Streamline Development Approvals with Objective Design Standards

Objective Design Standards involving robust processes of engagement and community visioning provide a uniquely flexible opportunity to establish effective regulations that translate community priorities into physical development. Such standards provide a more flexible alternative to Form Based Codes and can serve as an overlay within existing General Plans, Comprehensive Plans, and Zoning Ordinances. While primarily focused on Standards for multifamily and mixed-use residential construction, this conversation will also draw on experience using objective-based regulation to improve development outcomes for commercial and industrial development and to mediate between different land uses.

This panel will discuss the importance of methods to avoid adverse development feasibility impact by Standards. If proposed standards are evaluated through a rigorous process of market analyses and real-world test fit studies, they provide a valuable level of certainty to applicants that can be balanced against clear, enhanced community requirements. An Objective Standards-based review system avoids the potential legal issues of discretionary review and is being shown to increase housing production across the State of California.

Our panelists will bring diverse perspectives from across the United States gained from experience in cities, small communities, and state-level policy research in the public and private sectors.