Objective Design Standards
at North Berkeley BART
North Berkeley BART will have Objective Design Standards with input from the community
NBB = North Berkeley BART | ODS = Objective Design Standards
NBHP = North Berkeley Housing Partners, NBB's developers led by BRIDGE housing
Give Feedback on the ODS & NBB design by Sept 29
✅ Take the Survey and copy+paste the following into the field that says “What do you think could be improved?”
Please make changes to the Objective Design Standards (ODS) that allow for as many homes to be created as possible, while following the zoning rules and Joint Vision and Priorities that promote good design at the North Berkeley BART station.
Specifically:
Reduce required setbacks to the minimum required by zoning (five feet), as this provides greater design flexibility for more homes. The planting buffer, sidewalks, and a setback of five feet minimum provide ample separation between the buildings and the street.
Reduce or eliminate massing breaks where possible to restore more homes.
Keep maximum height at building code fire life safety limit of 85 feet, and remove specification of eight stories.
For the stepped-down perimeter along Delaware, Acton, and Virginia, increase the allowable height to four stories (as specified in zoning rules), and reduce the allowable depth in order to allow for more homes and housing types.
Build in the possibility of restoring Delaware and Virginia streets to their narrower pre-BART street width, and shift setbacks accordingly to enable greater design flexibility for more homes.
✅ Feast your eyes on NBB’s design and take notes on what you like and what could be better
✅ Take the Survey about NBB’s design concept, no specific feedback recommended here.
✅ Save the date: Wednesday, October 18 for the Planning Commission meeting where they’ll take up North Berkeley BART’s ODS. Stay tuned for actions and talking points for that as well!
Not sure what ODS are? You’re not alone! Here’s how BART explains them:
The Objective Design Standards will be the rules approved by the City of Berkeley to govern how the developer designs the new buildings to be constructed on each BART property. These standards will set additional limits on what kind of construction can be built on the properties, and city planning staff will review the architect’s designs for consistency with the standards. If the TOD qualifies for streamlined approvals under AB 2923, as expected, then it will be eligible to be approved via this staff-level review rather than at boards, commissions, or City Council. The Objective Design Standards will be developed through an inclusive process that will include input from residents and other stakeholders, and will be finalized for each station individually following the selection of a developer.
We should start thinking about what kinds of “additional limits” on the design will lead to a more viable project, a more beautiful building, more affordable homes, public spaces that thrive instead of whither. Bring your best ideas to the upcoming ODS meetings!
We are so close to paradise instead of a parking lot.
Keep it up, let's do this!
Scroll down to learn about previous ODS meetings and actions (most recent at the top, oldest at the bottom)
Since November 2022, the city of Berkeley, BART, and NBHP have been hosting community meetings about Objective Design Standards (ODS) for North Berkeley BART.
Residents who have been opposed to apartments at NBB are using every ODS meeting to voice their displeasure about the process so far, repeat their opposition to height, and influence the design to make the NBB homes as small as possible. At the same time, there’s been a noticeable showing of pro-housing neighbors like us at every meeting too - and we need to keep it up! If you haven’t been to an ODS meeting yet, please try to make it to at least one. The date for the next meeting is TBD. In the meantime, send an email today. Copy and paste the info below, sign with your name and location and please include an original anecdote at the beginning since unique letters have more impact.
To: council@cityofberkeley.info, bartplanning@cityofberkeley.info, nbb@bridgehousing.com
Talking Points: Bridge has proposed a plan that meets the affordability levels and unit counts set forth in the Joint Vision and Priorities document. Do not approve reductions to the project’s size or create Objective Design Standards that make it more difficult to meet the unit counts and affordability levels in their proposal. I support the general direction of Bridge’s plan without reduction to the density proposed or significant changes to the allowable building envelope.
March 5: NBB ODS site walk
Since last November, the city of Berkeley, BART, and NBHP (North Berkeley Housing Partners, i.e. the developer team) have been hosting community meetings about Objective Design Standards (ODS) for North Berkeley BART.
Residents who have been opposed to apartments at NBB are using every ODS meeting to voice their displeasure about the process so far, repeat their opposition to height, and influence the design to make the NBB homes as small as possible. At the same time, there’s been a noticeable showing of pro-housing neighbors like us at every meeting too - and we need to keep it up! If you haven’t been to an ODS meeting yet, please try to make it to at least one. The next one is in person at NBB itself on Sunday, March 5 at 2pm. Take action today and on March 5:
Send an email today. Click the link in the latest NBNow newsletter or copy and paste the info below
To: council@cityofberkeley.info, bartplanning@cityofberkeley.info, nbb@bridgehousing.com, BoardofDirectors@bart.gov
Talking Points: Bridge has proposed a plan that meets the affordability levels and unit counts set forth in the Joint Vision and Priorities document. Do not approve reductions to the project’s size or create Objective Design Standards that make it more difficult to meet the unit counts and affordability levels in their proposal. I support the general direction of Bridge’s plan without reduction to the density proposed or significant changes to the allowable building envelope.
Sign with your name and location and please include an original anecdote at the beginning since unique letters have more impact.
Show up tomorrow and be on the lookout for a friendly volunteer giving out blue stickers.
Feb 15 & 16: North Berkeley BART Objective Design Standards
It’s back! Another opportunity to give feedback on the form and shape of the future homes at North Berkeley BART. More info on past meetings on our website. Do you want to participate in person or online? Take your pick
In-Person
Wednesday, February 15
7–8:30pm
Learn More
Berkeley Unified School District Boardroom
1231 Addison Street, Berkeley
Virtual Meeting
Thursday, February 16
7–8:30pm
Learn More
Zoom Meeting ID: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84090881838
Meeting ID: 840 9088 1838
Call-In: (669) 444-9171
Dec 1 & 5: North Berkeley BART Objective Design Standards
From City of Berkeley:
The Office Hours sessions offer an opportunity for community members to ask additional questions and provide feedback to the materials covered in the first ODS Community Meeting. The Office Hours sessions are informal, drop-in events for community members. There will be no staff presentations and no new material will be introduced.
Check out the presentation from the ODS meeting on Nov 16 here
ODS Office Hours #1
(Zoom Only)
Thursday, Dec 1, 2022
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
On-Line: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83922787814
Phone-In: (669) 900-6833
Meeting ID: 839 2278 7814
ODS Office Hours #2
(In Person Only)
Monday, Dec 5, 2022
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
West Berkeley Branch Library
Community Room
1125 University Avenue
November 16, 2022: ODS #1
In June the city of Berkeley and BART entered into another agreement that sets up a process to give everyone a better sense of what the actual development at North Berkeley BART will look like. This is an important phase as we will be looking at the actual development for many years to come!
Wednesday, November 16, 7-9pm
Join via Zoom or phone: (669) 900 6833
Meeting ID: 818 0401 9386 Meeting Password: 092751