Project Description

The Alameda County Community Development Agency has initiated an Illustrated Design Guidelines and Development Standards project to establish design review guidelines for new construction and redevelopment projects in the County. The Design Guidelines will be used by developers to assist in the design of projects and by County staff, County decision-makers and the general public to review applications for proposed projects. The key goal is to provide clarity and certainty about site planning and architectural design expectations.

For more detailed description, please see the Project Overview (32Kb)*

The project area includes unincorporated western Alameda County, generally west of the East Bay hills, south of the city of San Leandro, north of the city of Hayward. It consists of the communities of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview and San Lorenzo. The area is approximately 22 square miles of urban and suburban land, with residential uses, built largely between the 1950s to the present, being the predominant land use.
Project Area Map (1.28Mb)*

What are Design Guidelines and Development Standards?

"Design Guidelines" are a set of discretionary statements and "Development Standards" are a set of threshold requirements. Both are intended to guide land development to achieve a desired level of quality for the physical environment.

Design Guidelines function to preserve and enhance the desired character of existing neighborhoods and improve the aesthetic and functional quality of new development projects. Design Guidelines and Development Standards cover both urban and suburban development and should be organized primarily according to land use and building typology, such as industrial, residential, commercial and mixed-use development.

Community Participation

Taskforce members, stakeholders and members of the public have an essential role in the public participation process and its associated program development. All County facilitated public hearings and outreach forums are noticed by mail, internet and newspaper, and are open to the public. Meeting reports, agendas and related correspondence will be available for review at the County Planning Department Office, 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 111, Hayward, CA 94544, and posted on this website as downloadable files. Anyone interested in participating in the process may also submit written comments via letter or email.

Contact Information

Rodrigo Orduña
Alameda County Planning Department
224 West Winton Avenue, Suite 111
Hayward, CA 94544
Phone: (510) 670-5400
Fax: (510) 785-8793
Send an email.

Project Timeline

Taskforce meetings will be held on semi monthly basis on the first Tuesday of the month for the duration the Design Guidelines process.

• October 7, 2008: Taskforce Kickoff Meeting
  The Taskforce Kick-off Meeting was held at 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 160, Public Hearing Room, Hayward, CA 94544. Taskforce meeting presentation documents.
  Handout (13.6Mb)*
  Illustrations (13.6Mb)*
• October 29, 2008: Stakeholder Interviews
  Stakeholder interviews were held from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Planning Department offices at 224 West Winton Avenue, Hayward, CA.
• October 2008 – January 2009: Existing Conditions Analysis Report
  A consultant hired by the County performed an analysis of existing conditions within the project area. This report is available to the public.
• February 2009 – March 2009: Standards and Guidelines Recommendations Report
  The consultant is drafting initial recommendations for design guidelines and draft development standards for Townhouses and Small Lot Single Family Dwellings. The report is available to the public.
• Townhouses and Small Lot Family Dwellings - 02 18 09  (2.9Mb)*
• Map 1 - Zoning: San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres, Cherryland, Ashland  (4Mb)*
• Map 2 - Zoning: Castro Valley  (4.10Mb)*
• Map 3 - Zoning: Fairview, Five Canyons (2.3Mb)*
• February 24, 2009: Taskforce Meeting 1
  The consultant provided the Taskforce members and the County with a report of their research into existing conditions and regulations, and with recommendations for design guidelines.
  
  Taskforce meetings, open to the public, will continue to be held to review the recommended design guidelines and draft development standards.
  • Taskforce Agenda February, 2009 (48Kb)*
  • Townhomes and Small Lot Family Dwellings (10.6Mb)*
  • Taskforce Meeting Notes (53Kb)*


• March 30, 2009: Taskforce Meeting 2
  The consultant provided the Taskforce members and the County with a report of their research into existing conditions on narrow lots (between 50 feet and 75 feet), and with recommendations for design guidelines and changes to development standards for these narrow lots. Taskforce meetings, open to the public, will continue to be held to review the recommended design guidelines and draft development standards.
  
• Taskforce Agenda March 2009 (38Kb)*
• Townhomes and Small Lot Family Dwellings on Narrow Lots (50 ft to 75 ft wide) (2.992Mb)*
• Taskforce Meeting Notes (75Kb)*


• May 26, 2009: Taskforce Meeting 3

Spring and Early Summer of 2009: Public Review of Draft Initial Standards and Guidelines.
• Taskforce Agenda May, 2009 (43Kb)*
• Single-Family Subdivisions and Hillside Development (12.22Mb)*
• Taskforce Meeting Notes (42Kb)*
• June 29, 2009: Taskforce Meeting 4


• Taskforce Agenda June, 2009  (70Kb)*
• Multi Family Residential and Mixed Use 06.19.09  (3.5Mb)*
• Multi Family Residential Zoning Map  (3.9Mb)*
• Multi Family Residential_WholeArea_Lot Sizes  (9.95Mb)*
• Existing Development Regulations (73Kb)*
• Existing Specific Plan Regulations and Condo Guidelines  (72Kb)*
• Summary of Recommended Development Standards  (82Kb)*
• Zoning Regulations for Other Cities  (20Kb)*
• Taskforce Meeting Notes  (60Kb)*
• February and March 2010: Community Meetings in Unincorporated West Alameda County
  Taskforce and community meetings will be held to discuss, review, and suggest changes in the updated design guidelines and draft development standards.
• Late Spring / Early Summer 2010: Public Hearings
  In late spring and early summer of 2010 the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings to adopt the final guidelines and standards.

Links & Resources

http://www.dyettandbhatia.com