Sunnyvale has updated its land-use designations to accommodate future residential growth.
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Sunnyvale City Council changed designations on 27 properties. Doing so allows for residences to add self-contained living spaces on the footprint of a larger residence, called accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
“There are some buildings with existing uses that do not match the underlying zoning or general plan land use designations,” said Wendy Lao, associate planner. “This will allow property owners the ability to maximize redevelopment or expansion opportunities within the zoning district’s redevelopment standards.”
The changes also rezoned 30 acres of industrial land and areas of the city where industrial and residential are mixed.
In a 6-0 vote, the planning commission supported the changes. One commissioner was absent from that vote.
Council Member Richard Mehlinger said property owners learning — after they’ve purchased a home — that they cannot expand it to meet the needs of a growing family is a “very nasty surprise.”
“This will enable the owners of these properties to, essentially, enjoy all the rights and benefits of any other homeowner in the city,” he said. “This may not be the most important study issue for the city, but for those 27 property owners, it is absolutely the most important study issue for them. So, fixing this is a very important fix.”
The change also allows the city to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), a state-mandated share of new housing.
Mayor Larry Klein said he appreciated that the item was a “grab bag of things,” allowing the council to knock out several items in one go.
The council approved the changes unanimously.
State And Federal Laws Filter to Local Level
The council also approved positions on state and federal laws that impact Sunnyvale.
Michelle Zahraie, senior management analyst, told the council the item helps establish how the laws play into council priorities and goals. Codifying these positions allows city employees to avoid misunderstanding how to resolve policy matters as they bump up against state and federal laws.
Broad categories for topics include funding for workforce development, environmental issues, drone policy, affordable housing and homelessness land use and airplane noise.
The city is also employing a firm, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., to assist in navigating state and federal regulations, advocating for city interests, and securing grant money.
Nicolo De Luca, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., said his firm has secured $3.2 million in grant money since the company’s inception in 1998.
Big topics, De Luca said, are likely to include housing, cap and trade, insurance affordability, local artist contracts and transportation funding.
The council altered the recommendation from city employees slightly, adding clarity and specificity to a few items.
Among those changes were getting clarity on state requirements for the housing allocation, preventing homelessness, ensuring fairness in utility rates and modernizing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Mehlinger said CEQA may now be an “obstacle” to the “scale and speed” needed to address climate change.
“I don’t believe in deregulation. I believe in correct regulation,” Mehlinger said. “There may be areas where CEQA is too lenient, and there may be areas where CEQA is too strict.”
Council Member Alyssa Cisneros said the city is “largely hitting the mark” with its positions.
The council unanimously approved the advocacy positions.
Sunnyvale City Council Consent Calendar Spending
The council approved the following spending in one motion via the consent calendar:
- A $396,438 contract with DK Environmental for on-call maintenance of vegetation at the water pollution control plant oxidation ponds.
- A five-year $1.27 million agreement with DataBank Holdings to provide a colocation facility for city data centers.
- A five-year $1.39 million purchase agreement with General Datatech for SMARTnet maintenance and software subscriptions.
The council meets again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave. in Sunnyvale.
To submit public comments ahead of the meeting, visit http://Sunnyvale.ca.gov/PublicComments; Meeting online link: https://sunnyvale-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/96111580540; meeting call-in telephone number: 833-548-0276, meeting ID: 961 1158 0540.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
Previous Sunnyvale City Council Meetings:
Sunnyvale Appoints New Vice Mayor, Finance Director
Sunnyvale City Council Approves Severe Weather Program for the Homeless
Sunnyvale Revamps Traffic Plan
