City of Palm Desert
Multifamily and
Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards
Fostering, new building by new building, a consistently applicable design quality emphasizing a greater desert-oriented integration of architecture within the City's desert setting.
The City of Palm Desert traditionally relied on discretionary design review and anecdotal guidelines to shape buildings and places project by project, however, new California housing crisis legislation has prohibited subjective review and replaced it through requirements that allow cities to only enforce objective, i.e. measurable and quantifiable, design standards (ODS) for multifamily and mixed-use residential projects. As a result, it is crucial that the ODS align with Palm Desert's design goals and ensures that new developments conserve and enhance the community's character. A combination of site visits, understanding existing City documentation (General Plan, Zoning Code, Specific Plans, existing yet subjective Design Guidelines), analyzing recently-approved projects in the City, and speaking with community members, City staff, and decision-makers resulted in an understanding of Palm Desert character.
The ODS prioritize the use of desert flora, drought-resistant landscape buffers, shade requirements, and a defined material and color palette inspired by the local desert and mountain setting. The adopted standards, both written and illustrated, align with the design of new projects with Palm Desert's unique Coachella Valley environment.
To facilitate the use of the standards by both applicants and City staff, the ODS also incorporate a design standards checklist. The checklist outlines requirements and options, helps ensure consistent ministerial design reviews, and provides for a more efficient design review process for multifamily and mixed-use project approvals.
