HomeMy WebLinkAboutPalm+Desert+ODS_FINAL+APRIL+2024CITY OF PALM DESERT
Multifamily and Mixed-Use
Objective Design Standards
APRIL 2024
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
City Council
Mayor Kathleen Kelly
Mayor Pro Tem Karina Quintanilla
Council Member Gina Nestande
Council Member Jan Harnik
Council Member Evan Trubee
Planning Commission
Commissioner Nancy DeLuna
Commissioner John Greenwood
Commissioner Ron Gregory
Commissioner Lindsay Holt
Commissioner Joseph Pradetto
Architectural Review Commission
Commissioner James Blakely
Commissioner Dean Wallace Colvard
Commissioner Nicholas Latkovic
Commissioner Michael McAuliffe
Commissioner James McIntosh
Commissioner Francisco Sanchez
Commissioner John Vuksic
City Staff
Richard D. Cannone, AICP, Director of Development Services
Nick Melloni, AICP, Principal Planner
Carlos Flores, Senior Planner
Consultant Team
John Kaliski Architects, Inc.
Tajima Open Design Office
Environmental Science Associates
4 BUILDING ARCHITECTURE ODS 25
4.1 Building Height 26
4.2 Building Length 27
4.3 Building Modulation 28
4.4 Building Roofs 31
4.5 Building Materials 33
4.6 Building Openings, Multifamily 34
4.7 Building Openings, Mixed-Use 35
4.8 Building Windows 35
4.9 Building Balconies and Stairwells 36
4.10 Building Utilities 36
4.11 Building Facade Colors 37
4.12 Building Water Drainage Devices 37
4.13 Building Trash/Recycling Bins and Enclosures 38
4.14 Building Design Components 38
5 PARKING ODS 41
5.1 Surface Parking Design 42
5.2 Mechanical Parking 43
5.3 Parking Shelters 44
5.4 Parking Garages 44
5.5 Bicycle Parking 45
6 ODS COMPLIANCE CHECKLISTS 47
Multifamily Compliance Checklist 48
Mixed-Use Compliance Checklist 76
7 GLOSSARY 105
A APPENDIX 109
A-1 Project Outreach 110
A-2 Image Sources 117
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 What are Objective Design Standards (ODS)? 2
1.2 Palm Desert Setting and Character 3
1.3 Multifamily and Mixed-Use ODS Goals and Objectives 4
1.4 Multifamily and Mixed-Use Housing in Palm Desert 5
1.5 Applicability 6
1.6 How to Use the Standards 7
2 PROJECT SITE ODS 9
2.1 Project Frontage 10
2.2 Project Orientation 10
2.3 Project Fences and Walls 11
2.4 Project Entries 12
2.5 Project Sidewalks and Pathways 13
2.6 Project Curb Cuts, Vehicular 15
2.7 Project Alleys 16
3 LANDSCAPE & OPEN SPACE ODS 17
3.1 Site Landscaping 18
3.2 Landscape Islands 18
3.3 Canopy Trees 18
3.4 Specimen Trees 19
3.5 Shrubs and Perennials 20
3.6 Inorganic Groundcover 21
3.7 Boulders 21
3.8 On-Site Lighting 21
3.9 Passive and Active Amenities 22
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 What are Objective Design Standards (ODS)?
1.2 Palm Desert Setting and Character
1.3 Multifamily and Mixed-Use ODS Goals and Objectives
1.4 Multifamily and Mixed-Use Housing in Palm Desert
1.5 Applicability
1.6 How to Use the Standards
1CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
2 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 What are Objective Design Standards (ODS)?
Design standards regulate development intensity,
style, mass, bulk, and orientation. “Objective
design standards” (ODS) are defined under State
of California (State) law as “standards that involve
no personal or subjective judgment by a public
official and are uniformly verifiable by reference
to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion
available and knowable by both the development
applicant or proponent and the public official
prior to submittal” (California Government Code,
Section 65913.4).
The City of Palm Desert (‘City’ or ‘Palm Desert’) has
traditionally relied on a combination of design
guidelines and discretionary design review by
the Architectural Review Commission at regularly
scheduled public meetings to regulate the design
of projects, including housing developments such
as multifamily and mixed-use projects, to ensure
development met community design expectations.
The City has developed objective design standards
to support and guide the development of housing
throughout Palm Desert. The ODS in this policy
must comply with recent State legislation
which has been adopted to reduce obstacles to
housing production and streamline the approval
of projects that include multifamily housing
- projects with buildings that contain three or
more dwelling units, apartments, and mixed-use
projects that include a residential component.
Senate Bill 35 and Senate Bill 330, gone into
effect in 2018 and 2020 respectively, have
disallowed the use of “should” statements that
require additional discretionary review, such as
the review of an architectural review body, if the
prospective project otherwise meets all of the
City’s zoning standards.
Since the adoption of this legislation, multifamily
and mixed-use developments may now only be
approved utilizing quantifiable, measurable, and
objective design standards or “shall” policies.
For instance, a design standard that states, “No
facade shall exceed 36 feet in length without at
least a two-foot planar offset that is a minimum
of six feet in length,” establishes a “yes” or “no”
evaluative criteria for both the applicant or City of
Palm Desert Staff (Staff) that respectively design
or review a prospective project.
Per State legislation, if a project with a
multifamily or mixed-use residential component
meets the criteria of the design standard, all
other objective planning criteria are met, and the
project does not otherwise trigger a discretionary
review (e.g. a tract map review and approval), Staff
must approve the project.
Given the requirements described above, and
that many projects are by-right and do not
require discretionary actions, it is key that the
design values and policies of a city be reflected
in quantifiable design standards that are utilized
by a city’s staff to ministerially approve projects.
The ODS of this policy align with Palm Desert’s
design goals and establish a measurable and
quantifiable basis for ministerial design approvals
that help designers, applicants, and City reviewers
ensure that new multifamily and mixed-use
developments conserve and enhance this
community’s setting and character.
3CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
1.2 Palm Desert Setting and Character
The City of Palm Desert is situated on a gently
downward-sloping, north-to-south geographic
plane in the Coachella Valley. Set in a low
northwestern extension of the Sonoran Desert,
the City’s climate is warm throughout the year
and hottest from May through October. Days are
typically clear and cloudless with bright sunshine.
Though there is typically little rain, there is
potential for flooding during winter and summer
storms. Strong prevailing winds typically blow in
from west to east from mid-March through mid-
July, and from north to south from mid-November
through mid-February.
The City enjoys views of high mountains to the
south, west, and north, with snow caps visible
at the highest elevations during the winter
months. While water-intensive lawns and non-
native plants do well in the sunny environment,
given increasing water scarcity and long-term
predictions of drought, drought-tolerant and
native fauna increasingly define newer landscapes.
The City’s General Plan, adopted in 2016, defines
and establishes many guiding themes regarding
the design character of future development in this
City’s desert environment. Design-centric goals
from the General Plan that shape this overarching
planning policy document include:
•The protection and enhancement of
natural surroundings.
•Accessibility and connectivity.
•Planning and designing at a moderate
density and scale so that the pedestrian
experience is the primary focus.
More specific General Plan design-oriented goals,
such as high-quality landscaping, walkable block
lengths, neighborhood transitions and scale,
and shaded sidewalks are also addressed by the
design standards found within this policy.
Golf course in Palm Desert.
4 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.3 Multifamily and Mixed-Use ODS Goals and Objectives
To achieve a best, safe, comfortable, and
energy-efficient fit between the natural desert
circumstance of Palm Desert and its newer
buildings, landscapes, and human environments,
new multifamily and mixed-use projects shall
be shaped by design standards that incorporate
understandings of this community’s unique
environmental, geographic, and climatic
place factors.
The following objectives to shape the
development of new multifamily and mixed-
use design standards were based upon this
environmental design goal and formulated
through a three-month public outreach process
that included input from local residents, builders,
and members of the Architectural Review
Commission, Planning Commission, and City
Council (See Appendix A-1: Public Outreach).
1.Link new multifamily and mixed-use
structures to the natural environment
through optimized building design that
conserves or opens onto mountain views
from public open spaces and rights-of-way.
2.Create human-scale connectivity between
new multifamily and mixed-use projects,
the outdoor environment, and existing
buildings and neighborhoods through
project design that supports walkability,
alternative transit uses including bicycles
and transit stops, and safe, pedestrian-
oriented sidewalks and pathways.
3.Design building environments with open
space and landscapes that provides shade
and protection from the desert sun and
wind.
4.Orient new multifamily and mixed-
use structures to existing and new
street frontages, sidewalks, and the
prevailing settings of existing districts,
neighborhoods, and buildings.
5.Utilize native and/or drought-tolerant
landscape as an integral design
component of new multifamily and mixed-
use projects, particularly within passive
and active recreational open spaces, along
parkways, pathways and public sidewalks,
at buffers abutting adjacent sites, and at
parking areas.
6.Plant shade trees with each new
multifamily and mixed use project to
reduce the impact of urbanized heat
islands, foster walkability, outdoor
gathering, and comfort.
7.Reflect the local desert environment
through use of architectural details that
provide shelter from direct sunlight
and prevailing winds, as well as use of
materials and colors that are seen in local
natural settings.
The multifamily and mixed-use design standards
of this policy are based upon the above goal and
objectives. Use of this policy’s design standards
by applicants as they plan and design projects
will foster, new building by new building, a
consistently applicable design quality related to
General Plan policies, a greater desert-oriented
integration of architecture with the City’s
desert setting, and increased project-by-project
identity that enhances the value of Palm Desert’s
built environment.
5CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
1.4 Multifamily and Mixed-Use Housing in Palm Desert
The Palm Desert Municipal Code defines any
project that includes three or more units as
a multifamily development. Home to a range
of multifamily housing types, from triplexes
surrounding the downtown area to medium-
density apartments and higher-intensity planned
developments to the north of the City’s core,
future multifamily residential developments will
best maintain a high-quality standard of design
through use of massing and scale, architectural
components, details, landscape, materials and
colors that grow out of an appreciation of and fit
with the Sonoran Desert surrounds.
The Multifamily Typology Transect (Figure 1)
illustrates a range of housing types that fit the
Palm Desert context, from the Downtown area
with its infill parcels to larger undeveloped
parcels. The transect begins with triplexes and
increases incrementally to include quadplexes,
attached townhomes, then courtyard, garden and
tuck-under apartments, and finally higher-intensity
residential multiplexes that are no taller than
three stories. Any multifamily typology of higher
density is not generally applicable in Palm Desert
unless achieved through allowed housing bonuses
that provide for affordable housing.
Figure 1: Multifamily Typology Transect.
Single-Family Low-Intensity
High-Intensity
High-intensity
multifamily is
not applicable
in Palm Desert.
Duplexes are
not considered
multifamily in
Palm Desert.
TRIPLEX
• Three dwelling units on a lot
• 2-3 stories
• Units may be side-by-side and/or one over the other
TOWNHOMES
• 5+ dwelling units
• 2-3 stories
• Separate single-family dwellings that are closely spaced, semi-attached, or attached
QUADPLEX
• Four dwelling units on a lot
• 2-4 stories
• Units may be side-by-side and/or one over the other
COURTYARD, TUCK-UNDER,
AND GARDEN APARTMENTS
• 2-3 stories
• Parking typically underneath a portion of living spaces in both open and closed configurations or underground
RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLEX, LOW
• 3 stories maximum, up to 35 ft.
• Parking typically at-grade, units may be wrapped in front of parking to hide automobiles
6 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.5 Applicability
The ODS of this policy shall apply to Qualifying
Housing Development projects identified by
California Government Code Section 65559.5.
Qualified Housing Developments include:
•Multi-family housing developments.
•Residential Mixed-Use Housing
developments with a minimum of
two-thirds of (⅔) the square footage
designated for residential use.
•Supportive and transitional housing
development.
The ODS of this policy shall also apply to said
housing developments located in the following
Palm Desert zoning designations:
•Mixed Residential District (R-2).
•Multifamily Residential District (R-3).
•Planned Residential District (PR).
•Office Professional (OP).
•Planned Commercial (PC).
•Specialty Commercial Center (PC-1).
•District Commercial Center (PC-2).
•Regional Commercial Center (PC-3).
•Resor t Commercial Center (PC-4).
The ODS are not applicable to the Downtown
District (D), Downtown Core Overlay District (D.O.),
Downtown Edge District (D.E.), and Downtown
Edge Transition Overlay (D.E.-O) zones, nor do they
apply to single-family homes, duplexes, accessory
dwelling units, or projects approved pursuant to
Senate Bill 9. This policy also does not apply to
non-residential development.
Mixed-use developments, while not a prevalent
typology in Palm Desert, are allowed in multiple
land uses per the City’s General Plan, including
all of the City’s “Centers”, the “Town Center
Neighborhood”, and the “Regional Retail District”
designations. The Mixed-Use Typology Transect
(Figure 2) defines a range of typical mixed-use
building types that may be approved in Palm
Desert, starting with lower-intensity live-work
projects followed by horizontal and vertical
mixed-use typologies. In Palm Desert, the tallest
vertical mixed-use precedent is a five-story
design only permitted at key intersections in the
City Center/Downtown area and not applicable
to this policy.
Figure 2: Mixed-Use Typology Transect.
LIVE/WORK
•5+ dwelling units on a lot
•2-3 stories
•A single unit consistingof both a commercial/office and a residentialcomponent occupied by thesame resident
HORIZONTAL
MIXED-USE
•2-3 stories
•A development consistingof 2+ attached or detachedbuildings of different useswithin the same projectarea
VERTICAL
MIXED -USE, LOW
•3-4 stories, maximum 35 ft.
•Subterranean parking orabove-grade parking with architectural treatments toscreen cars
VERTICAL
MIXED-USE, MEDIUM
•5 stories, maximum 60 ft.
•Subterranean parking orabove-grade parking with architectural treatments toscreen cars
High-intensity
mixed-use is
not applicable
in Palm Desert.
Five-story designs are
only permitted at key
intersections in the
Downtown area and
are not applicable to
this policy.
Low-Intensity High-Intensity
7CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
If a residential development project with three
or more units, or a mixed-use project with at
least two-thirds (⅔) of the gross floor area square
footage dedicated to housing, or a supportive/
transitional housing project is located in a
Specific Plan area or Overlay District, the ODS
of this policy shall only apply if objective design
standards particular to the Specific Plan or Overlay
District area have not been adopted.
When a design standard of this policy is more
restrictive than a design standard that addresses
the same criteria as noted in Title 25 of the
Municipal Code, then the more restrictive standard
of this policy shall prevail. When a design standard
of this policy is less restrictive than a design
standard that addresses the same criteria as
noted in Title 25 of the Municipal Code, then the
more restrictive standard of the Municipal Code
shall prevail.
1.6 How to Use the Standards
This policy is a primary design reference and tool
to use when designing new multifamily or mixed-
use projects in Palm Desert. The design standards
of this policy assist project applicants and
their designer’s understanding of the minimum
design standards that shall be met. The ODS
are described in Chapters 2-5 and are organized
as follows:
• Chapter 2: Project Site Objective Design
Standards, consisting of project orientation
and frontage requirements.
• Chapter 3: Open Space Objective
Design Standards, defining landscape
requirements, open space amenities, and
fencing and walls bordering project sites.
• Chapter 4: Building Architecture
Objective Design Standards, focusing on
building form, roofscapes, architectural
components, and exterior materials and
colors.
• Chapter 5: Parking Design Standards,
setting criteria for surface parking lots and
parking garages.
All multifamily and mixed-use projects that are
by-right developments shall be in compliance
with these standards. Compliance with the
standards will help ensure a streamlined and
consistent review and approval process by Staff.
The below steps should be followed at the start of
designing new projects.
1. Review the Palm Desert General Plan to
understand the goals and policies for new
development.
2. Review the Palm Desert Municipal Code to
determine the applicable zoning code land
use requirements that will shape the site
and building design.
3. Review the design standards in Chapters
2-5 in this policy to identify the applicable
design standards for a multifamily or
mixed-use project. All ODS in this policy
apply to both multifamily and mixed-use
projects unless otherwise indicated in the
specific standard.
4. Throughout the design process utilize the
applicable checklist in Chapter 7, Objective
Design Standards Compliance Checklists,
to ensure that all design criteria are met
before submission to the City for approval.
To determine compliance with the ODS, Staff will
use the same checklists to consistently review
the City’s design standards in relation to by-right
multifamily and mixed-use residential project
applications. If a project application is determined
to be in compliance with the objective design
standards, Staff will approve or recommend
approval of the project design. An approved
8 Chapter 1: Introduction
project design will still be subject to all other
applicable code requirements before a building
permit may be issued.
Should a multifamily or mixed-use project not
comply with one or more of the ODS, the project
applicant may choose to proceed with one of the
following actions:
•Receive an explanation from Staff
regarding the non-compliance, revise the
building design to be in compliance, and
resubmit their application for approval.
•Choose a discretionary review process
and meet with the Architectural Review
Commission for project design approval.
•Withdraw their application.
Discretionary projects require approval from the
Architectural Review Commission. The City of
Palm Desert Director of Development Services
may expand upon and/or regularly update the
objective design standards in this policy as per
their discretion. The removal of any objective
design standards in this policy can only be
decided upon by the Planning Commission or
City Council.
9CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
2 PROJECT SITE
2.1 Project Frontage
2.2 Project Orientation
2.3 Project Fences and Walls
2.4 Project Entries
2.5 Project Sidewalks and Pathways
2.6 Project Curb Cuts, Vehicular
2.7 Project Alleys
9CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
The intent of the following project site objective design
standards is to enhance the pedestrian experience between
multifamily and mixed-use developments and their public-
facing frontages, prioritizing the orientation of buildings
towards public streets, accessibility from public rights-of-way,
and the versatility of bordering fences and walls.
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
10 Chapter 2: Project Site ODS
2.2 PROJECT ORIENTATION
2.2.1. Project orientation. Multifamily and mixed-use projects shall
be oriented toward and overlook public streets. To determine
that a multifamily or mixed-use project overlooks the public
street, such projects shall incorporate a minimum of two of
the following project orientation components.
a.A landscaped setback that is a minimum of 20 feet
deep as measured from the frontage property line, or
greater as determined by the setback requirements
in Title 25 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code. The
landscaped setback shall be generally parallel to the
project frontage and incorporate shade trees, planted
a maximum of 30 feet on center, within the first 20
feet of depth along the public street frontage.
b.At least one open space that is a minimum of 20 feet
in depth as measured perpendicular to the public
street, the size of which is in relation to the project’s
total public street frontage length, per the table below.
2.1 2.1 PROJECT FRONTAGE
2.1.1. Maximum frontage length without break. Public street
frontages longer than 450 feet in length shall be separated
by a public or private street, alley, or a minimum 30-foot
wide and open-to-the-sky landscaped open space inclusive
of pedestrian pathways.
Street Frontage Minimum Open Space
Less than or equal to 150 feet 600 square feet
Greater than 150 feet and less
than 450 feet
1,500 square feet
Greater than or equal to 450 feet 20% of the total frontage length
times 25 feet
PUBLIC STREET
longer than 450’
30’ min
Building breaks along the public-facing
street frontage create opportunities for
circulation and connectivity on larger
sites. See ODS 2.1.1.
public or private street, alley, or open space ◄
This multifamily project is oriented
towards and incorporates one open
space facing the public street. See
ODS 2.2.1(b).
◄
11CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
c. Fences, walls, and/or permanent planter boxes greater
than 42 inches in height shall not exceed 20 percent
of the total length of the public street frontage.
d. At the ground level of buildings generally parallel to
and located within ten feet of a public-street-facing
frontage setback: street-facing and covered pedestrian
entities, stoops, and/or a minimum eight-foot-clear
width and depth porches, open-to-the-air galleries,
recesses, ramadas, and/or open arcades along a
minimum of 20 percent of the public street frontage.
2.3 2.3 PROJECT FENCES AND WALLS
2.3.1. Fence and wall placement. Fences and walls on public-street-
facing lots shall meet the placement requirements correlated
to the project’s lot size, per the table below.
Project Lot Size Fence and Wall Placement Requirements
Less than or equal to 15,000
square feet
No fence, wall, or pedestrian gate shall be
placed within the required front yard setback.
Greater than 15,000 feet and
less than one acre
No fence, wall, or gate shall be placed within
the frontage setback along public streets.
Fences, walls, and gates, placed to the rear
of the frontage setback and greater than 42
inches in height, shall not exceed 60 percent
of the total frontage length as measured along
the setback line.
Greater than or equal to
one acre
No fence, wall, or gate shall be placed within
the frontage setback along public streets.
Fences, walls, and gates, placed to the rear
of the frontage setback and greater than 42
inches in height, shall not exceed 80 percent
of the total frontage length as measured along
the setback line.
Lots in Palm Desert should not appear
to be walled off from the public realm.
See ODS 2.3.1.
◄
18” min
150’ max
STREET
fence or wall
Modulating a perimeter fence or wall
provides versatility at eye-level so that
pedestrians are not walking alongside
a flat wall. See ODS 2.3.2(b).
◄
12 Chapter 2: Project Site ODS
2.3.2. Fence and wall modulation. Fences and walls
shall incorporate at least one of the following
modulation components.
a.Change in material for every 150 lineal feet of fence
or wall.
b.Offset at least 18 inches or incorporate a pilaster not
to exceed the height of the fence or wall by more than
one foot for every 150 lineal feet of fence or wall.
2.3.3. Fence and wall materials. Fences and walls adjoining public
streets or rights-of-way shall be constructed of the following
materials or any combination of the following materials.
a.Aluminum, painted.
b.Brick.
c.Concrete.
d.Metal tube.
e.Stone, face stone, and/or veneer stone.
f.Wrought iron.
Use of corrugated metal for fences is prohibited.
2.3.4. Rear and interior side yard fences and walls. All new
residential construction shall include walls or fences of a
minimum of 5 feet in height enclosing rear and interior
side yards.
2.4 2.4 PROJECT ENTRIES
2.4.1. Publicly visible gate or door. At least one project entry shall
be a publicly visible gate or door that provides direct entry
to a building or open space, open-to-the-air plaza, patio, or
courtyard. This project entry shall be within 60 feet of the
curb of a public street or public vehicular drop off point.
1’ max
150’ max
pilaster
fence or wall
Pilasters segment a perimeter fence
or wall, also providing variety from
the pedestrian perspective. See ODS
2.3.2(b).
◄
13CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
2.4.2. Number of project entries. The number of project entries to
an indoor or outdoor area, lobby, and/or dwelling unit that is
visible from the public street frontage shall be determined
by the total length of public street frontage on a site, per the
table below.
Gates and doors into projects within
close proximity of the public street
create more connectivity into larger
sites. See ODS 2.4.2.
◄
PUBLIC STREET / VEHICULAR DROP OFF POINT
60’ max
building or open space
gate or door
pedestrian entry
Total Length of Public Street
Frontage
Minimum Number of Project Entries
Less than or equal to 150 feet 1
Greater than 150 feet and less than
450 feet
2
Greater than or equal to 450 feet 2 project entries for each 450 of total
length up to a total length of 1,350
feet, after which there is no additional
project entry requirement.
2.4.3. Pedestrian entrances. A minimum of one pedestrian entrance
to the project shall be provided for each 450 feet of total
frontage along public streets.
2.5 2.5 PROJECT SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS
2.5.1. Site connectivity, public sidewalks. All on-site buildings,
entries, facilities, amenities, and vehicular and bicycle
parking areas shall be internally connected by on-site
sidewalks and as-needed pathways that may include use of
the public sidewalk.
2.5.2. Site connectivity, public streets. Intersecting public and
private streets, access drives, drive aisles, alleys, and marked
crosswalks shall link to all public streets adjoining a project.
On-site pathways connect entries
into this multifamily project. See
ODS 2.5.2.
◄
14 Chapter 2: Project Site ODS
2.5.3. Sidewalk width. On-site sidewalks shall be at least four feet
in unobstructed width.
2.5.4. Parkways. A minimum five-foot width parkway shall be
provided along at least one side of all on-site sidewalks
and pathways.
2.5.5. Landscape parkways. When an on-site sidewalk or pathway is
provided within a required public street frontage or setback
that is 20 feet or greater in depth, a minimum five-foot width
landscape parkway shall be provided along both sides of the
sidewalk or pathway.
2.5.6. Landscape parkway with ground-floor architectural
component. Notwithstanding ODS 2.13 above, only one
parkway is required at a project when at least one of
the following architectural components is placed along
60 percent of the ground floor building frontage that
adjoins a public street, required front yard, or public street
frontage setback.
a.Stoops.
b.Minimum eight-foot clear depth porches.
c.Arcades, galleries, and/or ramadas.
d.Eight-foot minimum depth recesses.
e.30-inch minimum depth overhangs, trellises,
and/or awnings.
2.5.7. Driveway access and sidewalks. Vehicular driveways that
access any public right-of-way shall be adjoined by sidewalks
with a four-foot-wide, curb-adjacent landscape area on at
least one side of the vehicular access drive.
Stoops, like the photo above, would
permit buildings to only require one
landscape parkway if the stoops
constitute at least 60 percent of
the ground floor frontage. See ODS
2.5.6(a).
◄
5’ min
4’ min
5’ min
parkway
sidewalk
parkway
20’ or greater in depth
This diagram shows a four-foot
minimum on-site sidewalk (See ODS
2.5.3) within a public street frontage
that is 20 feet or greater in depth (See
ODS 2.5.5), resulting in a landscape
parkway on both sides of the sidewalk
and increased area for canopy tree
shade.
◄
PUBLIC STREET
15CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
2.6 PROJECT CURB CUTS, VEHICULAR
2.6.1. Number of curb cuts. The maximum number of curb cuts
permitted on a site shall be determined by the total length of
public street frontage, per the table below.
ground floor architectural component
The arcade in this diagram extends at
least 60% of the ground floor building
frontage and incorporates a shading
element into the building design, which
permits the building to only require
one parkway. See ODS 2.5.6(c).
◄
Total Length of Public Street
Frontage
Maximum Number of Curb Cuts
Between 50 and 150 feet 1
Greater than 150 feet 1 curb cut for each 450 feet of public
street frontage
2.6.2. Curb cut width. On sites where the public street frontage is
less than 450 feet in length, the maximum width of a curb
cut shall be no greater than 36 feet.
2.6.3. Curb cut medians. Any site that requires more than a 36-foot
curb cut shall divide the curb cut with a minimum five-foot
width median such that no segment of the cut is more than
36 feet in width.
2.6.4. Curb cuts, parking area. Any curb cut that leads to a parking
area with less than 25 spaces shall be no more than 24 feet
in width.
This multifamily project provides
a landscaped median with signage
in between two curb cuts, which
serve as a vehicular entry and exit
to the project. See ODS 2.6.3.
◄
16 Chapter 2: Project Site ODS
2.7 PROJECT ALLEYS
2.7.1. Alley entry. Projects abutting an alley shall provide all
vehicular access, including service access, from the alley.
2.7.2. Alley parkways. If a new alley greater than 30 feet in width
is provided, at least one minimum five-foot landscaped
parkway shall be provided along 70 percent of the total
length of the alley, exclusive of the length of curb cuts for
driveways, garages, required red curbs for fire access, and
vehicular access aisles.
5’ min
30’ min A five-foot minimum parkway between
the project boundary line adds
landscaping along new alleyways. See
ODS 2.7.2.
◄ALLEY
70% alley length min
landscaped parkway
17CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3 LANDSCAPE &
3.1 Site Landscaping
3.2 Canopy Trees
3.3 Specimen Trees
3.4 Shrubs and Perennials
3.5 Landscape Islands
3.6 Inorganic Groundcover
3.7 Boulders
3.8 On-Site Lighting
3.9 Passive and Active Amenities
OPEN SPACE
17CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
The intent of the following landscape and open space
objective design standards is to cultivate over time a
pedestrian-oriented open space along the public rights-of-
way adjacent to multifamily and mixed-use developments,
with a visual and natural identity inspired by the surrounding
native landscape of the California Sonoran Desert.
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
City of Palm Desert CA, Draft March 2024
18 Chapter 3: Landscape and Open Space ODS
3.1 SITE LANDSCAPING
3.1.1. Frontages. All frontages adjoining public and private streets
shall be landscaped.
3.1.2. Setbacks. All front yard, side yard, street-facing side yard, and
rear yard setbacks shall be landscaped.
3.2 3.2 LANDSCAPE ISLANDS
3.2.1. Landscape island dimensions. See ODS 5.1.4.
3.2.2. Landscape islands, end parking stalls. See ODS 5.1.5.
3.3.3. Landscape islands, surface parking. See ODS 5.1.6.
3.3 3.3 CANOPY TREES
3.3.1. Canopy trees at public street-adjoining frontages. A
minimum of one irrigated, 24-inch box tree shall be planted
a maximum of 30 feet on center along frontages adjoining
public streets.
‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde, a
permitted canopy tree. See ODS
3.3.5.
◄
Sweet Acacia, a permitted canopy
tree. See ODS 3.3.5.
◄
3.3.2. Canopy trees at front yards. Where a front yard setback is
required, a minimum of one irrigated, 24-inch box tree shall
be planted for each 900 square feet of setback area, less the
area of any driveways and sidewalks that cross and/or are
within the front yard area.
3.3.3. Canopy trees at on-site surface parking. See ODS 5.1.8.
3.4.4. Canopy tree distribution at on-site surface parking. See
ODS 5.1.9.
30’
m
a
x
PUBLIC STREET
Frequent canopy trees provide shade
and enhance both the pedestrian
experience and public street frontage.
See ODS 3.3.1.
◄
The selection and balance of canopy
trees and organic and inorganic
groundcover create a landscape
identity for specific to Palm Desert
multifamily and mixed-use projects.
◄
19CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
Texas Ebony, a permitted canopy
tree. See ODS 3.3.5.
◄
Thornless Cascalote, a permitted
canopy tree. See ODS 3.3.5.
◄
3.3.5. Canopy tree selection 1. Along frontages adjoining public streets
and public rights-of-way and yards where canopy trees are
required, utilize a minimum of three species from the following
list and/or approved list of drought resistant canopy trees with no
more than 50 percent of all selected canopy trees comprising the
same species.
a.‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde. Parkinsonia (Cercidium) x
‘Desert Museum.’
b.Ironwood. Olneya tesota.
c.Palo Brea. Parkinsonia praecox.
d.Sweet Acacia. Acacia smallii.
e.Texas Ebony. Pithecellobium flexicaule.
f.Thornless Cascalote. Caesalpinia cacalaco ‘Smoothie.’
Any invasive, noxious, and nuisance plant species and any plant
species designated by the weed control regulations in the Federal
Noxious Weed Control and Eradication Act of 2004 and identified
on a regional district noxious plant species control list shall be
prohibited. Nuisance plant species include, but are not limited to:
Washingtonia robusta, Dalbergia sissoo and Euphorbia tirucalli.
3.3.6. Canopy tree shade on sidewalks. Within required frontages and
front yard setbacks with sidewalks and pathways, all canopy trees
shall be planted to cast shade onto the sidewalk for a minimum
of three hours a day during the months of June, July, and August
within five years of planting.
3.43.4 SPECIMEN TREES
3.4.1. Specimen trees at frontage areas. In addition to canopy trees, a
minimum of one irrigated, 24-inch box specimen tree shall be
planted for each 900 square feet of frontage adjoining a public
street and/or right-of-way, exclusive of the area of driveways
and sidewalks.
3.4.2. Specimen tree selection. Select a minimum of two species from
the following list of drought-resistant specimen trees, with no
more than 50 percent of all specimen trees planted in required
frontages adjoining public streets and public rights-of-way
comprising the same species.
a.Smoke Tree. Psorothamnus (Dalea) spinosus.
b.Honey Mesquite. Prosopis glandulosa. Must be a thornless
cultivar inclusive of Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick’ or
Prosopis glandulosa ‘AZT.’
c.Soaptree. Yucca elata.
Smoke Tree, a permitted specimen
tree. See ODS 3.4.2.
◄
Honey Mesquite is a permitted
specimen tree, but must be a
thornless cultivar inclusive of
Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick’
or Prosopis glandulosa ‘AZT.’ See
ODS 3.4.2.
◄
1 Consider irrigation practices that better emulate natural conditions or move irrigation lines incrementally over time
to encourage tree roots to grow more robustly and better prevent canopy trees from falling over.
20 Chapter 3: Landscape and Open Space ODS
3.5 SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS
3.5.1. Shrub and perennial groundcover. For each continuous
area of required frontage and/or required front yard area,
all ground surfaces without inorganic groundcover shall be
covered by live plant material within five years of planting.
See ODS 3.6.1.
3.5.2. Shrub and perennial groundcover selection. Select a
minimum of five species from the list of drought-resistant
shrub and perennial groundcover below, with no more than
30 percent of all live plant material in required frontage
areas and/or front yards comprising the same species.
A minimum of three of the selected species shall be
woody plants.
Species Regional Native
GROUNDCOVER
Wild Marigold Baileya multiradiata
Prostrate Acacia Acacia redolens
Flattop Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum v. poliofolium
Germander Sage Salvia chamaedryoides
PERENNIALS
Desert Sand Verbena Abronia villosa
Wild Marigold Baileya multiradiata
Lyreleaf Greeneyes Berlandiera lyrata
Hartweg's Sundrops Calylophus hartwegii
Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
Golden Dyssodia Dyssodia pentachaeta
California Golden Poppy Eschscholzia californica
Western Sundance Daisy Hymenoxys acaulis
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium leucanthum
Siskiyou Mexican Evening Primrose Oenothera berlandieri
Tufted Evening Primrose Oenothera caespitosa
Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
Superb Penstemon Penstemon superbus
Whitestem Paperflower Psilotrophe cooperi
Desert Globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua
Mexican Marigold Tagetes lemonii
Plains Zinnia Zinnia grandiflora
Species Regional Native
SHRUBS
Triangle-leaf Bursage Ambrosia deltoidea
White Bursage Ambrosia dumosa
Shadscale Atriplex canescens
Big Saltbush Atriplex lentiformis
Prostrate Coyote Bush Baccharis x ‘Thompson’™
Woolly Butterfly Bush Buddleia marrubifolia
Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra californica
Fairy Duster Calliandra eriophylla
Rubber Rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Littleleaf Cordia Cordia parviflora
Silver Prairie Clover Dalea bicolor
Black Dalea Dalea frutescens ‘Sierra Negra’
Indigo Bush Dalea pulchra
Brittlebrush Encelia farinosa
Turpentine Bush Ericarmeria laricifolia
Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
San Marcos Hibiscus Gossypium harknessii
Desert Lavender Hyptis emoryii
Chuparosa Justicia californica
Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata
Thuder Cloud Sage Leucophyllum candidum ‘Thundercloud’™
Texas Sage Leucophyllum frutescens
Rio Bravo Texas Sage Leucophyllum langmaniae 'Rio Bravo'™
Chihuahuan Sage Leucophyllum laevigatum
Fragrant Sage Leucophyllum pruinosum ’Sierra Bouquet’
Blue Ranger Leucophyllum zygophyllum ‘Cimarron’™
Barbados Cherry Malpighia glabra
Sugar Bush Rhus ovata
Baja Ruellia Ruellia peninsularis
Cleveland Sage Salvia clevelandii
Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis
List of permitted shrub and
perennial groundcover for
multifamily and mixed-use
projects. See ODS 3.5.2.
◄
◄
Wild Marigold, a regional native, is an
example of a permitted groundcover.
◄
21CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.5.3. Use of thorned, serrated-edged, sharp-toothed, or sharp-
edged plant materials. Thorned, serrated-edged, sharp-
toothed, or sharp-edged plant materials shall not be planted
so as to grow within two feet of a sidewalk or pathway and
ten feet from a children’s play area.
3.6 3.6 INORGANIC GROUNDCOVER
3.6.1. Inorganic groundcover. Within required frontages adjoining
public streets and front yard setbacks, a maximum of 50
percent of ground surfaces shall be covered with gravel,
cobble, or boulders.
3.6.2. Gravel and cobble type. Select a minimum of one type of
gravel and one type of cobble with no more than fifty percent
of all surfaces covered in inorganic groundcover comprising
the same material.
3.6.3. Groundcover placement. Shrub and perennial groundcovers
shall be planted next to and not within a bed of cobble.
3.6.4. Inorganic groundcover color. Any inorganic material utilized
within a required frontage adjoining a public street or right-
of-way shall be of a color and value (light versus dark) that
reflects more light than it absorbs.
3.7 3.7 BOULDERS
3.7.1. Required boulders. For each continuous area of parkway and
landscaped setback, locate a minimum of one boulder for
each 500 square feet of landscaped setback area, exclusive of
the area of driveways and sidewalks.
3.7.2. Irregular spacing. Boulders shall be spaced irregularly.
3.7.3. Buried below grade. The bottom third of boulders shall be
buried below grade.
3.8 3.8 ON -SITE LIGHTING
3.8.1. Dark sky compliant. All exterior lighting shall be dark sky
compliant and/or fully shielded.
3.8.2. Fully shielded. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded
and arranged so that the source of the light can not be
viewed directly.
Flattop Buckwheat, a regional
native groundcover, along a pathway
and adjacent to other shrubs and
perennials.
◄
This landscape setback along
a public street incorporates
irregularly-spaced shrub and
perennial groundcover as well as
boulders.
◄
While this landscape uses a variety
of inorganic ground cover, it would
not be permitted if the setback
was along a required public street
frontage or front yard because more
than 50 percent of landscape is
inorganic. See ODS 3.6.1.
◄
22 Chapter 3: Landscape and Open Space ODS
3.8.3. Uplighting. Exterior uplighting is prohibited, unless used to
feature an architectural or landscape element pursuant to
Section 24.16.020 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code.
3.8.4. Lighting angle below the horizon. Exterior lighting shall
restrain light from the source to a minimum 30 degrees
below the horizontal plane of the light source.
3.8.5. Pedestrian-oriented lighting, location. Pedestrian-oriented
lighting shall be provided along all on-site sidewalks and
pathways and exterior amenity spaces.
3.8.6. Pedestrian-oriented lighting, placement. Light fixtures shall
be placed along all on-site sidewalks and pathways at a
spacing of no more than 30 lineal feet on center.
3.7.7. Pedestrian-oriented lighting, illumination. On-site sidewalks,
walkways, pathways, and paseos shall be illuminated to
a minimum of 1 foot-candle to ensure safe nighttime
conditions.
3.8.8. Stand-alone exterior lighting. Stand-alone exterior lighting
fixtures shall be a minimum of three feet and a maximum of
14 feet in height.
Number of Dwelling Units (DUs) Number of Required Passive Amenities
Less than 20 DUs 1
Between 20 and 50 DUs 2
Between 51 and 99 DUs 3
100 DUs and greater 4
3.9 3.9 PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES
3.9.1. Passive amenities. Projects shall incorporate the minimum
required number of passive amenities per the table below.
Exterior lighting must be placed along
all on-site sidewalks (see ODS 3.8.5),
be between three and 14 feet in height
(see ODS 3.8.8), and have a minimum
30-degree light beam (see ODS 3.8.4).
◄
30’ max
30° min
3’ min 14’ max
23CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.9.2. Types of passive amenities. Passive amenities shall be from
the list below. A passive amenity may be used multiple times
and each passive amenity provided counts as one amenity.
a.Gazebo.
b.Passive water amenity, including but not limited to
fountain, waterfall, stream, or pond.
c.Picnic shelter.
d.Seating area(s) with benches and/or loose single chairs
a minimum of 12 feet wide in one dimension and 144
square feet in area per the following requirements.
e.Seating walls a minimum of eight feet in length per
the following requirements.
f.Secured package lockers contained within an
outdoor shelter.
3.9.3. Active amenities. Projects shall incorporate the minimum
required number of active amenities per the table below.
Number of Dwelling Units (DUs) Number of Required
Seating Areas
Less than 20 DUs 1
Between 20 and 50 DUs 2
Between 51 and 99 DUs 3
100 DUs and greater 4
Number of Dwelling Units (DUs) Number of Required
Seating Walls
Less than 20 DUs 1
Between 20 and 50 DUs 2
Between 51 and 99 DUs 3
100 DUs and greater 4
Number of Dwelling Units (DUs)Number of Required Active Amenities
Fewer than 20 DUs 2
Between 20 and 50 DUs 3
Between 51 and 99 DUs 4
Between 100 and 149 DUs 5
150 DUs and greater 6 amenities plus one additional active
amenity for each additional 50 units.
Seating area with loose single
chairs.
Picnic shelter in a multifamily
project courtyard.
◄
◄
24 Chapter 3: Landscape and Open Space ODS
3.9.4. Types of active amenities. Active amenities shall be from
the list below. A water amenity must be one of the required
number of active amenities. An active amenity may be used
multiple times and each active amenity provided counts as
one amenity.
a.Active water amenity, including but not limited
to a pool, spa, hot tub, splash pad, and/or misting
area (must be one of the required number of
active amenities)
b.Barbecue
c.Clubhouse and/or recreation room that opens onto an
outdoor amenity area
d.Community garden
e.Court game facility
f.Exercise area and/or par course
g.Jogging and/or par course
h.Pet area and/or run and/or wash
i.Play area, children’s
The clubhouse in this multifamily
project opens up to the pool.
◄
Fenced off pet area in a multifamily
apartment courtyard.
◄
Children’s play area.◄
Bocce ball lawn.◄
25CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4 BUILDING ARCHITECTURE
4.1 Building Height
4.2 Building Length
4.3 Building Modulation
4.4 Building Roofs
4.5 Building Materials
4.6 Building Openings, Multifamily
4.7 Building Openings, Mixed-Use
4.8 Building Windows
4.9 Building Balconies and Stairwells
4.10 Building Utilities
4.11 Building Facade Colors
4.12 Building Water Drainage Devices
4.13 Building Trash/Recycling Bins and Enclosures
4.14 Building Design Components
25CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
The intent of the following building architecture objective
design standards is to connect multifamily and mixed-use
projects to the existing natural and physical surrounds,
including but not limited to architectural components and
facade modulation that prioritize shade and the use of
materials and colors that reflect the desert environment.
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
26 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
4.1 BUILDING HEIGHT
4.1.1. Building height measurement along public streets. The
maximum building height of a multifamily or mixed-use
structure within 150 feet of the curb of a public street shall
be established by a vertical measurement from the average
elevation of the street curb adjacent to the property to the
highest point of the structure, provided that a roof shall be
measured to the highest point of the roof.
4.1.2. Building height measurement adjoining a residential zoned
property. The maximum building height of a multifamily or
mixed-use structure within 150 feet of a residential property
line shall be established by a vertical measurement from
the elevation of the finished grade along the property line
of the residential zoned property or the finished grade along
the property line of the project site, whichever is lower in
elevation, to the highest point of the roof of the structure.
In this diagram, the single-family zoned
property has a lower elevation than
the adjoining multifamily or mixed-
use property. The height of the higher
density building, in order to minimize
the visual impact, is measured from the
finished grade along the property line
of the single-family lot.
Measuring the building height from
the public street is intended to
prevent a building from feeling taller
or “towering” over the public realm,
specifically when the building is
placed near the public street and the
property is at a higher elevation than
the public street.
◄
◄
150’ maxPUBLIC STREET
building height
150’ max
building height
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
MULTIFAMILY OR MIXED-USE PROPERTY
4.1.3. Transitional height abutting a single-family zoned property.
When a multifamily or mixed-use building is placed on a lot
that abuts or is across a right-of-way from a R-1, R-1M, R-E,
R-2, or PR regulation properties with a density of PR-10 or
lower property line, the otherwise allowed building height
shall be modulated by an inward-leaning 45-degree angled
plane inclined towards the multifamily or mixed-use building
as measured from a horizontal plane originating 15 feet
above grade at the abutting property line.
27CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.1.4. Maximum building height at public-street-facing frontages.
In addition to the minimum horizontal setbacks otherwise
required by the Municipal Code, the maximum height
of a building abutting a public street frontage shall be
determined by its distance from the street-facing setback
line, per the table below.
Distance from Street-Facing
Setback (feet)
Maximum Building Height
(feet/stories)
Less than or equal to 30 feet 24 feet / 2-stories (w/ flat roof)
Greater than 30 feet Per Municipal Code
R-1, R-1M, R-E, R-2, OR <PR-10 PROPERTYMULTIFAMILY OR MIXED-USE PROPERTY
15’
45°
4.2 4.2 BUILDING LENGTH
4.2.1. Building wall, maximum length. For both new structures and
existing structures with an addition, no building wall shall
exceed 250 feet in length.
4.2.2. Building breaks, open to the sky. When building breaks are
required, a minimum 40-foot open-to-the-sky separation
shall be provided between resulting structures. These open-
to-the-sky building breaks shall provide for landscaped
public and private rights-of-way, courts, passageways, paseos,
and/or other active and/or passive landscaped open spaces.
4.2.3. Building breaks with vehicular street. If a private and/or
public vehicular street is utilized to provide a required open-
to-the-sky separation, the vehicular street shall incorporate
a minimum five foot sidewalk and adjoining minimum five
foot parkway.
The arcade in this diagram extends
at least 60% of the ground floor
building frontage, which permits the
building to only require one parkway.
See ODS 4.1.3.
◄
This multifamily project drops
down to a single story at the rear
of the site because of a transitional
height requirement mandating a
transition between the building
and the adjacent single-family
neighborhood.
◄
28 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
4.3 BUILDING MODULATION
4.3.1. Building modulation. Buildings shall be broken into major
and minor masses and/or feature architectural modulation
utilizing at least four of the following.
a.Minimum six-foot-clear width ground-level arcades,
open-to-the-air galleries, colonnades, porches,
recesses, ramadas, and trellis structures placed along a
minimum of 80 percent of the ground-floor length of
two building faces.
b.For each 50 feet of building wall length, incorporation
of open-to-the-sky recesses in mass and bulk, or
projections of mass and bulk, that are a minimum of
eight feet in length and three feet in depth.
This diagram shows open-to-the-sky
recesses in the building mass that is
at least three feet deep and eight feet
long every 50 feet of building wall
length. See ODS 4.3.1(b).
If ODS 4.3.1(a) is incorporated
into a project to meet modulation
requirements, a ground-level arcade
along 80 percent of two sides of a
multifamily or mixed-use building as
shown in the diagram is permitted.
◄
◄
ground-level arcade
ground-level arcade
29CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
c. Use of minor building masses contrasted with major
building masses where the wall area of the minor
masses is a maximum of 40 percent of the total
wall area.
d. At the top floor of the building, a minimum six-foot-
clear width setback from the floor immediately below
along at least two sides of the building.
e. Utilization of sun-screening elements, including
sunshades, awnings, and canopies, on windows, doors,
and openings at south- and west-facing building walls.
f. Covered and open-to-the-air balconies where
the area of the projections or recesses of the
balconies constitute a minimum of 15 percent of the
building walls.
g. Roof overhangs or projections that provide a minimum
of eight feet of vertical shaded wall at noon on the
summer solstice.
h. Vertical and irrigated landscaping that is located
within five feet of a wall, screens at least two walls
and 30 percent of the perimeter of the structure,
and achieves per specification a minimum 20 feet of
height after five years of growth.
i. Utilization of two or more building wall materials,
where the first material constitutes a maximum of 30
percent of the building’s total wall area less openings
and is non-cementitious, and a second material
constitutes no more than 70 percent of the total wall
area less openings.
j. Buildings where the building footprint immediately
below the top floor constitutes no more than 80
percent of the building footprint immediately below.
The top floor of multifamily and
mixed-use buildings may be set
back at least six feet on two sides
to achieve a building modulation
requirement. See ODS 4.3.1(d).
◄
This multifamily project incorporates
sliding wood screens into the facade
design to provide shade. See ODS
4.3.1(e).
This mixed-use project highlights a
base, middle, and top massing by the
use of multiple materials. See ODS
4.3.1(i).
◄
◄
30 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
k.Inclusion of one or more tower elements that are no
more than half the height of the floor-to-floor height
of the tallest building story. The tower element shall
be recessed or projected from the rest of the building
mass by a minimum of two feet.
Two-story buildings that do not front a public street or
public right-of-way are not required to meet the modulation
requirements of this section.
4.3.2. Vehicle entrances. Where vehicle entries are incorporated
into a building wall facing a public street, the facade shall
incorporate two of the following components:
a.A vehicle entrance that is set back a minimum of 20
feet from the back of sidewalk or required setback,
whichever results in the furthest distance from the
public street.
b.Where a pedestrian entrance is provided adjacent
to the garage opening, a minimum five-foot wide
sidewalk leading to the public street and sidewalk.
c.At least one landscaped area, a minimum five feet in
width, adjoining the vehicle access drive and leading
from the public street to the garage entrance.
4.3.3. Upper story floor area limit. The gross area of the top story
of buildings including exterior walls and roof projections and
overhangs shall be a maximum of 80 percent of the floor
immediately below, inclusive of required stair structures,
mechanical and utility penthouses, elevator overrides, towers,
and rooftop common area structures including trellises
and overhangs.
ODS 4.3.1(j) creates modulation of
the building mass by decreasing the
ground floor building square footage
as more floors are added. In this
diagram, the second floor footprint
(orange) is 80 percent less than the
ground floor footprint, and the top floor
footprint is 80 percent less than the
second floor footprint.
◄
80% of ground floor
80% of floor below
This multifamily project incorporates
recessed tower elements that create
modulation in the building mass.
See ODS 4.3.1(k).
◄
31CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.4 BUILDING ROOFS
4.4.1. Roof types. The following roof types, or a combination of the
following roof types, shall be utilized for multifamily and
mixed-use buildings.
a. Butterfly roof.
b. Clerestory roof.
c. Conical roof.
d. Cross-hipped roof.
e. Curved/barrel vaulted roof.
f. Dome roof.
g. Flat roof.
h. Gable roof.
i. Hexagonal roof.
j. Hip and valley roof.
k. Intersecting gable roof.
l. Hip roof.
m. M-shaped roof.
n. Monitor roof.
o. Pyramid hip roof.
p. Sawtooth roof.
q. Skillion roof.
r. Shed roof.
No other roof types or forms are permitted.
80% of the floor immediately below
The top floor of multifamily and
mixed-use buildings is 80 percent of
the footprint of the floor immediately
below. See ODS 4.3.3.
◄
The use of both flat and pitched
roofs in this multifamily project
adds versatility to the roofline. See
ODS 4.4.1.
◄
32 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
4.4.2. Roof slopes. The pitch of sloped roofs, other than conical
roofs, curved/barrel vaulted roofs, or dome roofs, shall be no
less than 2:12 and no greater than 4:12.
4.4.3. Sloped roof materials. Sloped roofs shall utilize one of the
following materials.
a.Concrete or lightweight concrete tile.
b.Metal that is non-reflective.
c.Solar panel tiles, solar roof tiles, or solar shingles.
d.Natural tone or slate tile.
e.Terracotta tile or simulated terracotta tile.
4.4.4. Prohibited roof materials. The following roof materials are
not permitted.
a.Asphalt-shingle roofs.
b.Glass roofs or skylights that comprise more than 10
percent of the total gross area of the floor below.
c.Corrugated metal roofing.
4.4.5. Flat roof modulation. Flat roofs shall be modulated vertically
per the table below.
Type of Modulation Multifamily Buildings Mixed-Use Buildings
Flat Roof
Vertical Modulation
A minimum of 42 inches
at least once every
36 feet.
A minimum of 42 inches
at least once every
50 feet.
For every 36 feet in multifamily
building width and every 50 feet in
mixed-use building width, the height
of the building should increase or
decrease by at least 42 inches, not to
exceed the maximum height limit. See
ODS 4.4.5 for flat roof modulation and
ODS 4.1.1-4.1.4 for building height
requirements.
◄42” min
33CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.5 BUILDING MATERIALS
4.5.1. Building wall materials. A building shall utilize at least two
of the following exterior wall materials.
a. Cementitious or acrylic stucco, or an exterior
insulating and finish system with a cementitious finish.
b. Two stucco textures. If a float finish is utilized for one
of the stucco textures, the second stucco texture shall
be a float or dash finish stucco and shall be utilized at
a minimum of 10 percent of the total wall area.
c. Two stucco colors with at least one of the stucco
colors utilized at a minimum of 10 percent of the total
wall area.
d. Metal panels that are non-reflective.
e. Natural stone or manufactured stone veneer at a
minimum of 10 percent of the total wall area.
f. Terra cotta tile and/or rain screens.
g. Colored precision block, glazed block, face brick, face
stone, split face block, shot blast block, or slump stone
at a minimum of 10 percent of the total wall area.
4.4.6. Greenhouses. Greenhouses that are incorporated into a
multifamily or mixed-use structure and whose total floor
area is 10 percent or less of the total gross floor area of the
building are exempt from the roof type, slope, modulation,
and materials requirements of these design standards.
4.4.7. Parapet return. Parapets that extend beyond the wall plane
due to horizontal building modulation must return and
extend a minimum six feet past the wall plane and inwards
towards the building.
The parapet in this diagram extends
an additional six feet past the wall
plane where the building modulation
extends forward. See ODS 4.4.7.
◄
This townhome project uses multiple
colors of stucco, metal paneling and
railings, and precision and split face
block. See ODS 4.5.1(a)., 4.5.1(c),
4.5.1(d), and 4.5.1(g).
This multifamily project uses
multiple stucco colors and a face
stone for the entirety of the ground
floor. See ODS 4.5.1(a), 4.5.1(c), and
4.5.1(g).
◄
◄
34 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
4.5.2. Wall material transitions. Transitions between differing
material and colors on the walls of a building facade shall
utilize at least one of the following design methodologies.
a.An inside corner where planes intersect.
b.Utilization of a reveal, projecting band, and or planar
offset to mark the transition between the base, middle,
and top of the building.
c.Use of a building detail, such as a cornice, belt
course, roof projection or eave, and/or habitable or
decorative projections.
d.Utilization of recesses or projections at windows
a minimum of 3 inches in depth at all windows
and openings.
e.An offset in a plane where the material transition or
color occurs with a minimum depth of five inches.
4.5.3. Prohibited building wall materials. 100 percent glass
buildings are prohibited.
4.6 4.6 BUILDING OPENINGS, MULTIFAMILY
4.6.1. Ground-level architectural component, multifamily only.
Multifamily buildings facing public streets shall provide
ground floor porches, ramadas, colonnades, or recesses that
are a minimum of six feet in clear depth and seven feet in
height along a minimum of 30 percent of the building length.
4.6.2. Upper-level glazing, multifamily only. Multifamily buildings
shall provide a minimum 15 percent and a maximum of 30
percent transparent glazing and/or openings at building
walls above the ground level as measured from the finish
floor level to the underside of the floor or roof above.
4.6.3. Openings, multifamily only. For multifamily buildings, the
area of openings in walls above the first level, inclusive
of doors and windows and exclusive of any floor-to-floor
and floor-to-roof wall area shaded by porches, verandas,
arcades, galleries, ramadas, trellises, open-to-the-air
recesses, continuous brise-soleil and other open-to-the-air
architectural screening elements, shall constitute a minimum
of 15 percent and a maximum of 40 percent of the total wall
area above the first level.
This multifamily project uses
multiple building materials through
various transition techniques.
Materials change at the inside
corner of two building planes
intersecting and a belt course
horizontally divides the building
and changes material. See ODS
4.5.2(a) and 4.5.2(c).
The ground level of this multifamily
building is recessed to provide
shade along the street frontage. See
ODS 4.6.1.
This multifamily building keeps the
number of wall openings above the
ground level below 40 percent. See
ODS 4.6.3.
◄
◄
◄
35CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.7 BUILDING OPENINGS, MIXED -USE
4.7.1. Ground-level transparency or frontage component, mixed-use
only. The ground level of mixed-use buildings shall comprise
at least one of the following elements.
a. Glazing at the ground level of walls that face a public
street shall constitute a minimum of 60 percent of the
total wall length and such glazing shall be a minimum
of 8-feet in height.
b. A porch, veranda, arcade, gallery, ramada, projecting
trellis, open-to-the-air recess, and/or permanent
overhang that is a minimum of eight feet in clear
depth along at least 80 percent of the length of any
wall that faces a public street.
4.7.2. Upper-level glazing, mixed-use only. At upper levels of
mixed-use buildings, the total area of glazing shall be a
minimum of 15 percent of the total wall area.
4.7.3. Openings, mixed-use only. The combined surface area of
windows, doors, or other openings inclusive of continuous
glass systems shall comprise no more than 60 percent of the
total wall area of any individual mixed-use building face.
4.8 4.8 BUILDING WINDOWS
4.8.1. Window and door details. Building windows and doors shall
utilize at least two of the following:
a. Three distinct sizes of windows.
b. Shading devices including shutters, exterior blinds,
awnings, brise-soleil, sun screens and/or decorative
architectural details that create a distinct shadow line
at a minimum 60 percent of openings.
c. Recesses or projections a minimum of three inches in
depth at a minimum of 60 percent of all openings.
d. Trim around the opening that is no less than four
inches in width and creates a projection or recess no
less than two inches in depth.
e. Use of metal-clad, thermally-broken metal or steel,
and/or wood windows or doors at all openings.
f. Exterior shades.
More than sixty percent of the
ground level of this mixed-use
building is glazing. See ODS 4.7.1(a).
The glazing at the upper levels of
this mixed-use development is at
least 15 percent of the total wall
area. See ODS 4.7.2.
This multifamily development has
recessed windows of at least three
distinct size. See ODS 4.8.1(a) and
4.8.1(c).
◄
◄
◄
36 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
4.8.2. Windows, storage, utilities, and screening. Where windows
open onto a utility or storage use or occupancy, the window
opening shall be provided with interior or exterior screening
such as an interior or exterior shade, and/or decorative and/
or obscuring glass.
4.9 4.9 BUILDING BALCONIES AND STAIRWELLS
4.9.1. Balcony depth. Balconies shall be a minimum of six feet in
clear depth.
4.9.2. Balcony design. Balconies shall be recessed or shaded by
balconies or roof projections immediately above and/or
by minimum four-foot deep awnings, canopies, ramadas,
recesses, and/or trellises.
4.9.3. Stairwells. All building stairwells shall be internal to the
building or screened by materials with a 50 percent opacity.
4.10 4.10 BUILDING UTILITIES
4.10.1. Electrical utilities. All electrical utility equipment, electrical
meters, and junction boxes shall be placed within a utility
room.
4.10.2. Mechanical and electrical equipment screening. With the
exception of ground-mounted transformers that shall meet
the requirements of the utility provider, all mechanical
equipment, including new and replacement equipment that
is free-standing, and wall mounted equipment, shall be fully
screened from all views by one of the following:
a.Solid parapets and/or walls that are a minimum of
one foot taller than the mechanical equipment as
measured from the roof deck to the highest point of
the equipment.
b.Louvers equipment boxes that are incorporated into
a wall.
c.Walls that are a minimum 50 percent opaque and
that are set within landscape areas that in plan
provide a landscape border a minimum 18 inches
wide around the perimeter of at least two sides of the
equipment pad.
Window mounted equipment is permitted at existing
buildings that include an addition if not visible from any
public street.
The courtyard-facing balconies
in this multifamily development
are shaded by the balconies
immediately above. See ODS 4.9.2.
This project extends a wall surface
and uses landscaping to screen
mechanical equipment.
◄
◄
37CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.11 BUILDING FACADE COLORS
4.11.1. Color palette. Building exteriors shall utilize neutral, earth
tone, and/or neutral or earth tone Sonoran Desert regional
colors as published by third parties or the City of Palm
Desert. To demonstrate compliance with this requirement,
applicants shall include samples or printouts of selected
exterior colors with their application, provide a key to color
use on elevation drawings, and provide third party material
and/or color chart(s), brochure(s), web page(s) addresses,
or other publication(s) materials that relate the proposed
building color(s) to a neutral, earth tone, and/or Sonoran
Desert color choice.
4.11.2. Accent colors. A maximum of ten percent of the building
facade area, including but not limited to walls, doors, window
details, cornices, and belt courses, may be with accent colors
not considered a neutral, earth tone, and/or Sonoran Desert
color choice.
4.11.3. Prohibited colors. Except as an accent color or a window,
trim, fence, or gate color, the use of black color on buildings
is prohibited.
4.12 4.12 BUILDING WATER DRAINAGE DEVICES
4.12.1. Water drainage devices, multifamily only. At multifamily
buildings, gutters, downspouts, and other water
drainage components shall utilize one of the following
design methodologies.
a. Remain an unpainted natural metal material.
b. Be painted the same color of the
immediately-adjoining facade.
c. Not be visible from the exterior of the building walls
facing public streets.
4.12.2. Water drainage devices, mixed-use only. At mixed-use
buildings, gutters, downspouts, and other water drainage
components, with the exception of required overflow devices,
shall not be visible from the exterior of the building walls
facing public streets.
This multifamily development uses
a variety of earth tone and neutral
colors. See ODS 4.11.1.
Shades of white and brown are used
in this townhome typology. See ODS
4.11.1.
◄
◄
These townhomes use yellow and
orange accent colors to highlight
minor massing elements within the
design. See ODS 4.11.2.
◄
38 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
AND ENCLOSURES
4.13 BUILDING TRASH/RECYCLING BINS
Project Lot Size Trash/Recycling Bin Requirements
Less than or equal to
7,500 square feet
Trash/recycling bins shall be designated, open-to-the-
sky enclosures shall be permitted, but no trash/recycling
bin or enclosure shall be placed in required setbacks or
visible from a public street.
Greater than 7,500
square feet and less
than 22,500 square feet
Trash/recycling bins shall be placed within fully
enclosed structures which may be open to the sky. Trash
enclosures may not be visible from a public street, may
project into a required side or rear yard setback, but
may not be placed within five feet of a property line or
within a setback adjacent to a public street or single-
family designated lot.
Greater than 22,500
square feet
Trash/recycling bins shall be designated, fully enclosed,
may be open to the sky, and shall not be placed within
required setbacks or visible from a public street.
This trash enclosure is located away
from required setbacks and public
streets, and has architectural details
that relate back to the development
it is serving. See ODS 4.13.1.
The buildings of this development
project utilize similar facade
materials and colors. See ODS
4.14.1(b) and 4.14.1(c).
The buildings in this multifamily
project are not identical, but are
similar in proportion and mix-
and-match balconies and recesses
and materials and colors to build
consistency. See ODS 4.14.1(c) and
4.14.1(e).
◄
◄
◄
4.13.1. Trash/recycling bin placement. Trash and recycling bins shall
meet the placement requirements correlated to the project’s
lot size per the table below.
4.14 4.14 BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS
4.14.1. Architectural continuity. A development project with multiple
buildings shall maintain architectural consistency at all
building and accessory building facades or implement
at least three of the following architectural components
consistently throughout all buildings and accessory buildings
in the project:
a.Consistent use of roof forms and if sloped, roof
materials and coloring at all buildings and
accessory buildings.
b.Consistent use of building overhangs, recesses, and
architectural projections including porches, arcades,
ramadas, galleries and building screening that create
shade at south, east, and west facing facades.
c.Consistent use of facade materials at all buildings and
accessory buildings.
d.Consistent use of color at all buildings and
accessory buildings.
e.Consistent use of proportions and details at 60
percent of building openings.
f.Consistent use of sun shading architectural
components at all buildings visible from a
public street.
39CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.14.2. Inclusion of Palm Desert architectural and landscape
components. In consideration of the desert landscape,
buildings shall incorporate at least four of the following
design components.
a. Buildings oriented on an east-west axis such that the
wall area of both the east and west facades is not
more than 60 percent of the area of the area of south
facing walls.
b. Site walls, building massing, and landscape
windbreaks that protect project open spaces from
west to east prevailing summer winds.
c. Site walls, building massing, and landscape
windbreaks that protect project open spaces from
north to south prevailing winds that occur from mid-
November through mid-February.
d. Covered open-to-the-air arcades, colonnades, galleries,
or other permanent coverings or projections that
provide shade at all building walls visible from
public streets.
e. Overhangs or recesses at building entries that are a
minimum of four feet in clear depth.
f. Minimum 24-inch deep roof eaves.
g. Use of natural stone or veneer stone at a minimum of
10 percent of the total building wall area.
h. Use of recessed windows at a minimum 60 percent
of openings.
i. Use of shade trees at varying distances apart, but in
no case more than 30 feet on center, to shade the
length of east, south, and west facing building walls
visible from a public street.
j. Public street frontages that are a minimum 20 percent
greater than the otherwise required frontage, front
yard, and street-facing side yard requirements.
This multifamily project has
exaggerated roof eaves throughout
the design. See ODS 4.14.2(f).
◄
This multifamily project accents the
massing at all corners with a veneer
stone. See ODS 4.14.2(g).
◄
This multifamily project has shade
trees, visible from the public street,
along the project frontage. See ODS
4.14.2(i).
◄
40 Chapter 4: Building Architecture ODS
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41CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
5 PARKING
5.1 Surface Parking Design
5.2 Mechanical Parking
5.3 Parking Shelters
5.4 Parking Garages
5.5 Bicycle Parking
41CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
The intent of the following parking objective design
standards is to create landscaping, shade, and pedestrian
circulation at surface parking lots and architectural continuity
between project buildings and parking garages.
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
42 Chapter 5: Parking ODS
5.1 SURFACE PARKING DESIGN
5.1.1. Surface parking visibility. All surface parking lots shall
be hidden from the public right-of-way using one of the
following techniques.
a.Locating all surface parking lots behind buildings.
Where more than one building is placed on a lot and
the buildings screen the surface parking, no separation
between buildings screening the surface parking may
be more than 30 feet wide.
b.Locating all surface parking lots behind a fence or wall
that complies with 2.3 Project Fences and Walls.
c.Locating all surface parking lots behind a landscape
buffer a minimum of ten feet in depth and a minimum
42 inches in height that creates a vegetation screen
through the use of bushes, hedges, and trees.
5.1.2. Surface parking along side or rear proper ty lines. Surface
parking areas adjacent to side or rear property lines shall
provide a perimeter landscaped strip at least five feet wide.
5.1.3. Landscape island dimensions. Landscape islands at on-site
surface parking, inclusive of the landscape islands that must
be adjacent to end parking stalls, shall be no less than nine
feet in length and seven feet in width, exclusive of curbs
and landings.
5.1.4. End parking stalls, width. End parking stalls shall be
increased in City-required width by a minimum of 18 inches.
5.1.5. Landscape islands, end parking stalls. All end parking stalls
shall be adjacent to a landscape island.
The length and width of landscape
islands on surface parking lots must
be seven feet excluding curbs and
landings (see ODS 5.1.4) and end
parking stalls must be at least 18
inches wider than the standard stall
width (see ODS 5.1.5).
◄
7’ min (exclusive of curbs/landings)
9’ min (exclusive of curbs/landings)
City-required width plus 18” min
43CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
5.1.6. Landscape islands, surface parking with more than 30 spaces.
For surface parking lots with more than 30 parking spaces, a
minimum 10 percent of the area of a surface parking lot shall
be landscape islands, achieved by one of the following.
a. The use of finger islands at endcaps and a landscape
island every ten parking spaces.
b. A minimum five-foot continuous landscape planter
located within the center of parking rows, running
between endcap finger islands.
5.1.7. Canopy trees at on-site surface parking. Projects shall
incorporate one canopy tree for every three uncovered
parking spaces and one canopy tree for every eight covered
parking spaces.
5.1.8. Canopy tree distribution at on-site surface parking. Canopy
trees at surface parking areas shall be uniformly distributed
across the surface area of the lot so that no parking space is
more than 30 feet from the center of a canopy tree.
5.1.9. Parking space building separation. Parking spaces shall
be separated from buildings by a minimum five-foot wide
pedestrian sidewalk and a minimum five-foot wide landscape
strip, as measured from the curb face.
5.1.10. Pathways, surface lots with more than 50 spaces. For surface
parking areas with more than 50 parking spaces, a minimum
of one publicly-accessible pathway or sidewalk that provides
access across the lot to a public sidewalk is required for each
200 feet of surface parking area fronting a public street.
5.1.11. Pathway enhancements, surface lots with more than 50
spaces. For surface parking areas with more than 50 parking
spaces, enhanced or textured paving or striping shall be
included where pedestrian crossing occurs.
5.2 5.2 MECHANICAL PARKING
5.2.1. Mechanical parking placement. Open-to-the-air mechanical
parking spaces shall not be placed within 20 feet of a public
street frontage.
5.2.2. Mechanical parking screening. Open-to-the-air mechanical
parking spaces placed between 20 to 150 feet from a street
frontage shall be minimally screened from the view of
the public street by walls that are a minimum 15 percent
open or transparent and no more than 40 percent open
or transparent.
Desert Museum Palo Verde canopy
trees are planted in the landscape
islands of this surface parking lot to
increase shade. See ODS 5.1.8.
◄
The frequency of canopy trees in this
surface parking lot provides more
opportunities for shade. See ODS
5.1.9.
◄
This mechanical parking is placed
behind the building it is serving so
that it is not visible from the public
street frontage. See ODS 5.2.2.
◄
This continuous landscape planter
is located in between parking rows.
See ODS 5.1.7(b).
◄
44 Chapter 5: Parking ODS
5.2.3. Structures with mechanical parking. The design of fully
enclosed buildings or structures that contain mechanical
parking shall meet the Building Architecture Objective
Design Standards in Chapter 4 of this policy.
5.3 5.3 PARKING SHELTERS
5.3.1. Parking shelter placement. No parking shelter shall be placed
within a required setback.
5.3.2. Parking shelter materials and colors. When visible from a
public right-of-way, parking shelters shall utilize the same
colors and roof materials as the main buildings of a site.
5.3.3. Parking shelter length. No individual parking shelter shall
exceed 65 feet in length.
5.4 5.4 PARKING GARAGES
5.4.1. Architectural continuity, parking garages. Parking garages
and those portions of buildings that incorporate a parking
garage occupancy shall be architecturally treated and meet
the Building Architecture Objective Design Standards in
Chapter 4 of this policy.
5.4.2. Vehicular entry gates. Any vehicular entry gate to a parking
structure shall provide a minimum of 20 feet between the
gate and the back of the sidewalk to minimize conflicts
between sidewalk use by pedestrians and vehicle queuing.
5.4.3. Ground-floor openings at parking garages and utility and
mechanical areas. Openings at parking garages and utility
and mechanical rooms adjoining public street frontages shall
be screened from view by at least one of the following.
a.Vertical landscape and/or climbing vines on metal
screens, and/or wires that cover at least 60 percent of
the openings of any parking deck, and/or mechanical
or utility room opening.
b.Use of decorative, non-reflective metal grills, glass,
or panels with a minimum opacity of 50 percent
that cover at least 60 percent of the openings
of any parking deck, and/or mechanical or utility
room opening.
This covered parking shelter uses
the same orange-red as the main
building facade, seen behind the
shelter.
◄
Vehicles entering this multifamily
building can queue in the covered
passageway and turn right into
the garage, avoiding blocking the
sidewalk. See ODS 5.4.2.
◄
Decorative metal grills screen this
parking opening from view along
the street frontage. See ODS 5.4.3(b).
◄
◄
45CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
5.5 BICYCLE PARKING
5.5.1. Shor t-term bicycle parking. Required bicycle racks for short-
term parking shall be located within 50 feet of at least one
public entrance to a multifamily or mixed-use building.
5.5.2. Long-term bicycle parking. Required long-term bicycle
parking must be covered and secured and shall be located
within 150 feet of at least one entrance to multifamily or
mixed-use building.
This multifamily development
provides uncovered bike racks at the
entrance to the building. See ODS
5.5.1.
This multifamily building provides
a dedicated indoor bicycle storage
room. See ODS 5.5.2.
◄
◄
46 Chapter 5: Parking ODS
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47CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
6 ODS
Multifamily Compliance Checklist
Mixed-Use Compliance Checklist
COMPLIANCE CHECKLISTS
47CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
City of Palm Desert CA, Draft March 2024
48 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
Multifamily Compliance Checklist
The Objective Design Standards (ODS) assist project applicants and designers to achieve multifamily
design objectives. As a project is designed, applicants and designers must utilize the ODS outlined in
Chapters 2-5 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards, as well
as the Multifamily Compliance Checklist, to determine compliance in advance of submittal and formal
review for compliance by the City.
Applicants must fill out the sections of the following pages and check “compliance” or “not applicable
(N/A)” as appropriate. In cases where an explanation is required, describe how the multifamily project
complies with the ODS or how the ODS is not applicable to the project. If the applicant requires
additional space for any explanation and/or chooses to illustrate compliance to an ODS, attachments may
be submitted along with this form. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to the City along
with the application submittal package. The City will fill out the sections designated “City use only” in
their review upon the applicant’s submission of this checklist and other application materials.
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PROJECT INFORMATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
Applicant Name:
Please check one.Property Owner
Design Firm/Architect
Representative
Other (please specify):
Engineer
Email:
Phone:
Proposed Project Name:
Date:
CITY USE ONLY
OVERALL COMPLIANCE FINDING
City Comments (Optional):Reviewed by:
YES: NO:
Date:
49CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
MULTIFAMILY PROJECT SITE DESIGN
New multifamily projects shall meet all of the below Project Site
standards per Chapter 2 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and
Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
2.1. PROJECT FRONTAGE 2.1. PROJECT FRONTAGE
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON -
COMPLIANT
2.1.1.Max. frontage length without break. 30’ wide
open-to-the-sky landscaped open space
separating public-facing street frontages
longer than 450’.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
2.2. PROJECT ORIENTATION 2.2. PROJECT ORIENTATION
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON -
COMPLIANT
2.2.1.Project orientation. Select a minimum of two
of the following:
a. Min. 20’ deep landscaped setback,
parallel to project frontage, with
30’ on-center shade trees within
the first 20’ of depth along public
street frontage.
b. Min. one, 20’ in depth open space,
sized according to the table in
Section 2.2b.
c. Max. 42” fences, walls, and/or
permanent planter boxes to not
exceed 20% of total public street
frontage length.
d. Use of a ground-level design
component listed in Section
2.2d within 10’ of public-street-
facing frontage setback and
along min. 20% of the total
public-street-facing frontage.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
50 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
2.3. PROJECT FENCES AND WALLS 2.3. PROJECT FENCES AND WALLS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.3.1.Fence and wall placement. Select the
appropriate placement requirement from the
options below.
a. Project lot size < 15,000 SF: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within required
front-yard setback.
b. Project lot size greater than 15,000
SF and less than 1 acre: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within frontage
setback along public streets. Fences,
walls, and gates greater than 42”
and behind frontage setback not to
exceed 60% of frontage length.
c. Project lot size > 1 acre: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within frontage
setback along public streets. Fences,
walls, and gates greater than 42”
and behind frontage setback not to
exceed 80% of frontage length.
2.3.2.Fence and wall modulation. Select one of
the following:
a. Change in material every 150’ of
fence wall.
b. Offset every 18” or pilaster every 150’
of fence wall.
2.3.3.Fence and wall materials. Select fence or wall
material(s) used.
a. Aluminum, painted.
b. Brick.
c. Concrete.
d. Metal tube.
e. Stone, face stone, and/or
veneer stone.
f. Wrought iron.
2.3.4.Rear and interior side yard fences and
walls. Min. 5’ height for all fences and walls
enclosing rear and interior side yards.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
51CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
2.4. PROJECT ENTRIES 2.4. PROJECT ENTRIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.4.1.Publicly visible gate or door. Min. 1 publicly
visible gate or door that provides direct entry
to a building or open space, within 60’ of the
curb of a public street or public vehicular drop
off point.
2.4.2.Number of project entries. Select the
appropriate minimum number of project
entries requirement from the options below.
a. Public street frontage < 150 ft.: min. 1
project entry.
b. Public street frontage greater than
150 ft. and less than 450 ft: min. 2
project entries.
c. Public street frontage > 450 ft: 2
project entries for each 450 of
total length up to a total length of
1,350 feet.
2.4.3.Pedestrian entrances. Min. 1 for each 450’
total frontage along public streets.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
52 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
2.5. PROJECT SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS 2.5. PROJECT SIDEWALKS
AND PATHWAYS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.5.1.Site connectivity, public sidewalks. All on-
site buildings, entries, facilities, amenities,
and vehicular and bicycle parking areas are
internally connected by on-site sidewalks and
as-needed pathways.
2.5.2.Site connectivity, public streets. Intersecting
public and private streets, access drives, drive
aisles, alleys, and marked crosswalks link to all
public streets adjoining the project.
2.5.3.Sidewalk width. On-site sidewalks are a min. 5’
in unobstructed width.
2.5.4.Parkways. Min. 5’ width, provided along
at least one side of all on-site sidewalks
and pathways.
2.5.5 Landscape parkways. Min. 5’ width, provided
along both sides of the sidewalk or parkway
if on-site sidewalk or pathways is provided
within a required public street frontage or
setback that is > 20’ in depth.
2.5.6.Landscape parkway with ground-floor
architectural component. Min. 1 parkway
required if at least one of the architectural
components is placed along 60% of the
ground floor building frontage that adjoins
a public street, required front yard, or public
street frontage setback.
a. Stoops
b. Min. 8’-clear depth porches
c. Arcades, galleries, and/or ramadas
d. Min. 8’ depth recesses
e. Min. 30” depth overhangs, trellises,
and/or awnings
2.5.7.Driveway access and sidewalks. Vehicular
driveways that access any public right-of-way
are adjoined by sidewalks with a 4’ wide, curb-
adjacent landscape area on at least one side
of the vehicular access drive.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
53CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
2.6. PROJECT CURB CUTS, VEHICULAR 2.6. PROJECT CURB CUTS, VEHICULAR
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.6.1.Number of project entries. Select the
appropriate requirement from the
options below.
a. Public street frontage between 50 and
150 ft: max. 1 curb cut.
b. Public street frontage greater than
450 ft: max. 1 curb cut for each 450’
of public street frontage.
2.6.2.Curb cut width. Max. 36’ width curb cut
if public street frontage is less than 450’
in length.
2.6.3.Curb cut medians. If site requires more than a
36’ curb cut, it is divided with a min. 5’ width
median such that each segment of the curb
cut is a max. 36’ in width.
2.6.4.Curb cuts, parking area. Max. 24’ in width if
curb cut leads to a parking area with less than
25 parking spaces.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
2.7. PROJECT ALLEYS 2.7. PROJECT ALLEYS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.7.1.Alley entry. Projects abutting an ally provide
all vehicular access from the alley.
2.7.2.Alley parkways. If a new alley >30’ in width
is provided, at least 1, min. 5’ landscaped
parkway provided along 70% of the total
length of the alley, exclusive driveway curb
cut lengths, garages, required red curbs for fire
access, and vehicular access aisles.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
54 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MULTIFAMILY LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE DESIGN
New multifamily projects shall meet all of the below Project Landscape
and Open Space standards per Chapter 3 of the City of Palm Desert
Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
3.1. SITE LANDSCAPING 3.1. SITE LANDSCAPING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.1.1.Frontages. All frontages adjoining public and
private streets are landscaped.
3.1.2.Setbacks. All front yard, side yard, street-
facing side yard, and rear yard setbacks
are landscaped.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.3. CANOPY TREES 3.3. CANOPY TREES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.3.1.Canopy trees at public street-adjoining
frontages. Min. 1 irrigated, 24” box tree
planted a max. 30’ on center along frontages
adjoining public streets.
3.3.2. Canopy trees at front yards. Where front yard
setback is required, min. 1 irrigated, 24” box
tree planted for each 900 SF of setback area.
3.3.5. Canopy trees selection. Select a min. 3 of the
following species utilized along frontages
adjoining public streets and public right-of-
ways, with no more than 50% of all selected
canopy trees comprising of the same species.
a. ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde.
Parkinsonia (Cercidium) x
‘Desert Museum.’
b. Ironwood. Olneya tesota.
c. Palo Brea. Parkinsonia praecox.
d. Sweet Acacia. Acacia smallii.
e. Texas Ebony.
Pithecellobium flexicaule.
f. Thornless Cascalote. Caesalpinia
cacalaco ‘Smoothie.’
CANOPY TREES CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
55CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.3. CANOPY TREES (CONT.)3.3. CANOPY TREES (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.3.5.Canopy tree shade on sidewalks. All canopy
trees planted within required frontages
and front yard setbacks with sidewalks and
pathways cast shade on the sidewalk for a
min. 3 hours a day during the months of June,
July, and August within 5 years of planting.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.4. SPECIMEN TREES 3.4. SPECIMEN TREES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.4.1. Specimen trees at frontage areas. Min. 1
irrigated, 24” box specimen tree planted for
each 900 SF of frontage adjoining a public
street and/or right-of-way.
3.4.2.Specimen trees selection. Select a min. 2 of
the following species, with no more than
50% of all selected specimen trees planted
in required frontages adjoining public streets
and public right-of-ways comprising the
same species.
a. Smoke Tree. Psorothamnus
(Dalea) spinosus.
b. Honey Mesquite. Prosopis glandulosa.
Must be a thornless cultivar inclusive
of Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick’ or
Prosopis glandulosa ‘AZT.’
c. Soaptree. Yucca elata.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
56 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
3.5. SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS 3.5. SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.5.1.Shrub and perennial groundcover. Ground
surfaces in required frontages without
inorganic groundcover are covered by live
plant material within 5 years of planting.
3.5.2.Shrub and perennial groundcover selection.
Select min. 5 species from list of drought-
tolerant shrub and perennial groundcover in
ODS 3.5.2., with max. 30% of all live plant
material comprising of the same species and a
min. 3 selected species are woody plants.
3.5.3.Use of thorned, serrated-edged, sharp-toothed,
or sharp-edged plant materials. Planted more
than 2’ from a sidewalk or pathway and more
than 10’ from a children’s play area.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.6. INORGANIC GROUNDCOVER 3.6. INORGANIC GROUNDCOVER
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.6.1.Inorganic groundcover. Max. 50% ground
surfaces within required frontages adjoining
public streets and front yard setbacks covered
with gravel, cobble, or boulders.
3.6.2.Gravel and cobble type. Min. 1 type of gravel
and min. 1 type of cobble with max. 50% of all
surfaces comprising the same material.
3.6.3.Groundcover placement. Planted next to and
not within a bed of cobble.
3.6.4.Inorganic groundcover color. Inorganic
material utilized within a required frontage
adjoining a public street or right-of-way shall
be of a color and value that reflects more light
than it absorbs.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
57CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
3.7. BOULDERS 3.7. BOULDERS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.7.1.Required boulders. Min. 1 boulder for each
500 SF of continuous area of parkway and
landscaped setback area.
3.7.2.Irregular spacing. Boulders are
spaced irregularly.
3.7.3.Buried below grade. Bottom third of boulders
are buried below grade.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.8. ON -SITE LIGHTING 3.8. ON-SITE LIGHTING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.8.1.Dark-sky compliant. Exterior lighting is dark-
sky compliant and/or fully shielded.
3.8.2.Fully shielded. Exterior lighting is fully
shielded and arranged so that light source
cannot be viewed directly.
3.8.3.Uplighting. Prohibited, unless used to feature
an architectural or landscape element
pursuant to Section 24.16.020 of the Palm
Desert Municipal Code.
3.8.4.Lighting angle below the horizon. Exterior
lighting restrains light from source to a min.
30° below horizontal plane of light source.
3.8.5.Pedestrian-oriented lighting, location.
Provided along all on-site sidewalks and
pathways and exterior amenity spaces.
3.8.6.Pedestrian oriented lighting, placement.
Spaced a max. 30 lineal feet on center.
3.8.7.Pedestrian-oriented lighting, illumination. Min.
1’ candle on all on-site sidewalks, walkways,
pathways, and paseos.
3.8.8.Stand-alone exterior lighting. Min. 3’ and max.
14’ in height.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
58 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES 3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.9.1.Passive amenities. Select the appropriate
requirement per the options below.
a. Less than 20 DUs: min. 1 required
passive amenity
b. Between 20-50 DUs: min. 2 required
passive amenities
c. Between 51-99 DUs: min. 3 required
passive amenities
d. 100 DUs and greater: min. 4 required
passive amenities
3.9.2.Types of passive amenities. Select from the list
below.
a. Gazebo
b. Passive water amenity
c. Picnic shelter
d. Seating area(s) with benches and/
or loose chairs a min. 12’ wide in
one dimension and 144 SD in area
per below:
i. Less than 20 DUs: 1 required
seating area
ii. Between 20-50 DUs: 2 required
seating areas
iii. Between 51-99 DUs: 3 required
seating areas
iv. 100 DUs and greater: 4 required
seating areas
e. Seating walls a min. 8’ in length
per below:
i. Less than 20 DUs: 1 required
seating wall
ii. Between 20-50 DUs: 2 required
seating walls
iii. Between 51-99 DUs: 3 required
seating walls
iv. 100 DUs and greater: 4 required
seating walls
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
59CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES (CONT.)3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE
AMENITIES (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON -
COMPLIANT
3.9.3.Active amenities. Select the appropriate
requirement per the options below.
a.Fewer than 20 DUs: min. 2
active amenities
b.Between 20-55 DUs: min. 3
active amenities
c.Between 51-99 DUs: min. 4
active amenities
d.Between 101-149 DUs: min. 5 active
amenities
e.150 DUs and greater: min. 6 plus one
additional active amenity for each
additional 50 units
3.9.4.Types of passive amenities. Select from the list
below, one of which must be an active water
amenity.
a. Active water amenity
b. Barbecue
c. Clubhouse and/or recreation
room that opens onto an outdoor
amenity area
d. Community garden
e. Court game facility
f. Exercise area and/or par course
g. Jogging and/or par course
h. Pet area and/or run and/or wash
i. Play area, children’s
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
60 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MULTIFAMILY BUILDING ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
New multifamily projects shall meet all of the below Building
Architecture standards per Chapter 4 of the City of Palm Desert
Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
4.1. BUILDING HEIGHT 4.1. BUILDING HEIGHT
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.1.1.Building height measurement along public
streets. Max. building height within 150’ of
the curb of a public street is established by
a vertical measurement from the average
elevation of the street curb adjacent to the
property to the highest point of the structure.
4.1.2.Building height measurement adjoining a
residential zoned property. Max. building
height within 50’ of a residential zoned
property line is established by a vertical
measurement from the elevation of the
finished grade along the property line of the
residential zoned property or the finished
grade along the property line of the project
site, whichever is lower in elevation, to the
highest point of the roof of the structure.
4.1.3.Transitional height abutting a single-family
zoned property. If building abuts or is across
a right-of-way from a single-family zoned
property, the allowed building height is
modulated by an inward-leaning 45° angled
plane inclined towards the building as
measured from a horizontal plane originating
15’ above grade at the abutting property line.
4.1.4.Maximum building height at public-street-
facing frontages. Select the appropriate
requirement per options below.
a. Building distance from street-facing
setback is < 30 ft: max. building
height is 24’ and 2-stories with
flat roof
b. Building distance from street-facing
setback is > 30 ft: max. building
height per Municipal Code
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
61CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.2. BUILDING LENGTH 4.2. BUILDING LENGTH
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.2.1.Building wall, maximum length. Max. 250’
in length.
4.2.2. Building breaks, open to the sky. Min. 40’
open-to-the-sky separation provided when
building breaks are required, programmed
as either public/private rights-of-way, courts,
passageways, paseos, and/or other active and/
or passive landscaped open spaces.
4.2.3.Building breaks with vehicular street. Min.
5’ sidewalk and min. 5’ adjoining parkway
if building break utilizes a public or private
vehicular street.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
62 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.3. BUILDING MODULATION 4.3. BUILDING MODULATION
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.3.1.Building modulation. Select at least four of
the following.
a. Min. 6’ clear width ground-level
arcades, open-to-the-air galleries,
colonnades, porches, recesses,
ramadas, and trellis structures placed
along a min. 80% ground floor length
of two building faces.
b. Min. 8’ length and min. 3’ depth
open-to-the-sky recesses for each 50’
of building wall length.
c. Major and minor massing, with wall
area of the minor massing a max.
40% of total wall area.
d. Min. 6’ clear width setback of top
floor along at least 2 sides of
the building.
e. Sun-screening elements on windows,
doors, and openings at south- and
west-facing building walls.
f. Min. 15% of building
walls are covered and
open-to-the-air balconies.
g. Roof overhangs or projections that
provide a min. 8’ of vertical shaded
wall at noon on the summer solstice.
h. Vertical and irrigated landscaping
located within 5’ of a wall, screens
min. 2 walls and 30% of structure
perimeter, and min. 20’ height after 5
years of growth.
i. Min. 2 wall materials, first material
a max. 30% of total wall area and
second material a max. 70% of total
wall area.
j. Building footprint immediately below
top floor is max. 80% of the building
footprint immediately below.
k. Min. 1 tower element that is max.
half of the floor-to-floor height
of the tallest building story, and
recessed or projected from the rest
of the building mass by a min. 2’.
BUILDING MODULATION CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
63CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
BUILDING MODULATION (CONT.)BUILDING MODULATION (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.3.2.Vehicle entrances. If vehicle entries are
incorporated into a building wall facing
a public street, select at least two of
the following.
a. Vehicle entrance set back a min.
20’ from the back of sidewalk or
required setback, whichever results
in the furthest distance from the
public street.
b. Where a pedestrian entrance is
provided adjacent to the garage
opening, a min. 5’ wide sidewalk
leading to the public street
and sidewalk.
c. Min. one, 5’ width landscaped area
adjoining the vehicle access drive
and leading from the public street to
the garage entrance.
4.3.3.Upper story floor area limit. Top story gross
area of buildings are a max. 80% of the floor
immediately below.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
64 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.4. BUILDING ROOFS 4.4. BUILDING ROOFS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.4.1.Roof types. Select from the options below.
a. Butterfly roof
b. Clerestory roof
c. Conical roof
d. Cross-hipped roof
e. Curved/barrel vaulted roof
f. Dome roof
g. Flat roof
h. Gable roof
i. Hexagonal roof
j. Hip and valley roof
k. Intersecting gable roof
l. Hip roof
m. M-shaped roof
n. Monitor roof
o. Pyramid hip roof
p. Sawtooth roof
q. Skillion roof
r. Shed roof
4.4.2.Roof slopes. Pitch of sloped roofs, other than
conical, curved/barrel vaulted, or dome roofs,
is min. 2:12 and max. 4:12.
4.4.3.Sloped roof materials. Select one.
a. Concrete or lightweight concrete tile.
b. Metal that is non-reflective.
c. Solar panel tiles, solar roof tiles, or
solar shingles.
d. Natural tone or slate tile.
e. Terracotta tile or simulated
terracotta tile.
4.4.4.Prohibited roof materials. Asphalt-shingle
roofs, glass roofs or skylights comprising of
more than 10% of the total gross area of the
floor below, and corrugated metal roofing are
not utilized in the project.
4.4.5.Flat roof modulation. Modulate the roof
vertically a min. 42” at least once every 50’.
BUILDING ROOFS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
65CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.4. BUILDING ROOFS (CONT.)4.4. BUILDING ROOFS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.4.6.Greenhouses. Exempt from roof type, slope,
modulation, and materials requirements if
total floor area of the greenhouse is < 10% of
the total gross floor area of the building.
4.4.7.Parapet return. Parapets that extend beyond
the wall plane must return and extend a min.
6’ past the wall plane and inwards towards
the building.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS 4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.5.1.Building wall materials. Select at least two of
the following.
a. Cementitious or acrylic stucco, or an
exterior insulating and finish system
with a cementitious finish.
b. 2 stucco textures. If a float finish
is utilized for one of the stucco
textures, the second stucco texture
is a float or dash finish stucco and
utilized for a min. 10% of the total
wall area.
c. 2 stucco colors with min. 1 of the
stucco colors utilized at a min. 10%
of the total wall area.
d. Non-reflective metal panels.
e. Natural stone or manufactured stone
veneer at a min. 10% of the total
wall area.
f. Terra cotta tile and/or rain screens.
g. Colored precision block, glazed block,
face brick, face stone, split face block,
shot blast block, or slump stone at a
min. 10% of the total wall area.
BUILDING MATERIALS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
66 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.6. BUILDING OPENINGS 4.6. BUILDING OPENINGS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.6.1.Ground-level architectural component. Min.
6’ clear depth and min. 7’ height along a min.
30% of the building length.
4.6.2.Upper-level glazing. Min. 15% and max.
30% transparent glazing and/or openings at
building walls above the ground level.
4.6.3.Openings. Min. 15% and max. 40% of total
wall area above the first level.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS (CONT.)4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.5.2.Wall material transitions. Select at least
one of the following methodologies when
transitioning between different materials
and colors.
a. An inside corner where
planes intersect.
b. A reveal, projecting band, and/or
planar offset to mark the transition
between the base, middle, and top of
the building.
c. Use of a building detail and/or
habitable or decorative projections.
d. Utilization of recesses or projections
at windows a min. 3” in depth at all
windows and openings.
e. An offset in a plane where the
material transition or color occurs
with a min. 5” depth.
4.5.3.Prohibited wall materials. Project is not a
100% glass building.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
67CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.8. BUILDING WINDOWS 4.8. BUILDING WINDOWS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.8.1.Window and door details. Select at least two
of the following.
a. 3 distinct window sizes.
b. Shading devices that create a
distinct shadow line at a min. 60%
of openings.
c. Recesses or projections a min. 3” in
depth at a min. 60% of all openings.
d. Min. 4”-width trim around opening
that creates a projection or recess no
less than 2” in depth.
e. Use of metal-clad, thermally-broken
metal or steel, and/or wood windows
or doors at all openings.
f. Exterior shades.
4.8.2.Windows, storage, utilities, and screening.
Interior or exterior screening for windows
that open onto a utility or storage use
or occupancy.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.9. BUILDING BALCONIES AND STAIRWELLS 4.9. BUILDING BALCONIES
AND STAIRWELLS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.9.1.Balcony depth. Min. 6’ in clear depth.
4.9.2.Balcony design. Recessed or shaded by
balconies or roof projections immediately
above and/or by min. 4’ deep awnings,
canopies, ramadas, recesses, and/or trellises.
4.9.3.Stairwells. Internal to the building, screened
by materials with a 50% opacity.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
68 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.10. BUILDING UTILITIES 4.10. BUILDING UTILITIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.10.1.Electrical utilities. Electrical utility equipment,
electrical meters, and junction boxes placed
within a utility room.
4.10.2.Mechanical and electrical equipment
screening. Except for ground-mounted
transformers, all mechanical equipment
is fully screened from all views by one of
the following:
a. Solid parapets and/or walls
that are a min. 1’ taller than the
mechanical equipment.
b. Louvers equipment boxes
incorporated into a wall.
c. Min. 50% opaque walls that are set
within landscape areas, that in plan
provide a min. 18” wide landscape
border around the perimeter of at
least 2 sides of the equipment pad.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.11. BUILDING FACADE COLORS 4.11. BUILDING FACADE COLORS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.11.1.Color palette. Neutral, earth tone, and/or
neutral or earth tone Sonoran Desert regional
colors, samples or printouts of which attached
to the application and key to color use on
elevation drawings.
4.11.2.Accent colors. Max. 10% building facade may
be a color not considered neutral, earth tone,
and/or Sonoran Desert color choice.
4.11.3.Prohibited colors. Black is only used as an
accent color or a window, trim, fence, or
gate color.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
69CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.12. BUILDING WATER DRAINAGE DEVICES 4.12. BUILDING WATER
DRAINAGE DEVICES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.12.1.Water drainage devices. Gutters, downspouts,
and other water drainage components are not
visible from the exterior building walls facing
public streets, be an unpainted neutral metal
material, or be pained the same color of the
immediately-adjoining facade.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.13. BUILDING TRASH/RECYCLING BINS AND ENCLOSURES 4.13. BUILDING TRASH/RECYCLING BINS
AND ENCLOSURES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.13.1.Trash/recycling bin placement. Select the
appropriate requirement per options below.
a. Lots < 7,500 SF: trash/recycling bins
are designated, open-to-the-sky
enclosures permitted, but no trash/
recycling bin or enclosure placed in
required setbacks or visible from the
public street.
b. Lots 22,500 SF > 7,500 SF: trash/
recycling bins placed within fully
enclosed structures that may be
open to the sky, are not visible from
a public street, may project into a
required side or rear yard setback
but not placed within 5’ of a property
line or within a setback adjacent to a
public street or single-family lot.
c. Lots > 22,500 SF: trash/recycling bins
are designated, fully enclosed, may
be open to the sky, but not placed
within required setbacks or visible
from a public street.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
70 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS 4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.14.1.Architectural continuity. Development projects
with multiple buildings maintain architectural
consistency through at least three of
the following.
a. Consistent use of roof forms and if
sloped, roof materials and coloring at
all buildings and accessory buildings.
b. Consistent use of building overhangs,
recesses, and architectural
projections including porches,
arcades, ramadas, galleries and
building screening that create
shade at south, east, and west
facing facades.
c. Consistent use of facade materials at
all buildings and accessory buildings.
d. Consistent use of color at all
buildings and accessory buildings.
e. Consistent use of proportions
and details at min. 60% of
building openings.
f. Consistent use of sun shading
architectural components at all
buildings visible from a public street.
BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
71CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS (CONT.)4.14. BUILDING DESIGN
COMPONENTS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.14.2.Inclusion of Palm Desert architectural and
landscape components. Select at least four of
the following.
a. Buildings oriented on an east-west
axis such that the wall area of both
the east and west facades is a max.
60% of the area of the area of south
facing walls.
b. Site walls, building massing, and
landscape windbreaks that protect
project open spaces from west to
east prevailing summer winds.
c. Site walls, building massing,
and landscape windbreaks that
protect project open spaces from
north to south prevailing winds
that occur from mid-November
through mid-February.
d. Covered open-to-the-air arcades,
colonnades, galleries, or other
permanent coverings or projections
that provide shade at all building
walls visible from public streets.
e. Overhangs or recesses at building
entries that are a min. 4’ in
clear depth.
f. Min. 24” deep roof eaves.
g. Use of natural stone or veneer stone
at a min. 10% the total building
wall area.
h. Use of recessed windows at a min.
60% of openings.
i. Use of shade trees at varying
distances apart, but in no case more
than 30’ on center, to shade the
length of east-, south-, and west-
facing building walls visible from a
public street.
j. Public street frontages that are a
min. 20% greater than the otherwise
required frontage, front yard, and
street-facing side yard requirements.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
72 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MULTIFAMILY PARKING DESIGN
New multifamily projects shall meet all of the below Parking standards
per Chapter 5 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and Mixed Use
Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN 5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.1.1.Surface parking visibility. Select one of the
following.
a. All surface parking lots are behind
buildings. When more than 1
building is placed on a lot and
the buildings screen the surface
parking, a max. 30’ wide separation
between buildings screening the
surface parking.
b. All surface parking lots behind a
fence or wall.
c. All surface lots behind a min.
10’ depth and min. 42” in height
landscape buffer using bushes,
hedges, and trees.
5.1.2.Surface parking along side or rear property
lines. Min. 5’ width perimeter landscape strip
along surface parking areas adjacent to side or
rear property lines.
5.1.3.Landscape island dimensions. Min. 9’ length
and 7’ width, exclusive of curbs and landings.
5.1.4.End parking stalls, width. Increased in City-
required width by min. 18”.
5.1.5.Landscape islands, end parking stalls.
All end parking stalls are adjacent to a
landscaped island.
5.1.6.Landscape islands, surface parking with more
than 30 spaces. Min. 10% of lot is landscape
islands by one of the following.
a. Use of finger islands at endcaps
and a landscape island every 10
parking spaces.
b. Min. 5’ continuous landscape planter
located within the center of parking
rows, running between endcap
fingers and islands.
5.1.7.Canopy trees at on-site surface parking. Min.
1 canopy tree for every 3 uncovered parking
spaces and 1 canopy tree for every 8 covered
parking spaces.
SURFACE PARKING DESIGN CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
73CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN (CONT.)5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.1.8.Canopy tree distribution at on-site surface
parking. Uniformly distributed across surface
are of lot so that no parking space is more
than 30’ from the center of a canopy tree.
5.1.9.Parking space building separation. Min.
5’ pedestrian sidewalk and min. 5’ wide
landscape strip measured from the curb face
separating parking spaces from buildings
5.1.10.Pathways, surface lots with more than 50
spaces. Min. 1 publicly-accessible pathway or
sidewalk that provides access across the lot
to a public sidewalk for each 200’ of surface
parking area fronting a public street.
5.1.11.Pathway enhancements, surface lots with
more than 50 spaces. Enhanced or textured
paving or striping included where pedestrian
crossing occurs.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
5.2. MECHANICAL PARKING 5.2. MECHANICAL PARKING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.2.1.Mechanical parking placement. Open-to-the-
air mechanical parking placed more than 20’
from a public street frontage.
5.2.2.Mechanical parking screening. Open-to-the-air
mechanical parking spaces placed between
20’-150’ from a street frontage are minimally
screened from view of the public street by
walls that are a min. 15% open/transparent
and max. 40% open/transparent.
5.2.3.Structures with mechanical parking. Fully
enclosed buildings with mechanical parking
meet the Building Architecture ODS in Chapter
4 of the Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective
Design Standards policy.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
74 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
5.3. PARKING SHELTERS 5.3. PARKING SHELTERS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.3.1.Parking shelter placement. No parking shelters
within required setbacks.
5.3.2.Parking shelter materials and colors. When
visible from a public right-of-way, parking
shelters are the same colors and roof
materials as the main buildings of a site.
5.3.3.Parking shelter length. Max. 65’ in length.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
5.4. PARKING GARAGES 5.4. PARKING GARAGES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.4.1.Architectural continuity, parking garages.
Parking garages are architecturally treated
and meet the Building Architecture ODS in
Chapter 4 of the Multifamily and Mixed-Use
Objective Design Standards policy.
5.4.2.Vehicular entry gates. Min. 20’ between gate
and back of the sidewalk.
5.4.3.Ground-floor openings at parking garages and
utility and mechanical areas. Screen parking
garages and utility/mechanical room openings
from public street frontages with one of
the following.
a. Vertical landscape and/or climbing
vines on metal screens, and/or
wires that cover a min. 60% of
the openings.
b. Decorative, non-reflective metal
grills, glass, or panels with a min.
50% opacity that covers a min. 60%
of the openings.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
75CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
5.5. BICYCLE PARKING 5.5. BICYCLE PARKING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.5.1.Short-term bicycle parking. Required bicycle
racks located within 50’ of at least 1 public
building entrance.
5.5.2.Long-term bicycle parking. Required bicycle
racks are covered and secured, located within
150’ of at least one building entrance.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
FINAL APPLICANT COMMENTS (OPTIONAL )FINAL CITY COMMENTS (OPTIONAL)
76 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
Mixed-Use Compliance Checklist
The Objective Design Standards (ODS) assist project applicants and designers to achieve mixed-use
design objectives. As a project is designed, applicants and designers must utilize the ODS outlined in
Chapters 2-5 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards, as well as
the Mixed-Use Compliance Checklist, to determine compliance in advance of submittal and formal review
for compliance by the City.
Applicants must fill out the sections of the following pages and check “compliance” or “not applicable
(N/A)” as appropriate. In cases where an explanation is required, describe how the mixed-use project
complies with the ODS or how the ODS is not applicable to the project. If the applicant requires
additional space for any explanation and/or chooses to illustrate compliance to an ODS, attachments may
be submitted along with this form. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to the City along
with the application submittal package. The City will fill out the sections designated “City use only” in
their review upon the applicant’s submission of this checklist and other application materials.
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PROJECT INFORMATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
Applicant Name:
Please check one.Property Owner
Design Firm/Architect
Representative
Other (please specify):
Engineer
Email:
Phone:
Proposed Project Name:
Date:
CITY USE ONLY
OVERALL COMPLIANCE FINDING
City Comments (Optional):Reviewed by:
YES: NO:
Date:
77CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
MIXED -USE PROJECT SITE DESIGN
New mixed-use projects shall meet all of the below Project Site
standards per Chapter 2 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and
Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
2.1 PROJECT FRONTAGE 2.1 PROJECT FRONTAGE
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.1.1.Max. frontage length without break. 30’ wide
open-to-the-sky landscaped open space
separating public-facing street frontages
longer than 450’.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
2.2 PROJECT ORIENTATION 2.2 PROJECT ORIENTATION
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.2.1.Project orientation. Select a minimum of two
of the following:
a. Min. 20’ deep landscaped setback,
parallel to project frontage, with
30’ on-center shade trees within
the first 20’ of depth along public
street frontage.
b. Min. one, 20’ in depth open space,
sized according to the table in
Section 2.2b.
c. Max. 42” fences, walls, and/or
permanent planter boxes to not
exceed 20% of total public street
frontage length.
d. Use of a ground-level design
component listed in Section
2.2d within 10’ of public-street-
facing frontage setback and
along min. 20% of the total
public-street-facing frontage.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
78 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
2.3 PROJECT FENCES AND WALLS 2.3 PROJECT FENCES AND WALLS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.3.1.Fence and wall placement. Select the
appropriate placement requirement from the
options below.
a. Project lot size < 15,000 SF: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within required
front-yard setback.
b. Project lot size greater than 15,000
SF and less than 1 acre: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within frontage
setback along public streets. Fences,
walls, and gates greater than 42”
and behind frontage setback not to
exceed 60% of frontage length.
c. Project lot size > 1 acre: no fence,
wall, or gate placed within frontage
setback along public streets. Fences,
walls, and gates greater than 42”
and behind frontage setback not to
exceed 80% of frontage length.
2.3.2.Fence and wall modulation. Select one of
the following:
a. Change in material every 150’ of
fence wall.
b. Offset every 18” or pilaster every 150’
of fence wall.
2.3.3.Fence and wall materials. Select fence or wall
material(s) used.
a. Aluminum, painted.
b. Brick.
c. Concrete.
d. Metal tube.
e. Stone, face stone, and/or
veneer stone.
f. Wrought iron.
2.3.4.Rear and interior side yard fences and
walls. Min. 5’ height for all fences and walls
enclosing rear and interior side yards.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
79CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
2.4 PROJECT ENTRIES 2.4 PROJECT ENTRIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.4.1.Publicly visible gate or door. Min. 1 publicly
visible gate or door that provides direct entry
to a building or open space, within 60’ of the
curb of a public street or public vehicular drop
off point.
2.4.2.Number of project entries. Select the
appropriate minimum number of project
entries requirement from the options below.
a. Public street frontage < 150 ft.: min. 1
project entry.
b. Public street frontage greater than
150 ft. and less than 450 ft: min. 2
project entries.
c. Public street frontage > 450 ft: 2
project entries for each 450 of
total length up to a total length of
1,350 feet.
2.4.3.Pedestrian entrances. Min. 1 for each 450’
total frontage along public streets.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
80 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
2.5 PROJECT SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS 2.5 PROJECT SIDEWALKS
AND PATHWAYS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.5.1.Site connectivity, public sidewalks. All on-
site buildings, entries, facilities, amenities,
and vehicular and bicycle parking areas are
internally connected by on-site sidewalks and
as-needed pathways.
2.5.2.Site connectivity, public streets. Intersecting
public and private streets, access drives, drive
aisles, alleys, and marked crosswalks link to all
public streets adjoining the project.
2.5.3.Sidewalk width. On-site sidewalks are a min. 5’
in unobstructed width.
2.5.4.Parkways. Min. 5’ width, provided along
at least one side of all on-site sidewalks
and pathways.
2.5.5 Landscape parkways. Min. 5’ width, provided
along both sides of the sidewalk or parkway
if on-site sidewalk or pathways is provided
within a required public street frontage or
setback that is > 20’ in depth.
2.5.6.Landscape parkway with ground-floor
architectural component. Min. 1 parkway
required if at least one of the architectural
components is placed along 60% of the
ground floor building frontage that adjoins
a public street, required front yard, or public
street frontage setback.
a. Stoops
b. Min. 8’-clear depth porches
c. Arcades, galleries, and/or ramadas
d. Min. 8’ depth recesses
e. Min. 30” depth overhangs, trellises,
and/or awnings
2.5.7.Driveway access and sidewalks. Vehicular
driveways that access any public right-of-way
are adjoined by sidewalks with a 4’ wide, curb-
adjacent landscape area on at least one side
of the vehicular access drive.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
81CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
2.6 PROJECT CURB CUTS, VEHICULAR 2.6 PROJECT CURB CUTS, VEHICULAR
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.6.1.Number of project entries. Select the
appropriate requirement from the
options below.
a. Public street frontage between 50 and
150 ft: max. 1 curb cut.
b. Public street frontage greater than
450 ft: max. 1 curb cut for each 450’
of public street frontage.
2.6.2.Curb cut width. Max. 36’ width curb cut
if public street frontage is less than 450’
in length.
2.6.3.Curb cut medians. If site requires more than a
36’ curb cut, it is divided with a min. 5’ width
median such that each segment of the curb
cut is a max. 36’ in width.
2.6.4.Curb cuts, parking area. Max. 24’ in width if
curb cut leads to a parking area with less than
25 parking spaces.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
2.7 PROJECT ALLEYS 2.7 PROJECT ALLEYS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
2.7.1.Alley entry. Projects abutting an ally provide
all vehicular access from the alley.
2.7.2.Alley parkways. If a new alley >30’ in width
is provided, at least 1, min. 5’ landscaped
parkway provided along 70% of the total
length of the alley, exclusive driveway curb
cut lengths, garages, required red curbs for fire
access, and vehicular access aisles.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
82 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MIXED -USE LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE DESIGN
New mixed-use projects shall meet all of the below Project Landscape
and Open Space standards per Chapter 3 of the City of Palm Desert
Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
3.1. SITE LANDSCAPING 3.1. SITE LANDSCAPING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.1.1.Frontages. All frontages adjoining public and
private streets are landscaped.
3.1.2.Setbacks. All front yard, side yard, street-
facing side yard, and rear yard setbacks
are landscaped.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.3. CANOPY TREES 3.3. CANOPY TREES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.3.1.Canopy trees at public street-adjoining
frontages. Min. 1 irrigated, 24” box tree
planted a max. 30’ on center along frontages
adjoining public streets.
3.3.2. Canopy trees at front yards. Where front yard
setback is required, min. 1 irrigated, 24” box
tree planted for each 900 SF of setback area.
3.3.5. Canopy trees selection. Select a min. 3 of the
following species utilized along frontages
adjoining public streets and public right-of-
ways, with no more than 50% of all selected
canopy trees comprising of the same species.
a. ‘Desert Museum’ Palo Verde.
Parkinsonia (Cercidium) x
‘Desert Museum.’
b. Ironwood. Olneya tesota.
c. Palo Brea. Parkinsonia praecox.
d. Sweet Acacia. Acacia smallii.
e. Texas Ebony.
Pithecellobium flexicaule.
f. Thornless Cascalote. Caesalpinia
cacalaco ‘Smoothie.’
CANOPY TREES CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
83CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.3. CANOPY TREES (CONT.)3.3. CANOPY TREES (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.3.5.Canopy tree shade on sidewalks. All canopy
trees planted within required frontages
and front yard setbacks with sidewalks and
pathways cast shade on the sidewalk for a
min. 3 hours a day during the months of June,
July, and August within 5 years of planting.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.4. SPECIMEN TREES 3.4. SPECIMEN TREES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.4.1. Specimen trees at frontage areas. Min. 1
irrigated, 24” box specimen tree planted for
each 900 SF of frontage adjoining a public
street and/or right-of-way.
3.4.2.Specimen trees selection. Select a min. 2 of
the following species, with no more than
50% of all selected specimen trees planted
in required frontages adjoining public streets
and public right-of-ways comprising the
same species.
a. Smoke Tree. Psorothamnus
(Dalea) spinosus.
b. Honey Mesquite. Prosopis glandulosa.
Must be a thornless cultivar inclusive
of Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick’ or
Prosopis glandulosa ‘AZT.’
c. Soaptree. Yucca elata.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
84 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
3.5. SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS 3.5. SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.5.1.Shrub and perennial groundcover. Ground
surfaces in required frontages without
inorganic groundcover are covered by live
plant material within 5 years of planting.
3.5.2.Shrub and perennial groundcover selection.
Select min. 5 species from list of drought-
tolerant shrub and perennial groundcover in
ODS 3.5.2., with max. 30% of all live plant
material comprising of the same species and a
min. 3 selected species are woody plants.
3.5.3.Use of thorned, serrated-edged, sharp-toothed,
or sharp-edged plant materials. Planted more
than 2’ from a sidewalk or pathway and more
than 10’ from a children’s play area.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.6. INORGANIC GROUNDCOVER 3.6. INORGANIC GROUNDCOVER
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.6.1.Inorganic groundcover. Max. 50% ground
surfaces within required frontages adjoining
public streets and front yard setbacks covered
with gravel, cobble, or boulders.
3.6.2.Gravel and cobble type. Min. 1 type of gravel
and min. 1 type of cobble with max. 50% of all
surfaces comprising the same material.
3.6.3.Groundcover placement. Planted next to and
not within a bed of cobble.
3.6.4.Inorganic groundcover color. Inorganic
material utilized within a required frontage
adjoining a public street or right-of-way shall
be of a color and value that reflects more light
than it absorbs.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
85CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
3.7. BOULDERS 3.7. BOULDERS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.7.1.Required boulders. Min. 1 boulder for each
500 SF of continuous area of parkway and
landscaped setback area.
3.7.2.Irregular spacing. Boulders are
spaced irregularly.
3.7.3.Buried below grade. Bottom third of boulders
are buried below grade.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
3.8. ON -SITE LIGHTING 3.8. ON-SITE LIGHTING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.8.1.Dark-sky compliant. Exterior lighting is dark-
sky compliant and/or fully shielded.
3.8.2.Fully shielded. Exterior lighting is fully
shielded and arranged so that light source
cannot be viewed directly.
3.8.3.Uplighting. Prohibited, unless used to feature
an architectural or landscape element
pursuant to Section 24.16.020 of the Palm
Desert Municipal Code.
3.8.4.Lighting angle below the horizon. Exterior
lighting restrains light from source to a min.
30° below horizontal plane of light source.
3.8.5.Pedestrian-oriented lighting, location.
Provided along all on-site sidewalks and
pathways and exterior amenity spaces.
3.8.6.Pedestrian oriented lighting, placement.
Spaced a max. 30 lineal feet on center.
3.8.7.Pedestrian-oriented lighting, illumination. Min.
1’ candle on all on-site sidewalks, walkways,
pathways, and paseos.
3.8.8.Stand-alone exterior lighting. Min. 3’ and max.
14’ in height.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
86 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES 3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.9.1.Passive amenities. Select the appropriate
requirement per the options below.
a. Less than 20 DUs: min. 1 required
passive amenity
b. Between 20-50 DUs: min. 2 required
passive amenities
c. Between 51-99 DUs: min. 3 required
passive amenities
d. 100 DUs and greater: min. 4 required
passive amenities
3.9.2.Types of passive amenities. Select from the list
below.
a. Gazebo
b. Passive water amenity
c. Picnic shelter
d. Seating area(s) with benches and/
or loose chairs a min. 12’ wide in
one dimension and 144 SD in area
per below:
i. Less than 20 DUs: 1 required
seating area
ii. Between 20-50 DUs: 2 required
seating areas
iii. Between 51-99 DUs: 3 required
seating areas
iv. 100 DUs and greater: 4 required
seating areas
e. Seating walls a min. 8’ in length
per below:
i. Less than 20 DUs: 1 required
seating wall
ii. Between 20-50 DUs: 2 required
seating walls
iii. Between 51-99 DUs: 3 required
seating walls
iv. 100 DUs and greater: 4 required
seating walls
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
87CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE AMENITIES (CONT.)3.9. PASSIVE AND ACTIVE
AMENITIES (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
3.9.3.Active amenities. Select the appropriate
requirement per the options below.
a.Fewer than 20 DUs: min. 2
active amenities
b.Between 20-55 DUs: min. 3
active amenities
c.Between 51-99 DUs: min. 4
active amenities
d.Between 101-149 DUs: min. 5 active
amenities
e.150 DUs and greater: min. 6 plus one
additional active amenity for each
additional 50 units
3.9.4.Types of passive amenities. Select from the list
below.
a. Active water amenity
b. Barbecue
c. Clubhouse and/or recreation
room that opens onto an outdoor
amenity area
d. Community garden
e. Court game facility
f. Exercise area and/or par course
g. Jogging and/or par course
h. Pet area and/or run and/or wash
i. Play area, children’s
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
88 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MIXED -USE BUILDING ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
New mixed-use projects shall meet all of the below Building
Architecture standards per Chapter 4 of the City of Palm Desert
Multifamily and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
4.1. BUILDING HEIGHT 4.1. BUILDING HEIGHT
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.1.1.Building height measurement along public
streets. Max. building height within 150’ of
the curb of a public street is established by
a vertical measurement from the average
elevation of the street curb adjacent to the
property to the highest point of the structure.
4.1.2.Building height measurement adjoining a
residential zoned property. Max. building
height within 50’ of a residential zoned
property line is established by a vertical
measurement from the elevation of the
finished grade along the property line of the
residential zoned property or the finished
grade along the property line of the project
site, whichever is lower in elevation, to the
highest point of the roof of the structure.
4.1.3.Transitional height abutting a single-family
zoned property. If building abuts or is across
a right-of-way from a single-family zoned
property, the allowed building height is
modulated by an inward-leaning 45° angled
plane inclined towards the building as
measured from a horizontal plane originating
15’ above grade at the abutting property line.
4.1.4.Maximum building height at public-street-
facing frontages. Select the appropriate
requirement per options below.
a. Building distance from street-facing
setback is < 30 ft: max. building
height is 24’ and 2-stories with
flat roof
b. Building distance from street-facing
setback is > 30 ft: max. building
height per Municipal Code
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
89CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.2. BUILDING LENGTH 4.2. BUILDING LENGTH
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.2.1.Building wall, maximum length. Max. 250’
in length.
4.2.2. Building breaks, open to the sky. Min. 40’
open-to-the-sky separation provided when
building breaks are required, programmed
as either public/private rights-of-way, courts,
passageways, paseos, and/or other active and/
or passive landscaped open spaces.
4.2.3.Building breaks with vehicular street. Min.
5’ sidewalk and min. 5’ adjoining parkway
if building break utilizes a public or private
vehicular street.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
90 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.3. BUILDING MODULATION 4.3. BUILDING MODULATION
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.3.1.Building modulation. Select at least four of
the following.
a. Min. 6’ clear width ground-level
arcades, open-to-the-air galleries,
colonnades, porches, recesses,
ramadas, and trellis structures placed
along a min. 80% ground floor length
of two building faces.
b. Min. 8’ length and min. 3’ depth
open-to-the-sky recesses for each 50’
of building wall length.
c. Major and minor massing, with wall
area of the minor massing a max.
40% of total wall area.
d. Min. 6’ clear width setback of top
floor along at least 2 sides of
the building.
e. Sun-screening elements on windows,
doors, and openings at south- and
west-facing building walls.
f. Min. 15% of building
walls are covered and
open-to-the-air balconies.
g. Roof overhangs or projections that
provide a min. 8’ of vertical shaded
wall at noon on the summer solstice.
h. Vertical and irrigated landscaping
located within 5’ of a wall, screens
min. 2 walls and 30% of structure
perimeter, and min. 20’ height after 5
years of growth.
i. Min. 2 wall materials, first material
a max. 30% of total wall area and
second material a max. 70% of total
wall area.
j. Building footprint immediately below
top floor is max. 80% of the building
footprint immediately below.
k. Min. 1 tower element that is max.
half of the floor-to-floor height
of the tallest building story, and
recessed or projected from the rest
of the building mass by a min. 2’.
BUILDING MODULATION CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
91CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
BUILDING MODULATION (CONT.)BUILDING MODULATION (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.3.2.Vehicle entrances. If vehicle entries are
incorporated into a building wall facing
a public street, select at least two of
the following.
a. Vehicle entrance set back a min.
20’ from the back of sidewalk or
required setback, whichever results
in the furthest distance from the
public street.
b. Where a pedestrian entrance is
provided adjacent to the garage
opening, a min. 5’ wide sidewalk
leading to the public street
and sidewalk.
c. Min. one, 5’ width landscaped area
adjoining the vehicle access drive
and leading from the public street to
the garage entrance.
4.3.3.Upper story floor area limit. Top story gross
area of buildings are a max. 80% of the floor
immediately below.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
92 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.4. BUILDING ROOFS 4.4. BUILDING ROOFS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.4.1.Roof types. Select from the options below.
a. Butterfly roof
b. Clerestory roof
c. Conical roof
d. Cross-hipped roof
e. Curved/barrel vaulted roof
f. Dome roof
g. Flat roof
h. Gable roof
i. Hexagonal roof
j. Hip and valley roof
k. Intersecting gable roof
l. Hip roof
m. M-shaped roof
n. Monitor roof
o. Pyramid hip roof
p. Sawtooth roof
q. Skillion roof
r. Shed roof
4.4.2.Roof slopes. Pitch of sloped roofs, other than
conical, curved/barrel vaulted, or dome roofs,
is min. 2:12 and max. 4:12.
4.4.3.Sloped roof materials. Select one.
a. Concrete or lightweight concrete tile.
b. Metal that is non-reflective.
c. Solar panel tiles, solar roof tiles, or
solar shingles.
d. Natural tone or slate tile.
e. Terracotta tile or simulated
terracotta tile.
4.4.4.Prohibited roof materials. Asphalt-shingle
roofs, glass roofs or skylights comprising of
more than 10% of the total gross area of the
floor below, and corrugated metal roofing are
not utilized in the project.
4.4.5.Flat roof modulation. Modulate the roof
vertically a min. 42” at least once every 50’.
BUILDING ROOFS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
93CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
4.4. BUILDING ROOFS (CONT.)4.4. BUILDING ROOFS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.4.6.Greenhouses. Exempt from roof type, slope,
modulation, and materials requirements if
total floor area of the greenhouse is < 10% of
the total gross floor area of the building.
4.4.7.Parapet return. Parapets that extend beyond
the wall plane must return and extend a min.
6’ past the wall plane and inwards towards
the building.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS 4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.5.1.Building wall materials. Select at least two of
the following.
a. Cementitious or acrylic stucco, or an
exterior insulating and finish system
with a cementitious finish.
b. 2 stucco textures. If a float finish
is utilized for one of the stucco
textures, the second stucco texture
is a float or dash finish stucco and
utilized for a min. 10% of the total
wall area.
c. 2 stucco colors with min. 1 of the
stucco colors utilized at a min. 10%
of the total wall area.
d. Non-reflective metal panels.
e. Natural stone or manufactured stone
veneer at a min. 10% of the total
wall area.
f. Terra cotta tile and/or rain screens.
g. Colored precision block, glazed block,
face brick, face stone, split face block,
shot blast block, or slump stone at a
min. 10% of the total wall area.
BUILDING MATERIALS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
94 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.7. BUILDING OPENINGS 4.7. BUILDING OPENINGS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.7.1.Ground-level transparency or frontage
component. Select at least one of
the following.
a. Min. 60% of total ground-level wall
length glazing that is a min. 8’ tall.
b. A min. 8’ clear depth architectural
component along a min. 80% of wall
length that faces a public street.
4.7.2.Upper-level glazing. Min. 15% glazing at
building walls above the ground level.
4.7.3.Openings. Max. 60% of total wall area of any
individual building face.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS (CONT.)4.5. BUILDING MATERIALS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.5.2.Wall material transitions. Select at least
one of the following methodologies when
transitioning between different materials
and colors.
a. An inside corner where
planes intersect.
b. A reveal, projecting band, and/or
planar offset to mark the transition
between the base, middle, and top of
the building.
c. Use of a building detail and/or
habitable or decorative projections.
d. Utilization of recesses or projections
at windows a min. 3” in depth at all
windows and openings.
e. An offset in a plane where the
material transition or color occurs
with a min. 5” depth.
4.5.3.Prohibited wall materials. Project is not a
100% glass building.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
95CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.8. BUILDING WINDOWS 4.8. BUILDING WINDOWS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.8.1.Window and door details. Select at least two
of the following.
a. 3 distinct window sizes.
b. Shading devices that create a
distinct shadow line at a min. 60%
of openings.
c. Recesses or projections a min. 3” in
depth at a min. 60% of all openings.
d. Min. 4”-width trim around opening
that creates a projection or recess no
less than 2” in depth.
e. Use of metal-clad, thermally-broken
metal or steel, and/or wood windows
or doors at all openings.
f. Exterior shades.
4.8.2.Windows, storage, utilities, and screening.
Interior or exterior screening for windows
that open onto a utility or storage use
or occupancy.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.9. BUILDING BALCONIES AND STAIRWELLS 4.9. BUILDING BALCONIES
AND STAIRWELLS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.9.1.Balcony depth. Min. 6’ in clear depth.
4.9.2.Balcony design. Recessed or shaded by
balconies or roof projections immediately
above and/or by min. 4’ deep awnings,
canopies, ramadas, recesses, and/or trellises.
4.9.3.Stairwells. Internal to the building, screened
by materials with a 50% opacity.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
96 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.10. BUILDING UTILITIES 4.10. BUILDING UTILITIES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.10.1.Electrical utilities. Electrical utility equipment,
electrical meters, and junction boxes placed
within a utility room.
4.10.2.Mechanical and electrical equipment
screening. Except for ground-mounted
transformers, all mechanical equipment
is fully screened from all views by one of
the following:
a. Solid parapets and/or walls
that are a min. 1’ taller than the
mechanical equipment.
b. Louvers equipment boxes
incorporated into a wall.
c. Min. 50% opaque walls that are set
within landscape areas, that in plan
provide a min. 18” wide landscape
border around the perimeter of at
least 2 sides of the equipment pad.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.11. BUILDING FACADE COLORS 4.11. BUILDING FACADE COLORS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.11.1.Color palette. Neutral, earth tone, and/or
neutral or earth tone Sonoran Desert regional
colors, samples or printouts of which attached
to the application and key to color use on
elevation drawings.
4.11.2.Accent colors. Max. 10% building facade may
be a color not considered neutral, earth tone,
and/or Sonoran Desert color choice.
4.11.3.Prohibited colors. Black is only used as an
accent color or a window, trim, fence, or
gate color.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
97CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
BUILDING WATER DRAINAGE DEVICES BUILDING WATER DRAINAGE DEVICES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.37. Water drainage devices. Gutters, downspouts,
and other water drainage components, with
the exception of required overflow devices, are
not visible from the exterior building walls
facing public streets.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
4.13. BUILDING TRASH/RECYCLING BINS AND ENCLOSURES 4.13. BUILDING TRASH/RECYCLING BINS
AND ENCLOSURES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.13.1.Trash/recycling bin placement. Select the
appropriate requirement per options below.
a. Lots < 7,500 SF: trash/recycling bins
are designated, open-to-the-sky
enclosures permitted, but no trash/
recycling bin or enclosure placed in
required setbacks or visible from the
public street.
b. Lots 22,500 SF > 7,500 SF: trash/
recycling bins placed within fully
enclosed structures that may be
open to the sky, are not visible from
a public street, may project into a
required side or rear yard setback
but not placed within 5’ of a property
line or within a setback adjacent to a
public street or single-family lot.
c. Lots > 22,500 SF: trash/recycling bins
are designated, fully enclosed, may
be open to the sky, but not placed
within required setbacks or visible
from a public street.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
98 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS 4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.14.1.Architectural continuity. Development projects
with multiple buildings maintain architectural
consistency through at least three of
the following.
a. Consistent use of roof forms and if
sloped, roof materials and coloring at
all buildings and accessory buildings.
b. Consistent use of building overhangs,
recesses, and architectural
projections including porches,
arcades, ramadas, galleries and
building screening that create
shade at south, east, and west
facing facades.
c. Consistent use of facade materials at
all buildings and accessory buildings.
d. Consistent use of color at all
buildings and accessory buildings.
e. Consistent use of proportions
and details at min. 60% of
building openings.
f. Consistent use of sun shading
architectural components at all
buildings visible from a public street.
BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
99CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
4.14. BUILDING DESIGN COMPONENTS (CONT.)4.14. BUILDING DESIGN
COMPONENTS (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
4.14.2.Inclusion of Palm Desert architectural and
landscape components. Select at least four of
the following.
a. Buildings oriented on an east-west
axis such that the wall area of both
the east and west facades is a max.
60% of the area of the area of south
facing walls.
b. Site walls, building massing, and
landscape windbreaks that protect
project open spaces from west to
east prevailing summer winds.
c. Site walls, building massing,
and landscape windbreaks that
protect project open spaces from
north to south prevailing winds
that occur from mid-November
through mid-February.
d. Covered open-to-the-air arcades,
colonnades, galleries, or other
permanent coverings or projections
that provide shade at all building
walls visible from public streets.
e. Overhangs or recesses at building
entries that are a min. 4’ in
clear depth.
f. Min. 24” deep roof eaves.
g. Use of natural stone or veneer stone
at a min. 10% the total building
wall area.
h. Use of recessed windows at a min.
60% of openings.
i. Use of shade trees at varying
distances apart, but in no case more
than 30’ on center, to shade the
length of east-, south-, and west-
facing building walls visible from a
public street.
j. Public street frontages that are a
min. 20% greater than the otherwise
required frontage, front yard, and
street-facing side yard requirements.
Applicant comments and/or further explanations of compliance (optional).City comments (optional).
100 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
MIXED -USE PARKING DESIGN
New mixed-use projects shall meet all of the below Parking standards
per Chapter 5 of the City of Palm Desert Multifamily and Mixed Use
Objective Design Standards policy.
CITY USE ONLY
5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN 5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.1.1.Surface parking visibility. Select one of the
following.
a. All surface parking lots are behind
buildings. When more than 1
building is placed on a lot and
the buildings screen the surface
parking, a max. 30’ wide separation
between buildings screening the
surface parking.
b. All surface parking lots behind a
fence or wall.
c. All surface lots behind a min. 10’
depth and min. 42” height landscape
buffer using bushes, hedges,
and trees.
5.1.2.Surface parking along side or rear property
lines. Min. 5’ width perimeter landscape strip
along surface parking areas adjacent to side or
rear property lines.
5.1.3.Landscape island dimensions. Min. 9’ length
and 7’ width, exclusive of curbs and landings.
5.1.4.End parking stalls, width. Increased in City-
required width by min. 18”.
5.1.5.Landscape islands, end parking stalls.
All end parking stalls are adjacent to a
landscaped island.
5.1.6.Landscape islands, surface parking with more
than 30 spaces. Min. 10% of lot is landscape
islands by one of the following.
a. Use of finger islands at endcaps
and a landscape island every 10
parking spaces.
b. Min. 5’ continuous landscape planter
located within the center of parking
rows, running between endcap
fingers and islands.
5.1.7.Canopy trees at on-site surface parking. Min.
1 canopy tree for every 3 uncovered parking
spaces and 1 canopy tree for every 8 covered
parking spaces.
SURFACE PARKING DESIGN CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE
101CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN (CONT.)5.1. SURFACE PARKING DESIGN (CONT.)
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.1.8.Canopy tree distribution at on-site surface
parking. Uniformly distributed across surface
are of lot so that no parking space is more
than 30’ from the center of a canopy tree.
5.1.9.Parking space building separation. Min.
5’ pedestrian sidewalk and min. 5’ wide
landscape strip measured from the curb face
separating parking spaces from buildings
5.1.10.Pathways, surface lots with more than 50
spaces. Min. 1 publicly-accessible pathway or
sidewalk that provides access across the lot
to a public sidewalk for each 200’ of surface
parking area fronting a public street.
5.1.11.Pathway enhancements, surface lots with
more than 50 spaces. Enhanced or textured
paving or striping included where pedestrian
crossing occurs.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
5.2. MECHANICAL PARKING 5.2. MECHANICAL PARKING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.2.1.Mechanical parking placement. Open-to-the-
air mechanical parking placed more than 20’
from a public street frontage.
5.2.2.Mechanical parking screening. Open-to-the-air
mechanical parking spaces placed between
20’-150’ from a street frontage are minimally
screened from view of the public street by
walls that are a min. 15% open/transparent
and max. 40% open/transparent.
5.2.3.Structures with mechanical parking. Fully
enclosed buildings with mechanical parking
meet the Building Architecture ODS in Chapter
4 of the Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective
Design Standards policy.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
102 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
CITY USE ONLY
5.3. PARKING SHELTERS 5.3. PARKING SHELTERS
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.3.1.Parking shelter placement. No parking shelters
within required setbacks.
5.3.2.Parking shelter materials and colors. When
visible from a public right-of-way, parking
shelters are the same colors and roof
materials as the main buildings of a site.
5.3.3.Parking shelter length. Max. 65’ in length.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
5.4. PARKING GARAGES 5.4. PARKING GARAGES
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.4.1.Architectural continuity, parking garages.
Parking garages are architecturally treated
and meet the Building Architecture ODS in
Chapter 4 of the Multifamily and Mixed-Use
Objective Design Standards policy.
5.4.2.Vehicular entry gates. Min. 20’ between gate
and back of the sidewalk.
5.4.3.Ground-floor openings at parking garages and
utility and mechanical areas. Screen parking
garages and utility/mechanical room openings
from public street frontages with one of
the following.
a. Vertical landscape and/or climbing
vines on metal screens, and/or
wires that cover a min. 60% of
the openings.
b. Decorative, non-reflective metal
grills, glass, or panels with a min.
50% opacity that covers a min. 60%
of the openings.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
103CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
CITY USE ONLY
5.5. BICYCLE PARKING 5.5. BICYCLE PARKING
ODS DESCRIPTION NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NOT
APPLICABLE COMPLIANT NON-
COMPLIANT
5.5.1.Short-term bicycle parking. Required bicycle
racks located within 50’ of at least 1 public
building entrance.
5.5.2.Long-term bicycle parking. Required bicycle
racks are covered and secured, located within
150’ of at least one building entrance.
If “Not Applicable” was selected in the above section, provide an explanation for why the ODS does
not apply to the proposed project (required).
This comment box may also be used for further explanations of compliance (optional).
City comments (optional).
CITY USE ONLY
FINAL APPLICANT COMMENTS (OPTIONAL )FINAL CITY COMMENTS (OPTIONAL)
104 Chapter 6: Compliance Checklists
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105CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
7 GLOSSARY
105CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
106 Chapter 7: Glossary
A
Accessory Building or Structure. Any subordinate
building or structure located on the building
site, detached from or attached to the principle
structure, the use and architectural style of which
is customarily related to that of a main building.
Amenities, Active. Active amenities shall be
outdoors and include the following;
•Active water amenity, including but not
limited to a pool, spa, hot tub, splash pad,
and/or misting area
•Barbecue
•Clubhouse and/or recreation room that
opens onto an outdoor amenity area
•Community garden
•Court game facility exclusive of pickleball
•Exercise area and/or par course
•Jogging and/or par course
•Pet area and/or run and/or wash
•Play area, children’s
Amenities, Passive. Passive amenities shall be
outdoors and include the following;
•Gazebo
•Passive water amenity, including but not
limited to a fountain, waterfall, stream, or
pond
•Picnic shelter
•Seating area a minimum of 12 feet wide in
one dimension and 144 square feet in area
•Seating walls
•Secured package lockers
Alley. A roadway that provides access to the rear
or sides of a parcel.
Arcade. A pedestrian walkway defined by columns,
pilasters, or short-length open-to-the-outside
walls supporting a roof that provides shelter
along its length.
B
Boulder(s). Using ISO 14688-1:2017, boulders
are defined as stones and rocks that are
approximately eight inches and larger in size.
Building. A structure having a roof supported by
columns or walls.
Building Area. The square footage of the total
footprint of the building, including all floors of
the building.
C
Canopy Tree. An evergreen or semi-deciduous
tree planted for the purposes of providing shade,
reducing glare, and heat build up. These trees
shall have a minimum 30-foot diameter canopy
potential.
Cobble(s). Using ISO 14688-1:2017, cobble is
defined as pebbles, stones, and rocks that are
approximately two and one-half to eight inches
in size.
D
Dark-Sky Compliant. Outdoor lighting that is
designed to prevent light pollution by directing
light towards the ground.
Decomposed Granite. Rock of granitic origin that
has weathered and fractured into smaller pieces
of weak rock. This rock crumbles into a mixture of
igneous silt, sand, and gravel with some clay. The
clay acts as a binder allowing the combination to
support use.
107CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
E
Earth Tone Color. An earth tone color is a warm
and muted or dull shade of brown, green, gray,
or beige.
Elevation, Building. The flat side or external face
of a building.
F
Facing a Public Street. A building wall, element,
or component shall be considered to be facing a
public street or right-of-way when a plane tangent
to the wall, element, or component is no greater
than 30 degrees in inclination from a line drawn
tangent to the public street or right-of-way.
Fence. A freestanding structure of brick, stone, face
stone, veneer stone, or any combination thereof
resting on or partially buried in the ground level,
and used for confinement, privacy, protection,
screening, or partition purposes.
Frontage, Building. The building elevation that
fronts on a public street, alley, driveway, parking
area, pedestrian plaza, courtyard, or arcade.
Frontage, Public Street. The property line that
adjoins a public street, alley, driveway, parking
area, pedestrian plaza, courtyard, or arcade.
G
Grade, Average. The average elevation of the
finished ground surface surrounding a building.
Gravel. Using ISO 14688-1:2017, gravel is defined
as fine, medium, and coarse rock material. Fine
gravel is typically one tenth of an inch to a quarter
inch in size. Medium gravel is typically a quarter
inch to three quarters of an inch in size. Coarse
gravel is typically three quarters of an inch to two
and one half inches in size.
M
Mass/Massing. The comprehensive bulk or three-
dimensional form of a building or portion of a
building as viewed from the exterior.
Mixed-Use Building. A permanent building that
allows for a mix of uses, typically commercial
and residential.
Modulation, Facade Plane. Adjustment and
breaking of a facade plane(s) to realize variations
in massing, scale, materials, color, and/or
proportion, to introduce a sense of variety and
major and minor building plane rhythms.
Multifamily Building. A permanent building
containing three or more dwelling units.
N
Natural Metal Material. Natural metals include
unpainted aluminum, copper, stainless steel,
titanium, and zinc and natural metal finishes
utilizing the same materials.
Neutral Color. A Palm Desert neutral color is a
white, gray, or brown. Neutral colors include off-
white, light to dark gray, and light to dark brown
colors.
O
Objective Design Standards. A toolbox of a broad
range of design approaches that assists project
proponents and their design teams in reaching
compliance with the desired character of the City
of Palm Desert.
Openings. Windows and doors set within
building planes.
Open to the sky. An uncovered outdoor area
exclusive of any encroachments below 12 feet
in height.
108 Chapter 7: Glossary
P
Parkway. A landscape strip adjoining a sidewalk
or pathway.
Project. A multifamily or mixed-use building(s)
planned and designed for a particular site,
requiring City approval for construction.
Project Entries. A door that allows access into
a project.
Public Art. A sculpture, mosaic, fountain, fine art
craft, mixed-media, murals, drawings, paintings,
monuments, or installations that are displayed in
a public place.
R
Right-Of-Way. The right of a pedestrian, bicyclist,
vehicle, or vessel to proceed over others in a
single place.
Roof, Flat. The angle of the roof is sloped less than
15 degrees.
S
Setback. The distance between the building line
and the property line or a distance between one
building plane and a second building plane.
Street Frontage, Public-Facing. The linear distance
of a site boundary that is generally parallel to a
public street.
Slope, Roof. The incline of a roof, expressed as a
ratio of the roof’s vertical rise to the horizontal
run. Other than conical roofs, curved roofs, barrel
roofs, or dome roofs, roof slope shall be no less
than 2:12 and no greater than 4:12.
Specimen Tree. A tree chosen as the focal point
in a landscape design, typically due to its distinct
shape, texture, color, or other feature that
distinguishes it from other trees and shrubs in the
landscape design.
Street, Public. A vehicular right-of-way in which
the public has a right of use.
W
Wall. A continuous, upright, and planar structure
that encloses, protects, and/or divides a site.
Wall, Building. The vertical face of a building or
the vertical outer envelope of the structure.
Wall Area. The total vertical area, in square feet, of
a wall.
Water Amenity, Active. A water-based attraction
for active recreation, such as a pool, spa, hot tub,
splash pad, or misting area.
Water Amenity, Passive. A decorative landscape
design element with water as the central
component, such as a fountain, waterfall, stream,
or pond.
109CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
Project Outreach
Image Sources
A APPENDIX
City of Palm Desert CA, Draft March 2024
110 APPENDIX
A-1 Project Outreach
The Consultant Team worked with the City of Palm Desert Staff
to conduct a robust, 3-month community engagement process to
support the development of multifamily and mixed-use objective
design standards (Project). Three phases of outreach took place
throughout the Project timeline.
•Phase 1: Project Introduction and Issue Identification (June
2023)
•Phase 2: Objective Design Standard Topics (July 2023)
•Phase 3: Public Review Draft Discussions (August and
September 2023*)
*Phase 3 of the Project outreach was extended into the month of
September due to Hurricane Hilary in August 2023.
OUTREACH PHASE 1 EVENTS
Community Open House (COH)
On June 19, 2023 from 11:00AM to 7:00PM, the Consultant
facilitated a Community Open House (COH) hosted by the City of
Palm Desert to listen to ideas from Palm Desert residents and
stakeholders regarding multifamily and mixed-use development.
The COH was a temporary exhibition consisting of printed boards
displayed at the Palm Desert iHub. The boards showcased examples
of multifamily housing, mixed-use development, existing multifamily
in Palm Desert, recently-approved projects in Palm Desert, and
classic “desert architecture”. Stickers were given to attendees to
place on the boards indicating their like or dislike of the illustrated
design concepts and typologies. Throughout the entire COH, City
Staff and/or the Consultant team were available to walk attendees
through the exhibition and listen to their reactions to multifamily
and mixed-use typologies.
At 1:00PM and 5:00PM, formal presentations were conducted to
introduce the Project and present Open House materials. Nick
Melloni introduced the Project and John Kaliski presented a set of
slides that elaborated on multifamily and mixed-use developments
in Palm Desert. The presentation concluded with a list of Consultant
findings and considerations, which transitioned into a public forum
for discussion, answering questions, and gathering feedback. The
1:00PM presentation garnered approximately 11 attendees and
the 5:00PM presentation had 4 attendees. Ideas heard in the public
forums included, but were not limited to, the following:
Date:
Location:
Time:
June 19, 2023
Palm Desert iHub
(37023 Cook St.
Suite 102, Palm
Desert, CA 92211)
11:00AM-7:00PM
PST (formal Project
presentations
at 1:00PM
and 5:00PM)
111CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
• Older Palm Desert buildings on boards feel dated and should
be “diluted” with newer buildings.
• More mixed-use is needed in Palm Desert.
• Consider a “tree hierarchy” to get more landscape, driven by
the existing plant palette.
• Conserve views to mountains and natural surrounds.
• Avoid building “building canyons”.
• “Superblock” scale is too big.
• Ensure existing entitlements and design and development
opportunities.
• Prioritize environmental elements in design standards: solar,
wind, shade, etc.
• There should be an architectural coherence of various
buildings within a development.
• How can ODS prevent “design laziness” and be a “defense
against by-right abuse”?
• Water usage and drainage, such as internal vs. external
downspouts and water features.
• Resist desert architecture that is clearly of other deserts
(specifically mentioned: Santa Fe).
• More options for project edge design to create human scale
and avoid “tunnels”.
• Concentrate on design vs. planning factors.
Individual Developer Meetings
During the COH, Staff and the Consultant team met with four
developers in individual, 30-minute Zoom meetings to hear about
their experiences.
Date:
Location:
June 19, 2023
Virtual (via Zoom)
Time Contact Development
11:00 AM Kassie Inness Millennium Apartments
11:30 AM Mark Bigley Urban Crossings
2:00 PM Darren Berberian Vitalia Apartments
3:00 PM Mitch Slagerman Palm Villas
Each developer had recently gone through the design approval
process. To guide the conversation, the following questions were
prepared in advance of the meeting and asked at all the meetings:
112 APPENDIX
•Tell us about your relationship to Palm Desert development
and design.
•What has worked well for you as you have gone through the
development and design approval process?
•What has not worked well for you?
•What type of design standards do you think should be
implemented?
•Are there design standards that we should avoid in order to
facilitate housing design and development?
Feedback heard from developers included, but was not limited to,
the following:
•City Staff was generally (not exclusively) praised.
•Mechanical screening standards in Palm Desert are not clear.
•Provide “solution-based” design standards.
•Concern (not exclusively) regarding the subjectivity of the
design review process.
•Make distinction between affordable versus market-rate
housing projects.
•Look for opportunities to speed up the approval process
timeline, especially for affordable housing projects.
•Seek design and development “balance”.
Planning Commission (PC) Study Session
The day after the COH, Staff and the Consultant team participated
in a study session with the PC. The Consultant team presented a
condensed version of the slide deck presentation from the COH,
and included a few slides that summarized what was heard and
discussed at the COH. Following the presentation, the Commissioners
provided additional feedback regarding multifamily and mixed-use
development in Palm Desert. Topics of discussion included, but were
not limited to, the following:
•The choice of architect who designs multifamily and mixed-
use in Palm Desert is crucial to get better architecture in the
City, particularly architects that understand the environment.
•Landscape is important, but maintenance is not emphasized
enough - many projects in Palm Desert have aging
landscaping.
•General approval of 3-story developments.
•University Park - an example of a neglected project during a
time where more effort was put towards increased single-
family housing.
Date:
Location:
Time:
June 20, 2023
Palm Desert City Hall
6:00PM-7:00PM PST
113CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
• Comparison to other cities - Santa Fe, Palm Springs,
Scottsdale, leading to the importance of inventing standards
that build the landscape into the logic of the zoning code.
• Use elements from the General Plan and convert “shoulds” to
“shalls”.
• Design standards can be written as both “you shall” as well
as “you shall not”.
• Continue to invite all members to public meetings about the
project to avoid residents claiming to “not be knowledgeable”
about the project (what happened during the General Plan
update).
Planning Commission Small-Group Commissioner Meeting
The Consultant Team and City Staff had a breakout session with
Planning Commissioners Gregory and Greenwood a week after the
June 20th Planning Commission meeting to further gain insight on
existing Palm Desert character and ideas regarding multifamily and
mixed-use goals for the objective design standards. Topics discussed
included the following:
• How do we find a balance to employ objective design
standards to receive a more architecturally diverse and rich
project without a developer doing the bare minimum?
• Will the ODS allow architects the flexibility and tools to
create good projects?
• Importance of transitional heights, “strategic variation” of
housing types, sufficient amounts of open space and good
open space requirements.
• Examples of good architectural design in Palm Desert.
• Palm Desert-specific landscaping.
OUTREACH PHASE 2 EVENTS
Architectural Review Commission (ARC) Study Session
The Consultant and City Staff met with the Architectural Review
Commission (ARC) for a study session regarding potential focus
areas for the objective design standards. The Consultant made a
presentation that summarized their research of objective design
standards in other surrounding cities (Tucson, Sedona, Coachella,
and Indian Wells) and introduced four topic areas in which standards
would be categorized - Site ODS, Building ODS, Open Space ODS, and
Parking ODS. The Consultant also shared with the ARC a narrative
of the Project goals and objectives to set the tone of the Project
and guide the discussion. Feedback from ARC included, but was not
limited to, the following:
Date:
Location:
Time:
June 28, 2023
Virtual (via Zoom)
2:00PM-3:00PM PST
Date:
Location:
Time:
July 11, 2023
Palm Desert City Hall
12:30PM-3:30PM PST
114 APPENDIX
•Ensuring quality-appropriate architecture that emphasized
the desert.
•Recessing of apertures to create shadow lines and protection
from the harsh environment.
•Standardizing building facade color to reflect the desert
environment.
•Defining height to avoid towering multifamily, particularly in
relation to single-family homes.
•Internal consistency of multiple buildings that make up a
development project.
•Orientation of buildings to conserve views.
•Night standards, such as shielded fixtures and lighting.
•Important that the ODS do not stifle creativity.
Landscape Input with ARC
As a follow-up to the ARC meeting on July 11, the Consultant team
and City Staff spoke to the ARC Commissioners Colvard, McAuliffe,
and Sanchez about additional landscaping goals for the ODS. Their
feedback included, but was not limited to, the following:
•Align species of trees, scale of trees, and growth of trees
that will support walkability and general enjoyment of the
outdoors.
•Choose tree species that will thrive in the desert.
•Landscaping should be thought of as a natural extension of
building ideas, such as shade and versatility.
•Not every inch of sidewalk and pathway need to have tree
cover.
•Avoid species that do not establish well in wind conditions.
•Consider standards that ensure dangerous plants (sporings,
cactus, Madagascar palms) should not be close to sidewalks
and open spaces, especially in developments where kids may
be outdoors playing.
•Consider requiring high-branching trees deeper into fencing
areas along pathways to avoid constant trimming and
hazards for pedestrians.
Date:
Location:
Time:
July 27, 2023
Virtual (via Zoom)
10:00AM-11:00AM PST
115CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
OUTREACH PHASE 3 EVENTS
City Council Study Session
The Consultant team and City Staff participated in a study session
with the Palm Desert City Council (CC). CC was provided the draft of
the Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective Design Standards to review
in advance of the meeting. The Consultant presented an overview
of the Project, including several examples of ODS from each section
of the document. During and after the presentation, CC provided
comments that addressed the following concerns:
• The avoidance of an urban canyon as people are drawn to
Palm Desert because of its sense of openness
• Mayor Kelly emphasized an approach to ODS that takes into
consideration the status quo heights of downtown which
may be modified. Avoidance of “memorializing,” a status quo
that is about to change.
• Careful consideration of what canopy trees will be planted.
Specifically, Mayor Pro Tem Quintanilla mentioned omitting
eucalyptus trees from consideration.
• Due to the recent damage from Hurricane Hilary, emphasis
should be placed on trees with more weather resistance.
• Councilmember Harnik questioned why height was described
in stories rather than in feet.
• Councilmember Nestande referenced the recent hurricane
again in regards to the choice of ground cover. Is there a type
that is better than another? The selection of ground cover
should be able to withstand heavy rain or wind.
• The question of what mechanical parking is was raised by
Mayor Pro Tem Quintanilla and was answered.
• The fit between state standards and the Palm Desert ODS.
Will the Palm Desert ODS comply with state standards?
• It was noted that Mayor Kelly would like to see more visuals
in the next presentation.
• Specification of fences and wall heights and whether security
fences are included in this specific standard.
• The utilization of plastic fences that resemble wood to be
used since wooden fences are not permitted(?) since they are
not reliable.
• Clarification of parking as an “amenity,” rather than a
“necessity.”
• Due to the weather in the Coachella Valley, parking should be
paid special attention to as Palm Desert is a car reliant town.
Date:
Location:
Time:
August 24, 2023
Palm Desert City Hall
2:30PM-3:30PM PST
116 APPENDIX
ARC/PC Joint Study Session
The Consultant and City Staff presented highlights from the public
review draft of the Multifamily and Mixed-Use Objective Design
Standards document to hear feedback from both the ARC and PC.
Similar to the CC presentation on August 24th, the presentation to
the commissioners recapped the Project goals and objectives and
shared examples of ODS in each section of the document, as well as
summarized the feedback received from City Councilmembers. Input
from the ARC and PC included, but was not limited to, the following:
•Increasing the length of roof eaves from a minimum of 18
inches to 24 inches.
•Is 30 feet on center enough separation for Desert Museum
trees?
•Concern of trees that have fallen during Hurricane Hilary.
•Confirm applicability requirements for ODS in SB 330.
•How are the ODS addressing circulation and landscaping
between buildings?
•Ensure that higher-density projects do not lose separation
between buildings.
•Consider a certain percentage of the building that doesn’t
require a canopy frontage in order to prioritize views of
the architecture - balance architecture with pedestrian
experience.
•Consider a maximum percentage of hardscape versus a
minimum percentage of shrubs.
•Is 50 percent of live plant material too high?
•Are there screening requirements for balconies?
•Should water features be a passive amenity choice?
•Consider open space near street frontages to take away from
the bulk and scale of buildings.
Community Workshop
Following the Joint ARC/PC Study Session, the Consultant and City
Staff held a workshop open to community members to gain their
insight and perspective regarding the Multifamily and Mixed-Use
Objective Design Standards document. The meeting was held at
the Palm Desert City Hall but simultaneously streamed virtually to
allow for in-person and virtual attendance. The Consultant team
gave a presentation with slides similar to the decision-maker study
sessions, yet spent more time explaining the intent behind the ODS
and how the document should be read and utilized. The presentation
was recorded and posted on the Project website.
Date:
Location:
Time:
September 7, 2023
Palm Desert City Hall
6:30PM-8:00PM PST
Date:
Location:
Time:
September 7, 2023
Palm Desert City Hall
12:30PM-3:30PM PST
117CITY OF PALM DESERT MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
A-2 Image Sources
COVER x Fred Waring Drive. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
1 x The Enclave Rental Condominiums. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
3 x Golf course. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
5 x El Camino Triplex. San Mateo, CA. Photo via Todd Davis Architecture. x Mar Vista Four. Los Angeles, CA. Photo via KFA Architecture. x The E.R.B. Townhomes. Los Angeles, CA. Photo via KTGY. x Luminaira & Espaira At Parasol Park. Irvine, CA. Photo via KTGY. x Citron Apartments. Ventura, CA. Photo via KYGY.
6 x Santiago Lofts. Santa Ana, CA. Photo by JKA. x iHub. Palm Desert, CA. Google Earth aerial photography. x Westgate Apartments. Pasadena, CA. Photo by JKA. x The Earnest. San Diego, CA. Photo via FoundationForForm.
9 x Sombra De La Montana Townhomes. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
10 x Roundhouse Place. San Luis Obispo, CA. Photo via roundhouseplace.com
13 x Mason on Mariposa. San Francisco, CA. Photo via David Baker Architects.
14 x 855 Brannan Apartments. San Francisco, CA. Photo via David Baker Architects.
15 x The Asher. Fremont, CA. Photo via TCA Architects.
17 x Catalina Garden Apartments. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
18 x Desert Museum Palo Verde. Photo via https://waterwisegardenplanner.org/plants/parkinsonia-x-desert-museum/. x Sweet Acadia. Photo via https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341640321708500748/. x Spanish Walk. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
19 x Texas Ebony. Photo via Gothic Landscape. x Thornless Cascalote. Photo via Tuscan Clean and Beautiful, Inc. x Smoke Tree. Photo by Millicent Harvey. x Honey Mesquite. Photo via Arid Zone Trees.
20 x Wild Marigold. Photo by Waterwise Garden Planner for Southern California.
21 x Flattop Buckwheat. Photo via Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. x El Rincon. Indio, CA. Photo by JKA. x Desert River Estates. Indio, CA. Photo by JKA.
23 x Anton Landera Apartments. Mountain View, CA. Photo via https://www.antonladera.com/. x Apex on Central Apartments. Phoenix, AZ. Photo via Turnstone Capital.
24 x Portico Apartments. Sunrise, FL. Photo via https://www.porticoaptssunrisefl.com/. x The Rolland Curtis Gardens. Los Angeles, CA. Photo via Abode Communities. x Catherine Santa Monica. Santa Monica, CA. Photo via KFA Architecture. x Six Oaks Apartments. Bothell, WA. Photo via Dahlin Group.
25 x Multifamily on San Gorgonio Way. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
27 x LINC Fairview Heights. Inglewood, CA. Photo via KFA Architecture.
29 x Hancock Lofts. West Hollywood, CA. Photo via Koning Eizenberg Architecture. x Abbot Kinney Lofts. Los Angeles, CA. Photo via Koning Eizenberg Architecture.
30 x Avalon Apartments. Glendora, CA. Photo by JKA.
31 x Kapolei Lofts. Oahu, HI. Photo via KTGY.
33 x Elevation on Central. Phoenix, AZ. Photo via Todd+Associates. x Wardelle Townhouses. Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Michael Tessler Photography.
34 x The Residences at Escaya. Chula Vista, CA. Photo via AO. x Five88. San Francisco, CA. Photo via David Baker Architects. x Valencia Vista. San Bernardino, CA. Photo via Humphreys & Partners Architects.
35 x 1447 Lincoln. Santa Monica, CA. Photo via KFA Architecture. x 512 Rose. Venice, CA. Photo via KFA Architecture. x 300 Ivy. San Francisco, CA. David Baker Architects.
36 x Residences at Sweetbay. Panama City, FL. Photo via Humphreys & Partners Architects. x Desert Willow Golf Resort mechanical screening. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
37 x Kalon. Phoenix, AZ. Photo via Todd+Associates. x The Mews Lofts. Venice, CA. Photo via EYRC. x Perch. Dublin, CA. Photo via KYGY.
38 x Trash enclosure. Photo via City of Escondido. x Camden North End II. Phoenix, AZ. Photo via Todd+Associates. x Elan Menlo Park Apartments. Menlo Park, CA. Photo via KYGY.
39 x Camden Sotelo. Tempe, AZ. Photo via Todd+Associates. x Tanager Apartments. Summerlin, NV. Photo via Humphreys & Partners Architects. x Compass Rose. Fullerton, CA. Photo by Humphreys & Partners Architects.
41 x 40215 Harris Lane. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
43 x Charles Paddock Zoo Green Parking Lot. Atascadero, CA. Photo via Central Coast LIDI. x St. Mary’s Hospital Parking Lot. Photo via Savor the Southwest Blog. x Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Parking Lot. Palm Desert, CA. Photo via Married to Plants Blog. x Stacker Parking System. Photo via MHE.
44 x Desert Willow Golf Resort parking shelter. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA. x Prado West. Dana Point, CA. Photo via AO. x A2 Apartments. Baltimore, MD. Photo via David Baker Architects.
45 x Skye at McClintock Station. Tempe, AZ. Photo va https://www.skyeatmcclintockstation.com/. x Higby Apartments. Berkeley, CA. Photo via https://livehigby.com/gallery/.
47 x 73430 San Gorgonio Way. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
103 x Laguna Palms Apartments. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
107 x 73-535 Santa Rosa. Palm Desert, CA. Photo by JKA.
MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED -USE
OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS