Residents of homes designed by Joseph Eichler are concerned that new two-story homes could invade their privacy and block sunlight and views. They have sought and won zoning protection.
Joseph Eichler designed homes known for their single-story layouts with large glass windows all over California in the 1940s. Residents of these neighborhoods have repeatedly sought and won protection against larger homes coming to the neighborhood, according to an article by Victoria Zezra.
"Another group of Sunnyvale homeowners has succeeded in getting its neighborhood rezoned to 'single story only,'" reports Kezra. The most recent neighborhood is the latest in a strong of similar zoning overlays, starting in Palo Alto and in another neighborhood in Sunnyvale.
"The council’s April 25 vote rezoned 29 contiguous single-family homes from low-density residential to low-density residential single story," adds Kezra.
The planning commission originally denied the request for the zoning overlay, but the city council approved it after more of the residents showed to a council meeting to voice support for the overlay. "The council plans to study the single-story overlay request process in the future," writes Kezra.
FULL STORY: Another Sunnyvale Eichler neighborhood will be ‘single story only’
The Silicon Valley Adds Another Single-Story Overlay District
The footprint of the so-called single-story overlay districts is growing in the Silicon Valley.
Google Seeks New Direction for Massive Housing Proposal
The company parted ways with its development partner, signaling a shift in strategy for a proposed 15,000-unit housing and office space project on Google-owned land in Silicon Valley.
Meeting Housing Goals by Loosening Commercial Zoning
Torrance, a city on the coast of Southern California in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, recently adopted a zoning overlay that will relax commercial zones to allow more residential development.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service