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Sunnyvale Board of Adjustment denies variance for garage at 629 St. James Alley

5706953 · September 2, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Board of Adjustment unanimously denied a request to reduce the required 120-foot rear-yard setback for a proposed oversized garage attached to a new house at 629 St. James Alley, finding the hardship self-imposed and noting neighborhood opposition.

The Sunnyvale Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Tuesday to deny a variance request that would have allowed an oversized attached garage to encroach into the 120-foot rear-yard setback at 629 St. James Alley.

The request would have modified Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) section 3.05.0.03 to permit the garage — roughly 1,500 square feet and reportedly encroaching between 12 and 30 feet at an angle — to extend into the required rear yard for a proposed 6,100-square-foot house. Staff recommended denial, saying the lot could accommodate a compliant design and that any hardship was self-imposed.

Saru Passen, director of planning and development, and staff presented the application and told the board the proposal meets maximum lot coverage for the SF-1 zone but still…

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