REPORT TO THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Project:
VARIANCE: to allow a 999-square foot attached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that covers more than 25% of the required rear yard. The project also includes a 522-square foot addition to the front of the existing single-family home, resulting in a total floor area of 3,562 square feet and 42% floor area ratio (FAR).
Location: 814 Selkirk Place (APN: 316-27-028)
File #: 2020-7207
Zoning: R0 - Low Density Residential
Applicant / Owner: Orchard Home Design (applicant) / Ralph Dalla Betta Trustee & Et Al (owner)
Environmental Review: Class 3 Categorical Exemption relieves this project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions.
Project Planner: Momoko Ishijima, 408-730-7532, mishijima@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Report
BACKGROUND
Description of Proposed Project
The applicant requests a Variance to allow construction of a 999-square foot attached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that covers more than 25% of the required rear yard. Per Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Section 19.48.050, any single story main or accessory structure in any residential zoning district may extend into the required rear yard not to exceed 25% coverage. The existing residence has an extension that has an approximately 15% coverage of the required rear yard. The project proposes to remove the existing bedroom and bathroom, and construct a new attached ADU with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and living area, resulting in a rear yard coverage of 52%.
In early 2019, the Sunnyvale City Council adopted a new ADU ordinance (SMC Chapter 19.79) to ensure that Sunnyvale's requirements for ADUs are consistent with the 2019 amendments to the State law (California Gov. Code Section 65852.2). The ordinance creates two categories of ADUs: streamlined ADUs, which are approved with a building permit only, and non-streamlined ADUs, which require a Miscellaneous Plan Permit (MPP).
The subject application is considered ...
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