Planning Commission approves 172‑unit, 100% affordable MidPen project at 1171 Sonora Court

The Sunnyvale Planning Commission voted March 23 to approve a MidPen Housing project to demolish a 19,512‑square‑foot industrial building and construct a seven‑story, 172‑unit residential building at 1171 Sonora Court.

Senior planner Margaret Neto told commissioners the project sits on a 1.3‑acre parcel in the Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP) area and proposes 170 affordable units plus two manager units. The proposal relies on the state density bonus law to achieve a residential density of 132 dwelling units per acre. Neto said prior outreach included a neighborhood meeting on June 10, 2025 and a Planning Commission study session on July 28, 2025.

Neto summarized four concessions the applicant requested: a reduction of minimum ground‑floor plate height from 14 ft to 12 ft (mitigated by a continuous canopy that gives the impression of a 14‑ft plate), roof‑form/cornice detail variations, and a shortfall in required individual lockable storage (applicant proposes 4,800 cubic feet yielding 24 storage spaces). Two waivers were requested: no additional setback above third floor on the public street facing wall, and building elevation divisions that do not meet the standard 75‑ft interval and 10‑ft recess requirement (applicant provides divisions ranging from ~5 to 9 ft).

Neto said the project provides 20% of the site as landscaping (with a net gain in tree canopy after replacing two removed protected trees with 13 new trees), 78 square feet of open space per unit (exceeding the city's 50 sq ft/unit requirement), and 88 parking stalls (below the standard of 107). Staff noted eligibility under AB 2097 for reduced parking in transit‑accessible areas and recommended approval with a modified condition of approval removing a city‑owned public access area (Condition EP33) because the property will be subject to lease terms.

MidPen project manager Jennifer Leu and Studio T Square Architects presented design changes made since the study session, including preserving trees, activating sidewalks, increasing bike storage to approximately one stall per unit, a corner massing treatment and a roof deck accessible from common corridors so all residents can use it. MidPen described a multimodal mobility plan with free transit passes for residents, a "no vehicle" preference in leasing for some applicants, shuttle coordination and robust bike parking; the applicant said the parking ratio (approx. 0.5 stalls/unit) is supported by a transportation consultant's comparison with similar affordable projects in transit‑adjacent locations.

Commissioners questioned the city's role as landowner (the city is the property owner and MidPen the developer), the sufficiency of parking relative to local travel patterns, the design concessions and waivers, and how student transportation and ADA needs will be handled. A representative of the Carpenters Union (Oscar Masaros) spoke in favor of the project and urged the commission to prioritize responsible contractors, apprenticeships and fair wages for construction on public land.

A motion to approve (staff alternative two with the modified Condition EP33) passed on a 6‑0 vote with Chair Glaciius absent. Neto noted the decision is final for 15 days unless appealed to City Council by April 7.