Milpitas Objective Design Standards (ODS)

Overview

The Final Milpitas Residential and Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards (ODS) (PDF) are now available and in effect. The Milpitas ODS provides clear and quantifiable design requirements for all new multi-family housing projects and mixed-use developments with a residential component to ensure that new development improves Milpitas/ neighborhoods and communities. If you are submitting an application for a project that is subject to the Milpitas ODS, please complete and submit the ODS Checklist (XLSX) as part of your application package.

Background

In 2020, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded the City of Milpitas a $310,000 grant through the State's Planning Grant Program, which is funded by the Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB 2). The Planning Grant Program provides grants to local governments to prepare, adopt, and implement plans and process improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production. The City of Milpitas used this grant to fund a variety of projects including the Milpitas Residential and Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards (ODS), which supports the City's Zoning Ordinance and General Plan by providing design standards to encourage well-designed buildings and developments that enhance the existing neighborhood character of surrounding communities. The Milpitas ODS also helps the City comply with SB 330, which requires all design standards to be "objective," and SB 35, which allows qualifying multi-family housing projects to request a streamlined approval process (i.e., no public hearings). Please see the Fact Sheet (PDF) for more background information regarding this project.

The City hired a consultant and initiated the project in late 2020. As part of the work, the project team has researched best practices from other cities, conducted stakeholder outreach, provided updates to various City advisory bodies, and published the Draft Milpitas ODS for public review and input in July and August. On November 1st, the Milpitas City Council adopted the Final Milpitas ODS, which applies to all developments submitted after adoption.