Planning Commission eyes more permanent SB 9 ordinance

Ordinance would replace urgency legislation passed in December to establish design standards for new state law.|

The Sonoma Planning Commission this week will review a regular ordinance to govern the city’s implementation of Senate Bill 9, a new state law that allows homeowners to split their property lots and build another home or duplex on the second parcel.

With the added option of a property owner tearing down their existing home and building duplexes on both lots, SB 9 provides owners the potential to turn what was formerly a single-family home into four separate residences.

Under the bill, cities and counties are required to approve such split-lot proposals so long as as they meet size and design standards required by the city.

In December, the Sonoma City Council hurried to approve such size and design standards before SB 9 went into effect Jan. 1.

Sonoma’s urgency ordinance was passed Dec. 15 and establishes that new units under SB 9 be no greater than 800 square feet and generally limits units to one story with an 18-foot maximum height, unless certain criteria were met allowing for two stories with a 25-foot height limit.

At the Feb. 10 meeting, Planning Commissioners will review a regular ordinance developed by city planning staff to replace the urgency ordinance passed in December.

Also at the meeting, the commission will consider a separate application to split a lot for potential development – though this project wouldn’t fall under the purview of SB 9.

The application from Bear Flag Engineering would subdivide a 0.98 acre parcel into two lots at 234 Malet St. The property is currently developed with a single-family residence, detached garage and two sheds. There are 87 trees on the project site including four native species.

The proposed subdivision would split the property into a 0.52 acre lot and a 0.83 acre lot. The applicant has not yet prepared a plan to develop the parcels and there are no plans to demolish the existing residence, garage or sheds, according to city planning staff.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. and will be held via Zoom at sonomacity.org.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor