Overview
- Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who announced the proposal Thursday, said the SHADE Act would remove shadows as grounds for environmental appeals and cut most appeal windows from 30 to 15 days.
- San Francisco is the only major California city that allows appeals over building shadows, a practice rooted in local law rather than state CEQA rules.
- Even if appeals based on shadows end, Prop K from 1984 still requires a finding on new shadows over Recreation and Park property for projects taller than 40 feet, so shadow studies would continue for many projects.
- Mahmood cites city data showing shadow claims delayed or stalled 2,195 homes across 11 projects since 2017, including the 469 Stevenson Street plan that was sent back for more study after concerns about shade on Mint Plaza.
- The bill heads to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in early summer, as officials warn San Francisco is far off pace to meet a state target to plan for 36,000 homes by 2030.