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Sunnyvale staff present local options to implement SB 684 and SB 1123
Summary
City planners explained two new state housing laws, described three local policy options (allowing ADUs and SB 9, prohibiting both, or a middle ground), and asked for community feedback before drafting an ordinance to take to the Planning Commission and City Council.
Gabby Ventura, an associate planner with the City of Sunnyvale, opened a virtual outreach meeting to explain how Sunnyvale must comply with two recent state housing laws and to solicit public feedback on local policy choices. “My name is Gabby Ventura, and I'm an associate planner with the city of Sunnyvale,” she said as she outlined the meeting agenda and next steps.
Ventura summarized the laws and the narrow policy choices left to local government. She said SB 684 (effective 07/01/2024) allows eligible multifamily-zoned properties to be subdivided into up to 10 lots and to contain up to 10 dwelling units, with ministerial review if objective standards are met. SB 1123 (effective 07/01/2025) extends similar subdivision provisions to vacant single-family-zoned lots that are no larger than 1.5 acres and requires newly created lots be at least 1,200 square feet. Ventura told attendees the city’s primary local choices were whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) should be allowed on parcels created under SB 684 and whether those newly created parcels should also be eligible to use SB 9.
Staff laid out three discrete policy options: Option A would allow both ADUs and SB 9 on SB 684-created parcels (staff cited example totals of 21 units for multifamily-derived parcels and 40 for single-family-derived parcels); Option B would prohibit ADUs and SB 9 on those parcels, limiting housing to the 10 units allowed under SB 684; Option C would allow ADUs with limits while prohibiting SB 9, a middle-ground that staff illustrated with projected unit counts. Ventura said community feedback would help shape the ordinance that staff will draft for a study session in December and a later public hearing.
The meeting closed with staff inviting written comments and providing contact information for follow-up. Ventura provided an email address for comments (gventura@sunnyvale.ca.gov) and said staff will continue to collect feedback as they prepare an ordinance for commission and council review.
