To comply with recent State housing legislation including Senate Bill 35 and Senate Bill 330, the City of Carlsbad initiated amendments to its Zoning
Ordinance. Inventive strategies were needed to address the shortage of housing, all while preserving the residential quality of existing neighborhoods. RRM developed objective design standards that satisfied these requirements for multifamily and mixed-use developments while incorporating existing community design guidance found in the City’s 20+ specific plans and master plans. RRM supported the City with robust community education efforts, including an online survey, informational video, stakeholder interviews, Planning Commission study session, and open house to gather input on the standards. To ensure effective implementation, RRM facilitated a comprehensive training session with City staff, providing tools for consistent project review and public communication. A Frequently Asked Questions handout was also developed to provide additional information.

The end product was a graphically rich, user-friendly design standards document intended to provide the public, building, and design professionals, as well as decision-makers, with clear design direction that preserves character and sense of place while ensuring predictable and consistent application of established development standards. RRM supported the City through the public hearing and adoption process, and the City is already seeing new residential projects come forward to implement the standards.