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Sunnyvale council introduces ordinance temporarily exempting Murphy Station historic district from SB 79 upzoning
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to temporarily exclude the Murphy Station Heritage Landmark District (100 block South Murphy Avenue) from SB 79 upzoning provisions, citing the historic district exemption in state law and staff plans to evaluate alternative compliance measures for other transit areas.
The Sunnyvale City Council voted on May 5 to introduce an ordinance temporarily excluding the Murphy Station Heritage Landmark District from the state SB 79 upzoning provisions that take effect July 1. The motion, which carried 4–0, affects the 100 block of South Murphy Avenue and surrounding parcels listed on the local historic register.
Community Development Director Trudy Ryan explained SB 79 (the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act) sets minimum densities and non‑discretionary entitlements for certain properties within a half‑mile of Caltrain and VTA light‑rail stations. The statute allows a city to exclude historic districts—so long as the excluded area does not exceed 10% of the applicable half‑mile area—and staff recommended using that exemption to preserve Murphy Avenue’s commercial and historic character.
Ryan said staff will continue analysis on whether to prepare an alternative compliance plan for other station areas (for example, Moffett Park or Lawrence Station) that could demonstrate equivalent housing capacity while protecting retail and walkable commercial corridors. She also noted pending legislative fixes and exemptions that could affect the SB 79 implementation timeline and highlighted compatibility zones around Moffett Airfield that may further reduce the scope of SB 79 in parts of the city.
One public speaker urged skepticism about broad historic exclusions and warned that parking lots and empty storefronts could be better used for housing. Council members and the maker of the motion emphasized the goal of preserving a key downtown commercial corridor while staff studies larger compliance strategies.
Next steps: staff will analyze alternative plan feasibility, coordinate with regional mapping by MTC, and report back to council on workload and whether to pursue an alternative compliance plan as allowed under the statute.
