SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
A Special Development Permit (SDP) allows City review of a use or design within any zoning district that has a Planned Development (PD) zoning district overlay. A PD overlay can be added to any of the zoning districts through a separate rezoning application. Allowing flexibility of land use or design on a property can add greater diversity to the City. A SDP allows the City to review the proposed design and use of a project on a property that is within a Planned Development zoning district. An SDP may allow the property owner greater flexibility in the dimensional requirements of a project in exchange for superior design features.
Special Development Permit applications require a public hearing by the Administrative Hearing Officer, Planning Commission or the City Council.
Decision Factors
City staff reviews your application to see that the proposed use will benefit the City and not harm the properties that surround the project site. Planning staff considers the following criteria when reviewing a proposal: The proposed use must:
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Attain the objectives and purposes of the General Plan of the City of Sunnyvale, or
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Ensure that the general appearance of the proposed structures, or uses to be made of the property to which the applicant refers, will not impair either the orderly development of, or the existing uses being made of, the adjacent properties.
type of hearing
If your project does not require environmental review, the application can be heard at an Administrative public hearing. If the project requires environmental review, the Special Development Permit application will always be heard at a Planning Commission public hearing. This environmental determination is made at the Project Review Committee Meeting.
project review committee
The Project Review Committee (PRC) meeting is made up of staff representatives from the City Divisions of Planning, Building, Engineering, Traffic, Fire Prevention, Street Trees and Crime Prevention. PRC review is for information only and is not a recommendation of approval or denial of the project.
review process
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Talk to a planner to obtain information and an application.
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Submit completed application.
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Planning staff review.
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Project Review Committee reviews project with applicant.
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Application completeness and level of environmental review is determined
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Notice of public hearing is advertised and posted.
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Staff makes a recommendation
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The public hearing takes place.
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15 day appeal period.
timing
Special Development Permits usually take 6 to 8 weeks to review if the application is complete and there is no appeal.
appeals
If someone is concerned about the decision made on a Special Development Permit, the decision may be appealed to a higher hearing body. Appeals must be made within 15 calendar days of the decision, and can be made by submitting the following to the Planning Division staff at the One-Stop Permit Center at City Hall:
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Letter of explanation addressed to the Planning Commission
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Appeal fee
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Mailing list fee
additional permits
If your Special Development Permit application is approved, you may need a building permit issued by the Building Safety Division.
application checklist
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Completed public hearing application (PDF) signed by the legal property owner
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Site plan: 10 copies, fully dimensioned
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Floor Plans: 10 copies, dimensioned and to scale
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Elevations: 10 copies, fully dimensioned, with colors and materials indicated
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Reductions: 2 copies of the above plans in 8.5 x 11 size
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A brief written description of the project
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Project Data Sheet showing existing and proposed data (residential or commercial/industrial)
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Legal Description of the property
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Fees (non-refundable)
questions?
Call or visit the One-Stop Permit Center at City Hall. Planners are available to assist you between the hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This handout is intended to be a general description of Special Development Permits. For specific information, consult Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.90.