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Objective Design Standards

      Survey: Help shape design standards for Downtown Hollister 
 
The City of Hollister is developing Objective Design Standards (ODS) to guide the look and feel of future development in Downtown Hollister. These standards will help streamline the review process for new multifamily and mixed-use residential buildings - from small duplexes to large apartment complexes - by establishing clear, measurable rules for elements such as building facades, entryways, public areas, open spaces, landscaping, and sensitivity to historic character.

This short community survey is a key part of the process, giving residents a chance to shape the aesthetics of future development. Downtown Hollister has long been a source of local pride, and your input will help ensure that new buildings reflect the values and character of the community.

The survey is one component of a broader outreach effort. The City will also be hosting a open house design workshop on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Paine's Restaurant Meeting Room  located at 421 East Street, Hollister. The open house runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and you're welcome to stop by at any time. Workshop presentations will be held at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM.
 
Public Meetings and Key Events
Find information about public meetings and key events in connection with the development of Objective Design Standards here.
 
 
  UPCOMING  - ODS Workshop     
  Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Paine's Restaurant Meeting Room
421 East Street, Hollister, CA 95023		   Open house from 4 PM to 8 PM. Stop by whenever you like.
Workshop presentations at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM.
  Planning Commission Meeting    Agenda Cover Page PDF
 Agenda HTML | PDF
 Minutes HTML | PDF
 Video
  Thursday, March 13, 2025 @ 6:00 PM
City Council Chamber, City Hall
375 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023		  


COH ODS Banner
 
  What are Objective Design Standards?     Where will the new ODS apply?    
ODS are quantitative, measurable requirements for the design of housing projects. Like zoning standards, whether or not a product complies with them is not subject to interpretation. This differs from design guidelines, which are subjective, or open to personal perspective. Design guidelines have been used for decades in most cities to shape the aesthetics of new development. ODS Stanard Icons ODS downtown map
The first round of ODS will apply to multifamily and mixed-use projects in the Downtown Mixed-Use (DMU) district. The value of downtown to Hollister's character has been established in decades of planning projects. Residents again expressed pride in downtown during the General Plan Update process, resulting in multiple policies to preserve downtown character and design. The Downtown ODS will be expanded citywide in the future.
Why is the City of Hollister Developing ODS Now?
California is experiencing a housing crisis. In response, the State Passed a series of laws to boost multifamily housing production. One component of these laws is that cities cannot deny multifamily housing projects based on any subjective criteria such as guidelines. Thus, only ODS will allow cities to maintain local control over design. There are multiple action items in the Hollister General Plan Update that call for the creation of ODS for multifamily and residential mixed-use projects.
Will the ODS conflict with local design preferences?
No, the Downtown ODS will support local design preferences. They will be informed by existing design direction, new community outreach, and design priorities established in the General Plan Update. These priorities include prohibiting corporate architecture, preserving historic character, and orienting buildings to street fronts to maintain human connection. Historic Downtown Building
How can ODS help preserve Downtown's Historic Character?
Historic character will be a focus of the new ODS. There will be standards that prohibit inappropriate materials, regulate facade and roof designs, and ensure that new buildings complement the scale of neighboring structures, among others.
 
 


ODS Common ODS Section & Design Topics Banner
 
   Site Planning    Pedestrian Orientation  
Site Plan 1_Building Placement & Orientation Building Placement and Orientation. The location and orientation of buildings in relation to street fronts or adjacent structures. Pedestrian Orientation 1_Retail Ground Floor Design Retail Ground Floor Design. Design approaches that invite passer-by, such as window expanses, open entrances and accessible plazas. 
Site Plan 2_Entryways and Access Entryways and Access. The number location and design of driveways and pedestrian/bicycle access paths.  Pedestrian Orientation 2_Ground Floor Scale Ground Floor Scale. Increased area and height of ground floor retail spaces.
Site Plan 3_Parking and Garages Parking and Garages. The design and orientation of surface parking and garages to reduce visual impacts.  Pedestrian Orientation 3_Ground Floor Open Areas
Ground Floor Open Areas. Courtyards and other open areas that surround ground floor retail, available for use by shoppers, visitors and building residents. 
Building Form Open Space
Building Form 1_Massing Massing. The apparent size, bulk and "boxiness" of a building. Open Space 1_Design and Access Design and Access. The layout and design of common open spaces to ensure easy access by residents and visitors.
Building Form 2_Building Division Building Divisions. Projecting or recessed portions of a building designed to break up the building mass. Open Space 2_Amenities Amenities. Various facilities for active and passive recreation provided in residential common spaces.
Building Form 3_Corner Volume Corner Volume. Design approaches for buildings at intersections intended to visually reinforce the street corner.  Open Space 3_Private Open Space
Private Open Space. The design and integration of balconies, patios and other private open areas. 
 
Building Form 4_Facade Articulation Facade Alternation. The design of building fronts to make structures visually interesting, diverse and appealing. 
Landscaping Historic Preservation
Landscaping 1_Focal Points Focal Points. The use landscaping to highlight entryways, walkways, plazas, and other visual focus points. Historic Preservation 1_Scale Scale. The size and mass of new buildings in relation to neighboring historic structures.
Landscaping 2_Buffering Buffering. The use of landscaping to visually separate project areas from adjacent streets, parking lots and sensitive uses. Historic Preservation 2_Exterior Detail Exterior Details. The application of materials, color and design approaches to compliment adjacent historic structures.
Landscaping 3_Plantings Plantings. The location, mix and aesthetic use of different plant types and species.  Historic Preservation 3_Visual Continuity Visual Continuity. Details to support visual connections between new and historic buildings such as rooflines and parallel siding.