REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2085 Establishing the Citywide Objective Design Standards Ordinance for Multi-Family and Residential Mixed-Use Projects by Adding a New Chapter 18.27 to the City Code
Report
BACKGROUND
At the February 24, 2026 Council meeting, proposed Ordinance No. 2085 was passed for the purpose of publication. Pursuant to City Charter Sections 808 and 812, a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2085 was published to the Santa Clara Weekly on March 4, 2026, and copies were posted in three public places.
DISCUSSION
The proposed ordinance would add a new Chapter 18.27 to the Zoning Code to establish objective design standards for certain multifamily and residential mixed-use projects. Recent state legislation has limited the City's authority to impose subjective design standards on multifamily development. Although the City has already established a variety of objective design standards in its specific plans and precise plans, there are relatively few Citywide standards for multifamily developments. The proposed ordinance would utilize criteria that have already been adopted for the Downtown Precise Plan, Patrick Henry Drive Specific Plan, Tasman East Specific Plan, and Lawrence Station Area Plan, as they have already undergone public review. The City will return with a second phase of new development standards at a later date.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The adoption of the Citywide Objective Design Standards is an implementation action of the 2023-2031 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 described in the General Plan Update EIR. At the conclusion of the public hearing on January 26, 2023, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve t...
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