2/24/26
1 Agenda
• Request
• Background
• Objective
• Applicability
• Implementation Plan
• The Standards
- Changes since Study Session
• Public Outreach
• CEQA Evaluation
• Recommendation
2 City Council
February 24, 2026
Item #6 RTC 26-79
Zoning Code Update to Add
Objective Design Standards
Afshan Hamid
Community Development Director
Item #6
POST MEETING MATERIAL
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3 4
Request
Action to waive first reading and introduce the Citywide Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Residential Mixed-Use Projects Ordinance updating the Santa Clara Zoning Code.
Background
Why have Objective Design Standards?
a
•
CetTa1~1!1M>rocr.Jk~Otw('1M:1~n~/.(16 !llqnM'llwol'l»uVQ~L'f!'CI'! ODS are predictable, user-friendly,
enforceable, enabled by the State as a
toolkit to preserve local control and
provides the standards that can
implement the City's urban design
vision.
Retain local control and community
character
• Further Santa Clara Housing Element
Policy A-3: "Utilize objective design
standards to streamline the housing
development process."
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Background
What is an Objective Design Standard?
Standards that "involve no personal or subjective judgement by a public official and are uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent the public official before submittal" (Government Code Section 65913.4 & 663oo(a)(7)) Objective
The objective design standards will do the following:
- Provide clear, objective, and measurable standards for multi-family and residential mixed-use projects citywide
- Streamline project review of housing, in accordance with state law - Ensure buildings are appropriate to their surroundings and environment - Promote thoughtful, context-sensitive site design
- Maintain and enhance Santa Clara's built environment through quality architectural design; and
- Promote a pedestrian scale urban environment that enriches the quality of life of its citizens
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Applicability
What projects are subject to objective design standards? Townhouses Wrap- Style
Multi-Family/ Residential
Mixed-Use
Implementation Plan
Phase I : Using Existing Standards
Podium - Style
Multi-Family/Residential
Mixed-Use
- Identified existing standards from Specific Plans & Downtown Precise Plan These standards are already vetted by the community & decision makers These were adopted for areas where we anticipated development, however we are seeing development proposals for areas outside of the specific plans.
Based on state law, we need to have these standards in place before applications are submitted for areas outside of the specific plan and precise plan areas to be applicable.
Picked a collective set of standards that work cohesively and are achievable Phase II: Gaps were identified in the standards to work on Phase II: Conduct robust developer and community outreach Item #6
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9 Objective Design Standards
The Standards
The objective design
standards are organized
into three main sections:
Site Design
Building Design
Pedestrian Level Design
Objective Design Standards
The Standards
Examples:
~ City of
(\'~,:') Santa Clara
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"Chaplar 18.27 - Objective Design Standards fer Clty-wido Mul~-Family and Re•l<lenflal Mlxed-U•e PrcJect.s
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0.·~-~J Santa Clara
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Figure 2-15
Bulldlno OrientaUon tor Town homes - Entrance Areas
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Podium - SlyfC t,\lild•(lQS :Shl'!II h3~•P. m1ldoor S.fla.c!i!s s.udl as. on.s,1le-p(az:as mlenor courtyard;., palias terrace::. and garden:.
Porlium - S l~l,e bu1ki1mJs sh;:iU ha,..e pnvale-ly o•wned i=-ub!1i:; open space- of o l leasl 15 feE!"L widi: i:lnd 5'CIO -:squ;,re le~I 1r\ size Figure 2~19
Open Space De.sign-Podium - .Slyle BulldloQ'.!1
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2. Prim31)1 Entr:1ncu Pr1n,ary en1rances shall 1eallJte :U le.1$-l two or lhe fol!o\-.img Ari;h1lec!vr"I feature!i, such as a prurnirie-11t 1ow~r reature o, a peaked roof form. and/or a v.lri.lljl) n in bu1fding ,:.olarfmaleria1s Recess or projection
~deslnaf\ we-ather p,rolecllon Ii e ,;.;inopy, overh;sin~, (Ir arcade) Streelscape mclt1d1ng ouldoor i:;ralio. 1nlegr,;1I olantE'!l'S, or wing wall'S !1'131 mc:orpoRiile l11ru15C"":;;1perf iUf!as ;mdlm pla,r.es tor s1t1ln~ Item #6
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Objective Design Standards r::;;;;;"-{? ... _'\~ City of t : _~- '• Santa Clara
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Changes Since November 12, 2025
Planning Commission Study Session
The format was updated to follow the SCCC format style.
References describing the origin of the standard has been removed. -
,i Building Design
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Planning Commission Feedback
• November 11, 2025 Planning Commission Study Session
• January 14, 2026 Planning Commission Public Hearing, approve • Gaps identified by the Planning Commission were the following:
• More Prescriptive Architectural Standards by Building Type (Multiplex, Courtyard, Mid-Rise, & etc.)
• Enhance Open Space Standards
• More Transitional Zone Standards between Building Type • This feedback will be incorporated into Phase II of the workplan ,,
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Public Outreach
• A newspaper notice was published in the February 11, 2026, issue of the Santa Clara Weekly describing the proposed adoption of the Citywide Objective Design Standards. One comment has been received. • Public contact was made by posting the City Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers.
CEQA Evaluation
• The adoption of the Citywide Objective Design Standards is an implementation action of the 2023 Housing Element for which the City prepared an Addendum to the 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
• The Addendum indicated that the adoption of the Housing Element, and its implementing actions, would not result in environmental impacts beyond those descdbed in the General Plan Update EIR.
• The recommended actions for adoption of the Objective Design Standards fall within the scope of the adopted Addendum.
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Recommendation
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Determining the project to be consistent with the January 31, 2023 Addendum for the 2023 Housing Element pursuant to CEQA.
2. Waive First Reading and Introduce the Citywide Objective Design Standards Ordinance.
City Council
February 24, 2026
Item #6 RTC 26-79
15 Zoning Code Update to Add
Objective Design Standards
Afshan Hamid
Community Development Director
Item #6
8