The City has developed general standards for BMR Units
BMR units should be located throughout the development in all buildings, in each section, on each floor and in each project phase. A concentration of BMR units in one, or a few location(s) is not permitted.
BMR units must be provided proportionately in the same unit type mix as the market rate units. For example, if a 40-unit project with an 8-unit BMR requirement (20% rate) includes 20 one-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom units, then the City would require that the developer provide four (4) one-bedroom BMR units and four (4) two-bedroom BMR units.
The BMR units must have the same interior square footage and floor plans (including garages and parking) as the market units. If there is a range of floor plans and square footage of the market rate units, then the BMR units need to be provided proportionately within those floor plans and unit sizes. In all cases, BMR unit floor plans and room sizes must be livable and functional for typical BMR households. The developer may request exceptions to this Standard #3 from the City, which may be approved in the City's sole discretion, in return for other benefits considered beneficial by the City for the BMR Program. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom BMR units are usually in the greatest demand by households on the program waiting list. The City may prefer to accept a contribution of units with more bedrooms than would be required by strictly following the proportionality of the project's unit mix. For example, converting a spacious master bedroom suite in a market rate floor plan into a smaller master bedroom with an adjoining secondary bedroom may better meet the BMR program goals while also providing the developer with a higher unit sales price.
Because the City sets minimum household size requirements for buyers for each unit type, two, three and four bedroom units in particular, should be designed for occupancy by households that are typically larger than the average market rate household. Bedrooms should be designed to accommodate two persons and have at least 120 square feet of useful living space in addition to adequate closet space. The master bedroom should be significantly larger than the secondary bedrooms. There should be an adequate number of bathrooms for the expected household sizes. Three and four bedroom units must have at least two full bathrooms. Other unit types (studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units) shall have the same number of bathrooms as the market rate units.
The external appearance, finishing materials and quality of construction of the BMR units and any landscaping, private yards or open space that is part of the BMR unit property must be identical to the market rate units in the project.
All project facilities, amenities and parking must be available on the same basis to the BMR units as to the market units.
In ownership projects, the developer may request City approval of substitutions for luxury interior finishing's, appliances or fixtures. The substitutions must still be very good quality and durability. For example, a standard bathtub could be substituted for a whirlpool tub or ceramic tile counters could be substituted for granite counters. The developer must submit such requests in writing to the City with specifications and descriptions of the materials to be used in the BMR units in sufficient time for City review and decision prior to issuance of the building permit for the project.
In rental housing projects, the City requires that all units, both the market units and the BMR units, be constructed and finished to the same interior standards, including the same number of bedrooms and baths, the same square footage and the same type and quality of interior fixtures and finishing's. This allows the designated BMR units to be changed over the life of the agreement when necessary to accommodate the needs of the tenants and to further the overall goals of the BMR Program.
