The Town has adopted objective design standards (ODS) for multi-family projects. Objective standards are standards that don’t require personal or subjective judgement. The purpose of the ODS is to address changes in State law that allow certain multi-family residential projects to move forward to construction with only approval of a building permit. These changes in State law remove the Town’s ability to require Planning Commission or Town Council review and approval and public notice. 

The purpose of the ODS is to ensure that projects that are exempt from Planning Commission or Town Council review and approval are designed to fit in with the character of Windsor.

The ODS ordinance is available here. 

Development of the Objective Design Standards

The ODS were developed with input from the community, stakeholder groups, the Planning Commission and Town Council.  

A three-part Community Workshop series was held beginning August 24 through October 15, 2020, and included videos and a Visual Preference Survey.  You can still view the videos by clicking on the following links:

1. Multi-Family Residential Objective Design Standards Project Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Wix5e79MM
2. Getting the Housing You Want - Terms and Factors that Shape Housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_MNq8XzWyw
3. Getting the Housing You Want - Design Factors that Matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5PkN-x3Amg

Project Documents

• Memo:  Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family Residential Development
• Stakeholder Interview Summary
• Community Engagement Summary