Housing commission backs plan allowing developer to pay BMR in‑lieu fees for 1124 W. El Camino Real condos

The Sunnyvale Housing and Human Services Commission voted unanimously June 25 to recommend that the City Council approve an alternative compliance plan allowing the residential portion of the project at 1124 West El Camino Real to pay BMR in‑lieu fees instead of building on‑site affordable ownership units.

The commission's action followed a staff presentation that described the project as a mixed‑use development: 111 multifamily residential units above retail plus structured parking, and five two‑story single‑family homes as originally approved. The developer later filed a revised tentative map to convert the main building to condominiums, with the intent to sell about 86 units and retain roughly 25 as rentals. Staff said the rental portion is grandfathered from the city's rental BMR requirement and will instead pay a housing impact fee set under Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 19.75; the ownership units would be subject to Sunnyvale Municipal Code Section 19.67, which requires 15% of new ownership units be affordable when a project creates seven or more ownership homes.

Staff said the 15% requirement would amount to 13.65 BMR…