Mill Valley planning commission approves five‑unit Sunnyside project with construction parking limits and tree‑protection conditions

The Mill Valley Planning Commission on Jan. 14 approved design review, a tentative parcel map and a tree removal permit for 20 Sunnyside Avenue, a project that will add five two‑bedroom townhomes over a podium parking garage and subdivide the property so the units may be sold as condominiums.

Patrick Kelly, the city’s director of planning and building, told the commission the project has evolved since it was first reviewed in January 2024 and now conforms with the city’s small‑lot housing overlay and objective design and development standards adopted after the housing element was certified. "The project conforms with all site development standards, including the parking requirements," Kelly said during his presentation, citing a peer‑reviewed parking analysis that estimated combined parking demand at 15 spaces and the proposal to provide 18 on‑site spaces.

The applicant, Steve Geisler of Geisler Architects, described design changes made after staff and agency review, including adding a sidewalk on the Parkwood…