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Council approves Sunnyvale’s 2024 housing‑element annual progress report; city reports 676 housing units finaled in 2024
Summary
Council approved the city’s 2024 housing element Annual Progress Report (APR), which records 676 finaled units in 2024, continued ADU growth, and staff actions including large affordable‑housing mitigation awards and a MidPen development agreement on city‑owned land.
The City Council unanimously approved Sunnyvale’s 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) on March 18, a staff document that catalogues housing production, program accomplishments and progress on the city’s RHNA obligation.
Housing specialist Ryan Dyson told council that calendar year 2024 saw 676 housing units finaled, an increase from 2023, and that many of the 2024 completions were deed‑restricted affordable units such as the 90‑unit Meridian project (city‑sponsored and now leased). Planning entitlements in 2024 were lower than the prior year (city staff reported 340 units entitled in 2024 versus 700 in 2023), a pattern staff attributed to the timing of large specific plans and market conditions. Approximately 278 building permits were issued in 2024.
Dyson noted Sunnyvale’s adopted program and zoning capacity remains sufficient to meet the city’s RHNA (regional housing needs allocation) for the 2023–2031 cycle; staff reported sites capacity of roughly 14,000 units and said the city has permitted about 14% of its RHNA through 12/31/2024 for the current cycle. City staff emphasized differences by affordability band: above‑moderate production is farther along; very low, low and moderate income bands lag current RHNA targets.
Staff highlighted program accomplishments for 2024: HCD certification of the 2023–2031 housing element (March 2024); the city’s issuance of a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that awarded about $29.5 million in housing mitigation funds to three affordable projects, including a $12.5 million city land acquisition plus $1.5 million predevelopment loan for 1171 Sonora Court (a MidPen Housing project expected to deliver 172 affordable units); completion of the 90‑unit Meridian affordable development; and expansion of homelessness programs and tenant‑based rental assistance.
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) activity remains robust: Dyson showed a 10‑year chart where ADU permits and finalizations rose substantially — 73 ADU permits and 74 ADU finalizations in 2024 — and noted staff will participate in a regional ADU survey to better understand how many ADUs are rented and at what affordability levels. The city also launched a pre‑approved ADU plan gallery to accelerate ADU construction.
Council adopted the APR and directed staff to submit the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Ending: councilmembers praised recent completions, asked about Moffett Park project updates and financing, and asked staff to monitor production trends as part of ongoing housing work.
