REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Forward a Recommendation to the City Council to Adopt an Urgency Interim Ordinance and Introduce an Ordinance Amending Titles 18 (Subdivisions) and 19 (Zoning) and Title 13 (Streets and Sidewalks) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code related to new State Legislation (Senate Bill 9) on Housing Development in Single-Family Zoning Districts and Find that the Action is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Senate Bill (SB) 9 essentially puts an end to single-family zoning in urbanized areas of California by requiring local agencies to approve multiple residential units on most single-family zoned lots. Nearly two out of three dwellings in California are single-family dwellings. State lawmakers consider SB 9 and other recently approved housing legislation to be key steps toward solving the current housing crisis.
In Sunnyvale, single-family dwellings make up approximately 35% of the housing stock; while this is far lower than the overall State ratio, the City is still subject to the new legislation. These changes will result in an unknown number of new rental and for-sale units. Many of the units will likely be smaller in size than most of the newer single-family dwellings sold in Sunnyvale, which could make them somewhat more affordable. Additionally, some units will be used as rentals and will add to the City's supply of rental housing, and potentially reduce displacement of existing homeowners by allowing a source of income for aging in place. SB 9 requires a local agency to prohibit the rental of any unit for a term shorter than 30 days (i.e., short term rental).
Staff has performed a consistency review of Title 18 and Title 19 relating to this new type of development and has identified modifications to bring the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) into conformance with SB 9. While there are many requirements set forth by the legislation, the City can retain some local control through obj...
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