REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Phased Reach Codes Program and implement Phase 1 for new Residential and Non-Residential Construction Projects: Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 16.42 (Energy Code) and Chapter 16.43 (Green Building Code) of Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and Find that the Action is Exempt from CEQA
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSIONS ACTIONS
The Sustainability Commission considered this item on August 17, 2020, and the Planning Commission considered this item on September 14, 2020.
The Sustainability Commission voted to recommend to City Council Alternative 2 to approve a Phased Reach Codes Program and implement Phase 1 for new Residential and Non-Residential Construction Projects and Introduce a Reach Code Ordinance for Residential and Non-Residential projects, with the following modifications. The vote was 5-0-1, with Commissioner Joesten absent.
(a) Increase the percentage of spaces that are EV-ready for multifamily residential and non-residential new construction in Phase 1.
Staff Comment: The Commission did not select a percentage of spaces to be EV ready. The current Zoning Code (Title 19 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code) requires 12.5% of multifamily spaces to be EV capable (i.e., conduit installed and space available on the electrical panel for eventual wires to be pulled to the site where a charger could be installed). The state Green Building Code requires 10% of multifamily EV capable.
The State Green Building code requirement for non-residential is six percent EV capable, and the current city requirement is three percent EV ready.
San Jose has been suggested as a possible model from some local advocates, as well as the Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) recommendations. Several cities have adopted the SVCE/Peninsula Reach Codes recommendation. Attachment 14 provides a comparison of several local cities' EV requirements and a table of Sunnyvale's existing EV requirements, staff's initial recommendation and s...
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