Casting shade on shadows: S.F. supervisor seeks to bar using shadows to block new housing

"“In San Francisco, we've literally paid the price of being too afraid of our own shadow,” Mahmood said, pointing to data showing that shadow-based concerns were used to delay or block 2,195 housing units in 11 projects since 2017."

"Whenever a new housing project is proposed in the city, its developer must create an environmental impact report on a variety of factors, like toxic waste and seismic hazards. San Francisco requires that report to include a shadow analysis noting whether the new building will cast shade on any open space in the city. Mahmood's legislation would get rid of that requirement; it is not in state guidelines, and most California cities do not consider shadows an environmental factor."

"The environmental impact report is intended to help politicians make an informed decision about whether to approve or deny a development proposal. But any resident can file an appeal if they think environmental impacts were not fully considered, which can delay, block, or alter projects."

"Shadows ultimately led to a delay for the infamous 469 Stevenson St. project from 2021, a 495 unit building on the site of a Nordstrom parking lot in SoMa. Some SoMa residents were concerned that the project, which contained about 100 affordable housing units, would gentrify the area. But gentrification alone is not a legal reason for supervisors to block a project. So residents filed an appeal alleging the project's environmental impacts were improperly evaluated."

Tall and short buildings in San Francisco cast shadows that have been used to block or delay housing. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is proposing a law that would eliminate the ability to treat building shadows as an “environmental concern” that can delay or prevent new housing. Developers currently must include shadow analysis in environmental impact reports, alongside factors such as toxic waste and seismic hazards. Residents can appeal environmental review decisions, which can delay, block, or alter projects. Data show shadow concerns have affected 2,195 housing units across 11 projects since 2017. Shadows contributed to delays for the 469 Stevenson St. project, where an appeal succeeded after the Board of Supervisors cited shadows cast on nearby Mint Plaza.

Read at Mission Local