REPORT TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project: Related applications on a 7,975-square foot lot:
USE PERMIT to legalize an existing 6-foot 10-inch-tall front yard fence; and
VARIANCE to legalize an existing 72 square feet detached arbor structure that is 8-foot 6-inch-tall with a 13-foot 5-inch front setback where 20 feet minimum is required, in the front yard of a single-family property.
Location: 1137 South Bernardo Avenue (APN: 202-39-037)
File #: PLNG-2024-0439
Zoning: R-1 (Low Density Residential)
Applicant / Owner: Stanley Mansfield (applicant and owner)
Environmental Review: A Class 3 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions.
Project Planner: Mary Jeyaprakash, 408-730-7449, mjeyaprakash@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
BACKGROUND
Description of Proposed Project
The subject single-family property has an existing, unpermitted 6-foot 10-inch-tall fence and 8-foot 6-inch-tall arbor structure (arbor) in the front yard. The fence and the arbor have been there since 1998. See Attachment 7 for letter from the applicant. The applicant is requesting a Use Permit to keep the existing fence with 13-foot 5-inch setback from the front property line. The applicant is also requesting a Variance to keep the existing arbor with 13-foot 5-inch front setback where 20 feet minimum is required. See Attachment 5 for the site and architectural plans.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.48.025 requires a Use Permit for front yard fences over 6 feet in height. Fence height in the front is measured from the top of the nearest street curb. The SMC defines a front yard fence to include any fence located between the face of the building and the street. The existing fence proposed to be legalized is subject to current SMC permitting requirements.
The SMC Section 19.34.030 requires a Variance for home additions that do not meet the minimum 20 feet front setback. The SMC requires a Design Review fo...
Click here for full text