PresentationsObjective Standards Update
to General Plan and Zoning
City of Cupertino City Council
September 18, 2019
Agenda Item 1
September 18, 2019, Item #1
What is an Objective Standard?
●State legislature defines an objective standard as
one that involves "no personal or subjective
judgment by a public official and uniformly
verifiable by reference to an external and uniform
benchmark or criterion available and knowable by
both the development applicant and the public
official prior to submittal.”
●Objective Standards could include: permitted uses,
density, height, setbacks, floor area ratio, design
guidelines, and any required application materials.
What is not an Objective Standard?
Subjective requirements such as:
●Project must display high quality design and respect
private views.
●Project must be consistent with the existing context.
●Project must meet the needs for adequate on-street
parking.
●Building design must be with acceptable materials and
design features.
Why have Objective Standards?
●State mandated streamlined project approvals;
●Clear general plan & zoning requirements not
needing Interpretations;
●Establish expectations for applicants, members of
the public, city staff, and civic leaders;
Proposed Objective Standards
●Phase 1: Review of the General Plan and Zoning
Ordinance identified areas in which the
development standards can be strengthened to
add objectivity (Attachment A).
●Items will commence immediately.
Proposed Objective Standards
●Phase 1.5: Items that merit more emphasis and
immediate attention than the rest of the items in
Phase 2, with the understanding that these still
involve comprehensive assessment and would
require additional staffing resources.
●Items will likely commence within 6 -12 months.
Proposed Objective Standards
●Phase 2: More comprehensive developments of
new policies that will require additional resources
than identified with the current FY 2019/2020 Work
Program.
●Items will be incorporated over time into future
Work Programs.
Planning Commission Recommendations
●Proceed with the proposed Phase 1 items
immediately;
●The creation of a Phase 1.5 with items originally
from Phase 2 that merit more emphasis and
attention than the rest of Phase 2 items.
●Proceed with Phase 2 items on a longer term
basis.
Actions to Consider
●Does the City Council wish to proceed with items listed in Phase
1 (attachment A)?
●Does the City Council wish to proceed with items listed in Phase
1.5 (attachment B)?
●Are there any items in Phase 2 (attachment C) that the City
Council wishes to remove or reprioritize?
●Are there items in Attachment D (Other comments) that City
Council wishes to be added to any of the three phases?
●Are there items in Phase 2 or Other Comments related to the
development of new policy that the City Council wishes to
pursue?
●Does the City Council wish to reprioritize the items/phases?
Recommendations
That the City Council:
Receive staff report, presentation, and public comment,
and provide direction to staff.