Help Shape Foster City by Providing Feedback on Objective Design and Development Standards
For immediate release: August 25, 2021
Contact: Leslie Carmichael, Consultant Planner, 650-468-7890, lcarmichael@fostercity.org
Foster City is establishing a set of design standards that will ensure multi-family and mixed-use developments are built in a way that the community can be proud of – and input is needed from residents. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback on the Objective Design and Development Standards for Foster City by Thursday, September 30.
The process is simplified with help of an online tool that takes users on a virtual tour of Foster City’s multi-family and mixed-use developments. When participating in the Urban Design Data Walk, users will have the opportunity to share what they like and dislike about the City’s existing applicable developments. That feedback will be gathered, processed, and examined by Foster City officials when a set of development standards are eventually considered for adoption.
Residents helping to shape the future of Foster City is particularly critical because recent state housing legislation limits local jurisdictions’ abilities to regulate development with subjective criteria, which is how Foster City has historically reviewed developments. Objective standards are now the only basis a local jurisdiction may use to regulate the design or density of certain eligible projects. In Foster City, any new housing development is likely to be multi-family and/or redevelopment of existing multi-family development, given the lack of vacant land zoned for single-family development. Having objective design and development standards can allow the City to guide the design of such developments.
Providing feedback is easy and welcomed in a variety of ways. For those seeking an alternative to the Urban Design Data Walk, sites can also be visited in-person. Input can be offered by texting (650) 309-1814 or emailing homeisfc@fostercity.org or providing feedback on City’s Objective Design and Development Standards webpage at https://designstandardsfostercity.org.
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