Rain likely. High 69F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..
Tonight
Cloudy with periods of rain. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
San Mateo is finalizing its draft ordinance implementation plans for Senate Bill 9 local standard, designed to increase housing unit density in single-family neighborhoods, with future hearings planned for community input.
The city has released general guidelines for its proposed local ordinance around the development standards and permitting process for SB 9, a 2021 state law designed to increase housing by allowing two-unit developments, urban lot splits, or a combination. SB 9 requires cities to allow at least two units per split lot, but it gave local flexibility to allow up to four dwelling units per split lot, consisting of two main units, an accessory dwelling unit and a junior accessory dwelling unit. The state law went into effect in January, with cities throughout the Peninsula trying to navigate housing needs with potential neighborhood changes brought about by the state law.
The proposed local ordinance calls for a discretionary review process for a project with 50% or greater demolition and units larger than 800 square feet, with the maximum potential unit size dictated by the maximum floor area ratio. The minimum setback will be 4 feet for side and rear yard setbacks. The maximum building heights for attached units will be 24 feet to top plateline and 32 feet to roof peak, while detached units will be 16 feet to top plateline and 24 feet to roof peak, aligning with city ADU standards. Short-term rentals in SB 9 units are prohibited, and the owner must reside for at least three years in one of the housing units from the project approval date. The occupancy requirement is in place to deter developers from buying properties and then subdividing and flipping them for profit. City staff said there is currently only one application for a lot split, with not many applications being seen yet.
In June, the San Mateo City Council indicated its interest in following state minimum guidelines around lot splits of a limit of two and not allowing local exceptions. Lot splits will also require a right-of-way and a minimum 10-foot driveway. Objective design standards around architecture, colors, material, neighbor privacy and lighting are still being finalized, with the ultimate decision based on the city’s final version of duplex and multi-family standards.
State law requires ministerial approval for most SB 9 projects, along with objective zoning and design standard. Cities cannot apply any standard that would stop the construction of two units up to 16 feet tall, up to 800 square feet in size and at least 4 feet from the rear and side property lines. One off-street parking space per unit is required unless it falls within a half-mile walking distance of a high-quality transit corridor or a major transit stop, like El Camino Real or Hillsdale, Hayward Park, and San Mateo Caltrain stations.
Recommended for you
The city’s Aug. 8 community meeting found a majority of attendees were fine with uncovered parking instead of covered and wanted detached SB 9 units to follow existing height limits in the R1 zoning code instead of following ADU standards. A slight majority also favored allowing more than two units on each lot created through an SB 9 lot.
The city has held several outreach community workshops and council study sessions, with a Planning Commission hearing scheduled for Aug. 23 and a City Council hearing in September.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.