Volume II - City of Sunnyvale - State of California

Department Description
The Community Development Department oversees all land use policy planning and development
review in the City and administers and enforces the Sunnyvale Municipal Codes and other
government regulations related to the physical development of the City. A core function of the
Department is administering the One-Stop Permit Center for coordinating customer service for
zoning information and approvals, development applications and building permits. The Department
also administers the distribution of federal and City assistance funds for human services and
affordable housing production and preservation. The Department provides staff support to four
City Boards and Commissions: Planning, Housing, Heritage Preservation, and Building Code
Appeals.
While development activity was slow during the past few years because of the economy,
development activity picked up considerably in FY 2010/2011 and is expected to continue to
increase in the upcoming year. The increase in activity covers all areas including new residential
developments, new office buildings, retail, office, R&D and industrial tenant improvements and
single-family remodels. Future development activity is anticipated to include additional activity at
the Town Center project, as a new developer is expected to be in place at the start of FY 2011/2012,
and new office buildings and major tenant improvements in the Moffett Park Business Park.
Programs and Services
The Community Development Department is organized into four programs: Building Safety,
Planning, Housing/CDBG and Department Management. Additionally, the department oversees
the local Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process for the Onizuka Air Force Station. The
department serves a wide range of clients including residents, businesses, property owners, design
professionals and contractors. The mission of the department is to deliver great customer service
by: 1) delivering high quality products and services; 2) creating efficient and effective processes;
and 3) fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. In 2009, the Department formed
a Development Processing Improvement Committee (DPIC) consisting of City staff from multiple
departments to identify and implement improvements to the development review process. The
DPIC will continue to meet on a regular basis to collaborate on future process improvements.
Building Safety Program
Community Development
FY 2011/2012 Operating Budget
The Building Safety Program is responsible for managing construction permits and inspections
for compliance with local and state building regulations. Building permits and plans are reviewed
and approved through the One-Stop Permit Center as well as through the City’s web-based
e-permitting system for minor permits. The Building Division is largely responsible for ensuring
the efficient operation of the One–Stop Permit Center, which provides centralized service with