Excluding
Murphy Station Landmark District
from provisions of SB 79
Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
City Council Hearing: May 5, 2026
2City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 SB 79 "Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act”
Background
• Signed into law October 2025
• Effective July 1, 2026
• Affects properties within ½-mile of Caltrain & VTA light rail stations • Applies to all sites currently zoned for residential, mixed-use, or commercial development
• Establishes densities, heights, and FARs
• City must allow:
Up to 80-160 du/acre (depending on location)
Through a non-discretionary permit
3City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Map of all
Sunnyvale
Transit Stops
Subject to SB 79
4City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Murphy Station Landmark District
SB 79 Historic District - Optional Exclusion
• Murphy Station established by Council 1981
• Includes all property on 100 block S. Murphy Ave
o Plus 2 adjacent properties on Washington Ave
• Primary use is commercial
• District is <1% of ½-mile area around Downtown Caltrain station
5City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Train
Station
½ Mile
Radius
Murphy
Station
Simplified Map
100 Block
S. Murphy Ave
SB 79 ½-mile Area
6City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 MTC
DRAFT
Map
Sunnyvale
Downtown
Caltrain station
¼ and ½ mile radii
7City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 MTC
DRAFT
Map
Transit Stops
Subject to SB 79
8City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Staff will continue to evaluate SB 79
Next Steps
• Alternative plans (e.g.):
May exclude areas within radius
Must make up excluded number of units elsewhere in ½ mile area Moffett Park Specific Plan (MPSP) commercial/residential flex zoning Lawrence Station Area Plan
• Noise and Safety exemptions
Moffett Federal Airfield Compatible Land Use Plan (CLUP) • Exclusion of areas >1 mile walking distance
9City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Pending
State Legislature Considering Proposed Amendments
• SB 722 Mobile Home Park Exemption
Affects 7 Sunnyvale MH Parks
3,144 Mobile Homes
• SB 908 Technical cleanups
• AB 2576 Additional historic property exclusions
• AB 2415 Reducing capacity by over 50% - does not apply to Sunnyvale (Not affected)
10City of Sunnyvale – Excluding Murphy Station Landmark District from SB 79 – May 2026 Planning Commission and Staff
Alternative 1
Recommendations
• Introduce an Ordinance Amending Chapter 19.96 (Heritage Preservation) of Title 19 (Zoning) to:
• Temporarily Exclude the Murphy Station Heritage Landmark District from Applicability of SB 79
Questions