - COMPENSATION
CONSULTANT shall be compensated on a time-and-materials basis for basic services not to exceed $300,000 per fiscal year (for a total of $600,000) through June 30, 2025 as rendered under Section 1 of this Agreement. Compensation shall be in accordance with the terms and conditions indicated therein.

CONSULTANT may submit monthly statements for basic and additional services rendered. It is intended that payments to CONSULTANT will be made by CITY within thirty (30) days of receipt of invoice.

Task Order
No.

Date
Approved
Purchase
Order
$ Amount
Fiscal Year
$ Amount
Fiscal Year
Account Code
Attachment 1

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28 SECTION 4 – TASK ORDER SUMMARY
In Witness whereof, the parties have executed this Task Order No. 1 the day and year written above.

AMG CITY OF CONCORD
By: ____________________________________ By: ____________________________________ Name: Joy Bhattacharya
Title: Principal
Email:
[email protected]
Name: Valerie J. Barone
Title: City Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
City Attorney City Clerk
FINANCE DIRECTOR'S CERTIFICATION:

Concord, California
Date: _______________________

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT ADEQUATE FUNDS EXIST OR WILL BE RECEIVED DURING THE FISCAL YEARS 2023/24 AND 2024/25 TO PAY ANTICIPATED EXPENSES TO BE INCURRED PURSUANT TO THIS CONTRACT TO THE SUM OF UP TO $300,000 PER FISCAL YEAR.

ACCOUNT CODE: 5310-100-63800-500
__________________________________

FINANCE DIRECTOR'S SIGNATURE
TO#1_AMG_Engin Staff Augmentation
No. 2023-24 2024-25
1 9/12/2023 TBD $300,000 $300,000 5310-100-63800-500
Grand total, all task orders including this task
order #1
$300,000 $300,000
Master Agreement dated 7/1/2023, term
through 6/30/2028
$400,000
per fiscal year
$400,000
per fiscal year

Advanced Mobility Group | 3003 Oak Road, Suite 100, Walnut Creek, Ca. 94597 | www.amobility.com
Redefining Mobility.

August 4, 2023
Attention: Abhishek Parikh, T.E
Transportation Manager
City of Concord
Dear Mr. Parikh,
Subject: Engineering Staff Augmentation Services
This letter details the professional services that Advanced Mobility Group (AMG) will provide in a timely and efficient manner to assist the City of Concord with staff augmentation and traffic engineering project delivery. We will evolve as tasks and projects are assigned, so that each is staffed appropriately and is aligned for success.

AMG staff have provided on-call professional services on contracts throughout northern California, with 100+ task orders for city, county, state, and federal agencies. Our team has managed a variety of project types, overseen multiple projects simultaneously, and worked within parallel schedules to deliver successful results on time and within budget. This level of experience managing on-call contracts will ensure that there is no learning curve concerning the management of tasks, scheduling, budgets, and most importantly, the provision of capable staff resources.

AMG staff have experience not only within the Bay Area, but with all project types that the City of Concord is currently working on or will be managing as part of CCTA’s future funding program. Our extensive experience in traffic engineering, public outreach, bicycle planning and design, transit planning, Transportation Demand Management (TDM), travel demand modeling, traffic analysis/ simulation modeling, traffic calming, traffic impact studies, strategizing solutions, and project planning and design make us a well-suited partner, committed to extending this service to your community.
 Engineering staff augmentation support
 Engineering services for citizen requests
 CIP project review
 Traffic operations support
Exhibit A to Attachment 1

 Traffic safety review

SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Engineering Services will include but not limited to:

Engineering Staff On-going Support and Respond to Citizen Request We are proposing Chris Higbee as the point of contact for general day-to-day engineering tasks and would be available to work at the City offices for one day a week and remotely on an as-needed basis.
 He will be supported by additional AMG staff on an as-needed basis.  Day to day engineering tasks could involve:
o Conduct safety analysis, including SWITRS analysis for the entire city to identify locations with high accident levels.
o Respond to street lighting requests.
o Respond to citizen’s request
o Assist City of Concord staff with additional technical analysis to respond to complaints or issues with the City.
o Support signal design review
o Assist with construction support in the field
o Perform Plan Check services.
o Review traffic control plans
We are proposing Shabnam Yari for Signal Timing/ATMS.now & Traffic Operations. Shabnam will assist with day to day signal timing task as relates to, but not limited to the following:

Signal Timing/ATMS.now & Traffic Operations
 AMG staff will assist with developing signal timing plans and update for the City, including the signal operations updates for the City, which operates on ATMS.now.

AMG staff are conversant with ATMS.now and currently assisting City of Dublin in regular operations of their system.
 AMG staff will act as the liaison between Western Pacific Signals and the City to resolve any issues with the signal timing system. AMG staff has implemented ATMS.now timings and adaptive systems for multiple cities and have good working relationship with Trafficware.
 Prepare and/or review traffic signal timing plans as needed.  Assist City staff to implement slight modifications to signal timing citywide to adjust to the changes in traffic patterns.
 Act as the liaison between Cubic/Trafficware and the City to resolve any issues with the signal timing system.
 Respond to citizen request as pertaining to the traffic signal timing

CIP Design Review
 AMG staff will assist in reviewing safety design plans, including traffic signal upgrade projects, which includes the upgrade of signal equipment and implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) at selected signalized intersections.  AMG staff will assist in preparing and reviewing any comprehensive study of practical solutions to improve neighborhood livability by reducing traffic volumes, speeds, and cut-through traffic through residential neighborhood, implement road-diet strategies to improve quality of life and enhance safety along study corridors.  Review pedestrian/bicycle plans prepared for the City to ensure that plans meet the City standards.

Traffic Impact Study Review
 Oversee traffic impacts studies conducted for the City of Concord to establish consistency with City’s Traffic Impact Study guidelines and City’s latest General Plan update.
 Prepare and/or review Traffic Impact Studies.
 Review private development applications and coordinate with other departments or agencies to ensure the proposed designs of private development projects are compatible and consistent with City standards and regulations and State and Federal laws.
 Interact with private developers, engineers, other departments and public agencies and private utility companies on matters related to development processing.

TCP and Fiber Design Review
 AMG staff have completed multiple Traffic Control Plans (TCP) and have reviewed them on City’s behalf. AMG staff will continue reviewing TCPs submitted prior to any project requiring lane closures.
 AMG staff would assist the city in reviewing the fiber optic design plans. The review would include reviewing the design principles, reviewing the fiber optic schematic diagrams, specifications, and cost estimates.
 AMG staff would ensure that the fiber plans and TCPs are prepared in accordance to the City’s requirements and meet all City standards.

Advanced Technology Implementation Support
 City of Concord is planning on implementing advanced technologies that would benefit the residents, which include parking guidance system, video analytics system, etc.

AMG staff would work closely with City staff to assist in the deployment of advanced technologies for the City.
 AMG will prepare the functional requirements for the advanced technology projects and prepare the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the implementation of the projects.

 AMG will assist in systems integration of the advantaged technology system and work closely with the selected vendor to implement that project.  AMG has the capability across the entire spectrum of technology development, acquisition, and long-term support.

Transportation Grant and Support Services
The Grant Application Services will include but not limited to:
 AMG will prepare a list of all available grants opportunities that are available for the city to apply.
 AMG will prepare a list of grants by tracking all the available transportation grants that are being released as part of the Infrastructure Bill. In addition to the Infrastructure Bill, AMG will also track other State funded and federally funded grants opportunities.  AMG will make the City aware of any NOFO that is available for the city to pursue.

AMG staff will discuss with city staff and identify projects that will fit well for the NOFO and conduct a Go-NoGo meeting with the City staff.
 AMG will assist City with grant applications, including but not limited to, for the TFCA, ATP, HSIP, Safe Routes to School, IDEA, SS4A, and Section 130 grants. In addition to these grants, AMG will assist in the preparation of RAISE grant and other federal grants including the grants that will become available through the Infrastructure Bill (Building a Better America).
 AMG will assist City in creating a list of projects and prioritize them based on City needs and requirements. Match each project to a potential grant fund and prepare a proactive and detailed grant application plan.

AMG will conduct the necessary technical analysis required as part of the grant application package, including the benefit cost analysis.

BUDGET
AMG will bill on a time and material basis for a not to exceed budget of $300,000 per year for a total of $600,000 for a period of two years. The billing rates for staff are included in Table 1.

Table 1 – Rate Schedule
Joy Bhattacharya $285
Chris Higbee $150
Shabnam Yari $195
Vasavi Pannala $215
Kasra Behbahani $200
Ryan Sabiniano $120
Rose Clement $115
Matthew Boog $115
Andrea Flores $110
Staff Bill Rate
AMG is excited to continue supporting the City of Concord transportation division to deliver the project in a timely and efficient way.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need further clarification.

Regards,
Joy Bhattacharya, PE, PTOE
Vice President, Advanced Mobility Group
415-688-0024
[email protected]

Ord. No. 23-6 1
ORDINANCE NO. 23-6
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF CONCORD’S DEVELOPMENT CODE (TITLE 18) BY ADDING CHAPTER 18.152 - OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS (2023 – 2031 HOUSING ELEMENT OBJECTIVE 15.3) (PL23101 – DC)
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65800 et seq. provides for the amendment of any and all adopted City of Concord (“City”) zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; and WHEREAS, on September 29, 2017, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 35 (Wiener) into law, which amended Government Code Sections 65400 and 65582.1 and added Section 65913.4, requiring cities and counties to streamline the review and approval of eligible affordable housing projects through a ministerial process and only apply objective standards to such projects; and WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 330 (Skinner) into law, which amended Government Code Section 65589.5 and 65941.1 of the Government Code, relating to housing limiting a jurisdiction’s ability to deny a housing project when it complies with all objective general plan and zoning standards; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 9 (Atkins) into law, which amended Government Code Section 66452.6 of, and added Sections 65852.21 and 65411.7, requiring cities and counties to consider housing developments of no more than two residential units of at least 800 square feet on a single parcel within a single-family zoning district and to allow urban lot splits with another two residential units ministerially and only to impose objective design standards; and
WHEREAS, on September 28, 2022, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2011 (Wicks) into law, which amended Government Code Section 65400 and 65585, and added 65912.100-101 requiring jurisdictions to subject certain multifamily housing projects in commercial districts to a ministerial, streamlined

3.b3.b3.b

Ord. No. 23-6 2
approval process if the development satisfies specified objective planning standards; and WHEREAS, on September 28, 2022, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 6 (Caballero) into law, which amended Government Code Section 65913.4 and added Section 65852.24 requiring jurisdictions to deem certain multifamily housing projects in commercial districts as an allowable use on a parcel that is within a zone where office, retail, or parking are a principally permitted use and thus is subject to a ministerial, streamlined approval process; and
WHEREAS, the adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element Update identified the development and adoption of objective design standards as Objective 15.3; and WHEREAS, the City of Concord must amend the City’s Development Code, incorporating Chapter 18.152 into the City’s Development Code to provide new regulations for Objective Design Standards to ensure quality, economically feasible, and sustainable design under the streamlined review and approval process required by state law, including housing projects submitted under the Housing Accountability Act including those submitted under Senate Bill (SB) 35 (2017), SB 330 (2019), SB 9 (2021), Assembly Bill (AB) 2011 and SB 6 (2022) projects, (hereafter collectively referred to as “Housing Streamlining Laws”); and WHEREAS, in an effort to comply with Housing Streamlining Laws and anticipated removal of the discretionary design and site review process for certain housing projects, an amendment to the City’s Development Code regulating and implementing Objective Design Standards is proposed and attached hereto as Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, such text amendment is in the form of the proposed ordinance attached hereto as Exhibit A along with the 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards attached hereto as Exhibit B, incorporated by reference, in order to ensure quality, economically feasible, and sustainable design under the streamlined review and approval process required by State law (hereafter collectively referred to as “Amendment”); and WHEREAS, the City has complied with the requirements of the Local Planning Law

Ord. No. 23-6 3
(Government Code section 65100 et seq.), and the City’s applicable ordinances and resolutions with respect to approval of amendments to Title 18 of the Concord Municipal Code (“Development Code”); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after giving all public notices required by state Law and the Concord Municipal Code, held a duly noticed public hearing on August 2, 2023, on the proposed Amendment, which was continued to a date certain for a Special Meeting on Tuesday, August 8 at noon in the Council Chamber; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed Special Meeting on August 8, 2023, on the proposed Amendment, received the staff report and staff presentation, received comments from the public and interested parties, and discussed the matter after closing the public comments portion (“Planning Commission Information”); and WHEREAS, following the August 8, 2023 public hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 23-10PC recommending the City Council approve an Ordinance Amending the City’s Development Code (Title 18) by adding Chapter 18.152 – Objective Design Standards (Exhibit A) and adopting the 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards, incorporated by reference therein, as contained in Exhibit B, with recommended modifications for consideration by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City Council, after giving all public notices required by state law and the Concord Municipal Code, held a duly noticed public hearing on August 22, 2023, WHEREAS, at such public hearing, the City Council considered all oral and written information, testimony, and comments at the public hearing, the oral report from City staff, the written report from City staff dated August 22, 2023, attached materials, exhibits presented, the Planning Commission Information, and all other information that constitutes the record of proceedings related to the proposed Amendment, which are maintained at the offices of the City of Concord City Clerk (collectively, “City Council Information”), and declared their intent to approve and adopt the Amendment, with minor changes to Exhibit B, as directed by Council,

Ord. No. 23-6 4
now revised and updated.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CONCORD DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. All the facts set forth in the Recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated and adopted as findings of the City Council as if fully set forth herein.

Section 2. The City Council has reviewed, considered, and evaluated all of the Planning Commission Information, City Council Information, all other pertinent plans, documents, and testimony prior to acting upon Ordinance.

Section 3. The documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the City Council has based its decision are located in and may be obtained from the City of Concord Clerk’s Office, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, CA 94519.

Section 4. CEQA
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, Public Resources Code Section 21000, et. seq., as amended and implementing State CEQA Guidelines, Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations (collectively “CEQA”), the adoption of the Ordinance implementing the objective design standards and the 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards document do not constitute a “project” within the meaning of Public Resources Code Section 21065, 14 Cal Code Regs. Section 15060(c)(2) or 15378 because it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Even if the adoption of the Ordinance implementing the objective design standards and the 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards document did constitute a project under CEQA, the ODS documents fall within the “common sense” exemption set forth in 14 Cal. Code Regs. Section 15061(b)(3), excluding projects where “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment…” Therefore, the proposed ODS documents do not warrant further environmental review. This determination reflects the City’s

Ord. No. 23-6 5
independent judgement and analysis.

Section 5. The Amendment is consistent with the 2030 General Plan because the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element Update (HEU) contains objectives and policies to: 1) develop objective design standards for multifamily and mixed-use housing projects (Objective 15.3), 2) eliminate the discretionary Design and Site Review process for projects that meet all the objective standards (HEU Objective 15.2), and 3) facilitate streamlined review of emergency shelters, SROs, and group housing which currently require a discretionary Design and Site Review process for this use (HEU Objective 22.6.b). The Ordinance is necessary to achieve conformance with state law and removes barriers to the creation of additional housing opportunities as identified in policies in the City’s Housing Element.

Section 6. Development Code Findings
1) The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan.

The Amendment to incorporate Objective Design Standards (“ODS”) into the Development Code is consistent with the City’s 2030 General Plan because the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element Update (HEU) contains objectives and policies to: 1) develop objective design standards for multifamily and mixed-use housing projects (Objective 15.3), 2) eliminate the discretionary Design and Site Review process for projects that meet all the objective standards (HEU Objective 15.2), and 3) facilitate streamlined review of emergency shelters, SROs, and group housing which currently require a discretionary Design and Site Review process for this use (HEU Objective 22.6.b). The Ordinance is necessary to achieve conformance with state law and remove barriers to the creation of additional housing opportunities as identified in policies in the City’s Housing Element.
2) The proposed Amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the city.

The proposed Amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health,

Ord. No. 23-6 6
safety, convenience, or welfare of the city because housing has been declared a matter of statewide concern and this Ordinance will promote and streamline additional housing opportunities. All residential and mixed use housing projects are required to be constructed in conformance with building codes, particularly for matters of health and safety; therefore, the Amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City. 3) Zoning map amendments shall also find that the affected site is physically suitable, including absence of physical constraints, access, compatibility with adjoining land uses, and provision of utilities, for the requested zoning designation and proposed or anticipated uses and/or development.

This amendment does not include any amendments to the zoning map.

Section 7. Staff is hereby directed and authorized to update the incorporated Exhibit B:
2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards by including additional illustrations that improve the usability of the document to the extent such additions are in strict compliance with the 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards as adopted by this Ordinance No. 23-6.

Section 8. The City Council does hereby pass and adopt this Ordinance No. 23-6.

Section 9. Concord Development Code, Title 18, Chapter 18.152 (Objective Design Standards) is hereby incorporated into the Development Code, as set forth in Exhibit A, with Exhibit B incorporated by reference therein, attached hereto and made a part hereof. //
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Ord. No. 23-6 7
Section 10. This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days following passage and adoption. In the event a summary of said Ordinance is published in lieu of the entire Ordinance, a certified copy of the full text of this Ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk at least five (5) days prior to its adoption and within fifteen (15) days after its adoption, including the vote of the Councilmembers. Additionally, a summary prepared by the City Attorney’s Office shall be published once at least five (5) days prior to the date of adoption of this Ordinance and once within fifteen (15) days after its passage and adoption, including the vote of the Councilmembers, in the East Bay Times, a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Concord.
____________________________________
Laura M. Hoffmeister
Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
Joelle Fockler, MMC
City Clerk
(Seal)
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Ord. No. 23-6 8
Ordinance No. 23-6 was duly and regularly introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Concord held on August 22, 2023, and was thereafter duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on September 12, 2023, by the following vote:

AYES: Councilmembers -
NOES: Councilmembers -
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers -
ABSENT: Councilmembers -
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the forgoing is a true and correct copy of an ordinance duly and regularly introduced, passed, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Concord, California.
_______________________________
Joelle Fockler, MMC
City Clerk
Attachments:

Exhibit A: Concord Development Code Chapter 18.152
Exhibit B: 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards, dated September 12, 2023

Chapter 18.152

OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
Sections:

18.152.010 Purpose and intent

18.152.020 Applicability

18.152.030 Relationship to other standards and requirements

18.152.040 Exceptions

18.152.050 Review and decision procedure

18.152.060 Post-decision procedures

18.152.010 Purpose and intent
This chapter is intended to establish and apply objective design standards to all new residential and mixed- use development projects within the City of Concord where state law limits the City’s enforcement of design standards to objective standards or where state law or the Concord Municipal Code requires a ministerial approval process, with the exception of those projects described in Section

18.152.040. The purpose of this chapter is to:
a) Create high-quality, enforceable objective design standards. b) Streamline the review and approval process for qualifying residential and mixed-use projects.
c) Ensure greater certainty for applicants, decision makers, residents, and the public. d) Enhance the existing character and to maintain compatibility with other established uses within the City as new development and property improvements occur. e) Continue to ensure the highest level of design quality while allowing for appropriate flexibility to create variation.
f) Create objective design standards that involve no personal or subjective judgement, verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion. g) Facilitate the implementation of the General Plan.
h) Update standards on a timely basis to respond to new legislative actions.

18.152.020 Applicability
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all new residential and mixed-use development projects where state law limits the City’s enforcement of design standards to objective standards or where state law or the City Code requires a ministerial approval process.

B. The 2023 City of Concord Objective Design Standards are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference herein.

Exhibit A

18.152.030 Relationship to other standards and requirements The City intends this chapter to establish reasonable, uniform and comprehensive standards and procedures for housing development within the city’s territorial boundaries, consistent with and to the extent permitted under federal and California State law. The standards and procedures contained in this chapter are intended to, and should be applied to, protect and promote public health, safety and welfare, and also balance the benefits that flow from robust, comprehensive housing development with the city’s local values, which include, without limitation, the aesthetic character of the City, its neighborhoods and community.

The provisions of this chapter are intended to supersede other chapters and design guidelines, except where noted below
A. Standards for Applicable Zoning District. The 2023 Objective Design Standards supplement and are in addition to the development standards for the applicable zoning district in which a proposed project is located.

B. Subdivision Regulations. Title 17 establishes regulations for the subdivision of land. Where conflict exists between the 2030 Objective Design Standards and the provisions of Title 17, the provisions of Title 17, shall govern.

C. Relation to Other Regulations. Where a conflict occurs between the requirements of the 2023 Objective Design Standards and other city requirements, the more restrictive provisions shall apply.

D. The 2023 Objective Design Standards provide language, diagrams, sketches, and graphics to assist developers and the public in understanding the standards and how they shall be applied to qualifying residential projects.

18.152.40 Exceptions
A. Projects seeking to deviate or to not comply with the objective design standards are required to comply with Chapter 18.415 Design and Site Review.

B. Exempt Housing Projects. The provisions of this chapter are not be applicable to:

1. Small lot subdivisions pursuant to Chapter 18.155.

2. Single-family detached homes as part of a major subdivision.

3. Accessory dwelling units as defined in CDC Section 18.200.180.

4. Renovations, additions, or expansions of existing residential buildings.

5. Mixed-use projects with less than two-thirds of the building square footage dedicated to housing.

6. Housing developed within the Concord Naval Weapons Station, which will have its own set of objective design standards developed as a part of the Concord Reuse Project Specific Plan.

18.152.50 Review and decision procedure
A. The Planning Division shall be the review authority for projects subject to the objective design standards.

B. The developer shall submit all materials required by the Planning Division, including any materials required by checklists created pursuant to Chapter 18.405.

B. The review authority shall evaluate the application based on the project’s conformance with the objective development and design standards
C. In approving a project subject to objective design standards, the Planning Division may impose conditions of approval as deemed necessary to:

1. Ensure that the proposal conforms to the general plan and other applicable plans or policies adopted by the City Council;

2. Ensure that the proposal meets the requirements of the zoning district where the proposal is located, as well as any other applicable provisions of the Development Code; and

3. Comply with the objective design standards as adopted within CDC Chapter 18.152.

D. Residential projects utilizing objective design standards are evaluated under a ministerial review process for conformance with this section. The review authority may restrict or deny a proposed residential design if it determines that the design is not consistent with the objective design standards.

In this case, the project shall proceed through the Design and Site Review process, consistent with Chapter 18.415.

18.152.060 Post-decision procedures
The procedures and requirements relating to appeals, project revisions, issuance of a building permit, effective dates, lapse of approval, extensions, and revocations located in Division VIII of this title (Administration) shall apply following the decision on an application for an objective design standards review. To the extent any state law limits the total number of public hearings that may be held on a project, including appeals, the Zoning Administrator shall have the discretion, in addition to that already provided for within CMC Section 18.510.010, to refer the appeal directly to the Council for a decision.

2023 City of Concord
Objective Design
Standards
Multiple Family
Residential Objective
Design Standards (Final)
September 6, 2023
Exhibit B

Project Team
City Staff
Mindy Gentry, Planning Manager
Joan Ryan, Principal Planner
MIG
Mukul Malhotra, Principal and Director of Urban Design
Laura Stetson, Principal
Christine Scott Thomson, Director of Sustainability /Urban Planning & Design Saul Vasquez, Planner & Urban Designer
Ellie Gertler, Planner
Shikha Merchant, Urban Designer
Acknowledgements
City Council
Laura Hoffmeister, Mayor
Edi E. Birsan, Vice Mayor
Dominic Aliano, Councilmember
Laur
a Nakamura, Councilmember
Carlyn Obringer, Councilmember
Planning Commission
Jason Laub, Chair
Aeysha Corio, Vice Chair
Ajit Kaushal, Member
Craig Mizutani, Member
Raymond Barbour, Member
Design Review Board
Kirk Shelby, Chair
Jill Finn, Vice Chair
Ronald Leone, Public Member
Jack Moore, Design Professional
Raymond Barbour, Planning Commission Representative
Housing and Economic Development
Edi E. Birsan, Chair
Carlyn S. Obringer, Member
ii ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

Table of Contents ▪ iii
Table of Contents
Chapter 01
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A. Purpose, Intent, and Applicability 2 B. R e l a ti o n s h i p t o O t h e r S t a n d a r d s a n d R e q u i r e m e n t s 3 C. Implementation 3 Chapter 02
Citywide Objective Design Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A. Site Plan 6

1. Site Planning and Orientation

2. Parking
B. Architectural/Building Design 10

1. Massing and Articulation 10

2. Roof Treatments 11

3. Windows and Doors 12

4. Garage Doors 12

5. Balconies 12

6. Architectural Detailing 13

7. Materials 14

8. Colors 15 C. Landscape Design 16

1. Landscaping 16

2. Street Trees 17

3. Plant and Non-plant Materials 18

4. Water Conservation 18 D. Detailing 19

1. Public Art 19

2. Loading, Service and Refuse Areas 19

3. EV Charging Stations 20

4. Utility and Mechanical Equipment 20

5. Lighting 21

6. Emergency Access, Addresses, and Mailboxes 22

7. Signage 22

8. Fencing and Retaining Walls 23 Chapter 03
Downtown Standands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 A. Site Plan 28

1. Site Planning and Orientation 28

2. Parking 29 B. Architectural and Building Design 30

1. Massing and Articulation 30

2. Roof Treatments 32

3. Ground-Floor Retail/Commercial Use within Mixed Use Buildings 33

4. Architectural Style for Inner and Outer Core only 35

5. Windows and Doors 39

6. Balconies 39

7. Materials 40

8. Color 41 C. Landscape Design 42

1. Landscape 42

2. Urban Landscape Improvements 42 D. Detailing 42

1. Architectural and Building Enhancements 42

2. Patio Enclosure (Fencing) 43

3. Loading, Service and Refuse Areas 43

4. Emergency Access, Addresses, and Mailboxes 43

5. Utility and Mechanical Equipment 43

6. Signage 43

7. Fencing and Retaining Walls 43 Chapter 04
Corridor Standards
.................. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .45 A. Site Plan 48

1. Site Planning and Orientation 48

2. Parking 48 B. Architectural/Building Design 49

1. Massing and Articulation 49 6 7
42

iv ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

2. Roof Treatments 50

3. Windows and Doors 50

4. Balconies 50

5. Materials 50

6. Color 50 C. Landscape Design 51

1. Public Right-of-Way Landscaping 51 D. Detailing 51

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas 51

2. Patio Enclosure (Fencing) 51

3. Emergency Access, Addresses, and Mailboxes 51

4. Utility and Mechanical Equipment 51

5. Lighting 51

6. Fencing and Retaining Walls 51 Chapter 05
Neighborhood Standards ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 A. Site Plan 56

1. Site Planning and Orientation 56

2. Parking 57 B. Architectural/Building Design 58

1. Massing and Articulation 58

2. Roof Treatment 59

3. Windows and Doors 59

4. Detailing 59

5. Balconies 59

6. Materials 59

7. Color 59

8. Special Neighborhood Architectural Design Treatments

9. G o v e r n m e n t C o d e S e c ti o n s 6 5 8 5 2 . 2 1 a n d 6 6 4 1 1 . 7 C. Landscape Design 66

1. Treatment of Setbacks 66

2. Types of Plant Materials 66 D. Detailing 67

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas 67

2. Emergency Access, Addresses, and Mailboxes 67

3. Utility and Mechanical Equipment 67

4. Lighting 67

5. Fencing 67 Chapter 06
Special Case Standards (Infill, with Sensitive Transitions, Emergency Shelters) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 A. Site Plan 70

1. Neighborhood Context 70

2. Site Planning and Orientation 70

3. Parking 70 B. Architectural/Building Design 71

1. Massing and Articulation 71

2. Roof Treatment 71

3. Windows and Doors 71

4. Color 71 C. Landscape Design 72 D. Emergency Shelters, SROs, and Group Homes 72 E. Detailing 73

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas 73

2. Utility and Mechanical Equipment 73

3. Lighting 73

4. Fencing and Retaining Walls 73 Appendix ......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 A. Definitions 76 B. Abbreviations 77 C. References 78 D. Area Maps 78 E. Image Credits 83 51 60
65

Table of Contents ▪ v
List of Figures
Figure 1. Downtown development with projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Figure 2. Corridor development with projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Figure 3. Neighborhood townhome development with projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Figure 4. Common open spaces accessible to all residents and connected by site- wide pedestrian circulation system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Figure 5. Vehicular parking and access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Figure 6. Pedestrian access from parking garage to sidewalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Figure 7. Bicycle locker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Figure 8.Indoor bicycle room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Figure 9. Downtown development
....................................... 10
Figure 10. Corridor development ........................................ 10 Figure 11. Neighborhood townhome development ......................... 10 Figure 12. Roof with articulated saddles .................................. 11 Figure 13. Roof materials and color consistent with material palette . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Figure 14. Window, door articulation for porch and balcony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Figure 15. Architectural detailing for Downtown buildings ................... 13 Figure 16. Architectural detailing with canopies, balconies, color change, and material change for Downtown buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Figure 17. Multiple colors on buildings of Corridor and Neighborhood development that include earth tone colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Figure 18. Multiple colors on Downtown buildings that are consistent with color palette
.............................................................. 15 Figure 19. Trees 50’ apart in parking lots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Figure 20. Parking lots with trees and bioswales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Figure 21. Street trees in planter strips ................................... 17 Figure 22. Street trees in narrow planter areas meeting minimum soil volume standards by using structured soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Figure 23. California native planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Figure 24. Raised curb separations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Figure 25. Metal art element
........................................... 19
Figure 26. Venetian plaster ............................................. 19 Figure 27. EV Charging Station .......................................... 20 Figure 28. Wall mounted or patio mounted mechanical equipment screen . . . . . . 20 Figure 29. Sconce exterior fixture light respecting the architectural style of building 21 Figure 30. Bollard lights along pedestrian paths ............................ 21 Figure 31. Illuminated building identification visible from public street ......... 22 Figure 32. Ground Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Figure 33. Fences consistent with architectural design and material palette . . . . . 23 Figure 34.Typical Downtown multi-family type building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Figure 35. Downtown Map ............................................. 27 Figure 36. Multi family residential with individual entrances to ground floor units 28 Figure 37. Residential entries provided at grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Figure 38. Active uses along street in front of structured parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Figure 39. Parking signage for underground and podium structures . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Figure 40. Parking warning detail for podium parking ....................... 29 Figure 41. Pedestrian access ............................................ 30 Figure 42. Break in the wall plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Figure 43. Building wall variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Figure 44. Cornice projections on various floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

vi ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 45. Minimum two (2) roof forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Figure 46. Green roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Figure 47. Ground floor commercial use within mixed-use buildings ........... 33 Figure 48. Ground floor appearing taller than 16’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Figure 49. Ground floor commercial made visually distinct through use of different color and material .................................................... 34 Figure 50. Ground floor commercial articulated with belt course, recessed doors and awnings
......................................................... 34 Figure 51. Spanish Colonial Revival - Primary Style .......................... 35 Figure 52. Mediterranean revival - primary style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Figure 53. Mediterranean revival styled building ........................... 36 Figure 54. Arts and Crafts - Secondary Style ............................... 37 Figure 55. Italianate - Secondary Style .................................... 38 Figure 56. Inner core window recessed with metal frames ................... 39 Figure 58. Outer core windows on upper floors with large spans and minimal recessed frames
...................................................... 39 Figure 57. Inner core window recessed with gridded iron work ............... 39 Figure 59. Exterior Building Wall Material Transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Figure 60. Stucco material less than 60% of building exterior ................. 40 Figure 61. New material or color every 20’ ................................ 40 Figure 62. Exterior walls with minimum 3 earth tone color palette . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Figure 63. Landscaping with pervious surfaces and pavers ................... 42 Figure 64. Landscape vertical elements ................................... 42 Figure 65. Raised patio with maximum three (3) foot tall wooden enclosure .... 43 Figure 66. Patios with a locking gate at grade level enclosed with metal railing, concrete wall and landscaping area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Figure 67: Typical Corridor multi-family building type
....................... 46
Figure 68: Corridors map .............................................. 47 Figure 69: Vehicular surface parking, access and location standard for Corridor Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Figure 70: Sloping carports separated by landscaping
....................... 48
Figure 71: Massing and articulation ...................................... 49 Figure 72: Balconies, openings, and elements for breaking mass of the building 49 Figure 73: Roof texture consistent with architectural materials palette ......... 50 Figure 74: Primary entrances along ground floor with porch minimum four (4) feet deep and more than sixty-four (64) square feet in size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Figure 75: Trees in front yard along sidewalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Figure 76: Fencing with change in height and material
...................... 51
Figure 77: Typical neighborhood townhome multi-family building type ........ 54 Figure 78: Aerial view of existing neighborhood ............................ 55 Figure 79: Existing housing typology in neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Figure 80: Primary entrance with porches, projections over doorway with change in material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Figure 81: Garage entrance 16’ wide
..................................... 57
Figure 82: Example massing ............................................ 58 Figure 83: Building bulk/ Relief and Rhythm ............................... 58 Figure 84: Changing roof profiles with multiple roof forms ................... 59 Figure 85: Exterior wall with three colors including trim ..................... 59 Figure 86: North Todos Santos neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Figure 87: Housing typology in North Todos Santos neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Figure 88: Housing typology in North Todos Santos neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 List of Figures

Table of Contents ▪ vii
Figure 89: Housing typology in North Todos Santos neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Figure 90: Housing typology in North Todos Santos neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Figure 91: Eichler neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Figure 92: Homes in Eichler neighborhood ................................ 63 Figure 94: Homes in Eichler neighborhood ................................ 63 Figure 93: Homes in Eichler neighborhood ................................ 63 Figure 95: Homes in Eichler neighborhood ................................ 63 Figure 96: Canterbury Village neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Figure 97: Housing typology in Canterbury Village neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Figure 98: Housing typology in Canterbury Village neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Figure 99: Landscaped front and exterior side yards ........................ 66 Figure 100: Landscaped front yards ...................................... 66 Figure 101: Fencing and change in plane and material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Figure 102: Roof pitch similar to adjoining residential structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Figure 103: Front entry highlighted with stoop ............................ 70 Figure 104: Building walls with adequate window detail ..................... 71 Figure 105: Exterior building walls with minimum two colors including trim .... 71 Figure 106: Landscape outdoor screening along 10’ side setbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Figure 107: Common outdoor gathering space at group housing with benches, tables, and chairs ..................................................... 72 Figure 108: Ground mounted mechanical equipment screen ................. 73 List of Figures List of Tables
Table 1: Building Wall Massing and Articulation Dimensions Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Table 2: Soil Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

viii ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 1
01 Introduction
A. Purpose, Intent, and Applicability ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 B. Relationship to Other Standards and Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 C. Implementation .................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
A. Purpose, Intent, and
Applicability
a. The objective design standards draw from and
complement existing context-based design
guidelines criteria set forth in land policy
documents adopted by the City, which include
the City of Concord Citywide Design Guidelines,
Downtown Concord Design Guidelines, North
Todos Santos Design Guidelines, Downtown
Corridors Plan, and the Downtown Concord
Specific Plan.
b. These objective design standards are intended to
maintain high-quality site planning and building
architecture for residential and mixed-use
residential projects with a goal of integrating
new residential development into the existing
community fabric. The standards are prepared
to facilitate development in a manner that
conforms to past community design priorities.

The purpose of the objective design standards
is to reduce barriers to housing development
by accelerating housing production through
the clear communication of design objectives
and streamlined review for qualifying housing
projects.
c. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to
all new qualifying residential and mixed-use
development projects, where state law limits
the City of Concord’s enforcement of design
standards to objective standards or where
state law or the City Code require a ministerial

01. Introduction
The following objective design standards apply to
all new residential projects throughout the City
of Concord, with the exception of those projects
described in Concord Development Code (CDC)
Section 18.152.040. These projects include multi-
family, emergency shelters, single-room occupancies,
group housing, and mixed-use residential
developments with at least two-thirds of the overall
building square footage dedicated as residential.

These objective design standards address a variety
of building forms, including high-rise, mid-rise and
mixed-use buildings, row houses, townhouses,
duplex, triplex, and four-plex units, as well as certain single-family homes.

The design standards distinguish between projects
in Downtown Concord (the urban core of the
community), Corridors (along a set of major arterials), Neighborhood (along residential streets), and Special
Case (infill, sensitive transition projects, emergency
shelters for unhoused persons) projects.*
approval process. Qualifying projects include
those referenced in the following:
i. Government Code Section 65913.4 (Senate
Bill (SB) 35),
ii. Government Code Sections 65589.5 and
65941.1 (SB 330),
iii. Government Code Sections 66411.7 and
65852.21 (SB 9),
iv. Government Code Section 65912.101 (AB
2011),
v. Government Code Section 65913.4 (SB 6),
and
vi. Any future State legislation or City
regulations that require ministerial approval
for residential or mixed-use projects.
d. This City of Concord Municipal Code Chapter

18.152 and associated documents do not
apply to non-qualifying single-family homes,
non-qualifying multi-family properties, historic
properties, commercial-only projects, and any
other non-residential developments.

Chapter 01 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 3
B. Relationship to Other
Standards and Requirements
a. All projects are required to comply with all
regulations and provisions in the Concord
Municipal Code.
b. The provisions in this document are intended to
supersede other design guidelines, except where
noted in CDC Chapter 18.152.

C. Implementation
a. Application checklists. The Planning Division shall
prepare and maintain the appropriate checklist of
requirements for submittal and review of
qualifying housing projects.
b. The Community Development Director, or his/her
designee, shall be the final reviewer and decision
maker for compliance with the objective design
standards. Staff is authorized to update the 2023
City of Concord Objective Design Standards by
including additional illustrations that improve the
usability of the document, to the extent such
additions are in strict compliance with the 2023
City of Concord Objective Design Standards, as
adopted by Ordinance No. 23-6.
c. Appeals and other post decision procedures can
be found in CDC Section 18.152.060.
* Graphics utiliz
ed in the following pages are to
illustrate the specific component identified and may
not necessarily capture all standards of the document
within the graphic. Graphics shall not be construed to
represent standards that are not specifically identified in the graphic. Photos are illustrative for conceptual
purposes, the text shall prevail.

4 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 5
02 Citywide Objective Design
Standards
A. Site Plan ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 B. Architectural/Building Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 C. Landscape Design ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 D. Detailing ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

6 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
A. Site Plan

1. Site Planning and Orientation
a. A building adjacent to a street shall be oriented
parallel to the street frontage for at least fifty
(50) percent of the exterior building wall. The
front entry and any associated features shall be
oriented to the primary street and be set back
pursuant to the CDC for the applicable zoning
district. (Figure 1), (Figure 2), (Figure 3)
b. Allowed projections of steps, stoops, porches,
patios, and terraces into the required building

02. Citywide Objective
Design Standards
These overarching standards apply to residential and
mixed-use residential building types that are subject
to the objective design standards. These standards
are the foundation to facilitate the highest level of
design quality while allowing flexibility in the design of residential development. All proposed residential
buildings shall reflect high-quality, four-sided
architecture by presenting a balance in the use of
colors, materials, articulation, massing, and building
detailing as described throughout the standards in
the sections below.

Standards within the geographic specific areas
that follow this Citywide section (i.e., Downtown,
Corridors, Neighborhoods, Special Case) shall prevail
if in conflict with the Citywide Objective Design
Standards in this section.

General standards for this section include site
planning and orientation, architectural and building
design, landscape design, and building detailing.
setback are specified pursuant to CDC Section

18.150.140.
c. A common entry lobby shall face the street for
residential buildings that have a shared common
entry to multiple units.
d. Direct pedestrian access shall be provided to
connect any adjacent sidewalk and the primary
building entry. In the case of multiple individual
ground floor residential entries, direct pedestrian
access shall be provided for each building entry.

Figure 1. Downtown development with projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access
Figure 2. Corridor development with projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access
c
c
dd
d
b
b

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 7
For mixed-use projects, commercial uses on
corner properties shall include direct pedestrian
access only from the front, or corner side
property line.
e. Common open spaces shall be accessible to
residents from all buildings and connected by a
site-wide pedestrian circulation system. (Figure
4)
f. To enhance privacy, windows on facing buildings
shall not directly align with one another on site
Figure 3. Neighborhood townhome development with
projections, common entry and direct pedestrian access
Figure 4. Common open spaces accessible to all residents and connected by site-wide pedestrian circulation system if located opposite each other within a courtyard
and less than 40 feet distance between them.

Exceptions are allowed where the windows
are opaque, clerestory, or otherwise treated to
obscure views.
g. If an identified bicycle route is adjacent to
a proposed project, improvements shall be
provided in conformance with the City’s Bicycle,
Pedestrian, and Safe Routes to Transit Plan.
1 Pedestrian and vehicular circulation shall not
cross a bicycle route unless visibility triangles
are maintained and speed bump and/or warning
light provided.
h. The following off-site generators of pedestrian
movements shall be identified and shown to
connect via a sidewalk or other pedestrian
priority way to the pedestrian circulation system:
i. Open spaces, including paseos
ii. Schools – public or private
iii. Shopping centers
iv. Bus stops
i. Projects shall demonstrate potential energy
generation capacity consistent with the
state wide building standard code through a
recognized assessment method or calculation
tool of either the Title 24 Section 140.10
equation, the total of all available Solar Access
Roof Area (SARA) multiplied by 14W / ft
2,
the Solar Assessment Tool or the PVWatts®
Calculator, and/or passive use of sunlight though
analysis or calculation of either a daylight
analysis per room, or window area by floor area
per room.
c
d
b
1 Bicycle route as identified by the City of Concord’s Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Safe Routes to Transit Plan

8 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
• Landscaped berms
• Solid wall
• Solid fencing
• Shrub materials (boxwood hedge or
similar dense shrub)
• Trellis with landscape material
vi. Grade-level parking spaces located under
residential buildings shall not be visible
from the public right-of-way and shall be
eighty (80) percent screened with one of the
following (including openings to allow for air
flow):
• Building walls
• Landscaped berms
• Shrubs, grasses and/or vines
vii. On structured parking buildings, reflective
colors and finishes are prohibited on
exterior and interior walls. For interior walls,
reflective colors and finishes are allowable
to provide markings for safety or as required
by law.
viii. The exterior walls of structured parking
facilities shall be finished in a light-
absorbing, light relfective value (LRV) of 60%
or below or non-reflective color.

2. Parking
a. Vehicular Parking
i. Where surface parking is provided due
to the presence of seismic or geologic
(including hydrogeologic) conditions that
prohibit subsurface parking, surface parking
areas shall be located at the rear of the
building and accessed from the rear of the
property. (Figure 5)
ii. Pedestrian access to a parking garage or
surface parking lot, open space walking
trail, and/or pedestrian way to BART shall be
provided to connect to the sidewalk along
the public street. (Figure 6)
iii. Surface parking lots over twenty-five
thousand (25,000) square feet in area are
prohibited. Parking lot design shall instead
consist of smaller scattered lots rather than
one large lot. Up to fifty (50) percent of
required parking spaces may be provided in
a single location.
iv. On-site guest parking, if required, shall be
included within the parking area provided
for residents, be adjacent to the primary or
main building entry, and labeled as guest
parking.
v. Screening that is a minimum of thirty (30)
inches tall shall be provided for surface
parking lots adjacent to required front or
corner side setback areas using one of the
following approaches:

Figure 5. Vehicular parking and access
Figure 6. Pedestrian access from parking garage to sidewalk StreetParking in Rear

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 9
Figure 7. Bicycle locker
Figure 8.Indoor bicycle room
b. Bicycle Parking
i. Short-term bicycle parking shall be provided
consistent with CDC Section 18.160.120(A),
shall consist of racks that support the cycle
frame at two points and allow for the bicycle
frame and one wheel to be locked to the
rack with a U-lock, shall be covered by a
permanent solid-roofed weather protection
structure, and shall be incorporated within
operating surveillance camera coverage area
of the building, if provided.
ii. Long-term bicycle parking facilities (Class
I) shall consist of bicycle lockers or bicycle
rooms with key access for use by residents
and adhere to the standards below.
• Long-term bicycle parking facilities shall
be located on the ground floor and shall
not be located externally between the
building and the street.
• Multi-family residential and mixed-use
buildings shall provide one (1) long-term
bicycle parking space for every four
(4) dwelling units. Developments such
as townhomes that include individual
garages for each unit shall not be
required to provide long-term bicycle
parking.
• Bicycle locker minimum requirements:
a. Dimensions of forty-two (42)
inches wide, seventy-five (75) inches
deep, and fifty-four (54) inches high.
b. Must withstand a load of at least two
hundred (200) pounds per square foot.
c. Opened door must withstand at least
a five hundred (500)-pound vertical load.
(Figure 7)
iii. Bicycle rooms shall have a minimum ceiling
height of seven (7) feet. (Figure 8)
• Bicycle rooms shall contain racks that
support bicycle frame at two (2) points
and allow for bicycle frame and one
wheel to be locked to the rack with a
U-lock.
• Long-term bicycle parking spaces shall be
served by an aisle with a minimum width
of six (6) feet.
• A space of at least two (2) feet shall
be provided to allow for maneuvering
between the aisle and long-term bicycle
parking spaces.
iv. Each horizontal long-term bicycle parking
space shall be a minimum of seven (7) feet
in length, two (2) feet in width, four-and
one-half (4-½) feet in height. Each vertical
long-term bicycle parking space shall be a
minimum of three-and one-half (3-½) feet in
length, two (2) feet in width, and seven (7)
feet in height.

10 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
B. Architectural/Building Design

1. Massing and Articulation
a. All building masses for residential buildings
greater than forty (40) feet in length shall have a
wall depth change of a minimum of twenty-four
(24) inches.
b. All building masses greater than twenty (20)
feet in length shall provide a minimum of three
(3) of the following features for articulation:
(Figure 9), (Figure 10), (Figure 11)
i. Balconies
ii. Bay windows, recessed windows, and/or
projecting windows
iii. Canopies or trellises above doors and
windows
iv. Color and/or material change
v. Roof height change
vi. Window detail, of either lintels, sills, trims,
or wall plane change, a minimum of six (6)
inches in depth
c. Bay windows and projecting building elements
shall project at least twenty-four (24) inches but
no more than thirty-six (36) inches.
d. Transitional standards shall be implemented,
Figure 9. Downtown development Figure 10. Corridor development Figure 11. Neighborhood townhome development v
i
i
ii
ii
iv
vi
vi
ii
iii
v
Illustrations showing balconies, bay windows, canopies, material/color change and roof height changes for various development types:
consistent with CDC Section 18.150.180, with
respect to setbacks, step backs, screening, and
landscaping to provide a transition between
abutting properties.
e. Pedestrian access to a new or existing bus
stop shall be incorporated into the pedestrian
circulation plan for the site, if applicable.
iv

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 11

2. Roof Treatments
a. Roof-mounted mechanical units, such as HVAC,
shall be screened on all sides using at least one
of the following approaches:
i. Increased roof slope
ii. Use of a parapet
iii. Screening using a material selected from the
building palette
b. Photovoltaic panels, if used, shall be integrated
into the design using a minimum of one (1) of
the following approaches, but in no event shall
any of the approaches conflict with the intent
of the implementation of statewide standards
(Government Code Section 65850.5a) to achieve
timely and cost-effective installation of solar
energy systems:
i. Same slope as the primary roof form
ii. Same size and shape as solar tiles for roof or
walls
iii. Screening so that angle for production can
be optimized
iv. A low level of contrast in color between the
solar panel and roofing material, up to ten
(10) percent difference between the two
2 c. On flat roofs solar panels should be mounted to
be not seen from the public street.
d. Roof profiles (for high slope roofs, the eave, and
for low slope and flat roofs, the top) shall be
vertically articulated along all street frontages
using at least one (1) type of the following
architectural elements and/or elements that are
integral to the selected architectural style:
i. Articulated saddles (Figure 12)
ii. Gables
iii. Hip and valleys
iv. Dormers
v. Shed
vi. Eave overhang of a minimum of eighteen
(18) inches with exposed rafters or roof
brackets. (Figure 13)
vii. Roof parapets
e. Roof styles that include lower-sloped roofs (such
as 2:12) or below with deeper overhangs of
between two (2) and three (3) feet can be used.
f. Flat roofs shall include a minimum of one (1) of
the following details:
i. Roof cornice
ii. Parapet
iii. Changes in height
g. Gutters, downspouts, and other features used to
collect precipitation runoff from the roof, such as
rain barrels, cisterns, or pipes, shall be integrated
into roofing design using a minimum of two (2)
of the following three approaches:
i. Same colors
ii. Same material
iii. Same style
h. For buildings over forty (40) feet tall, downspouts
shall be incorporated in the interior design of the
wall and not be allowed on the exterior of the
building.
i. Roof materials and colors shall be included as a
part of the color and material palette to ensure
consistency with the building palette.

Figure 12. Roof with articulated saddles
Figure 13. Roof materials and color consistent with material palette
2Use Encycolorpedia.com or similar websites as a resource to identify the color and material palette that meets the standard

12 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 14. Window, door articulation for porch and balcony

3. Windows and Doors
a. Window detail shall be provided using
a minimum of three (3) of the following
approaches: (Figure 14)
i. Window frame and/or trim
ii. Window sill and/or lintel
iii. Awnings
iv. Shutters
v. Shade structures (fins, louvers, trellis)
vi. Recessed windows
b. Front door entry detail shall be provided using a
minimum of two (2) of the following approaches:
i. Door frame and/or trim
ii. Projected area, minimum of (3) three feet in
depth
iii. Recessed area, minimum of (3) three feet in
depth
iv. A covered porch
v. Decorative entry trellis
c. Weather protection shall be provided at
individual residential unit entries and primary
entrances to commercial uses (in mixed-
use projects) in the form of a projection at a
minimum depth of thirty-six (36) inches, such as
an overhang, canopy, awning, or porch roof.

4. Garage Doors
a. Garage doors from individual residential units on
the ground floor shall include sufficient detailing
for aesthetics, consistent with the architectural
style of the building, using at least of one (1) of
the following approaches:
i. Windows including faux, patterned, or real
ii. Door handles
iii. Decorative metal hinges
iv. Decorative panel design for example Classic,
Carriage House, Contemporary, Ranch Style,
Craftsman style.

5. Balconies
a. Balconies shall include the same materials as
building, with either wrought iron or simulated
materials, wood, metal or other opaque design,
up to sixty (60) percent transparency. No glass or
plexiglass shall be used.
b. Balconies shall have a minimum depth of forty-
eight (48) inches.

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 13
Figure 15. Architectural detailing for Downtown buildings Figure 16. Architectural detailing with canopies, balconies, color change, and material change for Downtown buildings

6. Architectural Detailing
a. Along any exterior building walls, material
transitions shall only occur on the inside corner
of plane change or, when material changes need
to happen in the same plane, trims, cornices,
or other architectural elements shall be used to
create a corner for material transition.
a. Walls visible from the public right-of-way shall
include building details using the following
approaches. A minimum four (4) approaches for
downtown and three (3) approaches for all other
residential development shall be used as follows:
(Figure 15), (Figure 16)
i. Balconies
ii. Bay windows
iii. Canopies or trellis above doors and windows
iv. Change in color or material
v. Roof height change
vi. Window detail of either projecting lintels,
sills, trims, and moldings
vii. Recessed elements
b. Walls of a building not visible from the public
right-of-way shall include building detail using
one (1) of the following approaches:
i. Window detail, including shutters, trim, sills,
mullions, and/or lintels; or
ii. Ornamentation, including corbels, cornices,
moundlings and/or design detail of the vents
in all locations.

14 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Building Material Notes Type
Wood, layer Siding, engineered P
Wood, finish Finished layer P
Wood, laminated* Mass Timber P
Fiber-reinforced cement Siding and panels P
Stone Masonry P
Brick Masonry P
Cast Stone Masonry P
Stucco Finished layer P
EIFS Exterior Insulation Finishing System P
Clay tiles Finished layer P
Metal Downtown outer core window or door frames, copper gutters, and downspouts P
Canvas Awnings only P
Glass Transparent, spandrel ground-floor only P
Vinyl siding N
Plywood, T1-11 N
Roofing Material Notes Type
Composition Asphalt or similar1 P
Tile Clay, Concrete, Slate, or similar1 P
Standing Seam Metal N
Fencing Material Notes Type
Concrete, finished* CO2e capture P
Wood fencing Cedar, Redwood, Teak, Trex P
Metal fencing Wrought iron, Tubular steel P
Masonry fencing Brick, Stone, Stucco P
Vinyl fencing Fence panels and vinyl picket fence P
Barbed wire, razor, concertina,
electrified fences Prohibited pursuant to CDC Section 18.150.040(E) N Chain link Prohibited pursuant to CDC Section 18.150.040(E) N Table.1: Building, roofing and fencing materials
*Green building materialKey P: Permitted N: Not allowed

7. Materials
a. The following table describes which materials are
permitted or not allowed for exterior building
walls, roofs, and fencing: (Table 1)
b. Fifty (50) percent of the building shall be
constructed with sustainable building materials.

Materials that are considered sustainable will
have a least one (1) of the following properties:
i. Certified as Zero or low Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) per CalGreen (cite other
local green building guidance or resources:

Resources for developers/designers: Whole
Building Design Guide: https://www.wbdg.
org/; BuildingGreen Product Database:
https://www.buildinggreen.com/product-
guidance)
ii. Qualify as rapidly renewable in that they can
be harvested within 10 years
iii. Show to be salvaged from the existing site,
unless unsafe for human contact
iv. Produced within the region of Concord or
greater Nine-County Bay Area
v. Include a recycled content of eighty (80)
percent or above 1Where Table 1 indicates similar , the City staff will maintain a list of acceptable materials

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 15

8. Colors
a. A color palette shall be required for all structures and shall be submitted to the City including
paint manufacturer/brand, name and number
for each paint color used within the project. The
hexadecimal color code or RGB color number(s)
shall be provided for each.
3 b. On all exterior building walls, buildings shall
utilize a minimum of three (3) colors, inclusive of
trim. (Figure 17), (Figure 18)
c. On any exterior building wall greater than one
hundred (100) feet in length, buildings shall
utilize a minimum of four (4) colors, inclusive of
trim.
d. Changes in color due to a change in building
material are not considered an additional color
unless the material covers twenty-five (25)
percent or more of the building.
e. Color palette for a building(s) shall include
at least one (1) earth tone color as a primary
building color.
f. Neon or fluorescent colors are prohibited.
g. Roofing materials shall be within the grey, brown,
or terra cotta family of colors. These areas not
visible from the public right of way, including flat
roofs, may be white or light color to reduce heat
island effect.

Figure 17. Multiple colors on buildings of Corridor and Neighborhood development that include earth tone colors Figure 18. Multiple colors on Downtown buildings that are consistent with color palette 3Encycolorpedia.com or similar websites may be utilized as a tool to assist with color selection

16 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
C. Landscape Design

1. Landscaping
a. The landscape design for all required landscape
areas, consistent with CDC Section 18.165.040(A)
shall use low maintenance landscape materials
including drought-tolerant plants consistent with
CDC Section 18.165.070(C)7 and CDC Chapter

18.170.
b. Trees shall be planted in all surface parking areas
at a minimum rate of one tree every (50) feet
apart for each five (5) full or six (6) compact
parking spaces. (Figure 19)
c. Shrub plantings, used as screening for parking
areas, shall be provided at a minimum height
of thirty (30) inches at plant maturity to block
headlight glare to seventy (70) percent light
transmission and shall be planted at the head of
parking stalls.
d. The two (2)-foot overhang of a parking space
shall be covered with a groundcover or low-
growing material.
e. Shrubs, groundcover, and trees planted next to
pavement shall include a low-volume irrigation
system.
f. Drought-tolerant plants with a minimum of two
(2) of the following characteristics shall be used:
i. Windbreak
ii. Accent
iii. Erosion control
iv. Flowering
g. Landscape that retains water on site shall be
included. Project shall include two (2) of the
following elements:
i. A bioswale, vegetated stormwater facilities,
or other infiltration planters. (Figure 20)
ii. Vegetated planters
iii. Shrubs and trees
iv. Underground rainwater collection systems
of either a rain barrel, water storage or
rainwater harvesting tank
h. Pool areas shall incorporate a minimum of
twenty (20) percent shaded areas relative to the
combined size of the pool and deck area during
the period 12pm - 4pm in addition to standard
landscape requirements; see CDC Chapter

18.165 Landscaping.
i. Parking spaces adjacent to a landscaped finger
shall have a minimum eighteen (18) inches wide
paved surface to allow for stepping out of a
vehicle.

Figure 19. Trees 50’ apart in parking lots
Figure 20. Parking lots with trees and bioswales

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 17

2. Street Trees
a. Street trees are required for every development
and shall be planted at a maximum distance
of thirty (30) feet on-center along the street
frontage. The minimum tree size shall be a
twenty -four (24) inch box tree. Street tree
species in the vicinity of the project site shall
be considered when planting new street trees.

Location of street planting shall be as follows:
(Figure 21)
i. Where a planting strip exists, adjacent to
the curb, street trees shall be planted at a
minimum distance of two (2) feet from the
face of curb
ii. Where a planting strip exists, and is wider
than four (4) feet, the street trees shall
be planted along the center line of that
landscape strip. (Figure 22)
iii. Where the street frontage includes no
landscape strip, street trees shall be planted
a minimum of four (4) feet from the curb
face unless the public right-of-way allows
greater distance, in which case five (5) feet
Figure 21. Street trees in planter strips
Figure 22. Street trees in narrow planter areas meeting minimum soil volume standards by using structural soil
Tree Size Soil Volume (Ft3)
15’ Gallon 300
24’ Inch Box 600
36’ Inch Box 1,000
Table.2: Soil Volume
shall be utilized
iv. In all situations, sufficient soil base, as
outlined in Table 2 below, organic mulch,
root barriers, and tree grates flush with the
sidewalk surface shall be incorporated for
street trees
v. Where a planting strip of less than two (2)
feet wide exists trees shall not be planted.
b. The minimum soil volume shall be provided for
street trees according to Table 2. This can be
achieved by using visible planting soil or hidden
elements (structural soil, silva cells):
c. Street trees that drop pods or the other fruit
shall be prohibited along the public right of way.

18 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 23. California native planting
Figure 24. Raised curb separations

3. Plant and Non-plant Materials
a. California native plants shall be incorporated into
the overall design of the landscape, consistent
with the provisions in CDC Chapter 18.170. The
following plants shall be acceptable, as well as
other drought-tolerant plants found within the
most current edition of the Sunset Western
Garden Book for Zone 9b or any plants identified
by the Contra Costa Water District’s Water Wise
Program (updates to list will reflect changes to
climate, temperature or other factors related to
the health of native plants): (Figure 23)
i. Blue sage (Salvia guaranitica)
ii. Blue wildryes (Elymus glaucus)
iii. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
iv. Carmel creeper (Ceanothus griseus
horizontali)
v. Climbing penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia)
vi. June grass (Koeleria macrantha)
vii. California fescue (Festuca californica)
viii. Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica)
b. All planting beds shall be mulched with an
organic material to help retard the growth of
weeds and maintain the moisture content of soil.

Layers of mulch shall be two (2) to four (4) inches
thick on the soil surface.
c. Root bound plants or plants which show effects
of insect or disease infestation are prohibited.
d. Raised curbs of six (6) inches shall be used to
separate all planters from streets, parking and
loading areas.(Figure 24)

4. Water Conservation
a. Greywater shall be planned for a portion of
outdoor watering. When recycled water is
anticipated to be available for buildings fifty
thousand (50,000) square feet and larger,
connectivity to a municipal purple pipe system
shall be provided, when available within public
right-of-way or proximate to the rear of the site.

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 19
Figure 25. Metal art element
Figure 26. Venetian plaster
D. Detailing

1. Wall Detailing
a. Blank, flat walls (inclusive of expansion joints)
with a minimum dimension of forty (40) feet in
any direction shall be treated with at least of one
of the following three decorative treatments:
i. Patterned stencil
ii. Metal art element (Figure 25)
iii. Venetian Plaster (Figure 26)
iv. Mosaics (allowable materials: glass, tile,
stone)

2. Loading, Service and Refuse Areas
a. Loading and service areas shall not be visible
from a public right-of-way and shall be located
behind the building or within the rear of the
parking garage. For residential units with
individual ground floor entries, trash enclosures
shall be located in a side or rear yard or internal
to the project, not visible from the public right-
of-way. Individual trash containers for use by a
single unit shall be stored as follows:
i. Incorporated within garage areas while still
maintaining minimum garage dimensions,
ii. Within a cabinet enclosure designed within
the footprint of the home with exterior
access, or
iii. Within a side yard of the home behind a
minimum six (6)-foot-tall masonary wall or
fence.
b. Loading and service that cannot be placed
behind the building and out of view from
the public right-of-way shall be screened
per screening requirements in CDC Section

18.165.060(D)1.
c. Access to loading and service areas shall be
incorporated into the circulation plan for the
site and shall be separated from pedestrian
circulation.
d. In all areas other than the Downtown, trash
enclosures shall be located a minimum of twenty
(20) feet away from an abutting single-family
residential district or any public right-of-way or
access easement, consistent with CDC Section

18.150.150.
e. Trash enclosures are prohibited in any front
yard, street side yard, parking space, required
landscaped area, or open space areas.
f. Trash enclosures shall be designed to utilize the
same materials and colors as the buildings they
serve and designed consistent with CDC Section

18.150.150.
g. Trash enclosures shall be designed and
constructed to accommodate the collection of
recyclable materials to the extent required by the
responsible collection contractor.
h. Outdoor trash enclosure areas shall be buffered
from adjacent parking with a minimum five (5)
foot-wide landscape strip.

20 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

3. EV Charging Stations
a. EV charging stations and associated parking
spaces shall be located within required on-site
parking areas. When charging stations are within
parking garages, they shall be provided on all
floors, where practicable, with chargers being
installed on a minimum of two floors (Figure 27)
b. EV charging spaces shall be consolidated to one
(1) location within the parking lot; for lots with
more than one hundred (100) parking spaces, EV
charging spaces shall be consolidated in no more
than two (2) locations.
c. EV chargers shall not provide signage or
advertisement visible from the public right-of-
way beyond what is necessary to provide the
user with instructions for use of the charging
station.

4. Utility and Mechanical Equipment
a. All utility and mechanical equipment, including
roof-top mounted equipment, shall be screened
from the public right-of-way utilizing the color
and materials palette for the building pursuant to
CDC Section 18.150.180.
b. Mechanical equipment shall not be visible when
measured at six (6) feet above the grade of
the horizontal surface of the sidewalk on the
opposite side of adjacent streets.
c. Utility and mechanical equipment shall not be
located within any required active open space
area.
d. Ground-mounted mechanical, electrical, and
utility equipment shall be concealed within
buildings, placed in subsurface vaults, or
screened by a framed welded wire (no chain link
fence), or louvered trellis system, depending on
location within setbacks, consistent with CDC
Section 18.150.080(C)3.
e. Ground-mounted residential solar energy
systems shall be encouraged and shall be located
to be out of view of the public right-of-way,
but in no event shall any of the approaches
conflict with the intent of the implementation of
statewide standards (Government Code Section
65850.5a) to achieve timely and cost-effective
installation of solar energy systems. Such systems
shall be:
i. Placed behind a primary structure
ii. Placed in a side yard and screened by non-
plant materials
f. Electrical transformers shall be designed using
either of the following approaches and consistent
with CMC Section 18.150.080(C)3:
i. Placed underground
ii. Screened by non-plant materials
iii. Located at least five (5) feet from the public
right-of-way and screened with non-plant
materials such as welded wire trellis system
or similar view-obscuring screen and
plantings
g. Utility and mechanical equipment, including
meters, shall be screened from view using a
material in the architectural design materials
Figure 27. EV Charging Station
Figure 28. Wall mounted or patio mounted mechanical
equipment screen

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 21
palette of the project or other method consistent
with CMC Section 18.150.080. Screening method
shall include gated outdoor rooms or screening
behind wing walls treated as an integral part of
the elevations.
h. Mechanical equipment shall be located a
minimum of fifteen (15) feet from occupiable
rooftop areas and screened from view.
i. Exposed vents, gutters, downspouts, flashings,
and electrical conduits shall be painted the same
color as the adjacent surface; if using copper
gutters or downspouts they shall be treated as a
design element.
j. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units
located on exterior walls or patios of multi-family
projects shall be screened from view by screen
walls, decorative railings, or screens, consistent
with those colors and materials utilized within
the architectural design palette. (Figure 28)
k. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units
located on balconies shall be prohibited.
l. For site development improvement plans for
engineering and/or building permit approval,
the size and location of all utility and mechanical
equipment shall be displayed and screened
pursuant to CDC Section 18.150.080 and these
standards on building elevations and the site
plan.
m. Utility service lines shall be placed underground.

Exposed conduit on building exteriors shall be
prohibited.

5. Lighting
a. Roof-mounted lights are prohibited, unless on a
green roof or occupied roof, where downlighting
shall be used.
b. Sconce exterior fixtures shall be the same style
(e.g., Colonial, Spanish Revival, Arts & Crafts,
Ranch) as the building’s exterior design and
located at front and rear doorways. (Figure 29)
c. Maximum height of pole-mounted fixtures shall
not exceed sixteen (16) feet.
d. Light fixtures shall be integrated in at least one of the following uses:
i. Bollard lights along pedestrian walks (Figure
30)
ii. Pole-mounted lights for parking areas
iii. Internally illuminated or up lighting for
ground signs
iv. Building mounted or spotlights for accents,
with full cut-off feature, consistent with CDC
Section 18.150.110.
e. Exposed lamps or tubes visible from any public
right-of-way shall be prohibited.
f. Lighting within parking garages shall avoid
external views of exposed fluorescent light tubes.
g. Surface parking lot lighting levels shall be limited to the range of 0.5-to-1.5-foot candles to provide
for public safety, in conformance with CDC
Section 18.160.110.(D). Within this range, areas
of higher or lower levels of illumination shall be
indicated on project plans.

Figure 29. Sconce exterior fixture light respecting the architectural style of building
Figure 30. Bollard lights along pedestrian paths

22 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

6. Emergency Access, Addresses, and
Mailboxes
a. To accommodate emergency vehicular access,
double access routes for emergency vehicles,
where physically possible, shall be provided using
parking aisles and access drives.
b. New buildings shall be provided with approved
illuminated address identification, consistent
with Central Contra Costa County Fire Protection
District requirements. Illuminated address
markers shall be posted in a location on the
building that is visible from the public street
(Figure 31) or the street fronting the property
and within a maximum of fifty (50) feet from
the primary building entry or alternatively
twenty (20) feet from the individual unit entry.

Numbering and lettering shall be a minimum
of four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke
width of one-half inch and have a seventy (70)
percent contrast
4 with the background color.

Where required by the City of Concord Police
Department or the Contra Costa County Fire
Protection District, address identification shall
be provided in additional locations to facilitate
emergency response, consistent with the State
building code.
c. Mailboxes shall be placed either at an on-site
location adjacent to front yard open space for
ground-floor units that have direct pedestrian
access from the street or incorporated into a
common area for all remaining upper floor unit
residents.

7. Signage
a. External raceways on wall mounted signs shall be
prohibited.
b. Cabinet signs, including those that are wall
mounted on buildings or ground signs, shall be
prohibited.
c. Ground signs shall incorporate at least two
materials from the architectural design materials
palette of the project. (Figure 32)
Figure 31. Illuminated building identification visible from public street
Figure 32. Ground Signs
470% Contrast shall be determined by California Building Code 2022 Section 11B-705.1.1.3.1

Chapter 02 Citywide Objective Design Standards ▪ 23
Figure 33. Fences consistent with architectural design and material palette

8. Fencing and Retaining Walls
a. Perimeter fences internal to lots are required
and shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height. A
wood fence, shall be provided along the exterior
property lines or fences in conformance with
CDC Section 18.150.180, as applicable. A seven
(7)-foot tall fence may be constructed with the
top one (1) foot panel consisting of a lattice
panel style design.
b. Fences or walls attached to buildings and visible
from any public right-of-way or open space
shall be of a color, material, and detail within
the architectural design materials palette of the
building to which they are attached and shall be
included with fence or wall specifications in the
landscape plan. (Figure 33)
c. If a noise study is required, masonary walls or
fences shall be constructed as recommended
utilizing the materials list in Table 1: Building,
roofing, and fencing materials.
d. The allowed and prohibited fencing materials are
shown in Table 1: Building, roofing, and fencing
materials.
e. The following materials are allowed for retaining
walls:
i. Stone or brick
ii. Wood
iii. Decorative masonry or interlocking concrete
blocks

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 25
03 Downtown Standards
A. Site Plan ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 B. Architectural/Building Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 C. Landscape Design ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 D. Detailing ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

26 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 34.Typical Downtown multi-family type building
Multi -family residential around
multi level parking garage
Adjoining multi -family
residential development
Adjoining multi -family
residential development
Front yards serving
ground floor units
Ground floor commercial
Sidewalk
Sidewalk
Street
Street

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 27
Figure 35. Downtown Map

03. Downtown
Standards
The heart of Concord’s downtown is Todos Santos
Plaza, which retains the City’s original name of Todos
Santos and is distinguished by its authenticity and
historic assets. These characteristics are preserved
and strengthened by the strategic infill of new high-
quality development that links the past to a vibrant
future. Todos Santos Plaza is located within walking
distance of the Concord BART Station, cultural
amenities, shopping, and dining opportunities.

These objective design standards strengthen these
relationships and draw from a comprehensive vision
initiated over many decades and confirmed in the
Downtown Specific Plan and more specifically
described within the Todos Santos Design Guidelines,
now called the Downtown Concord Design
Guidelines.
5 The following objective design standards specific
to Downtown are largely guided by the Downtown
Concord Design Guidelines document, which
promotes specific architectural styles (Spanish
Colonial Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Arts and
Crafts, and Italianate
6) in the “Inner Core” area of the
downtown, whereas the “Outer Core,” is intended to
be reflective of these architecture styles, but allowing flexibility in design, while still promoting high-quality architecture. Standards for this section focus on the
urban core of the Downtown area where specified
(Inner and Outer Core), but also apply to the broader
downtown boundary. (Figure 34), (Figure 35)
5The Downtown Concord Design guidelines were approved in February 2017 and amended in October 2019 and August 2020. 6As defined in “A Field Guide to American Houses: the Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America’s Domestic Architecture” by Virginia Savage McAlester . • Inner and Outer Core: For those
sites within the Inner and Outer Core
boundaries of the Downtown, Sections B.
4 and B.5 within this Chapter shall apply.
• Remainder of Downtown: For those
sites outside of the Inner and Outer
Core boundaries of the Downtown, but
still within the Downtown boundary, the
Downtown standards shall apply.

General standards for this section include site
planning and orientation, architectural and building
design, landscape design, and building detailing.

28 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 36. Multi family residential with individual entrances to ground floor units Figure 37. Residential entries provided at grade
A. Site Plan

1. Site Planning and Orientation
a. In the event of any conflicts with these objective
design standards and the setback requirements
in CDC Section 18.45.030, Table: 18.45.030, the
Downtown standards within this document shall
prevail. If a multi-family building has individual
residential entrances at the ground floor on a
street, buildings shall be set back a minimum of
ten (10) feet from the property line to allow for
front yards, porches, and stoops. (Figure 36)
b. If a building has retail space at the ground floor
on a street, the building shall be setback a
minimum of two (2) feet and a maximum of five
(5) feet from the property line.
c. Residential entries for ground floor units with
access from the street, shall be provided secure
access at grade, to promote accessibility and
pedestrian activity at the street level. These
may be in addition to a common entry or lobby
location via a hallway. (Figure 37)
d. Buildings that are not adjacent to a street shall
have units with front entries that are oriented
to interior common areas, such as paseos,
courtyards, and usable open space areas,
consistent with CDC Section 18.150.100(G).
e. Direct pedestrian access shall be provided to
connect the sidewalk to rear parking areas,
secondary retail entries, mid-block courtyard
space, and/or paseo.

Property Line
a
cc

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 29

2. Parking
a. Vehicular Parking
i. Active uses and storefronts shall be located
along street frontages, between group
parking areas and the pedestrian walkway.
(Figure 38)
ii. Parking located such that it is fronting onto a
pedestrian route along Grant Street and Oak
Street to the BART station is prohibited.
iii. Driveways for parking entries shall be
consolidated for both multi-unit residential
and mixed-use developments. In shared
garage conditions, secure access for
residential parking shall be provided via a
parking and traffic control barrier arm or
gate with electronic or similar controls for
separation from commercial uses.
iv. Parking warning signs shall be located
to alert pedestrians on sidewalks for
all underground and podium parking
structures. (Figure 39), (Figure 40)
b. Bicycle Parking
i. Multi-family residential and mixed-use
buildings shall provide one (1) long-term
bicycle parking space for every two (2)
dwelling units. Developments such as
townhomes that include individual garages
for each unit shall not be required to provide
long-term bicycle parking.
ii. The Citywide standards for additional details
regarding bicycle parking requirements shall
apply.

Figure 38. Active uses along street in front of structured parking
Figure 39. Parking signage for underground and podium
structures
Figure 40. Parking warning detail for podium parking

30 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
B. Architectural and Building
Design

1. Massing and Articulation
a. After two hundred (200) feet of continuous
building length, a mid-block courtyard space of
a minimum area of three hundred (300) square
feet shall be used to relieve the building mass
and add variation. (Figure 41)
b. All building walls shall be broken up using a
change in the wall plane that is a minimum of
twenty four (24) inches in depth. A break in the
wall plane, shall be required at a minimum of
every forty (40) feet horizontally along building
walls. (Figure 42)
c. Citywide Standard B(1)c for Transitional
standards to abutting properties shall apply.
d. Buildings with a base, middle, and top shall be
articulated with a minimum of two (2) repetitions
of the following:
i. Arches
ii. Columns
iii. Pilasters
iv. Contrasting materials
v. Protruding elements of either cornices or
wall trims
vi. Lintel
vii. Belt course
Figure 42. Break in the wall plane
40 ft. 40 ft.
40 ft.

Figure 41. Pedestrian access
Courtyard
Pedestrian Access to
Courtyard
200 ft. 200 ft.

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 31
Figure 43. Building wall variety
Figure 44. Cornice projections on various floors
e. The massing of building walls shall be broken
up using a minimum of at least four (4) of the
following design strategies: (Figure 43)
i. Balconies
ii. Above the second floor, changes in wall
plane of a minimum of twenty-four (24)
inches (either inset or protruding) from the
ground floor wall plane
iii. Window openings and entrances that are
recessed or projecting a minimum of six (6)
inches
iv. Wall trims, projections, and reveals along
different levels of wall surfaces a minimum
of four (4) inches
v. Use of at least two (2) of each distinct
materials and colors along wall surfaces
vi. Vertical pilasters that reflect internal building
structure and/or are integral to the selected
architectural style
f. Cornices, bases, and tops of columns, arches,
and other similar building details shall project
at least two (2) inches on the first floor and a
minimum of six (6) inches on upper floors, or
as suggested in the following architectural style
section 4. (Figure 44)
iv
i
ii
f
iii
f

32 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

2. Roof Treatments
a. A minimum of two (2) roof forms and designs
shall be incorporated into a building along a
street block to create visual interest at the top of
the building. (Figure 45)
b. Roof profiles shall provide a minimum three (3)
foot change in roof height after a maximum of
eighty (80) feet in length of continuous exterior
building wall.
c. All rooftops for market rate residential housing
projects including those with up to twenty (20)
percent affordable component) of at least one
hundred (100) units shall incorporate at least
twenty (20) percent of the roof as a green roof of
either extensive or intensive type.
d. A roof proposed at a location where it will be
viewed by occupants of adjacent taller buildings
shall be treated as a “roofscape.” The design
shall include a green roof with all two (2) of the
following approaches: (Figure 46)
i. Color and texture of the hardscape elements
to be same as the architectural design
materials palette
ii. Plantings in the landscape design palette
Figure 45. Minimum two (2) roof forms
Figure 46. Green roof
e. Flat roofs behind a parapet with no visibility from
the public right-of-way or adjacent roof tops may
include a thermoplastic membrane or other flat-
roofing material such as an asphalt-based (built-
up roofing system, modified bitumen system)
commercial roofing system.

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 33
Figure 48. Ground floor appearing taller than 16’

3. Ground-Floor Retail/Commercial Use
within Mixed Use Buildings
a. Ground-floor commercial spaces shall appear
taller than a typical residential floor and shall
appear to be at least sixteen (16) feet in height,
measured from the floor to the floor plate of the
story above. (Figure 48)
b. The ground floor shall be expressed through
use of any one (1) of the following different, low
maintenance material of the following type:
i. Stone
ii. Cast Stone
iii. Brick
iv. Board formed concrete
v. Tiles and glass
vi. Use of a second material shall be allowed
with at least 15% of the surface area.
c. Ground-floor entrances for commercial uses on
the first floor of a mixed-use building shall be
level with the elevation of the adjacent sidewalk.

For entries that are level with the sidewalk,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant
entries, such as ramps, shall directly connect
to the sidewalk of the street and use the same
colors and/or materials as the building and open
space development. Sloping street adjacencies
shall have appropriate ramps for accessibility.
d. All retail tenants on the ground floor facing
the street shall have a direct pedestrian entry
connection to the sidewalk along the street so
that multiple entries at the ground floor face
onto the primary street. (Figure 47)
e. Where a commercial tenant occupies a space
over twenty thousand (20,000) gross square feet,
additional articulation at the ground floor of the
commercial space shall occur at a minimum of
every forty (40) feet using at least two (2) of the
following approaches:
i. Changes in wall plane of a minimum of
Figure 47. Ground floor commercial use within mixed-use buildings Retail Space at Ground Floor
Property Line
b
c
d
a

34 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
twenty-four (24) inches (either inset or
protruding)
ii. Window openings that are recessed or
protruding a minimum of six (6) inches
iii. Wall trims, projections, and reveals along
different levels of wall surfaces a minimum
of four (4) inches
iv. Use of at least two (2) distinct materials and
colors along wall surfaces
f. Ground-floor commercial uses shall be visually
distinct but complimentary from the rest of the
exterior building wall using at least three (3) of
the following approaches: (Figure 49)
i. Change in materials, such as stone and
stucco
ii. Contrast in color with a minimum of forty
(40) percent differentiation, based on RGB
percentage

7. iii. Canopies and awnings
iv. Arcade with a covered roof supporting a row
of arches
v. Trellis feature on building
vi. Detailing at storefront (tile accents, wrought
iron, etc.)
g. Building walls that face a street shall include
human-scaled detailing using at least two (2) of
the following approaches: (Figure 50)
i. Reveals, for example an edge or space where
a plane changes
ii. Belt courses, for example a change in
orientation in masonry
iii. Cornices
iv. Expression of structural or architectural bays
v. Recessed windows or doors
vi. Material or materials module changes
vii. Color and/or texture differences
viii. Mullions of a minimum of four (4) inches
ix. Porticos
h. To minimize solar heat gain on west or southwest
facing exterior building wall, projects will
use at least one (1) of the following shading
approaches:
i. Arcades
ii. Trellises
iii. Awnings, fixed, or movable
iv. Vertical and horizontal projection, such as a
cantilever or balconies
i. A wide architectural band articulated through
color or materials in the first floor of at least
four (4) feet in height shall be integrated into the
front wall of the commercial space.
j. The street level shall include signage using a
minimum of two (2) sign types:
i. Edge signage
ii. Awning signage
iii. Blade signage
iv. Wall signage
v. Window signage and/or display
Figure 49. Ground floor commercial made visually distinct through use of different color and material
Figure 50. Ground floor commercial articulated with belt course, recessed doors and awnings
7Encycolorpedia.com can be utilized as a resource to identify a constrasting color that meets the standard

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 35
Figure 51. Spanish Colonial Revival - Primary Style

4. Architectural Style for Inner and Outer
Core only
a. The Downtown Concord Design Guidelines
formed the basis of this section and should be
referenced for additional objective standards
and details regarding the vision for Downtown.

The Inner and Outer Core are focused on
Todos Santos Plaza and the blocks immediately
surrounding the plaza, the Concord BART station,
and surrounding areas to the north and west of
the station.
b. For the purpose of defining architectural styles
as set forth in this Section, the reference guide
shall be the most currently published version of
“A Field Guide to American Houses: the Definitive
Guide to Identifying and Understanding America’s
Domestic Architecture” by Virginia Savage
McAlester.
c. Inner Core
i. Two primary styles, Spanish Colonial
Revival and Mediterranean Revival, and
two secondary styles, Arts and Crafts and
Italianate, shall be acceptable for use within
the Inner Core area, as shown in Figures
51 through 55, consistent with Inner Core
Design Typology.
ii. Use of the Spanish Colonial Revival
architectural styles shall include a minimum
of six (6) of the following elements:
(Figure 51)
• Stucco or plaster walls
• Terracotta tile roofs or simulated material
• Low-sloped roofs below and including
• Curvilinear gables
• Window or faux window openings limited
to twenty-five (25) percent of an exterior
building wall area
• Deep recessed openings a minimum of
twelve (12) inches deep
• Outdoors terraces
• Vernacular Spanish Colonial decorative
ironwork or simulated material
3:12

36 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
iii. Use of the Mediterranean Revival
architectural styles shall include a minimum
of seven (7) of the elements below, as
outlined in the Inner Core Design Typology:
(Figure 52), (Figure 53)
• Stucco or plaster walls
• Terracotta tile hipped roofs
• Low-sloped roofs below and including
• Curvilinear gables or tower element,
round or square
• Arched or straight windows with
ironwork or simulated material
• Arched wing wall
• Decorative tile
• Ornate low relief carvings, arches, and
columns
• Vernacular Mediterranean chimneys and
vents
• Balconies open or roofed with wood or
iron railings or simulated materials
Figure 52. Mediterranean Revival - Primary Style
Figure 53. Mediterranean revival styled building
3:12

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 37
iv. Arts and Crafts (Craftsman) is a secondary
architectural style, the use of which shall
include a minimum of six (6) of the elements
below: (Figure 54)
• Use of stucco, wood cladding, lap siding,
stone
• Low pitched roof of no more than 1:12
• Wide eave overhang of a minimum of
twelve (12) inches
• Symmetrical and asymmetrical exterior
building wall elements
• Inclusion of exposed structural member
and wood joinery
• Tapered columns with stone base
• Projecting bays set within the larger
gable form with a different siding
material
• Triangular knee brace on the gable roof
• Semi-enclosed balconies under a roof at
corner(s)
• Overhanging eaves of a minimum of
twenty -four (24) inches
Figure 54. Arts and Crafts - Secondary Style

38 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
v. Italianate is a secondary architectural style,
which can also be used in the Inner Core and
the use of which shall include a minimum of
six (6) of the elements below: (Figure 55)
• Use of stone, stucco, or brick cladding
• Hipped roof
• Overhanging eaves of a minimum of
twenty -four (24) inches with exposed
rafters
• Prominent entry with a minimum depth
of twenty-four (24) inches
• Full-length French doors and Palladian
archways
• Recessed upper or lower porches
• Boxed balconies framed in wood
• Arrange windows symmetrically
• Arches at the base
d. Outer Core
i. The Outer Core of the Downtown Design
Guidelines are intended to have architecture
compatible with the Inner Core while
maintaining design flexibility. For each
project, one (1) architectural style from
the Inner Core shall be selected and shall
incorporate at least fifty (50) percent design
features, indicated in Section 4 (c) between
ii - v.

Figure 55. Italianate - Secondary Style

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 39
Figure 56. Inner core window recessed with metal frames Figure 58. Outer core windows on upper floors with large spans and minimal recessed frames Figure 57. Inner core window recessed with gridded iron work

5. Windows and Doors
a. Architectural projections over entries shall be
the same materials and colors as the building’s
architectural design palette.
b. The Citywide standards for additional details for
projects not within the Inner or Outer Core shall
apply.
c. Window detailing shall include at least two (2)
of the following design approaches for inner and
outer core windows:
i. Inner Core Windows (Figure 56)
• Recess of a minimum depth of twelve
(12) inches to contrast with the wall
surface
• Use gridded ironwork or simulated
material (Figure 57)
• Use metal frame of a minimum depth of
two (2) inches around windows or lintel
ii. Outer Core Windows
• On upper floors, recess of a maximum
depth of six (6) inches
• On upper floors, use large spans of
window wall a minimum forty (40)
percent of the wall area
• Use of frameless or minimally framed
windows (Figure 58)

6. Balconies
The Citywide Standard in Chapter 2 shall apply.

40 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

7. Materials
a. Along any exterior building walls, material
transitions shall only occur on the inside corner
of plane change or, when material changes need
to happen in the same plane, trims, cornices,
or other architectural elements shall be used to
create a corner for material transition. (Figure
59)
b. For buildings taller than two (2) stories, the use
of stucco shall not exceed beyond sixty (60)
percent of any exterior building wall that faces a
street or common open space. (Figure 60)
c. For buildings taller than three (3) stories, a new
material, texture, or color shall be introduced a
maximum of every twenty (20) feet of exterior
building wall length. (Figure 61)
d. At least two (2) materials shall be used on any
exterior building wall, in addition to glazing and
railings. Any one material must comprise at least
twenty (20) percent of any exterior building wall,
excluding windows and railings.
e. Buildings with false facades or false fronts,
exclusive of parapets used to shield rooftop
equipment and create the appearance of a
higher sixteen (16)-foot commercial front
requirement, are prohibited.

Figure 59. Exterior Building Wall Material Transitions
a
a
Figure 60. Stucco material less than 60% of building exterior Figure 61. New material or color every 20’

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 41

8. Color
a. An earth-tone (see definitions) color palette
shall be required for all structures and the color
palette shall be submitted to the City including
paint manufacturer/brand, name and number
for each paint color used within the project. The
hexadecimal color code or RGB color number(s)
shall be provided for each. Encycolorpedia.com
or similar websites may be utilized as a tool to
assist with color selection.
b. On all exterior building walls, buildings shall
utilize a minimum of three (3) colors, inclusive of
trim. (Figure 62)
c. Contrast in two of the colors shall be a minimum
of twenty-five (25) percent differentiation
lighter or darker, based on RGB color model
percentages.
8 d. On any exterior building wall greater than one
hundred (100) feet, buildings shall utilize a
minimum of four (4) colors, inclusive of trim.

Changes in materials reflected on more than
twenty (20) percent of the exterior building wall
may be included as one (1) of the four (4) colors.
e. Changes in color due to a change in building
materials (consisting of less than twenty (20)
Figure 62. Exterior walls with minimum of three (3) earth tone color palette percent of an exterior building wall are not
considered an additional color.
f. Any individual exterior building wall greater than
eighty (80) percent glass or highly reflective
materials is prohibited except on the ground
floor for commercial spaces.
8Encycolorpedia.com or similar websites (“color variations”) may be utilized as a resource to determine percentages for color variations and Myperfectcolor.com as a resource for wall paint selection for a variety of paint manufacturers, as appropriate.

42 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

2. Urban Landscape Improvements
a. When public improvements are necessary, the
provisions of the the Downtown Concord Specific
Plan and the Downtown Concord Corridors Plan
shall apply for additional standards and details,
including landscaping plants/pervious materials,
lighting, street furniture, and streetscape
requirements.
b. Where public realm improvements are required,
plans shall include a mix of pervious and
impervious materials using at least one (1) of the
following pervious surfacing materials:
i. Pavers
ii. Stones
iii. Decomposed granite
iv. Pervious concrete
c. To create continuous landscaped areas,
landscaping on private lots or along the street
edge and within open spaces shall be required to
use a minimum of two (2) of the following:
i. Plants along the back of the sidewalk
ii. Street trees with a minimum size of 24-inch
box
iii. Landscape buffer along the street curb
D. Detailing

1. Architectural and Building
Enhancements
a. Entry pathways to primary entrances of more
than one unit shall be treated with a minimum of
two (2) of the following approaches:
i. Arched ironwork/simulated material at entry
ii. Landscape vertical elements (Figure 64)
iii. Decorative pavers
iv. Decorative lighting
b. Functional elements shall include design motifs,
present in the building design, for a minimum of
three (3) of the following:
i. Railings
ii. Access gates
iii. Doors to utility rooms
iv. Fire escape doors
v. Parking garage doors or window openings
vi. Tuck-under garage entrances
vii. Mechanical and electrical rooms
C. Landscape Design

1. Landscape
a. The Citywide standards Section (C)1 for
additional landscaping and Section (C)2 for Street
Tree standards shall apply.
b. Developments shall incorporate at least three (3)
out of the following landscaping approaches:
i. Potted plants in commercial grade pots
ii. Hanging baskets under a roof overhang
iii. Landscaped public space
iv. Green walls
v. Planter boxes as a streetscape element in
the private parcel
vi. Bio treatment measures, such as a swales
vii. Trellis vines with pergola
c. Pavers and concrete alternatives, of either
decorative or permeable type, shall be required
for a minimum of ten (10) percent of the hard
surface of the project. (Figure 63)
Figure 63. Landscaping with pervious surfaces and pavers Figure 64. Landscape vertical elements

Chapter 03 Downtown Standards ▪ 43

2. Patio Enclosure (Fencing)
a. Patios within two (2) feet of grade level shall be
enclosed with a maximum three (3)-foot tall,
semi-translucent (or filtered) enclosure made of
metal, wood and/or other material consistent
with the building material palette. (Figure 65)
b. Patios at grade level, directly facing the public
right of way, shall be enclosed with a minimum
five (5)-foot tall, solid metal, wood, and/or similar
material consistent with the building material
palette, with a locking gate for access to public
right-of-way, if a pathway connection is provided.
(Figure 66)
c. Patios facing an inner courtyard, behind a
project fence or wall, that are not located along
a public right of way, shall have greater flexibility
for enclosure with a minimum 42-inch tall
semi-translucent enclosure made of material
consistent with the building material palette

3. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas
a. Loading areas for the commercial uses of mixed-
use development shall be located in alleys or on
secondary streets.
b. Trash enclosures shall not be located in any front
yard, street side yard, parking space, required
landscaped area, or open space areas for multi-
unit residential buildings.
c. Trash enclosures shall be located a minimum of
fifteen (15) feet away from an abutting single-
family residential district or any public right-of-
way or private roadway easement.

4. Emergency Access, Addresses, and
Mailboxes
a. In mixed-use developments, separate secure
mailbox and package delivery/pick-up areas shall
be provided for the residential and commercial
components of a project.
b. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

5. Utility and Mechanical Equipment
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

6. Signage
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

7. Fencing and Retaining Walls
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

Figure 65. Raised patio with maximum three (3) foot tall wooden enclosure
Figure 66. Patios with a locking gate at grade level enclosed with metal railing, concrete wall, and landscaping area.

Figure 67. A five (5) foot tall solid metal, wood, and/or similar material shall be used for patios at grade level.

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 45
04 Corridor Standards
A. Site Plan ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 B. Architectural/Building Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 C. Landscape Design ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 D. Detailing ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

46 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 67: Typical Corridor multi-family building type
Parking in Rear
Adjoining Single Family
Residential
Adjoining Multi Family
Residential
Common
Driveway
Front Yard with Trees
for Ground Floor Units
Primary Entrance to
Ground Floor Units
Street
Transitional
Standards

Chapter 04 Corridor Standards ▪ 47
Figure 68: Corridors map

04. Corridor
Standards
Corridor standards focus on multifamily housing
and mixed-use projects, generally medium to high
density, situated along the arterial streets and higher volume corridors within the City, inclusive of Clayton Road, Willow Pass Road, Treat Boulevard, Monument
Boulevard, and other major roadways. These
standards apply to projects located in the following
areas:
• Sites adjacent to or having direct primary
access to one of the specified Corridors
in (Figure 68), via an easement, private
roadway or driveway and located in the RM,
RH, PD, CO, NC, and CMX zoning districts.
• All commercial zoning districts that do not
allow for housing within the CDC but are
allowed to be developed with housing due
to the requirements of state laws.

Project sites located within the Downtown boundary,
shall reference and abide by the Downtown
standards. Those projects, consistent with at least
one of the bullets listed above, outside of the
Downtown boundary, shall be subject to the Corridor
Standards within this section.

Projects adjacent to street corridors with lots that
may have indirect access to the Corridors but still
have primary access from residential streets shall
utilize the Neighborhood Standards chapter . Those
sites within any single-family residential zoning
district or a single-family residential use shall be
considered under the Neighborhood standards.

General standards for this section include site
planning and orientation, architectural and building
design, landscape design, and building detailing.

These shall apply in addition to the Citywide
standards in Chapter Two.

48 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
B. Site Plan

1. Site Planning and Orientation
a. Common driveways shall be used along the
specified Corridors.

2. Parking
a. Vehicular Parking (including carports)
i. Parking shall be located to the rear of
the site. If topographic or other physical
constraints dictate that the parking be
located in the front, screening shall be
provided per screening requirements in CDC
Section 18.165.060(D)1. (Figure 69)
ii. Flat carport roofs are prohibited.
iii. Pre-manufactured carports are prohibited.
iv. Carports shall utilize materials consistent
with Table 1 in Citywide Section B(7)A and
colors within the building’s color palette and
shall be finished with a protective coating.
v. Where carports face a public street or are
visible to the public from the right-of-way,
screening shall be required per the screening
requirement and/or landforms shall be used
either by depressing the carport or creating
berms. (Figure 70)
vi. Uninterrupted carports of more than six
(6) full-size parking spaces are prohibited.

Carports shall be separated by a landscape
element that is at least four (4) feet wide.
b. Bicycle Parking
i. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall
apply.

Figure 69: Vehicular surface parking, access and location standard for Corridor Development Figure 70: Sloping carports separated by landscaping
Street
Parking in
Rear
Common
Driveway

Chapter 04 Corridor Standards ▪ 49
Figure 71: Massing and articulation
Figure 72: Balconies, openings, and elements for breaking the mass of the building C. Architectural/Building Design

1. Massing and Articulation
a. After two hundred (200) feet of continuous
building length, a minimum twenty (20)-foot-
wide mid-block open space, paseo, or courtyard
space of minimum area three hundred (300)
square feet shall be provided to relieve the
building mass and add variation.
b. All building walls shall be broken up using a
change in the wall plane. A break in the wall
plane, created by a change in depth, shall be
required at a minimum of every forty (40) feet
horizontally along a building wall. (Figure 71)
c. The massing of building walls shall be broken up
using a combination of at least four (4) of the
following approaches: (Figure 72)
i. Balconies
ii. Window openings and entrances recessed
or protruding a minimum of six (6) inches in
depth
iii. Wall trims, projections, and reveals along
different levels of wall surfaces, for a
minimum of four (4) inches in depth
iv. Use of at least two (2) distinct materials and
two distinct colors along a wall surface
v. Vertical pilasters that reflect internal building
structure and/or are integral to the selected
architectural style.
d. See Citywide standard B(1)d for Transitional
standards to abutting properties.

Street
i
iii
ii
iv
40’

50 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

2. Roof Treatments
a. Roofs proposed for a location where it will be
viewed by occupants of adjacent taller buildings
shall be treated as a “roofscape.” The design shall
include all three (3) of the following approaches:
i. Color in the architectural design materials
palette
ii. Plantings in the landscape design palette
iii. Texture shall be same as a material in the
architectural design materials palette.
(Figure 73)
b. See Downtown Standards for Roof treatments in
Section B(2).

3. Windows and Doors
a. Primary entrances for ground floor units along
streets shall include a porch (recessed or
projecting) with a minimum size of sixty-four (64)
square feet and minimum depth of four (4) feet.
(Figure 74).
b. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2, Section
B(3) shall apply for additional window and door
standards.

4. Balconies
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

5. Materials
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

6. Color
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

Figure 73: Roof texture consistent with architectural materials palette Figure 74: Primary entrances along ground floor with porch minimum four (4) feet deep and more than sixty-four (64) square feet in size

Chapter 04 Corridor Standards ▪ 51
D. Landscape Design

1. Public Right-of-Way Landscaping
a. All projects with ground floor units facing the
public right-of-way shall have a landscape design
that includes a row of trees in the front setback
that is a minimum of four (4) feet away from the
back of the sidewalk, in addition to the row of
trees required in the planting strip between the
curb and the sidewalk for a total of two (2) rows
of trees, in conformance with the required street
tree planting specified in the Street Tree Master
Plan.
b. All projects with a fence or wall facing the
Corridors identified in (Figure 68) shall provide a
back of sidewalk minimum of a five (5) foot wide
landscaped planting strip.
c. The overall frontage planting design shall include
a row of trees planted a maximum of every thirty
(30) feet. (Figure 75)
d. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2, Section
C(1) for additional landscaping and Section C(2)
for Street Tree standards shall apply.

E. Detailing

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

2. Patio Enclosure (fencing)
The Downtown Standards in Chapter 3 shall apply.

3. Emergency Access, Addresses, and
Mailboxes
a. In mixed-use developments, separate secure
mailbox and package delivery/pick-up areas shall
be provided for the residential and commercial
components of a project.
b. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

4. Utility and Mechanical Equipment
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

5. Lighting
Lamps and light fixtures under carports and/or other
partially open parking areas shall be designed to
prevent glare. All lamps in these areas shall have
lenses to diffuse light.

6. Fencing and Retaining Walls
a. Walls or fences ninety (90) feet or longer that
back-up to Corridors identified in (Figure 68),
shall incorporate at least two (2) of the following:
i. A minimum change in plane of one (1) foot
every thirty (30) feet, along public ROW .
ii. A minimum change of one half (0.5) foot in
height
iii. A change to a material or substantial change
in material texture every sixty (60) feet
consistent with the building material palette
(example stone columns). (Figure 76)
iv. A change to a color every sixty (60) feet
consistent with the building material palette.

Figure 75: Trees in front yard along sidewalk
Figure 76: Fencing with change in height and material

52 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 53
05 Neighborhood Standards
A. Site Plan ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 B. Architectural/Building Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 C. Landscape Design ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 D. Detailing ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

54 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
Figure 77: Typical neighborhood townhome multi-family building type Adjoining Single Family
Residential
Adjoining Single Family
Residential
Patio
Patio
Street
Transitional
Standards

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 55

05. Neighborhood
Standards
Neighborhood standards focus on residential
subdivisions within low and medium density
neighborhoods, with the intent of retaining a
cohesive high-quality architectural design for these
areas. This includes, but is not limited to, traditional neighborhoods such as Bishop Estates, Cambridge
Park, Carriage Square, Clayton Valley, Colony Park,
the Crossings, Crystal Ranch, Dana Estates, East Sun
Terrace, Ellis Lake, Holbrook Heights, Lime Ridge,
Meadow Homes, Montecito, the Monument, North
Concord, Pine Hollow, Solano/Estates, and Sun
Terrace. These standards apply to projects located in
the following areas:
• Sites within Rural Residential (RR), Resi-
dential Single-Family (RS), and Residential
Low Density (RL) zoning districts which
may or may not be adjacent “to, or have
direct access to, the Corridors”.
• Planned Development (PD) zoning
districts adjacent to but without direct
access to the Corridors.
• Projects designed with lots that are ad-
jacent to the Corridors but with indirect
primary access from residential streets.
• Residential Medium Density (RM) and
Commercial Mixed Use (CMX) zoning
districts not along an identified Corridor .
• Projects submitted under Government
Code Sections 66452.6 and 65852.21,
including urban lot splits and two (2)-unit
projects with up to four (4) units per
original lot.

This section also includes those neighborhoods with
recognizable architectural style (See Neighborhood
standards Section B(7) and incorporates specific
standards to retain those styles to maintain
neighborhood cohesiveness. These neighborhoods
include the North Todos Santos district, the
three Eichler neighborhoods, and the Canterbury
neighborhood south of Clayton Road. For projects
in these areas, see Section B(8) in this chapter in
addition to the other sections.

General standards for this section include site
planning and orientation, architectural and building
design, landscape design, and building detailing.

Figure 78: Aerial view of existing neighborhood
Figure 79: Existing housing typology in neighborhood

56 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
A. Site Plan

1. Site Planning and Orientation
a. Buildings shall be kept parallel to the street
frontage. Where an irregular lot exists, a
minimum of twenty (20) feet of a building on fifty
(50) percent of the frontage (whichever is less)
that includes the front entry shall be parallel to
the street frontage.
b. Corner side yard and side-yard setback areas and
buildings elevations shall be treated with the
same level of design emphasis as the front-yard
setback and front building elevation to ensure
similar quality, where visible from public right of
way.
c. Air conditioning units shall not be located
within required private open space areas. Air
conditioning units shall not be located within six
(6) feet of a front entry door or fronting along
streets or along a structure’s front exterior
building wall.
d. When abutting an open space, ridgeline, or other
visual resources specified in the General Plan,
views to and from public common areas shall be
maintained using a minimum of two (2) of the
following approaches:
i. Place shared outdoor space such that
seventy (70) percent of the outdoor area has
a view of the visual resource
ii. Provide balconies such that fifty (50) percent
of units have a view to the visual resource
iii. Place forty (40) percent of the windows in
a manner that provides a view of the visual
Figure 80: Primary entrance with porches, projections over doorway with change in material resource
e. Primary entrances shall be identifiable
through a minimum of two (2) of the following
approaches: (Figure 80)
i. Projection over the doorway, such as porch,
awning, cantilevered canopy, or portico
ii. Recessed entry that is a minimum of thirty-
six (36) inches in depth from face of wall
iii. Double doors that are a minimum of sixty
(60) inches (thirty [30] inches per door)
iv. Change in materials a minimum of ten (10)
percent, such as more glass.
f. Each ground floor fronting the street dwelling
unit shall include a patio or porch and this
feature shall be a minimum forty-eight (48)
square feet in area, with a minimum dimension
of four (4) feet in at least one direction.
g. Building pads that are artificially exaggerated five (5) percent more than the ground floor floorplate
are prohibited.
h. All projects shall provide separate vehicular and
pedestrian circulation systems.
i iv

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 57
Figure 81: Garage entrance 16’ wide

2. Parking
a. Vehicular Parking
i. Parking areas and building entrances shall be
a maximum of fifty (50) feet apart
b. Carport Parking
i. Parking abutting an adjacent residential use
shall be screened in conformance with CDC
Section 18.150.180 and shall include a tree
screen or minimum six (6)-foot-tall shrub
screen.
ii. Carports shall be made using materials
consistent with Table 1 in Citywide Section
B(7)A and colors within the building’s
color palette and shall be finished with a
protective coating.
iii. Carport roofs that are flat are prohibited.
iv. Pre-manufactured carports are prohibited.
v. Where carports face a public street or are
visible to the public from the right-of-way,
screening shall be required per the screening
requirement and/or landforms shall be used
either by depressing the carport or creating
berms.
vi. Garage and carport placement shall
comprise no more than forty (40) percent
of the front exterior building wall of the unit
and be articulated by at least two (2) feet
of differentiation along the exterior building
wall.
vii. Garage entrance shall be set back to
match the minimum setback for the site
or minimum of twenty (20) feet from
the property line, whichever is less. The
maximum garage door size shall be sixteen
(16) feet wide by eight (8) feet tall or nine (9)
feet wide by eight (8) feet tall for single car
garages. (Figure 81)
viii. If garbage/recycling containers will be stored
in the garage, additional space of three
(3) feet by five (5) feet or as approved by
the franchise trash and recycling provider
beyond the minimum garage dimensions as
identified in CDC Section 18.160.080(A) shall
be required to accommodate the containers.
ix. Uninterrupted carports of more than six
full-size parking spaces are prohibited and
carports shall be separated by a landscape
finger .
c. Bicycle Parking
i. Multi-family projects bicycle parking shall
adhere to Citywide standards in Chapter 2.

58 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
B. Architectural/Building Design

1. Massing and Articulation
a. All individual residential units shall appear as
separate buildings by using at least two (2) of the
following approaches: (Figure 82)
i. Minimum of three (3) feet between
adjoining unit entries
ii. Changes in the depth of the wall plane of a
minimum of twenty-four (24) inches
iii. Changes in color from colors within the
palette of the project
iv. Changes in material from the materials
within the palette of the project
v. Changes in entry element of either porch,
patio, or entry doorway projection
b. Visual relief shall be created through details
associated with a doorway and/or roof eave with
a minimum of eighteen (18) inches depth so that
they create shade and cast shadow.
c. Architectural projections from building walls that
emphasize windows and doors shall project a
minimum of twelve (12) inches. (Figure 83)
d. See Citywide standard B(1)d for Transitional
standards to abutting properties.

For projects located within in the North Todos Santos
district, Eichler and Canterbury neighborhoods, or
for those submitted pursuant to Government Code
sections 66452.6 and 65852.21, see Section B(8) and
Section B(9).

Figure 83: Building bulk/ Relief and Rhythm
Figure 82: Example massing
b
c
viii

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 59

2. Roof Treatment
a. Roof forms for each individual unit shall be
vertically articulated along the street frontage
by at least one (1) of the following architectural
elements:
i. Roof profile varying in height a minimum of
three (3) feet
ii. Clerestory windows
iii. Roof form that varies in height a minimum of
four (4) feet
iv. A variety of at least two (2) roof forms
b. Roofs in a location that will be viewed by
occupants of a taller building shall include one
(1) of the following approaches: (Figure 84)
i. Roof material shall be more than one color
ii. Planting for a minimum of ten (10) percent
of the roof area
iii. More than one texture material
c. Roof decks are prohibited.

3. Color
On all exterior building walls, buildings shall utilize a minimum of two (2) colors, inclusive of trim. Changes
in color due to a change in building material are not
considered an additional color. (Figure 85)

4. Window and Door
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

Figure 84: Changing roof profiles with multiple roof forms Figure 85: Exterior wall with three colors including trim

5. Detailing
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

6. Balconies
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

7. Materials
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

60 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

8. Special neighborhood architectural
design treatments
The neighborhood areas identified in this section
have specific architectural design standards which
shall apply to vacant lots, projects submitted under
Government Code Sections 65852.21 or 66411.7, or
redeveloped properties only (Maps adapted from City
generated maps included in appendix).
a. North Todos Santos neighborhood is located
immediately north of the Downtown core (the
nine blocks surrounding Todos Santos Plaza) and
is the location of many of the City’s historical
homes dating between 1880-1930, which include
a range of architectural styles including Italianate,
Queen Anne, Craftsman, Bungalow, and Mission,
which were mostly applied to houses at a modest
scale. The North Todos Santos Design Guidelines
can be referenced for additional standards and
the vision of the neighborhood. The goal of the
guidelines is to ensure that new development
will fit into the neighborhood in a cohesive style
without overwhelming the older buildings, while
providing an architectural design reflective of
the earlier styles noted above. Projects within
this district shall incorporate the following design
standards:
i. Meet minimum architectural design
standards discussed in Chapter 3.
ii. Wall lengths greater than thirty (30)
feet shall be interrupted by projections,
indentations, or changes of direction in the
wall plane.

Figure 86: North Todos Santos neighborhood

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 61
iii. Mansard, shed, and flat roofs are prohibited.
iv. Windows facing the street shall include
expressed sills, lentils, or other trim.

Historical elements such as bay windows
and/or French doors shall be used.
v. Entry elements, such as porches and/
or doors with projecting roofs, shall be
designed as a single floor building element
with a minimum ceiling height of ten (10)
feet.
vi. Garage doors shall have the same elements
of the architectural style of the residence
expressed in either the panel design, color,
materials and/or widow selection style.
vii. At least three (3) of the following details
shall be incorporated into the design
including:
• Moldings
• Brackets
• Projecting rafters of at least two (2) feet
• Bay windows
• French doors
viii. Parking areas visible from the street shall be
screened with shrubbery of at least thirty
(30) inches in height to minimize the view of
parked cars and pavement from the public
right-of-way.

Figure 87: Housing typology in North Todos Santos
neighborhood
Figure 89: Housing typology in North Todos Santos
neighborhood
Figure 88: Housing typology in North Todos Santos
neighborhood
Figure 90: Housing typology in North Todos Santos
neighborhood
City of Concord, California
page 17
Map of Todos Santos, 1874, by Luis Castro
Salvio Pacheco Adobe, built 1840s Fernando Pacheco Adobe, built 1856 Bolla Home, built 1924, Bungalow style Alves Home, built 1906, Colonial style City of Concord, California
page 17
Map of Todos Santos, 1874, by Luis Castro
Salvio Pacheco Adobe, built 1840s Fernando Pacheco Adobe, built 1856 Bolla Home, built 1924, Bungalow style Alves Home, built 1906, Colonial style City of Concord, California
page 17
Map of Todos Santos, 1874, by Luis Castro
Salvio Pacheco Adobe, built 1840s Fernando Pacheco Adobe, built 1856 Bolla Home, built 1924, Bungalow style Alves Home, built 1906, Colonial stylePage 80 of 103 62 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
b. Eichler neighborhoods include three (3) mid-
century neighborhoods (including the Rancho
del Diablo subdivision) north and south of
Clayton Road, and east of Cowell Park. The
neighborhoods include homes designed by
the architect/builder Joseph Eichler primarily
in the 1960s-1970s. The design intent was to
provide modern (now referenced as mid-century
modern), affordable homes, with key features
including large panels of glass, post and beam
construction, mahogany paneling, open floor
plans, some incorporating atriums, with the
intent of promoting a feeling of a seamless
connection to the outdoors, concrete slab
floors often with radiant floor heating, open air
courtyards and exposed ceiling beams. Projects
within these neighborhoods shall incorporate the
following design standards:
i. Exposed beams supporting (flat or sloping)
roof fronting the street and projects to cast
shadows on the exterior building wall below.
ii. Wall length greater than 40 feet shall be
interrupted by projections, indentations, or
changes of direction in the building plane.
iii. Flat or low-sloped gable roofs with a pitch
of up to 3:12 shall be utilized but may be
combined with roof pitch accents of up to
12:12 with open glazed gable ends.
iv. Roof beams shall be utilized that penetrate
the exterior walls to support a broad roof
overhang of at least three (3) feet.

Figure 91: Eichler neighborhoods

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 63
v. Window glazing shall be used between cross
beam overhang and entry door.
vi. Building elevations facing the street shall
include at least twenty (20) percent of wall
face as windows.
vii. Entries shall be highlighted with a door in an
accent color.
viii. Garage doors shall reflect the mid-century
style with wood, composite wood, or other
faux wood material to match the horizontal
panels for the residence(s).
ix. Floor to ceiling vertical windows on the front
building wall.
x. At least two (2) of the following details shall
be incorporated into the design including:
• Horizontal fencing
• Mid-century design accent lighting
• A recessed entry of at least ten (10) feet
• Clerestory windows
Figure 92: Homes in Eichler neighborhood Figure 93: Homes in Eichler neighborhood Figure 94: Homes in Eichler neighborhood Figure 95: Homes in Eichler neighborhood

64 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
c. Canterbury Village neighborhood is located
immediately south of Clayton Road at Cape
Cod Way and provides a neighborhood of
architecture loosely designed as Cape Cod style
architecture. Projects within this neighborhood
shall incorporate the following design standards:
i. Wall length greater than thirty (30) feet shall
be interrupted by projections, indentations,
or changes of direction in wall plane.
ii. Homes shall be one to one-and-a half stories
with horizontal lap siding and/or cedar shake
siding. Stucco shall not be allowed on front
exterior building wall.
iii. Garage doors shall reflect Cape Cod style
with recessed panels.
iv. Design shall have a generally symmetrical
appearance (excluding garage).
v. At least five (5) of the following details shall
be incorporated into the design including
the following:
• Covered porch space of a minimum four
(4) feet by ten (10) feet
• Gabled dormer windows with window
trim and separate window shutters
• Entry portico
• Single-hung windows with grids with
window trim
• Chimney
• White picket fencing with entry gate
• Front entry door with window, painted
an accent color.

Figure 96: Canterbury Village neighborhood

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 65
Figure 97: Housing typology in Canterbury Village
neighborhood
Figure 98: Housing typology in Canterbury Village
neighborhood

9. Government Code Sections 65852.21
and 66411.7
Projects submitted pursuant to Government Code
Section 65852.21 or 66411.7 include urban lot splits
and second homes. The goal of the objective design
standards is to gain consistency and compatibility
with the appearance of an existing primary home, as
reflected in the Neighborhoods section above. Such
units shall incorporate the following design standards:
a. See other Neighborhood standards in A(1) Site
Plan, A(2) Parking and the B(1) Massing and
Articulation sections.
b. Avoid direct line of sight to existing neighboring
units by staggering window and door placement
for a dwelling unit that is constructed on the
lot after the urban lot split or a new additional
primary unit constructed under Government
Code, Sections 65852.21(b); 66411.7(c).
c. Exterior stairwells shall not be oriented to the
street or visible from the public right-of-way.
d. The Citywide standards for additional details that
shall apply for colors and materials.
e. Colors and materials for any additional unit on a
lot shall be consistent with the existing primary
home or color and materials palette for the
proposed primary dwelling unit, using at least
two of the following three approaches:
i. A minimum of one (1) matching exterior
color from the color palette of the primary
home
ii. A minimum of two (2) matching exterior
materials from the material palette of the
primary homes
iii. A matching roof slope to that of the
dominant roof pitch or form from the
primary home
f. For urban lot splits and two-unit projects,
roadway maintenance agreements shall be
submitted to the Engineering Division for access
roadways.
g. All lots created pursuant Government Code
Section 66411.7 shall have access to, provide
access to, or adjoin, a public right-of-way.

66 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
C. Landscape Design

1. Treatment of Setbacks
a. Where transitional setbacks are required by CDC
Section 18.150.180, tree planting shall be at a
minimum density of one (1) tree a maximum of
every thirty (30) feet to provide a second layer of
screening and shrub planting.
b. The front and exterior side yards shall be
landscaped and if needed, screening of the
parking area to make an appropriate transition
from the street-edge. (Figure 99)
Figure 99: Landscaped front and exterior side yards
Figure 100: Landscaped front yards

2. Types of Plant Materials
a. The size of planters next to carports shall be
determined by the allowable carport length as
specified by the CDC Landscape Ordinance and
Building Code and required on the checklist for
landscape plans. If carports are not required,
then the size of the planters shall be a minimum
of four (4) feet wide.
b. Landscape planters or vine pockets of a minimum
of two (2) feet by two (2) feet shall be provided
where multi-car garages on tuck-under parking
spaces abut pavement (driveways or parking
aisles). (Figure 100)

Chapter 05 Neighborhood Standards ▪ 67
D. Detailing

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

2. Emergency Access, Addresses, and
Mailboxes
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

3. Utility and Mechanical Equipment
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

4. Lighting
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

5. Fencing
a. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 (Table 1:

Figure 101: Fencing and change in plane and material
Building, Roofing and Fencing Materials) shall
apply.
b. Walls or fences sixty (60) feet or longer, including lots that back-up to Corridors, shall incorporate
at least two (2) of the following: (Figure 101)
i. A minimum change in plane of one (1) foot
every thirty (30) feet
ii. A minimum change of one half (0.5) foot in
height
iii. A change to a material or change in material
texture consistent with the building material
palette every thirty (30) feet
iv. A change to a color consistent with the
building material palette every thirty (30)
feet or change in residential unit.

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 69
06 Special Case Standards (Infill
with Sensitive Transitions, and
Emergency Shelters)
A. Site Plan ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 B. Architectural/Building Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 71 C. Landscape Design ................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 72 D. Emergency Shelters, SROs, and Group Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 72 E. Detailing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .73

70 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

06. Special Case
Standards (Infill with
Sensitive Transitions, &
Emergency Shelters)
Special Case (Infill) standards include those infill
sites, primarily within single-family zoned districts,
requiring sensitive transitions from the proposed
project site when the site includes:
i. Transition to adjacent lower density zoning
districts or neighborhoods, or
ii. Transition to adjacent non-residential land
use (i.e., adjacent to commercial uses),
and/or
iii. Emergency shelters for the homeless, single
room occupancies, and group housing
General standards for this section include site
planning and orientation, architectural and building
design, landscape design, and building detailing.

A. Site Plan

1. Neighborhood Context
a. Buildings shall minimize their bulk and include
detail to reflect the neighborhood context in
which they are located using one of the following
approaches:
i. Use the same roof pitch as used by at least
thirty (30) percent of the directly adjacent
residential structures. (Figure 102)
ii. On building walls, use the same bay widths
as those used on two (2) on adjacent
buildings.

2. Site Planning and Orientation
Front entry shall be highlighted with a small porch,
portico, stoop, or architectural awning assembly a
minimum of twelve (12) square feet. Residential entry
door shall be included with recessed panels and/or
window. (Figure 103)

3. Parking
The Neighborhood standards in Chapter 5 for both
vehicular and bicycle parking standards shall apply.

Figure 102: Roof pitch similar to adjoining residential structure
Figure 103: Front entry highlighted with stoop

Chapter 06 Special Case Standards ▪ 71
Figure 104: Building walls with adequate window detail
Figure 105: Exterior building walls with minimum two colors including trim
B. Architectural/Building Design

1. Massing and Articulation
a. Articulation depth of at least twenty-four (24)
inches on a wall plane width of more than forty
(40) feet shall be provided.
b. Any floor above the first floor shall be limited
to eighty (80) percent of the footprint of the
first floor and shall be stepped back at least
an additional four (4) feet from the required
setback.
c. All building walls shall include building detail
using a minimum of one (1) of the following
approaches:
i. Window detail, of either or all, shutters,
trim, sills, mullions, lintels (Figure 104)
ii. Ornamentation, of either or all corbels,
cornices, moldings
d. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 for
Transitional standards to abutting properties shall
apply.

2. Roof Treatment
a. See Chapter 5, Neighborhood standards, Section
B(2) for Roof Treatment standard.

3. Windows and Doors
a. A direct line of sight into any neighboring units
shall be avoided by staggering window and door
placement.
b. The Citywide standards in Chapter 2, Section B(3)
for windows shall also apply.

4. Color
a. On all exterior building walls, buildings shall
utilize a minimum of two (2) colors, inclusive
of trim. Changes in color due to a change in
building material are not considered an
additional color (Figure 105).

72 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
C. Landscape Design
For any new primary dwelling units, evergreen
landscape screening shall be planted a maximum of
six (6) feet in height and maintained between the
project and adjacent lots.

D. Emergency Shelters, SROs,
and Group Homes
Emergency Shelters and Single Room Occupancies
(SRO) often require additional outdoor spaces due to
the number of people living onsite and the nature of
the small rooms or units within the building.

Figure 106: Landscape outdoor screening along 10’ side
setbacks
Figure 107: Common outdoor gathering space at group housing with benches, tables, and chairs a. For emergency shelters, SROs, and group homes,
outdoor gathering areas shall include the
following:
i. A maximum slope of ten (10) percent
ii. Be located within one hundred (100) feet of
eighty (80) percent of the units
iii. Have a minimum area of eight hundred (800)
square feet with a minimum dimension of
twenty (20) feet in length or depth
iv. Screen outdoor patio fronting a public ROW ,
with decorative fencing of at least three (3)
feet in height.
v. Provide a minimum of at least a ten (10) foot
landscaped setback from front, side, and
rear property lines between the fencing and
the public right of way and or side or rear
property lines. (Figure 106)
b. For emergency shelters, SROs, and group homes,
outdoor gathering spaces shall include two (2)
of the following amenities to accommodate
a minimum of fifty (50) percent of maximum
residents for the site: (Figure 107)
i. Benches
ii. Tables and chairs
iii. Shade structure
c. Kennels shall be prohibited in residential zoned
areas or on sites within three-hundred (300) feet
of a residential use.

Chapter 06 Special Case Standards ▪ 73
Figure 108: Ground mounted mechanical equipment screen
E. Detailing

1. Loading, Service, and Refuse Areas
a. Trash enclosures for garbage, recycling, and/
or storage shall not be located in the front
or streetside yards. For group homes, trash
containers shall be incorporated into garage
space and/or exterior cabinets, incorporated into
the residential design. (Figure 108)
b. See Neighborhood standards for additional
standards.

2. Utility and Mechanical Equipment
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

3. Lighting
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 shall apply.

4. Fencing and Retaining Walls
The Citywide standards in Chapter 2 (Table 1:

Building, Roofing and Fencing Materials) shall apply.

Concord Objective Design Standards ▪ 75
Appendix
A. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 B . Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 C . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 D. Area Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 E. Image Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

76 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
A . Definitions
The terms used in the 2023 Objective Design
Standards shall have the following meanings:

Access, Primary. The entrance to a building that is
oriented toward the front lot line and abuts a public
street, a private street, or common parking area.

Active Open Space. Any open space that is used for
sports, exercise, or active play. It can include but is not limited to amenities such as playgrounds, exercise
equipment, and athletic fields.

Articulation. The breaking up of a flat and uniform
exterior building wall by using recessed wall areas,
indents, projections, changes in building materials,
and detailed projecting features such as stoops, bay
windows, awnings, canopies, and/or balconies.

Articulated Saddle Roof. A simple gable roof or a roof
form which follows a convex curve about one axis
and a concave curve about the other, each of which
is articulated with smaller breaks in plane or smaller
roof forms for articulation, such as a dormer .

Cantilever. A rigid structural element that extends
horizontally and is supported at only one end.

Typically, it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached.

Corbel. A bracket or weight-carrying member, built
deeply into the wall so that the pressure on its
embedded portion counteracts any tendency to
overturn or fall outward.

Cornice . The decorated projection at the top of, or
generally the upper part of, the wall provided to
protect the wall face or to ornament and finish the
eaves. Any projecting element may also be crowned
by a cornice for the same purposes of protection of
surfaces, ornamentation and finishing of an eave.

Corridor . Arterial streets and higher volume corridors within the City (i.e. Clayton Road, Willow Pass Road,
Treat Boulevard, Monument Boulevard, and other
four- and six-lane arterial streets as shown on the
Figure. 66
Caliper. Measurement of the thickness of a tree trunk
describing the diameter measured at breast height of
54 inches (4.5 feet).

Concord Development Code. The Concord
Development Code (CDC) refers to Chapter 18 of the
Concord Municipal Code. The CDC implements the
policies of the Concord general plan by classifying
and regulating the uses of land and structures within
the city. The development code is adopted to protect
and promote the public health, safety, comfort,
convenience, prosperity, and general welfare of
residents and businesses in the city of Concord.

Downspout. A pipe that runs vertically along the side
of the home.

Earth Tone . A color that draws from a color palette
of browns, tans, warm grays, greens, oranges,
whites, and some reds, and some blues. The colors
in an earth tone scheme are muted and flat in an
emulation of the natural colors found in dirt, moss,
trees, and rocks. Earth tone means a color with a
lightness (light reflective) value of 25 to 60 that is
composed of a mixture of any shade of brown and
any shade of any other color or colors.

False Façade (Exterior Building Wall) or False Front.

An exterior building wall extending beyond and
especially above the true dimensions of a building to
give it a more imposing appearance.

Green Roof . A vegetated or living roof created as a ballasted (stabilized) roof consisting of a structural
roof support, waterproofing membrane, drainage
layer, filter membrane, growing medium (soil) and
vegetation overlying a traditional roof.

Green Walls. Vertical structures that have different
types of living plants or other greenery attached to
them, with the greenery planted in a growth medium
consisting of soil, stone, or water and as needed,
having an integrated irrigation system.

Greywater. Domestic wastewater produced from
the recycling of clothes washers, showers, bathtubs,
bathroom sinks and laundry tubs.

Historic Property. Any real property and/or
development on a real property that is included on
the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, and/or the City of
Concord listing of designated historic sites and.

Hydrozones. Portion of landscaped area where plants
with similar water needs are grouped together .

Lot Line Frontage . means the portion of a lot or
parcel of land that borders a public or private street .

Street Frontage shall be measured along the common
lot line separating said lot or parcel of land from the public street, highway or parkway.

Lot Line Front . means the lot line that abuts a street

Appendix ▪ 77
or public right-of-way. For corner lots, the shortest
side fronting a public street is considered the front
lot line regardless of the orientation of the garage or primary entrance, or, if both frontages are the same
length, the front shall be determined by the street
address.

Massing. Massing is an architectural term which
refers to the perception of the general shape, form,
and size of a building.

Objective. Involving no personal subjective
judgement by a public committee, such as the Design
Review Board or Planning Commission and being
uniformly verifiable by reference to an external
and uniform benchmark or criterion available and
knowable by both the development applicant or
proponent and the public official.

Paseo. A privately owned public place or path
designed for walking.

Passive Open Space. An open space on publicly or
privately owned land that is publicly accessible and
has been designated for leisure usually consisting of
sitting and relaxing.

Primary Street. Public or private right-of-way whose
function is to carry vehicular traffic or provide
vehicular access abutting the front property line of a
residential or mixed-use site.

Qualifying Residential Project or Qualifying Project.

Qualifying projects include all new residential and
mixed-use development projects where state law
limits the City’s enforcement of design standards to
objective standards or where state law or the City
Code requires a ministerial approval process.

Residential Street. A public or private right-of-way
whose function is to carry vehicular traffic or provide vehicular access abutting residential or mixed-use
property.

Rooftop Garden. A garden on the roof of a building
for purposes of architectural enhancement,
recreational opportunity, community garden and/or
quiet enjoyment by residents.

Root Drip Irrigation Emitters. Devices that are
designed to be a direct conveyance of water and
nutrients, down to the root zone.

Secondary Street. Public or private right-of-way
whose function is to carry vehicular traffic or provide vehicular access abutting the corner side property
line of a residential or mixed-use site.

Setback. The required distance from the property line
to the allowed exterior building wall envelope.

Step-back. The required distance from the allowed
exterior building wall envelope per the setback to the
allowed building wall envelope per the step-back.

Swale. A long, gently sloping, landscaped depression
that collects and cleans stormwater .

Transitional Setbacks. Additional yard area established for lots abutting a single-family residential district as described in the CDC Section 18.150.280 Transitional
requirements.

Venetian Plaster. Venetian plaster is a wall and ceiling finish consisting of plaster mixed with marble dust,
applied with a spatula or trowel in thin, multiple
layers, which are then burnished to create a smooth
surface with the illusion of depth and texture.

Wall Plane. The plane of a building wall is a plane
that extends from the ground to the top of each wall
of a structure along a straight line; does not include
the roof area.

B . Abbreviations
The abbreviations shall have the following meaning
or titles:

CDC: Concord Development Code
CDFW: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
LID: Low Impact Development
USDFW: U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
BART: Bay Area Rapid Transit
CMX: Commercial Mixed-use
RM: Residential Medium Density
RH: Residential High Density
RL: Residential Low Density
RR: Rural Residential
PD: Planned Development
CO: Community Office
NC: Neighborhood Commercial
ODS: Objective Design Standards
SRO: Single-Room Occupancy hotels

78 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
C . References
McAlester, V., Matty, S. P ., Clicque, S., McAlester, A.

L. 1., Jarrett, L., & Rodriguez-Arnaiz, J. (2013). A field guide to American houses: the definitive guide to
identifying and understanding America’s domestic
architecture. Revised and expanded edition/second
edition. New York, Alfred A. Knopf.

Law Insider (2023) [A contract database and resource
center] Color sample clauses. https://www.lawinsider .
com/
D . Area Maps
Todos
Santos
Plaza
Bonifacio St
Pacheco StAdobe St
Concord Ave
Colfax St
East St
Mira Vi
sta Te
r
Ouimet Pl
Gran
tSt
California St
Galindo St
Central St
M
tDi
ablo
St
PortChica
go H
wy
Salvio St
Willow Pass Rd
Livery Ln
Harrison St
Clay Aly
Almond Ave
Bacon St
North Todos Santos Zoning District I
0 250 500125
Ft
S:\MapRequest\CED\Planning\DesignStandards\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate.aprx Map Created: 7/17/2023
By GIS Division of Information Technology
Legend
NTS Zoning Boundary
North Todos Santos Parcels
Other

1. North Todos Santos Zoning District
Todos
Santos
Plaza
Bonifacio St
Pacheco StAdobe St
Concord Ave
Colfax St
East St
Mira Vi
sta Te
r
Ouimet Pl
Gran
tSt
California St
Galindo St
Central St
M
t Di
abl
o
St
PortChica
go H
wy
Salvio St
Willow Pass Rd
Livery Ln
Harrison St
Clay Aly
Almond Ave
Bacon St
North Todos Santos Zoning District I
0 250 500125
Ft
S:\MapRequest\CED\Planning\DesignStandards\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate.aprx Map Created: 7/17/2023
By GIS Division of Information Technology
Legend
NTS Zoning Boundary
North Todos Santos Parcels
Other

Appendix ▪ 79

2. Downtown Specific Plan: Inner and Outer Core
A¿
Todos
Santos
Plaza
The Alameda
Willia
m
Way
Ellis St
De
troit Ave
Almond Ave
SanCarlosAve
Fry Way
Adelaide St
Pine St
OakmeadDr
Concord Blvd
Franquette A
ve
San
Mig
uel
Rd
Grove Way
Walnut Ave
Via De Mercados
Gatew
ay Blvd
Market St
Pacheco St
Adobe St
Concord Ave
Park St
Bonifacio St
Mira
Vis
taTe
r
Maria Ave
East St
Estates Ct
Coventry RdVerna Cir
Dennis Cir
Ouimet Pl
David Ct
Pamela Ct
Montebello C
t
Mount Ct
Verona Ct
Devon Ct
Lonee Ct
Oak St
Orchard Ave
Sunset
Ave
Crawford St
Consuelo Rd
Ascot Ct
Bisso Ln
Civic Ct
Cow
ell Rd
Fabian Way
Meadow
Ln
AlturaDr
Windsor
Pl
Gary
Dr
Marina Ct
Mt Diablo St
Carleton Dr
Esperanz
aDr
Po
rt Ch
icago Hwy
Mesa St
Wren Ave
Amado
rAve
Belmont R
d
Toyon Dr
DoverWay
Euclid Ave
Main Ave
Commerce Ave
Pa
rksideDr
Roslyn Dr
Vincente Rd
Blackfield Dr
Harrison St
Sutter
St
FirstS
t
CrossWay
Fremont St
San Jose Ave
Santa Clara Ave
Cord
ova Wa
y
Broa
dway St
Oakland Ave
Atlantic St
Prospect St
Clayton Rd
Pacific StExecutive
Ln
Marvell
e Ln
Grant St
Leonar
d Dr
Traynor Rd
Colfax St
SixthSt
FifthAve
Leland
W
ay
Alm
end
ra
Ct
Encima Dr
Salvio St
Willow Pass Rd
Third S
t
Livery Ln
Clay A
ly
Galaxy Wa
y
Oxford Pl
Deardorff Ln
Cambridge Pl
Fir StElm St
Date StCedar St
Arlington Rd
Beach St
Fifth St
Darle
neDr
Sinclair Ave
DavisAve
Bedford RdLexingto
nRd
StanfordSt
Kerman Dr
Wis ter
iaWay
Enc
l
ave Pl
Marilyn
W
ay
Waterworld
Pkwy
Todd Ave
Secon
d
St
Galaxy Ct
Gal
indo S
t
Bacon St
Wildewood Dr
California St
Ricardo D
r
Almar St
Ashbury
Dr
Waltham R
d
Lynn Ave
Hu
m
phrey
Dr
Monume
nt Blvd
Laguna St
Raven
wood Dr
Parkside Cir
Downtown Specific Plan: Inner and Outer Core I
0 500 1,000250
Feet
S:\MapRequest\CED\Planning\DesignStandards\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate\DesignStandardGuidelinesUpdate.aprx Map Created: 7/17/2023 By GIS Division of Information Technology
Legend
Inner Core
Outer Core
Downtown Specific Plan
Downtown Parcels
Todos Santos Plaza

80 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards

3. Eichler Neighborhoods
Farm
Bureau R
d
Denk
inger
Rd
Cowell
Rd
Chestnut Ave
TreatBl
vd
Babel Ln
Clayton Way
Clayton Rd
West St
Sale
m St
Wilson Ln
Wilson Ct
PlacerDr
Lan
cashi
reDr
Gainsborou
gh Dr
Nulty Dr
Sheridan Rd
Lilli
an Dr
We
sley Ct
Mendocino Dr
Sacramento St
Phoenix St
Merridan D
r
Barrington Dr
Eichler Neighborhoods I
0 500 1,000250
Feet
S:\MapRequest\CED\Planning\Housing\DesignStandards\EichlerNeighborhoods\EichlerNeighborhoods.aprx Map Created: 6/23/2023
By GIS Division of Information Technology
Legend
Eichler Properties
Parcels

Appendix ▪ 81

4. Special Neighborhood Design Treatments
Treat Bl
vd
Cowell Rd
Turtle Creek Rd
Farm Burea
uRd
ThornwoodDr
Denkinger
Rd
Chestnut Ave
Clayton Rd
Babel Ln
West St
West St
Sale
m St
Wilson Ln
Santa Fe Ct
Houston Ct
Wilson Ct
PlacerDr
Lan
cash
ireDr
Gainsborou
gh Dr
Nulty Dr
Sheridan Rd
Lillian Dr
Babel Ln
We
sley
Ct
Chestnut Ave Mendocino Dr
Sacramento St
Phoenix St
Merridan D
r
Barrington D
r
Joan Ct
Essex Ct
Rosal
Ave
CanterburyDr
Cape Cod Way
Ham
let D
r
Clayton Rd
Cobblestone Dr
Joan Ave
Huckleberry Dr
Pickwick Dr
Cob
blesto
neDr
Sherwo
odDr
Sh
ake
spe
areDr
Kensing
ton Dr
Sherwood Ct
Winder
mereWay
Chaucer Dr
Special Neighborhood Design Treatments I
0 500 1,000250
Feet
S:\MapRequest\CED\Planning\Housing\DesignStandards\EichlerNeighborhoods\EichlerNeighborhoods.aprx Map Created: 6/29/2023
By GIS Division of Information Technology
Legend
Eichler
Canterbury Village

82 ▪ Concord Objective Design Standards
E . Image Credits
Images within this document not listed in the image
credit list are property of City of Concord and MIG.

Introduction Cover Page
Visit Concord
https://www.visitconcordca.com/outdoors/
Chapter 2: Citywide Objective Design Standards
Cover Page
Renaissance Square,
https://hotpads.com/renaissance-square-concord-ca-
94520-1umnwjf/pad
Figure 4. Common Open Spaces
Metal Architecture, Keller Courts Commons,
https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/2019-
mca-chairmans-awards
Figure 7. Bicycle Locker
Translink,
https://buzzer.translink.ca/2021/06/how-to-use-
translinks-on-demand-bike-lockers/
Figure 8. Indoor Bicycle Room
CycleSafe, MultiFamily Bike Lockers,
https://cyclesafe.com/bike-parking-solutions/multi-
family-bike-parking-solutions/
Figure 12. Roof with Articulated Saddles
IKO Residential Roofing Shingles
https://www.iko.com/na/pro/building-professional-
tools/roofing-101/cricket-for-roof-chimney/
Figure 16. Architectural Detailing with Canopies,
Balconies, Color Change, and Material Change for
Downtown Buildings
Google Map, Park Central Apartment homes,
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.972926,-
122.0340745,3a,90y,31.06h,96.04t/
Figure 18. Multiple Colors on Downtown Buildings
that are Consistent with Color Palette
Renaissance Square,
https://hotpads.com/renaissance-square-concord-ca-
94520-1umnwjf/pad
Figure 25. Metal Art Element
Allard Square,
https://www.conantmetalandlight.com/
Figure 26. Venetian Plaster
Exterior Venetian Plaster,
https://www.houzz.com/photos/exterior-venetian-
plaster-mediterranean-exterior-miami-phvw-
vp~27888905
Figure 28. Ground Mounted Mechanical Equipment
Hayneedle,
https://www.hayneedle.com/tips-and-ideas/hiding-
outdoor-eyesores/
Chapter 3: Downtown Standards Cover Page
The Grant,
https://www.brown-construction.com/projects/
multifamily/item/147-the-grant
Chapter 4: Corridor Standards Cover Page
Google Map, Park Central Apartment homes,
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.971821,-
122.0328208,3a,88.9y,324.07h,94.73t/
Chapter 5: Neighborhood Standards Cover Page
Zillow,
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2820-Willow-
Pass-Rd-Concord-CA-94519/68038703_zpid/
Figure 78. Aerial View of Existing Neighborhood
Point2 Homes,
https://www.point2homes.com/US/Home-For-
Sale/CA/Concord/1219-Illinois-Ct/149762953.
html#lg=1&slide=46
Figure 79. Existing Housing Typology in
Neighborhood
Zillow,
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2805-Jefferson-
Ln-Concord-CA-94519/68040000_zpid/
Figure 93. Homes in Eichler Neighborhood
Concord Eichler Homes,
https://www.eichlerforsale.com/concord-eichlers/
Figure 94. Homes in Eichler Neighborhood
Visit Concord,
https://www.visitconcordca.com/things-to-do/visual-
arts/architecture/
Figure 95. Homes in Eichler Neighborhood
https://theglassbox.typepad.com/my-blog/2014/07/
concord-eichler-for-sale-peaceful-setting-loads-of-
potential.html
Figure 98. Housing Typology in Canterbury Village
Compass,
https://www.compass.com/listing/1301-windermere-
way-concord-ca-94521/1005844157803185369/
Chapter 6: Special Case Standards Cover Page
Google Map,
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9626481,-
121.9805046,3a,75y,169.18h,89.93t/
data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1squNE4JcioeO-9hX3xcOZyw!2e
0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Appendix ▪ 83
Figure 106. Landscape Outdoor Screening along 10’
Side Setbacks
Unilock, https://unilock.com/design/how-to-make-
the-most-of-small-outdoor-living-spaces/
Figure 108. Ground Mounted Mechanical
Equipment Screen
American Fence Company,
https://theamericanfencecompany.com/louvered-
fence-systems/

Staff Report
Date: September 12, 2023
To: City Council
From: Valerie J. Barone, City Manager
Reviewed by: Kevin Marstall, PE, Director of Community Development Prepared by: Leng Power, Community Services Manager
[email protected]
(925) 603-5838
Subject: Considering adoption of a Resolution accepting the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance and
Evaluation Report (CAPER) and authorizing the City Manager or designee to submit, on behalf of the City of Concord, the CAPER, consistent with the program rules which govern the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as
required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD).

CEQA: Not a project/exempt per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b), 15273, 15378, and/or Public Resources Code Section 21065.

Report in Brief
This staff report forwards to the City Council for review and approval the Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).

The CAPER is required annually by the Federal government from those jurisdictions that receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and documents how well the City of Concord (City) has done in meeting its goals for helping low- and moderate-income residents of Concord with the federal funding distributed under the CDBG program.

Recommended Action
Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) accepting the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (Exhibit A) and authorizing the

3.c3.c3.c

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.c
September 12, 2023
City Manager or designee to submit, on behalf of the City of Concord, the CAPER, consistent with the program rules which govern the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Background
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 requires that all CDBG Program entitlement jurisdictions submit three documents: the five-year Consolidated Plan, the annual Action Plan and the CAPER.

The Consolidated Plan encompasses all of Contra Costa County (County) and is a joint document produced by all members of the Contra Costa Consortium (Contra Costa Urban County, plus the cities of Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek). It details how CDBG funds will be expended over a five-year period to meet the priority housing and community development needs of the City and County. The current plan covers the years 2020/25.

The Action Plan details how the City will allocate CDBG funds to local agencies to provide a variety of public services programs, housing, capital improvement, and other projects that improve the quality of life for Concord’s most at-risk residents.

The CAPER is a report card that documents how well the City has met its goals for helping low to moderate-income residents of Concord with federal funding distributed under the CDBG program. The overall goal of the program is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities for those residents most at risk. The CAPER provides the City and interested stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate the progress Concord has made in carrying out priorities and objectives contained in the City's five-year Consolidated Plan and annual Action Plan.

Analysis
The City identified a number of high priorities for FY 2022/23 and made excellent progress in meeting the objectives and goals submitted in the FY 2020/25 Consolidated Plan. CDBG-funded Public Service projects provided a wide range of social services and assistance to more than 28,000 residents and households. A variety of local agencies provided services including emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, fair housing and tenant/landlord activities, services for abused and neglected children, food and case management assistance for seniors and other special needs populations, rental assistance to prevent homelessness, food for low-income families and services to assist homeless individuals. Concord continues to focus on outcome- based performance measurements as a means to ensure that needed services are delivered and that the results can be easily quantified.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.c
September 12, 2023
Between June and December 2020, the City allocated a total of $919,352 in Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds for emergency rental assistance to low-income tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in January 2021, the State launched an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that mirrored the City’s program but ultimately covered up to 100% of a tenant’s back due rent. Concord’s program, which was contracted to Shelter, Inc., was put on hold temporarily as applicants were assisted with applying to the State program. This allowed the City to preserve its CDBG-CV funds for use when State funds were no longer available. The State program sunset on March 31, 2022, and the City’s program was reactivated, serving sixty-eight (68) Concord tenant households from program start until June 30, 2023.

The City also provided $245,000 to ECHO Housing/Centro Legal de la Raza to provide tenant/landlord counseling/mediation and legal services to tenants. Many tenants were protected under eviction moratoriums and while applying to the State for ERAP assistance. From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, ninety-two (92) Concord tenants received counseling or mediation services, with twenty-one (21) receiving legal services.

Many local service providers were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and most programs were not able to continue services on location for most of the last two funding years. HUD approved the use of CDBG funds for payment of staff and program expenses regardless of whether services were provided on location or remotely. In the face of unanticipated challenges, staff from funded programs continued to provide critically needed services and goals for the year were met in spite of the crisis, with many agencies exceeding their goals.

A special effort has been made in the FY 2020/25 Consolidated Plan to help preserve affordable housing and maintain Concord’s older housing stock. Through the Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program the City provides emergency repair grants and loans to income-qualified homeowners. The City was able to provide seventeen (17) grants to low-income homeowners for emergency repairs and correction of health and safety code issues, including roof repair, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and accessibility improvements. Twelve (12) of these homeowners were elderly and five (5) were disabled.

The City provided funds for economic development, with the goal of reducing the number of persons with incomes below the poverty level, expanding economic opportunities for low-income residents, and increasing the viability of neighborhood commercial areas. Monument Impact received CDBG funds for the Business Support program, which assists low-income owners of existing and emerging businesses in achieving self-sufficiency by securing a business license. Opportunity Junction also received funds for the Healthcare Career Pathway program. This program trains low-

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.c
September 12, 2023
income job seekers to enter the healthcare field as Certified Nursing Assistants and secures job placement through contracts with local skilled nursing facilities.

CoCoKids, formerly the Child Care Council, received Child Care Developer Fees (CCDF) to provide microenterprise assistance to very low-, low, and moderate-income Concord residents who want to maintain or start stable small businesses as licensed home-based family childcare providers.

For FY 2022/23, youth services in Concord were funded through Child Care Developer Fees. Funds were provided to the Mt. Diablo School District CARES After School Program, which provides after school supervision to students at five (5) elementary and two (2) middle schools in predominately low-income areas. Activities include homework assistance, arts and crafts, and sports, with healthy snacks being provided. CCDF was also allocated to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery to provide emergency shelter to children infant to age five whose parents are in crisis.

CDBG infrastructure funds were provided for the construction of thirty-one (31) curb ramps as part of the ADA Transition Plan, providing increased mobility and accessibility to elderly and disabled residents.

Financial Impact
The City allocated $1,305,132 in grant funding from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Child Care Developer Fees (CCDF), Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) and Program Income in the form of interest earned on loans repaid to the CDBG account.

There were no General Fund monies allocated.

Public Contact
The City Council Agenda was posted.

Attachment

1. Resolution accepting the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Exhibit A: FY 2022/23 CAPER

Res. No. 23-XX 1

BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CONCORD

COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A Resolution Accepting the FY2022/23 Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
(CAPER) and Authorizing the City Manager or
Designee to Submit, on Behalf of the City of Concord,
the CAPER, Consistent with the Program Rules
which Govern the Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) Program as required by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD)
Resolution No. 23-XX
/
WHEREAS, the City of Concord has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a community entitled to receive, by allocation, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help develop viable urban communities through providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunity for lower income residents; and
WHEREAS, as a condition of funding, HUD requires recipient jurisdictions to prepare a one year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) as a subsidiary document to the Consolidated Plan, to report on how well the City has met its goals for helping low to moderate- income residents of Concord with federal funding distributed under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Concord allocated funds in the amount of $1,305,132 for Fiscal Year 2022/23; and
WHEREAS, the City of Concord, consistent with HUD’s program rules on eligibility, allocated all CDBG funds to a number of programs, activities and projects in support of HUD’s National Objectives to primarily benefit low and moderate-income persons, or serve to arrest or minimize the effects of slums or blight, or provide for urgent needs. //
//
//
Attachment 1

Res. No. 23-XX 2

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CONCORD DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. That Council action on this item is not a project/exempt per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b), 15273, 15378, and/or Public Resources Code Section 21065.

Section 2. That the City hereby determines that it is appropriate to submit its FY 2022/23 one- year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), detailing the City’s progress in serving Concord’s low to moderate income residents, in accordance with the priorities outlined in the 2020/25 Contra Costa HOME Consortium Consolidated Plan and in support of HUD’s national objectives.

Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Concord on September 12, 2023, by the following vote:

AYES: Councilmembers -
NOES: Councilmembers -
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers -
ABSENT: Councilmembers -
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 23-XX was duly and regularly adopted at a regular joint meeting of the City Council of the City of Concord on September 12, 2023.

Joelle Fockler, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

Susanne Meyer Brown
City Attorney
Attachment: Exhibit A: City of Concord FY2022/23 CAPER

CAPER 1
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-05 - Goals and Outcomes
Progress the jurisdiction has made in carrying out its strategic plan and its action plan. 91.520(a) This could be an overview that includes major initiatives and highlights that were proposed and executed throughout the program year.

The City has made significant progress in meeting the goals and objectives contained in the 2020/25 Consolidated Plan. CDBG-funded projects provided a wide range of social services and assistance to more than 28,000 residents and households, including the homeless, mentally and physically disabled, seniors, victims of domestic violence, and other special needs populations. Concord continues to focus on outcome-based performance measurements as a means to ensure that needed services are delivered and that the results can be easily quantified. The City is currently completing the second year of the 2020/25 Consolidated Plan period and anticipates meeting or exceeding every goal/objective.

Funding for the City’s ADA Transition Plan provided curb and sidewalk improvements that removed barriers that restrict mobility and accessibility of elderly or disabled persons. The City installed 31 curb ramps, providing mobility impaired residents and visitors new and safer access to local services and businesses.

The City’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program provided seventeen grants to low-income homeowners for needed repairs and improvements. Eleven of the homeowners were elderly, five were disabled and eleven were low- to extremely-low income. Needed repairs included roof replacement, plumbing repairs, sewer replacement, water heaters and accessibility features such as ramps, handrails, grab bars and step-in showers.

The City provided funding for Economic Development programs. Low-income existing and emerging small businesses were assisted with business plan development, financial planning and applying for business licenses, allowing them to achieve self-sufficiency by starting or growing a micro-enterprise. The City also funded a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program to help participants earn certification and build a foundation for a sustainable career in healthcare services. The program combines technical training with life skills, case management, career skills, job placement, and long-term follow-up. These programs will help to provide jobs to low-income residents in the City now and in the future.

Comparison of the proposed versus actual outcomes for each outcome measure submitted with the consolidated plan and explain, if applicable, why progress was not made toward meeting goals and objectives. 91.520(g) Exhibit A to Attachment 1

CAPER 2
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Goal Category Indicator Unit of
Measure
Expected
–
Strategic
Plan
Actual –
Strategic
Plan
Percent
Complete
Expected
–
Program
Year
Actual –
Program
Year
Percent
Complete
AH-1 Existing
Housing Stock
Affordable
Housing
Homeowner
Housing
Rehabilitated
Household
Housing
Unit
125 49

39.2.% 15 17

88.23%
CD-1 General Public
Services
Non-Housing
Community
Development
Public service
activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 45000 39545

87.87% 9100 10663
117.11%
CD-2 Non-Homeless
Special Needs
Population
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
Public service
activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 7500 4875

65.0% 950 1893
199.20%
CD-3 Youth
Public service
activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 4500 4664
103.63% 1365 1957
143.30%

CAPER 3
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CD-4 Fair Housing
Non-Housing
Community
Development
Public service
activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 125 115 92% 25 46
184.0%
CD-5 Economic
Development
Non-Housing
Community
Development
Jobs
created/retained Jobs 20 36
180.0% 15 21 149.0%
CD-5 Economic
Development
Non-Housing
Community
Development
Businesses
assisted
Businesses
Assisted 50 77
154.0% 10 15
150.0%
CD-6
Infrastructure/Public
Facilities
Non-Housing
Community
Development
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 40000 24000

60.0% 8000 8000
100%
CD-7 Administration Administration Other Other 1 1
100% 1 1
100%
H-1 Emergency
Shelter and
Homeless Related
Svcs
Homeless
Public service
activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit
Persons
Assisted 100 3635
3635% 100 1938
1938%

CAPER 4
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
H-1 Emergency
Shelter and
Homeless Related
Svcs
Homeless
Homeless
Person
Overnight
Shelter
Persons
Assisted 50 62
124.0% 10 32
320.0%
Table 1 - Accomplishments – Program Year & Strategic Plan to Date

CAPER 5
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Assess how the jurisdiction’s use of funds, particularly CDBG, addresses the priorities and specific objectives identified in the plan, giving special attention to the highest priority activities identified.

The City identified a number of high priorities for FY 2022/23 and made excellent progress in meeting the objectives and goals submitted in the FY 2020/25 Consolidated Plan. Special effort has been made to help preserve affordable housing and maintain Concord’s older housing stock, which is predominately owned by the elderly. Through the Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program the City provides emergency repair grants to $15,000 and loans to $75,000 to income-qualified homeowners. The number of loans and grants available is limited by the amount of funds and the needs of the City’s older housing stock. The City was able to provide twenty grants to low-income homeowners, fourteen of them seniors.

The City’s older homes are often owned by elderly residents who purchased their homes many years ago. These residents are typically on fixed incomes and may not have the means to perform regular maintenance and repairs or to qualify for traditional home repair loans. In recent years the cost of construction has increased due to the rising cost of supplies as well as pandemic related supply chain delays. This has had an impact on the number of residents who can be assisted as the cost of each individual project has increased.

Concord provided funds for Economic Development with the goal of reducing the number of persons with incomes below the poverty level, expanding economic opportunities for low-income residents, and increasing the viability of neighborhood commercial areas.

Opportunity Junction and Monument Impact, both local nonprofits, received CDBG funds to provide training and job placement for Certified Nursing Assistants and to assist the low-income owners of existing and emerging small businesses. The Child Care Council received Child Care Developer Fees (CCDF) to provide microenterprise assistance to very low to moderate-income Concord residents who want to maintain or start stable small businesses as licensed home-based family child care providers.

The City does not currently fund Youth Services through CDBG. Concord uses CCDF to fund the Mt. Diablo School District CARES After School Program, which provides activities, homework assistance and healthy snacks to elementary and middle school students. The City also provides CCDF to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, which provides shelter and care to children up to five years old whose parents are in crisis and are unable to care for them.

CAPER 6
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-10 - Racial and Ethnic composition of families assisted Describe the families assisted (including the racial and ethnic status of families assisted).

91.520(a)
CDBG
White 4,911
Black or African American 869
Asian 981
American Indian or American Native 223
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 100
Total 7,084
Hispanic 879
Not Hispanic 6,205
Table 2 – Table of assistance to racial and ethnic populations by source of funds Narrative
HUD reporting requirements for race and ethnicity include five additional categories not reflected above. City CDBG funds also provided services to residents self-identifying as American Indian/White, Asian/White, Black/White, American Indian/Black and Other Multi- Racial for a total of more than 28,000 residents.

CAPER 7
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-15 - Resources and Investments 91.520(a)
Identify the resources made available
Source of Funds Source Resources Made
Available
Amount Expended
During Program Year
CDBG public - federal 1,254,844 1,054,902
Other public - local 150,000 143,160
Table 3 - Resources Made Available
Narrative
Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments Target Area Planned Percentage of
Allocation
Actual Percentage of
Allocation
Narrative Description
City of Concord 100 Citywide
Table 4 – Identify the geographic distribution and location of investments Narrative
In addition to CDBG funds, the City allocated $150,000 in Child Care Developer Fees (CCDF) specifically to support child day care services. The Mt. Diablo School District CARES After School program received funding to provide after school activities to more than 1,000 youth. CocoKids received CCDF to provide support and training to local family day care providers in Concord. The Bay Area Crisis Nurssery (BACN) received funding to provide secure emergency shelter for up to 30 days for children up to five years old whose parents are in crisis. In the past year BACN sheltered 36 Concord children. The City also allocated $100,000 in Revolving Loan Funds to the Homeowners Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program.

CAPER 8
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Leveraging
Explain how federal funds leveraged additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements were satisfied, as well as how any publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that were used to address the needs identified in the plan.

During FY 2022/23, CDBG and CCDF funds leveraged almost $25 million from local resources and agency matching funds to accomplish the housing and non-housing objectives identified in Concord’s Consolidated Plan. These funds are often coupled with local funds, allowing projects to compete for additional funding provided by tax credits, bonds, and state financing programs.

An investment by the City makes projects more competitive in various funding competitions.

Although all sources and types of funds are more limited due to the current economic climate and the demise of statewide redevelopment tax-increment funds, the City will continue to search for additional sources of funding from local, state, federal, and private sources.

To help leverage resources, the City requires a 15% match for all projects funded up to $10,000, and a 20% match for all projects over $10,000. Matching funds for these projects typically include other federal or state funds, or private funds from foundations and donations. Please see Exhibit A-2 for leveraging information by project.

As CDBG-CV funds were allocated for emergency services through short-term contracts, matching funds were not required.

The City owns two properties that may be used for housing purposes. For one property, Council entered into an Initial Exclusive Negotiating Agreement that gives a developer permission to study feasibility for 18 months of a mixed-use project that would include a residential component. Concord City Council has allocated $7.8 million to a nonprofit developer for the new construction of 62 units of affordable housing which began construction in 2022. The City is particularly interested in housing for veterans, seniors, disabled and the low-income workforce. Services to these communities are among the priorities identified in Concord’s 2020/25 consolidated plan.

CAPER 9
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-20 - Affordable Housing 91.520(b)
Evaluation of the jurisdiction's progress in providing affordable housing, including the number and types of families served, the number of extremely low-income, low-income, moderate-income, and middle-income persons served.

One-Year Goal Actual
Number of Homeless households to be
provided affordable housing units 0 0
Number of Non-Homeless households to be
provided affordable housing units 0 0
Number of Special-Needs households to be
provided affordable housing units 0 0
Total 0 0
Table 5 – Number of Households
One-Year Goal Actual
Number of households supported through
Rental Assistance 0 0
Number of households supported through
The Production of New Units 0 0
Number of households supported through
Rehab of Existing Units 25 17
Number of households supported through
Acquisition of Existing Units 0 0
Total 0 0
Table 6 – Number of Households Supported
Discuss the difference between goals and outcomes and problems encountered in meeting these goals.

The City made significant progress in meeting the goals and objectives contained in the 2020/25 Consolidated Plan and the 2022/23 Action Plan. Problems in meeting those goals are primarily the result of the limited funding available and the increased costs of materials and labor in today’s market. There were also some delays in completing projects due to COVID restrictions.

The City allocated $535,417 in CDBG and Revolving Loan Funds to be used for housing rehabilitation grants and loans. As discussed previously, the City provided seventeen (17) grants

CAPER 10
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
to low-income households for the repair of health and safety issues in their homes. The number of homeowners that can be assisted is limited by the amount of funds available. In addition, the number of contractors willing to bid on these small projects on a reimbursement basis is very limited, making it difficult to move projects along in a timely manner.

The City provided $1,298,132 in CDBG-CV funds for emergency rental assistance and legal services to low-income tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistance was provided to 121 households through April, 2021. At that time, the California State rental assistance program was introduced. Agencies funded by Concord began assisting tenants with applying for those funds in order to preserve CDBG-CV funds for when the State program sunset on March 31, 2022. At that time, the balance of the CDBG-CV funds were again made available and assistance was provided to 90 tenant households.

On July 7, 2020, the Concord City Council adopted the Residential Tenant Protection Program (RTPP). The RTPP builds on State tenant protections by increasing the amount of relocation assistance from $1,000 to $5,000 or two months rent, whichever is more. The RTPP also includes a requirement for the landlord to offer a lease of at least 12 months. If the tenant declines, the landlord must offer a lease of at least 6 months. If the tenant again declines the landlord may issue a month-to-month least.

Concord has a long history of supporting the construction and conservation of affordable housing, In June, 2018, Concord allocated $5.5 million in City Affordable Housing Funds to Resources for Community Development (RCD), a nonprofit housing developer, for the new construction of 44 units. In May, 2019, City Council allocated an additional $2.3 million for a total of $7.8 million to allow RCD to acquire an adjacent property and increase the size of the project to 62 units. The complex will serve low income residents at 30% to 60% of AMI.

Concord is currently developing a Reuse Plan for the 5,028 acre Inland Area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, which was created by the Navy in the 1940s during World War II. The Inland Area of the base was deactivated in 1997 and declared surplus property by the Navy in 2007. The development of the area represents a significant opportunity for the City. The Reuse Plan will improve the quality of life for residents of Concord and the region through creation of new jobs, a variety of housing types, significant open space, preservation of natural resources, active parks, pedestrian and bike trails and community facilities. The project is expected include new residential units, 25 percent of which will be affordable housing.

Discuss how these outcomes will impact future annual action plans.

In FY 2022/23, Concord allocated CDBG funds for the Housing Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program. Due to the rising cost of construction and repairs it is difficult to adequately meet the needs of the City’s aging housing stock. Due to the rising cost of materials and labor, as of July 1, 2022, the City has increased the maximum grant amount from $15,000 to $25,000, which will further limit the number of residents that can be served.

CAPER 11
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
As the Naval Weapons Station Reuse Plan is developed the resulting affordable housing units will be included in future action plans. The development is anticipated to provide a variety of services for homeless and low-income individuals and families, and will be reported in future action plans.

In February 2022, the City hired a consulting firm to assist in development of a Homeless Strategic Plan along with a Council appointed Working Group. This Project is anticipated to identify opportunities for system partnerships and funding resources that can be leveraged to assist with meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness and vulnerable populations who are at risk of homelessness.

Include the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income persons served by each activity where information on income by family size is required to determine the eligibility of the activity.

Number of Households Served CDBG Actual HOME Actual
Extremely Low-income 12,420 0
Low-income 2,530 0
Moderate-income 99 0
Total 15,049 0
Table 7 – Number of Households Served
Narrative Information
Along with the greater Bay Area, Concord is faced with increases in the cost of rental housing without adequate increase in wages for low-income earners. The City will continue to support the preservation of affordable housing by funding needed home repairs for low income homeowners, providing funds for financial assistance to help prevent homelessness or to quickly rehouse the homeless, and by supporting economic development to promote self- sufficiency. Special needs groups such as elderly/frail elderly, persons with disabilities, persons who suffer from alcohol and other drug addictions, persons who are victims of domestic violence and persons living with HIV/AIDS are at an especially high risk of homelessness. Due to their special needs and/or circumstances, they may have difficulty accessing affordable housing and face obstacles created by lack of income. The City of Concord will continue to provide CDBG and local funds to programs that improve the quality of life for residents with special needs.

CAPER 12
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c) Evaluate the jurisdiction’s progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and ending homelessness through:

Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs
The Contra Costa Continuum of Care uses a number of strategies to reach out to unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness and assess their individual needs, including direct outreach and marketing, the use of phone-based services including the 211 line, marketing in other languages (e.g., Spanish), making physical and virtual locations accessible to those with disabilities, and collaborating with local law enforcement.

Outreach Services: As a part of the Contra Costa Coordinated Entry System, CORE (Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement) Teams serve as an entry point into the homeless system of care, providing both day and evening outreach resources and services to encampments and service sites. Concord provides CDBG, CPHHCD, Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and other local funds to provide dedicated homeless outreach services in the City 40 hours per week. The outreach teams seek out individuals on the street and in encampments and provide clients with access to food and shelter, and to integrated health, mental health and substance abuse services. In January, 2022, the City added a clinical level social worker to the CORE team to better meet the needs of unhoused residents.

Health Care for the Homeless: In addition to providing direct medical care, testing and immunization services, the County-funded Health Care for the Homeless Program uses its mobile healthcare van for outreach. The bilingual Healthcare for the Homeless Team assesses client’s needs, provides social support, and links clients to appropriate services and programs.

Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons Crisis services, including emergency shelter and transitional housing, are a critical component of the Contra Costa Coordinated Entry System. For individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis that cannot be diverted, CORE Teams and CARE Centers make referrals to over 900 emergency shelter and transitional housing beds throughout Contra Costa County. In keeping with a Housing First approach, the goal of Contra Costa’s crisis response system is to provide immediate and easy access to safe and decent shelter beds, when available, to the most vulnerable unsheltered people, including those that are chronically homeless, with the housing- focused goal of re-housing people as quickly as possible. Contra Costa CoC has established system-level performance measures for emergency shelter, including reducing the average length of stay increasing exits to permanent housing and increasing non-returns to

CAPER 13
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
homelessness.

Under HUD's CoC Program NOFA, the County CoC obtained an award $17,318,215 the majority of which supports funding for outreach, rental assistance, and housing navigation and placement into permanent and permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable, including seniors, chronically homeless individuals, and for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

The City’s Community Services Manager participates in the Council on Homelessness advisory meetings facilitated by Contra Costa County Continuum of Care and has served on CoC subcommittees focused on performance measurement and homeless awareness initiatives within the broader community.

Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are: likely to become homeless after being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions); and, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs The Contra Costa CoC has implemented a triage tool used by 211 and other crisis service entry points into our system to identify individuals at risk of homelessness and connect them to prevention, intervention services, and diversion services. Within the past four years, the CoC also implemented rapid resolution services to assist clients at the system access points move towards early alternate stable housing options and reduce inflow and length of time in the homeless system. Rapid Resolution services, which also includes landlord-tenant mediation, was scaled to allow all service providers to use those strategies to help clients at any stage.

Rapid Resolution services have also been paired successfully with the CoC’s flexible housing pool (Housing Security Fund), to provide financial assistance that may be necessary to secure those alternate housing options, including short term rental assistance and utility arrears.

There is significant cross system collaboration including with hospitals and clinics, Department of Probation, law enforcement, and the Office of the Public Defender. H3 and other CoC partner agencies work closely with those systems, agencies and the County Employment and Human Services Department to ensure affordable housing and social services are available to individuals who are at risk of discharge into homelessness or unstable housing.

In cooperation with the local VA, Contra Costa's CoC has worked to increase its capacity to house and serve homeless veterans, including the distribution of HUD-VASH vouchers and rental assistance for permanent housing units provided to homeless veterans and their families under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.

CAPER 14
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Access to Affordable Housing: The City has a long history of working with non-profit housing developers and encouraging the inclusion of units affordable to households with extremely-low incomes and those with special needs. Concord is currently developing a Reuse Plan for the 5,028 acre Inland Area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, which was created by the Navy in the 1940s during World War II. The project is expected include 12,000 new residential units, 25 percent of which will be affordable housing.

Construction of Affordable Housing: In February, 2018, Concord released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for $14 million in affordable housing funds to be used toward further actualizing Concord’s opportunities for quality affordable housing. The City accepted a proposal from Resources for Community Development (RCD) for the new construction of 62 affordable units. The groundbreaking for this project occurred in 2022.

The City continues to work with the Contra Costa Public Housing Authority (PHA) and local affordable housing developers to maximize the inventory of affordable housing units to which formerly homeless clients can eventually transition.

Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
The City received State Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) grant funds and have allocted those funds to a Rapid Rehousing Program for Homeless Inidivuals and Families. The program was developed during Spring, 2022, and launched on September 1, 2022. The Contra Costa CoC uses the VI-SPDAT (which includes length of homelessness as measure of vulnerability) to help prioritize the most vulnerable people for available Permanent Supportive Housing. This process is used to prioritize individuals and families for Rapid Rehousing and permanent housing options, including Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals and families with high needs. Available housing is also prioritized for persons who have been homeless longest. The CoC and homeless services providers are committed to reducing length of time persons are homeless by reducing barriers to housing and services using a Housing First approach.

Chronically Homeless: Chronically homeless consumers are generally the most difficult to move from the streets and back into housing. The county tracks chronicity in a By-Name List. The County continues to invest in permanent supportive housing, housing intensive interim housing strategies, and other resources to reduce the length of time persons remain homeless and

CAPER 15
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
ensure healthy, stable housing is available for those who need it. . The County has planned the development of a HUD CoC-funded County project for High Utilizers of Multiple Systems (HUMS) containing microunits with onsite intensive case management. Since those funds were awarded, the County has used that funding to permanently house chronically homeless high needs individuals, which allows the target population to benefit from stable permanent housing even before the project building is completed.

Families with Children: Families experiencing a housing crisis who cannot be diverted are connected to crisis services and assessed for permanent housing using the Family VI-SPDAT.

Using a Housing First approach, the Coordinated Entry Manager makes referrals to services and housing based on the prioritization to ensure the most vulnerable are first matched to resources that meet their needs. As of FY22/23 there are fifteen Rapid Rehousing projects dedicated to various target populations such as those who are formerly incarcerated, veterans and families with childrens. Rapid Rehousing Concord has focus on assisting families as well as individuals.

CAPER 16
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-30 - Public Housing 91.220(h); 91.320(j)
Actions taken to address the needs of public housing
There are no Public Housing Units in the City of Concord. The Housing Authority of Contra Costa County (HACCC) assists Concord residents through the Section 8 Existing Housing Program.

Section 8 Certificates/Vouchers allow very low-income (below 50% of area median income) families to pay no more than 30% of their income on housing. The HACCC contracts with rental housing property owners to pay the difference between what tenants can afford and fair market rents.

Actions taken to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership
The City of Concord provides funds for the Below Market Rate and First Time Homebuyer programs, which specifically target low-income residents, including those who are exiting public housing assistance programs. These programs are widely marketed through various support services and programs throughout the City.

Actions taken to provide assistance to troubled PHAs
Concord residents are assisted through the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County (HACCC) with Section 8 certificates and vouchers. This program is well run and has provided excellent service and support to low-income City residents.

CAPER 17
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-35 - Other Actions 91.220(j)-(k); 91.320(i)-(j)
Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i) The Housing Element Update adopted by the Concord City Council on January 6, 2015, included Program H-1.2.3, which promoted development of housing in the Downtown that is affordable to households at a range of income levels (extremely-low, very-low, low, moderate, and above moderate incomes). In 2019, the City allocated a total of $7.8 million to Resources for Community Development for the construction of a 62 unit (61 of which would be income- restricted) affordable housing development located in Concord Downtown area.

Policy H-1.3 promoted the development of single-family homes that are affordable to very low, low & moderate-income households in all new single-family developments as well as in existing single-family neighborhoods. In 2021 the City added to its below market-rate inventory, five new single family homes affordable to moderate income households. The City provided first- time homebuyer funds to three new households earning between 60 to 100% AMI.

Program H-1.4.2 encouraged allowing secondary units in the single-family districts in accordance with State law. In December 2020, the City utilized the awarded $310,000 in California State Planning Grant Program grants to encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADU) by contracting with a design firm to draft pre-approved ADU architectural plans which the City will make available free of charge to the public and will allow a streamlined approval process through the City's Planning Division.

Program H-1.4.3 reviewed the development code as it relates to secondary units and considered amendments to make the development of secondary units more feasible. In fiscal year 2020/2021, the City amended its ADU and Junior ADU ordinance to conform to less restrictive State law.

Program H-1.4.4 encouraged the City to evaluate its fees for second units to determine if the fees could be scaled so that small units or units created through conversion of habitable space are charged at a lower commensurate rate than larger units. This included a reduction in impact fees for small secondary living units of approximately $5,000. Square footage requirements were expanded to allow for smaller as well as larger units ranging from 150 sq.ft. to a maximum of 1200 sq. ft.

Program H-2.1.1 encouraged the utilization of public funds to provide assistance in the rehabilitation and conservation of deteriorated single-family homes, multifamily developments, and mobile homes. The City provided 17 rehabilitation grants for low-income homeowners.

Program H-2.4.1 established a mechanism to determine whether there is a risk of displacement of existing Concord residents and establish programs to mitigate this risk. In 2020, the City

CAPER 18
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Council approved the Residential Tenant Protection Program which requires minimum lease terms and a greater relocation assistance payment than what is offered by the State. In December 2020, the Council established a Rent Registry to allow collection of various rent and eviction data and help inform future policy decisions. In June, 2022, Concord established a Residential Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance to address issues of landlord harassment of tenants.

Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The primary concentration of minority and low-income population in Concord is in the Monument Corridor, a triangular area between Highway 242 and Monument Blvd., up to Concord Avenue. This area lies within census tracts 3361, 3362, and 3280.

This area has been identified by the Concord City Council and targeted by the United Way of the Bay Area, the Hospital Council (John Muir/Mt. Diablo Community Health Fund), Contra Costa County Health and Human Services and other organizations as an area of substantial need for community resources. The City continues to provide for these at-risk residents by allocating funding to local community groups that provide food, health services and family support programs. In March 2023, Concord City Council approved American Rescue Plan Act funds to pilot a guaranteed income program that will target extremely low income or low income households.

Concord continues to support programs that benefit the underserved populations and those residents most at-risk, providing funding for programs across the city through the CDBG program, the Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District and through Child Care Developer Fee.

Actions taken to reduce lead-based paint hazards. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) In November, 2007, the City of Concord was awarded a Lead Hazard Control grant by HUD totaling $1,389,228 over a three year period. Using a comprehensive strategy, the City clearly identified allr single family and multi-family housing stock built before 1979 that had the possibility of being contaminated by lead-based paint. The City conducted extensive outreach and provided education about the hazards of lead poisoning and lead-based paint. Owners of multi-family properties built before 1979 were also contacted directly and given information about health hazards associated with lead-based paint and the methods and resources for lead based paint stabilization and abatement. It is estimated that, through this program, the City was able to address a large percentage of the lead hazards in homes in Concord.

Since the end of the grant period Concord has continued to address lead based paint hazards citywide through the Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan and Grant Program. Each loan and grant application received is assessed for lead based paint. If remediation is triggered then a parallel process for lead based paint is followed for the application, which includes a separate property

CAPER 19
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
evaluation, inspection, report, work write-up, bid process, contractor evaluation and selection, separate execution and clearance of the work, and separate documentation and record keeping to satisfy federal regulations.

Actions taken to reduce the number of poverty-level families. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) Reducing the number of persons living below the poverty level within the City of Concord requires a comprehensive approach to poverty that includes: access to housing of choice unimpeded by discrimination; availability of affordable housing; job opportunities that require limited educational background and/or work experience as well as jobs that offer opportunities for growth and advancement and a living wage; opportunities for people with disabilities to move freely, live independently, and become or remain financially independent to the best of their abilities; access to health care for individuals, families, and children; safety nets for those balancing precariously on the economic edge, including seniors, single-parent families, minimum-wage earners, and others; and provision of life’s basic requirements, such as food, shelter, and clothing, for those without these necessities. In FY 2022/23, the City also provided funds for Economic Development activities that enable low-income small business owners to start or grow their businesses, leading to greater self-sufficiency.

The City Council, Community Services Commission, and City staff embrace a holistic approach to addressing these issues as they meet to plan each year’s funding allocations. Guided by community input shared in Public Hearings and in community-wide surveys, needs are heard, priorities are determined, and funds are allocated.

However, general economic conditions, the foreclosure crisis, and increased costs of rent, health care and food are resulting in greater numbers of people in need of even the most basic services, such as food pantry and hot lunches. The number of low-income families financially impacted by the COVID crisis has put a further strain on the ability of the City and community service providers to meet the needs of residsents.

In 2022, Concord used Permanent Local Housing Allocation funding made available by the State of CA Housing and Community Services department to support a Rapid Rehousing Program specific to families at risk or experiencing homelessness in Concord. This funding has assisted over 20 families with diverse services such as housing navigation, case management and referrals. The City of Concord through American Rescue Plan Act funding has approved a guranteed income pilot with a non profit provider assisting extremely low and low income families.

In 2023, the City of Concord is developing a Homeless Strategic Plan that will identify gaps in services to the most vulnerable extremely low income population who are either homeless,

CAPER 20
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
unstably housed or at risk of homelessness. The plan will propose strategies that the City can implement to create long term impact in reducing homelessness.

Actions taken to develop institutional structure. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) The City of Concord works within an institutional structure, which includes private industry, nonprofit organizations, and public institutions, to carry out its housing and community development plan.

The Contra Costa County HOME Consortium is comprised of the County Conservation and Development Department’s staff and the cities of Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek. The City of Concord is an active member of the Consortium, and works with it to streamline CDBG processes for non-profit recipients. The Consortium meets monthly to share information and work on ways to overcome gaps between our respective institutional structures and enhance coordination of funding and service delivery throughout the County.

Working together to support mutual projects has developed the Consortium members into a close, supportive team who have a much better understanding of each other’s challenges and needs.

Consortium members utilize a single grant application used by all jurisdictions; a single monitoring form with joint monitoring of agencies and shared results with other members; a joint grant process and joint meetings for all applicants and recipients of funding; quarterly or greater Consortium meetings; and increased technical assistance to nonprofits through individual meetings and workshops. Consortium members have continually streamlined processes to benefit agencies and to reduce our administrative costs, effectively channeling additional funds to our communities.

The City has embraced a style of governance known as Community Oriented Government (COG). COG is based on a philosophy that recognizes the interdependence and shared responsibility of the City government and the community in making Concord a city of the highest quality, continually enhancing the safety, environment, quality of life, and economic vitality of our city. It is a method of governance that encourages partnerships to identify community issues, determine resources, and apply innovative strategies designed to create and sustain healthy, vital neighborhoods. The five building blocks that are key to Community Oriented Government are partnerships, empowerment, problem solving, accountability, and customer orientation. The COG approach is founded on collaboration, both internally and externally, and responsiveness to internal and external consumer needs. This approach helps to reduce gaps inherent in institutional structures such as city government by increasing communication, developing partnerships, and enhancing coordination.

Participation in the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness enhances coordination of efforts to improve neighborhoods and overcomes gaps between governmental institutional structure and

CAPER 21
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
entire community. The Community Services Manager is a regular participant at the Council on Homelessness meetings and has served on subcommittees.

Actions taken to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies. 91.220(k); 91.320(j)
There are no Public Housing Units in the City of Concord. The Contra Costa Housing Authority assists Concord residents through the Section 8 Housing Program. Section 8 Certificates/Vouchers allow very low-income (below 50% of area median income) families to pay no more than 30% of their income on housing. The Contra Costa Housing Authority contracts with rental housing property owners to pay the difference between what tenants can afford and fair market rents.

The City allocates CDBG funds to ECHO Housing to provide Fair Housing services to local residents to help them acquire and maintain their housing. ECHO also receives City funds to provide Tenant/Landlord Counseling and Tenant Legal Service to help low-income tenants maintain their housing.

Identify actions taken to overcome the effects of any impediments identified in the jurisdictions analysis of impediments to fair housing choice. 91.520(a) City staff, along with staff from the other Contra Costa CDBG entitlement jurisdictions (Antioch, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek and the Urban County), worked together to prepare the Contra Costa Consortium Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). An update of the AI was completed and approved by each Contra Costa CDBG entitlement jurisdiction in 2017.

Recommendation #1: Increase Public Awareness of Fair Housing Rights – Concord continues to provide CDBG support to agencies to provide Fair Housing consulting services. Fair housing service providers and their partner agencies continue to expand outreach to the community regarding fair housing rights. housing trainings and outreach at various non-profit agencies throughout the County.

Recommendation #2: Improve Financial Assistance for Housing – Concord and the Consortium continue to collaborate to expand affordable housing in communities where such opportunities are limited. The City and the Consortium allocate resources to encourage and facilitate the development of affordable housing throughout the entire Consortium, resulting in the development of new affordable housing.

Concord contracts with Bay Area Affordable Homeownership Alliance (BAAHA) to assist qualified low-and moderate-income individuals with the purchase of their first home. FTHB loan funds are to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.

Recommendation #3: Review Home Purchase Loan Denial Figures with Local Lenders – The Consortium has incorporated in the CDBG contracts with their respective Fair Housing

CAPER 22
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
consulting agencies a review and monitoring of HMDA data in regard to loan denial rates among racial/ethnic minorities.

Recommendation #4: Increase Access to Special Needs Housing – The City has instructed its Fair Housing services provider to incorporate education and information to tenant, owners, and agents of rental properties about the necessity to provide equal access to housing to special needs populations.

Recommendation #5: Review Municipalities Planning Code and Offer Incentives - This recommendation is a long-term goal and the City has begun developing steps to implement this recommendation through the Densitiy Bonus Ordinance, the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and the Accessory dweling Ordinance.

City staff, along with staff from the other Contra Costa CDBG entitlement jurisdictions (Antioch, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek and the Urban County), and the Public Housing Authorities of Contra Costa County, Pittsburg, and Richmond worked together to prepare the Contra Costa Consortium Analysis of Impediments/Assessment to Fair Housing Choice (AI/AFH). The AI/AFH was completed for the period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2025 to coincide with the Consortium’s Consolidated Plan.

CAPER 23
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
CR-40 - Monitoring 91.220 and 91.230
Describe the standards and procedures used to monitor activities carried out in furtherance of the plan and used to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the programs involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning requirements
Concord CDBG staff closely monitors and reviews agency activities during the program year.

This process begins with a detailed contract which outlines performance objectives and reporting requirements. Quarterly reports are thoroughly reviewed to ensure that agencies are on track to achieve their performance outcomes, and that they are serving eligible clients that represent Concord’s diversity. Quarterly Sources and Uses reports are compared to budgets to verify the need for CDBG funding and ensure that fundraising goals are on track. Quarterly Requests for Reimbursement are carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with applicable OMB circulars and HUD regulations. CDBG staff is in close communication with agency leadership and program staff throughout the year. Finally, staff ensures ongoing compliance by monitoring various CDBG Subrecipients annually and sharing monitoring results of mutually-funded programs with Consortium members.

The City of Concord is knowledgeable of and complies with CDBG program and comprehensive planning requirements. Community Services Division activities are based on a HUD-approved Consolidated Plan spanning the years from 2020/25, including priorities for funding and meeting goals and objectives established in that document. Concord participated with the Consortium to produce a joint Analysis of Impediments which was adopted as part of the 2010/15 Consolidated Plan and an update to the AI that was accepted by Council in July, 2017.

It guides actions taken to ensure fair housing and equal access to all Concord residents. The 10- Year Plan to End Homelessness in Contra Costa County was consulted before the fund allocation process began to determine the highest funding priorities for homeless and other populations with special needs.

Fostering, producing, and maintaining housing that is affordable to a wide spectrum of Concord residents has been a commitment by the City of Concord for decades. Barriers to affordable housing have been addressed by a variety of planning and funding considerations, and will continue to be a focus of the City.

Annual Action Plans and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER) are thorough, timely, and have been accepted by HUD. NEPA Environmental Reviews procedures are followed for every funded activity. Monitoring of sub-recipients is conducted on a regular schedule using standards and procedures that are shared by other members of the Consortium.

Finally, Concord is prompt in drawing down federal funds and expediting capital and other projects, with a fund balance to meet the 150% maximum.

CAPER 24
OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 09/30/2021)
Citizen Participation Plan 91.105(d); 91.115(d)
Describe the efforts to provide citizens with reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on performance reports.

The Community Services Commission, the citizen’s advisory body that makes CDBG funding recommendations to the City Council, meets monthly in properly noticed public meetings. The public is invited to attend and may address the Commission during public comment.

CR-45 - CDBG 91.520(c)
Specify the nature of, and reasons for, any changes in the jurisdiction’s program objectives and indications of how the jurisdiction would change its programs as a result of its experiences.

No changes were made to Concord’s program objectives during 2022/23. The Action Plan was developed with the input of the community and targeted those most in need. The local agencies that received funding have made excellent progress in meeting the needs of the City’s residents and helping to create an environment that is safe, healthy, and promotes self- sufficiency.

With the addition of CDBG-CV funds, the City has been able to serve low-income individuals and families who were and are still financially impactd by the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of the challenges of a shifting work landscape with hybrid and remote schedules, along with high levels of workforce attrition, local community service agencies stepped forward to see that the increased need for food, referral services and emergency rental assistance was met.

Does this Jurisdiction have any open Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grants?
No

Staff Report
Date: September 12, 2023
To: City Council
From: Valerie J. Barone, City Manager
Reviewed by: Kevin Marstall, PE, Director of Community Development Frank Abejo, Principal Planner
Prepared by: Ryan Lenhardt, Senior Planner
[email protected]
(925) 671-3162
Subject: Considering introduction of an Ordinance amending the Concord Municipal Code (Title 18) by amending Section

18.200.180 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to bring the regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units into compliance with state law by reading of the title only and waiving further reading (PL20005 - DC).

CEQA: Statutorily exempt, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h).

Report in Brief
In an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, a number of bills were signed into law during the 2022 legislative session, which amended Government Code Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22 governing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs).

The proposed Ordinance would amend the City of Concord (City) Municipal Code to bring local regulations for ADUs and JADUs into compliance with state law (Attachment 1, Exhibit A). Although some elements of the state ADU laws are considered mandatory, local jurisdictions maintain some flexibility around certain aspects of regulating ADUs, such as design standards. The only area where Council has policy discretion within this Ordinance (i.e., the change is not required by state law) is on the objective design standards for newly constructed ADUs. In response to these recently enacted state laws, City staff (Staff) has incorporated objective design standards based

3.d3.d3.d3.d3.d3.d

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.d
September 12, 2023
on the Council adopted Objective Design Standards document. This language was reviewed and supported by the City’s Planning Commission.

Recommended Action
Introduce an Ordinance (Attachment 1), amending the Concord Municipal Code (Title 18) by amending Section 18.200.180 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to bring the regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units into compliance with state law by reading of title only and waiving further reading.

Background
On September 28, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 897 and AB 2221 into law, amending Government Code Sections 65852.2, 65852.22 and other related provisions governing ADUs, which became effective on January 1, 2023. These ADU bills are hereafter collectively referred to as “State ADU Laws.” ADUs may be constructed on properties with single-family or multifamily dwellings in the following methods: 1) attached to the principal residence; 2) conversion of interior space within the principal residence (including attached garages); 3) detached or separate from the principal residence; or 4) conversion of an accessory structure or garage.

The existing Ordinance defines two types of ADUs as follows:
“Accessory dwelling unit” means an attached, interior or detached dwelling unit which shall provide complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, is located on the same lot with a proposed or existing single-family principal dwelling or multifamily principal dwelling, and includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. An accessory dwelling unit also includes an efficiency unit and a manufactured home. “Junior accessory dwelling unit” is a type of dwelling unit which has a maximum floor area of 500 square feet in size, which shall include an efficiency kitchen (as defined in this subsection) and is contained within an existing or proposed single-family principal dwelling. A junior accessory dwelling unit may include separate sanitation facilities or share sanitation facilities with the existing or proposed single-family principal dwelling. Subject to subsection (F) of this section, junior accessory dwelling units must be constructed entirely within walls of the existing or proposed single-family principal dwelling or attached garage.

Any local ADU regulations that conflict with state law are rendered null and void and the State ADU Laws mandate local jurisdictions apply state law unless and until the local jurisdiction adopts a compliant ordinance.

The City’s proposed new ADU regulations, included as Attachment 1, Exhibit A, would replace the existing regulations and provide amendments to the CDCC to bring the City

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 3.d
September 12, 2023
into compliance with new State ADU Laws.

On August 16, 2023, the Planning Commission (PC) unanimously (4-1, Commissioner Kaushal absent) adopted Resolution No. 23-15PC, recommending Council approve an Ordinance amending CDC Section 18.200.180 to bring the regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units into compliance with State ADU Laws. There was no public comment or specific recommendations from the PC.

Current ADU Regulations
The City’s current ADU regulations were adopted in 2021 (Attachment 4) and were consistent with state law at the time. The regulations allow ADUs in areas zoned to allow single-family and multifamily residential uses as well as outline certain development standards including minimum and maximum unit size, setbacks, height, parking, and design requirements.

An ADU up to 1,000 square feet in size may be allowed on parcels less than 12,000 square feet and an ADU up to 1,200 square feet in size may be allowed on parcels 12,000 square feet or larger in size, excluding attached carports or garages that are limited in size based on lot area. In both cases, the units may be attached or detached from the principal dwelling, provided they comply with the required development standards.

All JADUs must maintain owner occupancy, whereby the owner must reside within either the principal dwelling or JADU. To ensure owner occupancy is maintained even if the property is sold, a recorded deed restriction for owner occupancy is required prior to issuance of the building permit for a JADU. The residential occupancy requirement is not monitored but is enforced when there is a complaint filed with the Code Enforcement Division.

As discussed below, staff proposes amending the City’s current ADU Ordinance to conform to State ADU Laws. Relevant existing provisions that remain consistent with State ADU Laws are retained but have been reorganized for clarity and to simplify implementation.

Analysis
State ADU Laws
The California State legislature has deemed that ADUs are a valuable form of housing stock in California as they provide housing for family members, students, in-home health care providers, and the disabled at rents that are typically below-market rates in existing neighborhoods. The State ADU Laws require local ordinances to provide for the creation of ADUs and that local development regulations related to unit size, parking, fees, and other requirements not be excessive and arbitrary as to unreasonably restrict the creation of ADUs. The State ADU Laws also mandate that ADUs must be allowed in existing multifamily developments and must be ministerially processed when in

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conformance with standards specified by State ADU Laws. If local agencies choose to amend its ordinance, a copy of the adopted ordinance must be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) within 60 days of adoption. If a local agency has an existing ADU ordinance that conflicts or fails to meet the requirements of State ADU Laws, those conflicting provisions became invalid and unenforceable as of January 1, 2023.

The following discussion provides an overview of the State ADU Laws and how these newer laws will be addressed through the proposed amendments to the City’s ADU Ordinance.

Proposed ADU Ordinance Amendments Required by State ADU Laws The following amendments are mandatory State ADU Law requirements and are not subject to any policy considerations by Council, except where noted.

A. Height
The current ADU Ordinance imposes a height limit of up to 16 feet. As of January 1, 2023, State ADU Laws now allow the following:
1) a detached ADU up to 18 feet in height on a lot with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling unit that is within one-half of a mile walking distance of a major transit stop or a high-quality transit corridor.1 This provision has been reflected in Section 18.200.180(C)(17)(b)(ii); 2) an additional two feet in height to accommodate a roof pitch on the ADU that is aligned with the roof pitch of the principal dwelling unit.2 This provision has been reflected in Section 18.200.180(C)(17)(b)(ii);
3) a detached ADU up to 18 feet in height on a lot with an existing or proposed multifamily, multistory dwelling.3 This has been reflected in Section

18.200.180(C)(17)(b)(iii); and
4) an attached ADU up to 25 feet in height or the height limitation in the local zoning ordinance that applies to the principal dwelling, whichever is lower.4 The ADU shall not exceed two stories. This has been reflected in Section

18.200.180(C)(17)(a).

B. Setbacks
Zoning development standards such as lot coverage cannot be enforced if they prevent an ADU of 800 square feet or less from being built (i.e., “state-exempt 1 Government Code 65852.2(c)(2)(D)(ii)
2 Ibid.
3 Government Code 65852.2(c)(2)(D)(iii)
4 (Government Code 65852.2(c)(2)(D)(iv))

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ADU).5 State ADU Laws now preclude the application of front and corner side yard setbacks to prevent the construction of attached or detached state-exempt ADUs.

However, the City may impose front and corner side yard setbacks if they do not preclude the construction of a state-exempt ADU. This has been reflected in Section

18.200.180(D)(2)(b).

C. Unpermitted Conditions
Prior to the adoption of SB 897 in 2022, homeowners were required to have unpermitted structures brought up to current codes. Recently enacted state law removes these restrictions unless the unpermitted condition is a health or safety concern. The correction of nonconforming zoning conditions, building code violations, or unpermitted structures on the property no longer have to be remedied to build an ADU. This language is best captured in the Building Division’s process and procedures for issuing building permits and does not need to be included in the proposed amendments. No further action is required at this time.

Proposed ADU Ordinance Amendments in Response to State Law In response to changes of the state ADU laws, Staff is recommending the policies discussed below, as permitted, but not required, by state law.

A. ADU Porches in Front and Corner Side Yard Setbacks
State Law
State ADU laws now preclude the application of front and corner side yard setbacks to prevent the construction of attached or detached state-exempt ADUs (e.g., 800 square feet or smaller with four-foot side and rear yard setbacks).

Proposed Amendment
Staff is recommending limiting attached accessory structures (i.e. porches) for exempt ADUs located in the front or corner side yard setback to no more than five percent of the size of the livable area of the exempt ADU, up to 40 square feet (five percent of the maximum size (800 square feet) allowed by state law). Allowing structures such as porches could result in a visual benefit and provide additional outdoor space for residences. And limiting the size of such structures is necessary to ensure they are subordinate in scale and do not significantly increase the overall size of the ADU. This is reflected in Section 18.200.180(C)(10)(d). The PC agreed with Staff’s recommendation.
5 Under State ADU Law, a “Statewide Exempt ADU” is defined as an 800 square foot or less accessory dwelling unit with four-foot side and rear yard setbacks that is not subject to lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, and other development standards if applying such standards prohibit its construction.

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B. Objective Design Criteria
State Law
State ADU Laws only allow the City to apply objective design standards to ADUs6.

Proposed Amendment
The proposed objective design standards include a requirement that colors and materials for any ADU be consistent with the existing and/or proposed principal dwelling, using at least two of the following three approaches: 1) a minimum of one matching exterior color from the color palette of the principal dwelling, 2) a minimum of two matching exterior materials from the material palette of the principal dwelling, and 3) a matching roof slope to that of the dominant roof pitch or form of the principal dwelling. This is reflected in Section 18.200.180(C)(10)(a).

Alternatively, if the Planning Division determines that the design does not meet two of the above approaches, a discretionary Design and Site Review process is required.

The PC agreed with Staff’s recommendation.

Development Code Amendment Findings
The proposed amendment complies with the required findings in Section 18.455.070(B) as explained below.

1. The proposed amendment is consistent with 2030 General Plan.

The proposed amendment is consistent with the 2030 General Plan, and more specifically with the adopted 2023 – 2031 Housing Element7 which contains policies that: a) encourage a variety of housing types, including ADUs (Policy 1.2), b) encourage ADUs in new and existing residential developments (Policy 1.4), and c) Program 1.2 which requires amending the City’s ADU Ordinance to conform to state law. The Ordinance is necessary to achieve conformance with state law and remove barriers to the creation of additional housing opportunities as identified in policies in the City’s Housing Element.

2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare.

The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City because housing is a matter of statewide concern and this Ordinance will provide for additional housing opportunities in existing 6 Concord’s pre-approved ADU plans would not be subject to any additional review against objective design standards
7 The 2023-2031 Housing Element was adopted by the City Council; however, has not been certified by HCD as of this date.

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neighborhoods. ADUs are required to be constructed in conformance with building codes particularly for matters of health and safety; therefore, will not be detrimental.

3. Zoning map amendments shall also find that the affected site is physically suitable, including absence of physical constraints, access, compatibility with adjoining land uses, and provision of utilities, for the requested zoning designation and proposed or anticipated uses and/or development.

This amendment does not include any amendments to the zoning map.

Financial Impact
The adoption of the proposed ordinance is reimbursable by the City’s SB 2 Planning Grant and will not have a significant fiscal impact to the General Fund.

Environmental Determination
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, Public Resources Code §21000, et seq., as amended and implementing State CEQA Guidelines, Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations (collectively, “CEQA”), the proposed amendments to the ADU regulations are statutorily exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 (“Act not applicable to local ordinances regulating construction of dwelling units and second units”) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h) (“Other Statutory Exemptions”): “(t)he adoption of an ordinance regarding second units in a single-family or multi-family residential zone by a city or count to implement the provisions of Sections 65852.1 and 65852.2 of the Government Code as set forth in Section 21080.17 of the Public Resources Code.” Accordingly, no further environmental review is required.

Public Contact
The City Council Agenda was posted. A Public Hearing Notice was published in the East Bay Times on September 1, 2023. Interested persons who have voiced an interest in the topic have been made aware of the public hearing.

Attachments

1. Ordinance with various text amendments to the Concord Development Code (CDC)
Exhibit A – Amended CDC Section 18.200.180 Accessory Dwelling Units (clean version)

2. Amended CDC Section 18.200.180 Accessory Dwelling Units (redline version)

3. Government Code 65852.2 and 65852.22 (Statutory Changes (Strikeout/Italics and Underline))

4. CDC (Title 18) Section 18.200.180 – Accessory Dwelling Units (existing ordinance)

Ord. No. 23-XX 1
ORDINANCE NO. 23-XX

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CONCORD MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE
18 DEVELOPMENT CODE, SECTION 18.200.180 (ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS) (PL20005 - DC)
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65800 et seq. provides for the amendment of any and all adopted City of Concord (“City”) zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; and WHEREAS, on August 30, 2019, in an effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 670 (Friedman) into law, which amended Government Code Section 65852.2 governing Accessory Dwelling Units and prohibits associations from “unreasonably” restricting the construction of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (“JADU”) on a lot zoned for single-family residential use; and WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, in a further effort to address the State’s ongoing housing crisis, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 13 (Wieckowski) into law, aimed to facilitate the development of ADUs and encourage landlords with unpermitted ADUs to become compliant; and WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 68 (Ting) into law, which provides more flexibility as to where and how ADUs can be created and also places additional restrictions on local governments from adopting ordinances that would hinder the creation of ADUs; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 587 (Friedman) into law, requiring local ADU ordinances to allow ADUs to be sold or conveyed separately from the primary residence to a qualified buyer if the property was built or developed by a qualified nonprofit corporation; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 671 (Friedman) into law, requiring a local agency to include a plan that incentivizes and promotes the creation of ADUs that can be offered at affordable rent for very low, low-, or moderate-income households in its housing element; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 881 (Bloom) into law, which limits the criteria by which a local agency can determine where ADUs may be Attachment 1