Sunnyvale officials are allowing a housing development to move forward after denying an appeal over potential exposure to cancerous chemicals. The Sunnyvale City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to deny an appeal over a 5.82-acre housing development at 1150-1170 Kifer Road and approve its building permits. Vice Mayor Omar Din was absent, and Councilmember Alysa...
Sunnyvale to reconsider property transfer tax ballot measure
Sunnyvale officials are considering a property transfer tax ballot measure for a second time. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday voted 5-1 to discuss—at a future meeting—putting a property transfer tax on the November 2024 ballot. Councilmember Russ Melton dissented and Councilmember Alysa Cisneros was absent. Councilmembers will begin discussing the details of the tax...
Housing planned at Sunnyvale train station
Sunnyvale has greenlit a new vision for the future of the Lawrence Caltrain station that will make it more convenient for residents and workers along the transit corridor. The Sunnyvale City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted, with Councilmember Alysa Cisneros absent, to approve plans to develop two parcels totaling nearly three acres into a mixed-use...
Downtown Sunnyvale’s housing anchors the community
The stream of customers barely slowed at Bean Scene Cafe on Murphy Avenue in Sunnyvale, as owner Kenny Lam poured espresso shots and steamed milk for lattes. The cafe, along with all of downtown Sunnyvale, has returned to pre-pandemic levels of foot traffic and engagement. City leaders and business owners attribute the success to a...
Silicon Valley leaders question nonprofit on alleged discrimination
Two Santa Clara County city councils aired grievances to HomeFirst officials following a range of concerns related to services and allegations of racial discrimination. The Sunnyvale City Council heard a presentation Tuesday from HomeFirst Chief Executive Officer Andrea Urton and Chief Program Officer Kelly Vazquez about the nonprofit’s city support services and broader metrics countywide....
How to participate in Sunnyvale City Council meetings
One of the simplest ways to engage with your local community is to keep up with your city’s public meetings. In a 2022 reader survey, San José Spotlight readers told us they wanted to be more civically engaged and involved in local policymaking. Earlier this year, we compiled a guide on how to engage with...
Sunnyvale considers eight homes on major thoroughfare
Sunnyvale leaders are considering opening the door for a developer to build eight, two-story homes where one currently stands. Forrest Mozart, a Palo Alto developer, wants to demolish a single-story home built in 1965 at 781 S. Wolfe Road. In its place, he plans to put up eight homes between 2,000 to 2,400 square feet each on...
Sunnyvale wants to give residents in need monthly checks
Sunnyvale’s low-income residents might be receiving a financial boost from the city. The Sunnyvale City Council is looking to pilot a guaranteed income program to support residents who are financially burdened. The councilmembers on Oct. 24 gave input on who the program should be serving, and how they would want it organized. They discussed how...
Sunnyvale officials nix artificial turf on athletic field
For North Sunnyvale residents near Lakewood Park, the grass is literally greener on the other side of town. Residents who live in a historically underserved, low-income community fought to add more green spaces in their neighborhood at Tuesday’s Sunnyvale City Council meeting. They convinced councilmembers to switch plans from installing artificial turf to grass on...
Sunnyvale councilmember enters race for mayor
Sunnyvale’s District 4 councilmember wants to be the city’s next mayor and is throwing his hat into the November 2024 election ring. Russ Melton, 57, is the first candidate to officially enter the race. Melton is serving his second term on the Sunnyvale City Council. He was initially elected in 2016 before the city switched...