Help Set Objective Design Standards
ANNOUNCEMENT - The January 16, 2024 Planning Commission meeting has been canceled. The Objective Design Standards presentation to the Planning Commission has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
What Are Objective Design Standards?
We Want to Hear From You!
The City has completed the public review draft of the Objective Design Standards and is seeking feedback from developers, designers, residents, and stakeholders. The City will hold a community workshop to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders.
Where Can I Review the Draft Standards?
The Final Review Draft dated December 2023 to be considered by the Planning Commission is available for review on this webpage: https://www.engagepalmdesert.com/20564/widgets/69305/documents/50001
The link will download a PDF of the document may take a moment to load. The document is interactive and you can click between the table of contents each each standard
Provide Comments by posting to this page and a Planner will provided a response within 24 hours.
What Are We Doing?
The City of Palm Desert is currently developing Objective Design Standards (ODS) for the review of multi-family housing and mixed-use development applications. This effort is in response to State legislation requiring jurisdictions to adopt objective standards and to implement them in a streamlined review of qualifying housing projects.
What Are Objective Design Standards?
The purpose of Objective Design Standards is to establish a clear set of architectural and site design requirements for new multi-family residential and mixed-use developments. These are standards that are measurable, quantifiable, easily defined, and enforceable.
Under State law, Objective Design Standards are defined as “standards that involve no personal or subjective judgment 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 and the public official prior to submittal” (California Government Code, Section 65913.4).
In recent years, the State has enacted several new laws to increase housing supply, affordability, and reduce obstacles to housing production, and streamline housing development projects. These laws including, Senate Bill No. 35 and Senate Bill No. 330, require housing development projects to be reviewed against objective design standards. Objective Design Standards are a powerful tool that allows communities to respond to State housing laws that are reducing local control of development. They provide an opportunity to ensure that the appearance of new multi-family housing and mixed-use is compatible with the City's vision.
Upcoming Meetings
January 16, 2024February 6, 2024- Planning Commission Meeting to Consider Adoption of the Objective Design Standards- The Planning Commission meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California. Options for remote participation will be made available.
- February 15, 2024 (Tentative)- City Council Meeting To Adopt Ordinance
- March 14, 2024 (Tentative) - Second Reading To Adopt Objective Design Standards
Past Meetings
Click the link to view each meeting and agenda materials
- June 19, 2023 - Community Open House
- June 20, 2023 - Planning Commission Study Session #1
- July 11, 2023 - Architectural Review Commission Study Session #1
- August 24, 2023 - City Council Study Session
- September 7, 2023 - Joint Study Session, Planning Commission & Architectural Review Commission
- September 8, 2023 - Community Open House #2
Share Your Feedback
Your input is essential to the success of this project. Use the tools below to contribute your feedback. These tools allow you to:
- Post your ideas. This helps City staff be informed on what our community needs are.
- Send questions directly to City employees. Staff will respond within two business days.
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Refer to Objective Design Standards Toolkit
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) created this toolkit to help local governments establish clear objective design standards in their plans and codes. The toolkit includes definitions, best practices and examples, as well as an overview of several key topics.
10 months ago
Residential/Commercial Landscaping for new residential projects and /or business parks
When a new community is built the proposed landscape plan should be reviewed to ensure proper type of tree/shrub material is native to the Coachella Valley and appropriate for the area within the city its being proposed (i.e. windy areas). Those trees and shrubs should be a defined size and not 1gal plants or tree saplings which have a high failure rate and ultimately ends up being replaced with a non-native species. During the landscaping process, there should be announced and unannounced inspections performed by the city to ensure strict adherence to the submitted a duly approved plans. If a variance or departure is identified the City shall have powers of enforcement to comply to approved plans. Waivers should not be issued as this is very important to our environmental plan for the city. If any trees/shrubs are missing at the end of the project any and all bonds shall be held by the developer shall be held until the works is performed and accepted by the city as being installed per plan. If any amendments are proposed by the developer, plans are required to be updated and submitted to the same bodies who provided initial review and approvals.
10 months ago
Residential/Community Monument Signs
I recommend we add definitive and enforceable language within the design standards regarding monument signs. Recommended language below: The developer of said residential community "Shall/Must" go before the PD ARC to present the sign which shall serve as the identification of proposed community. Sign should be lit at night and easily identifiable from the street. Monument signs are mandatory for all new planned residential communities being built within PD city limits.
8 months ago
Objective Design Standards Toolkit
https://abag.ca.gov/technical-assistance/objective-design-standards-toolkit The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) created this toolkit to help local governments establish clear objective design standards in their plans and codes. The toolkit includes definitions, best practices and examples, as well as an overview of several key topics.
10 months ago
Certificate of Completion - Water Meter and Irrigation systems (Residential/Commercial)
Residential/Commercial developers must work in concert with the City of PD / CVWD to obtain a Certificate of Completion of the installed meters and irrigation systems and all other water infrastructure. The Certificate of Completion will trigger a 3rd party inspection of said installed infrastructure that will report back to CVWD to determine the adherence to approved plans. Developers shall obtain certificate prior to any/all bonds are released for said project. If there are any failures, bonds will be held and the City of PD and/or CVWD shall be grated enforcement powers to have developers to adhere to plan.
Who's Listening
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Email nmelloni@palmdesert.gov
