Objective Design Standards
at North Berkeley BART

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.

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! 

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

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

November 16, 2022: ODS #1

Agenda   |    Presentation

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