The City is considering amendments to the Glendale Municipal Code to update development standards for new multi-family and mixed-use housing in residential and commercial districts. Key changes include revised development standards, new Objective Design Standards, and related municipal code amendments.

The ODS amendments establish clear architectural and design requirements to comply with State legislation mandating objective standards and streamlined review for qualifying housing projects. The proposed changes address City Council direction to evaluate the existing multi-family development standards for potential revisions. They also aim to make the development review process faster, clearer, and more predictable by replacing subjectivity with measurable criteria that projects must meet.

With recent State legislation, including SB 79, cities that do not have ODS in place risk reduced control over ensuring that new housing is high quality and compatible with surrounding development. Any application submitted under SB 79 will be subject to objective design and development standards in the Glendale Municipal Code. That's why it's imperative to have the ODS adopted before July 1, 2026.