Objective Design Standards

A Lafayette homeowner and M3 committee member raised concern about corner surface parking lots, using the Roundup as an example of how corner lots with parking hurt the pedestrian experience downtown.

Urged the Council to preserve Lafayette's semi-rural character by capping single-pane windows at six square feet, cutting glazing to 30% or less, and banning shed roofs — warning that bad buildings can't be fixed once built.

Backed Mr. Hudson and asked the Council to make the standards as strict as possible, since developers can waive them — 'make them earn it.'

Urged the commission to fix four items before sending to council: remove butterfly and shed roofs, cut the single-pane window limit from 18 sq ft, and reduce total glazing from 45% to a lower number, citing examples like Byron Park and 210 Lafayette Circle.

Donated her comment time to Elliot Hudson, echoed his concerns, criticized state housing mandates as a 'fraud,' and asked the commission to make his requested changes before sending the draft to council.

Urged the Council to stop delaying the design standards, praised the flat-roof ban, and flagged three flaws: butterfly/shed roofs, oversized single-pane windows, and a 45% glazing allowance.

Said the standards are years late, that wrong buildings 'will never come down,' and supported the bifurcation option.

Voiced support for the bifurcation option on the design standards.

Argued the draft standards are a 'design handbook for Walnut Creek' and urged the council to require pitched roofs, cut glass percentages and limit stucco/concrete, submitting a detailed markup.

Supported Hudson's edits and asked the council to ban flat roofs on larger buildings, noting mansard-style examples like the Mercantile.

Encouraged the council to defend the mission statement and 'not turn us into Walnut Creek.'

Read a letter arguing modern boxy architecture is 'the friend of the builder' and urged designs fitting Lafayette's rural character.

Argued no architectural style is 'semi-rural' for six-story buildings, warned banning flat roofs would push every project to waivers, and urged annual updates rather than casting the document in concrete.

Opposed Walnut Creek-style flat roofs and multiple colors; suggested mansard-style facades hiding rooftop equipment.

Longtime property owner urged the council not to approve the ODS as drafted, saying it would irreversibly change the town's semi-rural character.