City of Sunnyvale
Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft
Planning Commission
6:00 PM Online and Council Chambers, City Hall,
456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Monday, April 27, 2026
Special Meeting: Study Session - 6:00 PM | Public Hearing - 7:00 PM 7 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Iglesias called the meeting to order at 8:20 PM.
ROLL CALL
Chair Nathan Iglesias
Vice Chair Neela Shukla
Commissioner Galen Kim Davis
Commissioner Martin Pyne
Commissioner Michael Serrone
Commissioner Ilan Sigura
Present: 6 -
Commissioner Chris FigoneAbsent: 1 -
Commissioner Figone’s absence is excused.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
3. 26-0376 Proposed Project: Forward a Recommendation to the City Council to take the following Actions:
a. Find that the Proposed Actions are Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308;
b. Adopt a Resolution to Establish Lower Density Residential Objective Design Standards for Single-family Dwellings, Two-family Dwellings and Dual Urban Opportunity (DUO) Housing Developments, and Repeal the Single-Family Home Design
Techniques;
c. Introduce an Ordinance to Amend Sunnyvale Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning) to Amend Chapter 19.32 (Building Heights, Lot Coverages and Floor Area Ratios) and Repeal and Replace Chapter 19.80 (Design Review) to Implement the Lower Density
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April 27, 2026Planning Commission Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft Residential Design Standards, and to Amend Chapter 19.79 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to Conform with New State ADU Laws;
d. Adopt a Resolution to Update and Adopt the Green Building Tables for 2026; and
e. Repeal City Council Policy 1.1.12 Maximum Standards for Small Lot Single-Family Residential Developments.
Location: Citywide
File #: PLNG-2024-0517
Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458,
[email protected]
Senior Planner Aastha Vashist presented the staff report with a slide presentation.
Commissioner Davis confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that a staff-level design review is mandatory for all proposed two-story homes.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that while all housing development projects are subject to the objective design standards, the Planning Commission may request an exception from up to three of these standards.
Commissioner Serrone shared his thoughts on how a neighborhood should be defined according to the objective design standards.
Commissioner Serrone received clarification from Senior Assistant City Attorney Sandra Lee that while all-electric appliances are not required by the City’s Reach Codes, their use is incentivized.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that this study considered updates to the City’s zoning code standards pertaining to lot coverage and floor area ratio (FAR) thresholds and that a separate study is required for additional updates to the zoning code.
Commissioner Pyne confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that the motion made by the Planning Commission must take into consideration corrections made by staff to the staff report and Attachment 3 to the staff report.
Commissioner Pyne asked whether a revision to the City’s Eichler Design Guidelines may be made to ensure it is consistent with proposed changes to FAR thresholds for staff-level Design Reviews. Senior Assistant City Attorney Lee explained that the Planning Commission may forward a recommendation to the City Council to ensure this revision is made.
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April 27, 2026Planning Commission Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft Vice Chair Shukla confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that the Sunnyvale Municipal Code includes a chapter on tree preservation and this is separate from the City’s objective design standards. Senior Planner Vashist added that the objective design standards are subordinate to the zoning code.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Principal Planner Noren Caliva-Lepe that the Planning Commission may forward a recommendation to the City Council to direct staff to revise other design guidelines impacted by proposed changes to the object design standards.
Commissioner Davis and Principal Planner Caliva-Lepe discussed language to be included in the motion for this agenda item.
Chair Iglesias opened the Public Hearing.
There were no public speakers for this agenda item.
Chair Iglesias closed the Public Hearing.
Commissioner Davis stated that only new two-story dwellings and any second-story exterior modifications in neighborhoods where one-story dwellings are predominant should be subject to a staff-level Design Review with public noticing.
Commissioner Davis noted that it should be made clear that images included in the objective design standards’ appendices are there for strictly illustrative purposes and compliance with the City’s design guidelines should not be assumed.
In response to Commissioner Davis’ comments, Commissioner Pyne stated that it would not make sense to require less review for a new two-story home than a new single-story home. Commissioner Davis shared his thoughts on this matter and ultimately decided to proceed without any modifications to the proposed thresholds for Design Review permits.
Chair Iglesias agreed that lowering the threshold for Design Review permits for new two-story dwellings and any second-story exterior modifications would reduce the demand on staff time.
Commissioner Serrone confirmed with Senior Planner Vashist that one-story tiny
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April 27, 2026Planning Commission Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft homes would be subject to a staff-level Design Review in the same way that other one-story dwellings would be.
MOTION: Commissioner Davis moved, and Commissioner Pyne seconded the motion to recommend Alternative 2 to the City Council - Alternative 1 with a modification. The modification is as follows:
1) Clarification must be added to images in Appendix A to specify that architectural style images have not been reviewed for compliance with all City development and design standards.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Pyne proposed a friendly amendment to direct staff to consider updates to other City design guideline documents to ensure compliance with the revised Design Review thresholds. Commissioner Davis accepted the friendly amendment.
Commissioner Davis voiced his support for the motion.
Commissioner Pyne expressed his overall support for the motion.
Vice Chair Shukla confirmed her support for the motion.
Commissioner Sigura stated that he is in support of the motion.
Chair Iglesias agreed that he is supportive of the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: Chair Iglesias
Vice Chair Shukla
Commissioner Davis
Commissioner Pyne
Commissioner Serrone
Commissioner Sigura
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Commissioner Figone1 -
This recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at the
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April 27, 2026Planning Commission Excerpt Meeting Minutes - Draft June 2, 2026, meeting.
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