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Planning Commission continues SB9 study session to June 8 for more analysis
Summary
The Commission continued a study session on SB9/SB450 compliance and possible single-family review streamlining to a date certain (June 8) so staff can prepare draft ordinance text, objective design standards, and options for use-permit triggers on substandard lots.
Senior Planner Calvin Chan opened a study session on Senate Bill 9 and SB450, describing ministerial two-unit approvals, urban lot splits, and SB450 changes that require uniform objective standards and a 60-day approval timeline for complete SB9 applications. Chan told the Commission the city has approved five urban lot splits since 2023 and is processing several more.
SB450, Chan said, requires local objective standards to be applied uniformly; staff concluded that many of Menlo Park's existing SB9-specific rules are inconsistent with the newer state language and therefore unenforceable. Staff proposed two near-term areas for Commission direction: (1) remove use-permit triggers for development on substandard lots to streamline ministerial review; and (2) set objective floor-area limits (FAL) for lots under 5,000 square feet to avoid discretionary FAL hearings.
The Commission had no public speakers on the item and voted to continue the SB9 study session to June 8 so staff can return with more detailed draft code text, analysis of options (including whether to adopt tiered objective design standards by lot size), and a proposed outreach plan.
